GREEN
INDUSTRY
MADE IN GERMANY
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Next technologies for economic change
1886Ventures is a group of companies who build and launch the next generation of sustainable and digital products and ventures to provide long-term value. With next technologies we find solutions for the biggest challenges of our generation - a sustainable future.
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1886Ventures was founded in 2007 as the Mercedes-Benz innovation unit – an innovation pioneer in the automobile industry. Since then we have executed over 100 innovation projects, founded 13 new business units and 22 start-ups.
We are driven by inventing and implementing sustainable transformation technologies. We build game-changing sustainable products and ventures to create growth opportunities for us and our partners. Our portfolio consists of companies in the area of decarbonization, circular economy and sustainable mobility.
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Our Managing Partner Team
Our Managing Partner Team combines industry expertise and software competence with entrepreneurship and many years of innovation know-how.
Ulrich Dietz - Managing Partner
Entrepreneur, Founder and Digital Pioneer. Founder GFT Technology SE, 1999 IPO of GFT, Chairman of the Board of Directors GFT, Vice President BITCOM, CEO RB Capital GmbH
Dr. Markus Kerber - Managing Partner
Dr. Markus Kerber is a former State Secretary of the German Federal Government and former Chief Executive Officer of the Federation of German Industries. He was also an investment banker and former CFO of the German IT service provider GFT Technologie SE. In this function he accompanied the IPO of the Stuttgart-based company.
Kai Siebert - Managing Partner
Finance and M&A Expert. Former Director Finance Daimler AG Headquarter, Stuttgart. Former Director Corporate Controlling Mercedes-Benz AG und Daimler AG Headquarter, Stuttgart. Former CFO Mercedes-Benz AMG GmbH
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We are backed by a world class industrie partner as well as privat investors and VC´s. They all share the same vision of the employees of 1886Ventures to solve global problems through next technologies - Made in Germany.
Holding Company owned by entrepreneur, founder and Digital pioneer Ulrich Dietz
The Management-Team at 1886Ventures
Investment-Banker and M&A Expert
Strategic shareholder. Financial expert, former State Secretary of the Federal Government and former Chief Executive Officer of "The Federation of German Industries".
On January 29, 1886, Carl Benz applied for a patent on his "gas-powered vehicle". This was the day the automobile was born. Later the same year, independently of Benz, Gottlieb Daimler built his motorized carriage. Thus it was that 1886 marked the beginning of the Mercedes-Benz success story – now 135years old and still counting. We have built upon on this heritage. Initially launched as an in-house innovation lab in 2007 – known as Lab1886 – we helped Mercedes-Benz AG to develop new business models. In more than a decade, various ideas have been transformed into viable businesses. Some of the most impactful projects realized are car2go, moovel, Mercedes me, and Mercedes-Benz Genuine Remanufactured Parts.
We were born at the heart of Mercedes-Benz in 2007 as their innovation department, we transformed ourselves in 2020 into 1886Ventures, the innovation platform for building companies, that will set future standards in the industry. We have a corporate and entrepreneurial background and understand the pitfalls of corporate innovation.
Initially launched as an in-house innovation lab in 2007 – known as Lab1886 – we helped Mercedes-Benz AG to develop new business models. In more than a decade, various ideas have been transformed into viable businesses. Some of the most impactful projects realized are car2go, moovel, Mercedes me, and Mercedes-Benz Genuine Remanufactured Parts.
Car2Go
Car2Go was a car-sharing platform from Mercedes-Benz, launched in October 2008. In February 2019 Mercedes-Benz and BMW joined car-sharing forces and founded SHARE NOW. Today it provides over 11,000 vehicles in 16 cities in 8 countries across Europe.
Mercedes me
Mercedes me was invented in 2014 and connects your Mercedes with your smartphone, your home, and practical digital functions and services that make your everyday life easier.
Volocopter
In 2016 we were discussing the all-new vertical and take-off landing segment and the potential for Mercedes-Benz. In 2017 we started a cooperation with and investment in Volocopter, the German startup leader in this field. Nowadays Volocopter is a Dollar Unicorn.
