Berlin-based private equity firm Gaius Capital has closed its first fund, Gaius Nachfolgekapital I, with €50 million in commitments. The firm focuses on helping small and medium-sized businesses in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH) manage ownership changes and business succession.
The fund attracted more investment than initially expected and reached its maximum fundraising target of €50 million. An additional €6 million was raised through a separate co-investment vehicle, bringing the total capital secured to €56 million.
Gaius Capital reached its final fundraising target just four months after its first close in June, when it had secured €40 million. The quick progress highlights strong investor interest in the firm’s approach to supporting business succession in the DACH region.
“We are very grateful to our investors for their trust and support throughout this journey. Reaching the final close at our hard cap, with significant demand from an experienced institutional investor base, is a strong endorsement of our strategy and the opportunity we see in Mittelstand succession,” said Jan Mickel, Founding Partner, Gaius Capital.
Founded in 2025 in Berlin by Mickel, Joscha Radeck and Dr. Lukas Klipper, Gaius Capital is an independent investment firm. It focuses on buying and growing small and medium-sized businesses through a strategy known as buy-and-build, which involves bringing several businesses together to build a larger group.
Gaius Capital works with businesses owned by founders and families to help them plan for a change in ownership. The firm mainly invests in profitable service companies and seeks majority ownership stakes, allowing it to support their long-term growth.
The firm focuses on insurance and financial services, industrial services, healthcare, and testing and inspection businesses across Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Through its Gaius Seller Consortium model, the firm also gives business owners the option to retain a financial stake in the combined group. This allows founders to benefit from the value created as their businesses grow together.
