LEA Partners
Entrepreneurial multi-stage B2B software and technology investor (Karlsruhe, founded 2002), backing DACH lower-mid-market companies from early-stage growth venture through growth-buyout via two strategies (LEA Venturepartner VC and LEA Mittelstandspartner growth-buyout).
Key facts
Recent exits
Coverage notes
2 funds tracked, 52 portfolio companies (42 active · 10 realized). Verified weekly from public filings and deal announcements.
Sector breakdown
52 companiesFunds & portfolio
Every fund LEA Partners has raised, with its portfolio companies. Hand-checked from public filings.
LEA Venturepartner (VC)VCHarvesting2017 · 9yr38 active · 3 realized
Unrealized
38 held| Company | Sector | Geo | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI/ML |  Germany | 2020 | |
| DevTools | Germany | 2022 | |
| Software | Germany | 2024 | |
| AI/ML |  Switzerland | 2025 | |
| AI/ML | Germany | 2025 | |
| SaaS | Germany | 2025 | |
| MedTech | Germany | 2021 | |
| Software | Germany | 2020 | |
| DevTools | Germany | 2022 | |
| Industrials | Germany | 2023 | |
| DevTools | Germany | 2025 | |
| Fintech | Germany | 2023 | |
| SaaS | Germany | 2024 | |
| Logistics | Germany | 2023 | |
| Construction |  Austria | 2025 | |
| HR Tech | Germany | 2020 | |
| SaaS | Germany | 2022 | |
| AI/ML |  UK | 2024 | |
| Deep Tech | Germany | 2025 | |
| HR Tech | Germany | 2024 | |
| Logistics | Germany | 2019 | |
| EdTech | Germany | 2026 | |
| LegalTech | Germany | 2025 | |
| ClimateTech |  Netherlands | 2025 | |
| SaaS | Germany | 2025 | |
| SaaS | Germany | 2022 | |
| SaaS | Germany | 2024 | |
| Data & Analytics | Germany | 2021 | |
| Deep Tech | Germany | 2025 | |
| Cybersecurity | Switzerland | 2025 | |
| Software | Germany | 2019 | |
| SaaS | Germany | 2024 | |
| SaaS | Austria | 2025 | |
| SaaS | Austria | 2025 | |
| ClimateTech | Germany | 2023 | |
| AI/ML | Germany | 2022 | |
| HR Tech | Germany | 2022 | |
| HR Tech | Germany | 2019 |
Germany· Entry 2020Germany· Entry 2022Germany· Entry 2024Switzerland· Entry 2025Germany· Entry 2025Germany· Entry 2025Germany· Entry 2021Germany· Entry 2020Germany· Entry 2022Germany· Entry 2023Germany· Entry 2025Germany· Entry 2023Germany· Entry 2024Germany· Entry 2023Austria· Entry 2025Germany· Entry 2020Germany· Entry 2022UK· Entry 2024Germany· Entry 2025Germany· Entry 2024Germany· Entry 2019Germany· Entry 2026Germany· Entry 2025Netherlands· Entry 2025Germany· Entry 2025Germany· Entry 2022Germany· Entry 2024Germany· Entry 2021Germany· Entry 2025Switzerland· Entry 2025Germany· Entry 2019Germany· Entry 2024Austria· Entry 2025Austria· Entry 2025Germany· Entry 2023Germany· Entry 2022Germany· Entry 2022Germany· Entry 2019Realized
3 exits| Company | Sector | Geo | Entry | Exit | Type | Buyer | MOIC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI/ML | Germany | 2021 | 2025 | Trade Sale | – | ||
| Fintech | Germany | 2017 | 2025 | Trade Sale | – | ||
| AI/ML | Germany | 2018 | 2019 | Trade Sale | – |
LEA Mittelstandspartner (Growth Buyout)BuyoutHarvesting2017 · 9yr4 active · 7 realized
Unrealized
4 held| Company | Sector | Geo | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fintech | Germany | 2021 | |
| Software | Germany | 2026 | |
| EdTech | Germany | 2026 | |
| Software | Germany | 2023 |
Germany· Entry 2021Germany· Entry 2026Germany· Entry 2026Germany· Entry 2023Realized
7 exits| Company | Sector | Geo | Entry | Exit | Type | Buyer | MOIC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT Services | Germany | 2017 | 2023 | Secondary | – | ||
| Fintech | Germany | 2017 | 2020 | Trade Sale | – | ||
| Software | Germany | 2019 | 2020 | Trade Sale | – | ||
| SaaS | Germany | 2019 | 2023 | Secondary | – | ||
| Software | Germany | 2018 | 2021 | Trade Sale | – | ||
| SaaS | Germany | 2023 | 2026 | Trade Sale | – | ||
| Software | Germany | 2019 | 2022 | Secondary | – |
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About LEA Partners
LEA Partners is a German B2B software and technology specialist private equity firm with approximately €2 billion of capital commitments across all vehicles as of December 2024, headquartered in Karlsruhe. The firm was founded in 2002 by the Burda family and entrepreneurs around the Karlsruhe deep-tech ecosystem, before rebranding around 2018 with the launch of the first institutional €200 million fund. LEA Partners remains partner-owned and founder-led with Burda family roots.
Investment thesis
LEA Partners deploys capital through approximately four to five active vehicles spanning Growth Fund I (2018), Growth Fund II (2022 and 2023), seed and venture funds and co-investment vehicles, operating a dual platform that combines venture-stage (early and growth) with mid-market buyout investments. Sector focus spans B2B software and SaaS, enterprise tech, industrial software, AI and deep tech, cybersecurity and fintech and accounting software, with maximum equity tickets of €45 million per deal. Geographic deployment focuses on DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) with broader European reach and selective US co-investment.
Recent activity
Recent realised exits include technology and SaaS accounting (2025). Recent acquisitions include The Assistant Company (software and spa and activity management, November 2025), Black Forest Labs (AI and deep tech, December 2025) and easybill plus PAQATO (B2B software and e-invoicing and logistics, December 2024). LEA Partners continues active deployment across its Growth Fund II vintage with selective venture-stage co-investment. Detailed buyer names and multiple data available on Pro at €29/month.
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