High-Tech Gründerfonds Invests in Multitouch Startup eyefactive GmbH

August 31, 2011

eyefactive GmbH brings on High-Tech Gründerfonds as a new investor, supplemented by an additional investment from Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Schleswig-Holstein (MGB).

The startup company has caused quite a stir with its multitouch installations. Modular components are used to create interactive displays of any size or shape. On this multitouch  surface, applications can be intuitively operated by hand, even by several people simultaneously. For use at trade fairs and events in particular, eyefactive has already been able to acquire major customers, including Mercedes Benz Bank, Siemens and OTTO.

The business model also convinced High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), which is joining eyefactive with equity financing. Curtis MacDonald, Investment Manager of HTGF: “The first application in the ‘Multitouch Table’ product shows the impressive quality and precision of the new technology. High-Tech Gründerfonds is looking forward to coming on board as an investor and supporting the founders in further product developments.”

From the investment eyefactive wants to further develop its technologies and to present itself more forcefully in the market with standardized products. “With High-Tech Gründerfonds we now have an experienced partner with a large network at our side. We are looking forward to being able to continue the positive development with HTGF and MBG,” explains Matthias Woggon. Co-founder Johannes Ryks adds: “With financial support we can now more quickly develop standardized products and thus tap into a broader range of customers.”

Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Schleswig-Holstein (MBG) is supplementing the financing round as a side investor: “We are very impressed by the economic development that the company has to show and we are also looking forward to supporting the company as a financing partner in the future,” says Bernd Ernst, Account Manager at MBG.

About eyefactive GmbH
eyefactive develops interactive multitouch displays in spectacular formats, on which digital content is intuitively controlled via simple hand gestures – by any number of people simultaneously! At trade fairs, events or at the point of sale, companies can inspire their customers with interactive advertising, exciting infotainment and spectacular ambience that reacts to the viewer. Active involvement in the communication process creates an emotional experience and thus gains greater attention for brands, products and services. In everyday projects companies benefit from the possibilities of jointly using applications in teams and thus developing more efficient, communicative and creative solutions. The business idea has won several awards, including two from the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.

Further information: www.eyefactive.com

About Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Schleswig-Holstein (MBG)
Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Schleswig-Holstein (MBG) was founded at the initiative of the State Government of Schleswig-Holstein as a regional investment company in 1994. MBG’s task is to strengthen the equity capital base of small and medium-size companies in Schleswig-Holstein and thus, among other things, to improve the conditions for raising outside capital. As a rule MGB takes a stake in small to medium-size companies with typical silent shareholdings. However, in individual cases it also participates in the form of open shareholdings. MGB’s staff of 20 currently oversee more than 400 companies and an investment portfolio of over 100 million euros.

MBG Schleswig-Holstein is a full member of the German Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVK). MGB is also represented in the association’s “MBG´en” professional group.

Further information: www.mbg-sh.de

About High-Tech Gründerfonds
High-Tech Gründerfonds invests venture capital in promising technology companies that turn innovative concepts into viable businesses. Seed financing aims to help start-ups guide their innovation to the prototype or proof-of-concept stage or to market launch. High-Tech Gründerfonds provides seed financing of approximately €500,000.  It supports high-tech companies by way of its investment managers and its highly-qualified network of coaches, investors and specialists. In individual cases it can invest up to a total of €2 m per company. The investors in this public private partnership are the German Federal Ministry for Business and Technology, the KfW Banking Group as well as the six industrial groups of BASF, Deutsche Telekom, Siemens, Robert Bosch, Daimler and Carl Zeiss. High-Tech Gründerfonds has an investment volume totalling approx. €272 m.

Contact
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Curtis MacDonald
Investment Manager
Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2
53175 Bonn
Germany
Phone: +49 228 823001-00
Fax: +49 228 823000-50
info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de