Berlin succession investor Gaius Capital gathers 56 million euros to buy Mittelstand firms
Gaius Capital, a Berlin private equity firm founded in 2025, has secured 56 million euros to buy founder- and family-owned companies facing succession. Its debut fund, Gaius Nachfolgekapital I, closed at its 50 million euro hard cap in October 2026, and a co-investment vehicle added 6 million euros. The fund's first close, at 40 million euros, came in June 2026. Institutional investors made up more than 90 percent of commitments.
For the founders who sell to Gaius Capital, succession is presented as an exit. However, the Gaius Seller Consortium model keeps sellers holding an economic stake in the larger group they help build. That turns a clean departure into a continuing bet on a buy-and-build plan that others now run. It opens the way to liquidity but leaves part of the seller's wealth tied to the company.
Source: EU-Startups · October 12, 2026