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Kloeckner.v
Kloeckner.v was formed in 2015 by Kloeckner & Co SE, the Duisburg-headquartered steel distribution group now led by CEO Guido Kerkhoff.
Kloeckner.v
Kloeckner.v was formed in 2015 by Kloeckner & Co SE, the Duisburg-headquartered steel distribution group now led by CEO Guido Kerkhoff. Rather than functioning as a standalone fund, the venture arm was purpose-built to accelerate the parent company's digital transformation, sourcing and backing startups whose technology integrates directly into Kloeckner's operations. The unit pursues a corporate venture capital model focused on early-stage, B2B industrial technology. Target segments include digital procurement platforms, AI-driven supply-chain optimization, smart logistics, and steel-industry software. Kloeckner.v typically invests through direct minority equity stakes, often syndicating with other corporate venture arms and early-stage institutional funds. Known portfolio companies include Berlin-based steel trading platform Fabrikado, which Kloeckner incubated and then led a €3 million seed round for in 2019; and XOM Materials, a Berlin marketplace for metals and chemicals, where Kloeckner.v co-invested alongside other strategic backers. Deployments concentrate on German-speaking Europe, with secondary reach into broader European industrial ecosystems. Kloeckner.v sits organizationally under the parent company Kloeckner & Co, sharing resources and strategic direction with the industrial group's broader operations. The parent firm reported revenues of approximately €7.0 billion in fiscal 2025, with the venture unit contributing to the group's digital-first strategy. The team size remains undisclosed. In August 2024, Kloeckner & Co publicly reported further progress in its digital sales channels, a function that its venture arm actively supports through portfolio company partnerships. The structural distinction lies in tight integration: Kloeckner.v does not function as a financial-return-maximizer but as a technology-onboarding arm for a specific industrial supply chain. Its investees are lines of code inside their parent's own distribution network, making it a genuine strategic venture vehicle rather than a generic corporate VC.
General information
Firm type
Private Equity
Year founded
2015
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Europe
Country
Germany
City
Berlin
Corporate office
Berlin, Germany
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What is the relationship between Kloeckner.v and Kloeckner & Co?
Kloeckner.v is the wholly owned corporate venture capital arm of Kloeckner & Co SE, a publicly listed global steel and metals distributor. It was established specifically to drive the parent company's digital strategy by investing in startups whose technologies can be integrated into Kloeckner's supply chain, procurement, and customer-facing operations. Unlike independent VCs, its investment mandates align directly with the industrial group's operational needs.
What types of companies does Kloeckner.v invest in?
Kloeckner.v targets early-stage B2B industrial technology companies, focusing on digital procurement platforms, AI-driven supply-chain and logistics software, and tools for steel processing and metals distribution. It typically makes direct minority equity investments and has backed firms such as XOM Materials, a digital B2B marketplace for metals and chemicals, and Fabrikado, a steel trading platform.
Is Kloeckner.v a conventional financial venture capital fund?
No. Kloeckner.v is a corporate venture capital vehicle, meaning it prioritizes strategic integration over pure financial return. Portfolio companies gain access to Kloeckner & Co's distribution network, customer base, and industry expertise, while Kloeckner gains technology to digitize its own operations. This hybrid posture distinguishes it from independent, limited-partner-driven venture funds.
Where does Kloeckner.v primarily deploy capital?
Kloeckner.v invests primarily in startups based in German-speaking Europe, with its headquarters in Berlin and close proximity to the parent company's industrial base in Duisburg. While German and Austrian firms form the core, the unit occasionally explores opportunities in wider European industrial-tech ecosystems that align with Kloeckner's operational footprint.
Does Kloeckner.v make fund commitments or only direct investments?
Kloeckner.v's known posture is direct equity investing in startups, often leading or co-leading seed rounds alongside other corporate venture arms and institutional investors. There is no public record of the unit making fund-of-fund commitments or acting as a limited partner in independent VC funds.
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