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EW Group
EW Group is the Munich-based single-family office for Hasso Plattner, the co-founder of SAP SE.
EW Group
EW Group serves as the Munich-based investment entity for Hasso Plattner, the co-founder of SAP SE and one of Europe's most significant technology fortunes. Plattner's wealth stems from his role in building SAP into the world's largest enterprise application software company. The office manages a concentrated portfolio that reflects Plattner's deep technical background and long-term investment horizon. The firm deploys capital primarily into enterprise software, digital health, and venture-stage technology companies. Its most prominent holding is a substantial stake in SAP SE itself, which anchors the portfolio. Beyond the anchor position, EW Group has made direct venture investments into companies aligned with Plattner's interests in enterprise IT and health innovation. Confirmed portfolio companies include C4D, an enterprise design-thinking consultancy, and historically stakes in SaaS and cloud infrastructure businesses. The office invests globally, with an emphasis on German and North American technology ecosystems. The office also oversees the Hasso Plattner Foundation, which is the primary vehicle for Plattner's philanthropic commitments. In January 2024, the foundation announced a major commitment to fund a new art museum in Potsdam, the Museum Barberini, which Plattner personally backed with over €100 million to house his East German art collection. The investment office and foundation operate with a lean structure typical of European single-family offices, with key advisors working closely with Plattner on both for-profit and philanthropic allocations. EW Group's structure as a single-family office tied to a living founder creates an unusually direct line from technical operating expertise to investment decisions. Unlike multi-generational European family offices that often professionalize into fund-of-funds models, EW Group maintains a concentrated posture where alignment with Plattner's own history in enterprise software guides deployment. The office represents a slice of European tech wealth that retains the imprint of its founder's specific domain expertise.
General information
Firm type
Single Family Office
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Europe
Country
Germany
City
Munich
Corporate office
Munich, Germany
Principals
Hasso Plattner
Beneficial owner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How is EW Group related to Hasso Plattner?
EW Group is the primary investment entity for Hasso Plattner, the co-founder of SAP SE. Plattner's wealth originates from his role in building SAP into Europe's largest software company. The office manages his for-profit investments in parallel with the Hasso Plattner Foundation, which handles his philanthropic activities.
What does EW Group invest in?
The office concentrates on enterprise software and digital health ventures, reflecting Plattner's own deep background in enterprise IT. Portfolio holdings include a significant anchor stake in SAP SE alongside direct venture investments in companies like C4D, a design-thinking consultancy. The office combines public equity in SAP with private venture-capital deployments.
Does EW Group invest in funds or only directly?
EW Group traditionally favors direct investments, consistent with Plattner's concentrated investment philosophy. The office is not known to operate as a fund-of-funds or to participate extensively in LP commitments to external venture managers. Investment decisions flow through a lean advisory structure closely aligned with Plattner himself.
How is the Hasso Plattner Foundation related to EW Group?
The Hasso Plattner Foundation is Plattner's philanthropic vehicle, operating alongside EW Group for charitable allocations. Its major initiatives include funding the Museum Barberini in Potsdam and the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Engineering. The two entities are structurally adjacent but serve distinct mandates, with the investment office focusing on for-profit capital and the foundation on philanthropy.
What stage does EW Group target for venture investments?
EW Group invests across venture stages but shows a preference for early- to growth-stage enterprise technology and digital health companies. Specific investment-stage disclosures are limited, as the office does not publicly market its deployment strategy. Its known venture positions suggest a long-term holding approach consistent with single-family office timelines.
Is EW Group open to co-investments with external partners?
There is no public record of EW Group advertising a co-investment program or actively seeking external co-investors on deals. The office appears to operate with a closed, direct-investment posture characteristic of single-family offices managing concentrated, founder-derived wealth.
Who runs investment decisions at EW Group?
Hasso Plattner is the beneficial owner and the ultimate decision-maker on investment strategy. The office operates with a small team of advisors and investment professionals based in Munich, but specific investment-committee structure or named investment leads beyond Plattner are not publicly disclosed.
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