FinLab AG: FinLab AG acquires majority stake of 60% in crowdfunding platform Venturate AG

FinLab AG acquires majority stake of 60% in crowdfunding platform Venturate AG

Frankfurt am Main, February 20^th, 2015

FinLab AG (ISIN DE0001218063) is pleased to announce that it has acquired a majority stake of 60% of Munich-based crowdfunding platform Venturate AG.

In addition, an upper 6-digit Euro-figure will be invested into the further expansion, which will be mainly used to develop an integrated investment-platform for retail investors. From the existing founders' team, board member Alexander Lasslop, René Seifert as well as supervisory board member Felix Haas will remain with the company. Berlin-based entrepreneur and business angel Ron Hillman will be added to the management team in charge for dealflow and online-marketing.

Venturate AG has been founded in August 2013 by Andreas Hörr, Alexander Lasslop, René Seifert, Prof. Dr. Dr. Claudius Schikora and Felix Haas and went live in January 2014. One year later, the company has established itself as a well received matchmaker between start-ups and investors in the German start-up eco-system. To date, the platform boasts more than 500 qualified investors (business angels, venture capitalists and corporates) as well as 400 registered start-ups. Numerous start-ups were able to successfully close their funding rounds thanks to Venturate. Moreover, Venturate was able to forge partnerships with leading incubator- and accelerator-programmes like Microsoft, ProSiebenSat.1 or Hubraum as well as with renowned entrepreneurship-programmes from various universities across Germany.

Partnering with FinLab, also the St. Gallen-based Club Deal AG has acquired a share of around 20% in Venturate.

"We feel honored that our progress has convinced such acknowledged investors like FinLab AG and Club Deal AG and we are very much looking forward to a powerful cooperation in the future", says Alexander Lasslop, member of the board at Venturate AG. "For us as FinLab, Venturate is a perfect fit for our portfolio. We very much believe in the future of crowdfunding and we are sure that we can add value with our hands-on, company builder approach", comments Stefan Schütze, member of the board at FinLab AG, on the strategic intent for the investment. Jeanette Marschner, board member of Swiss-based Club Deal AG adds: "For us as a business angel club and family office Venturate is a natural extension of our existing investment-activity."

About FinLab AG:
Stock market listed company FinLab AG (WKN 121806 / ISIN DE0001218063 / ticker symbol: A7A) is one of the first and largest company builders and investors focused on the Financial Services Technologies ("fintech") sector. FinLab focuses on developing German fintech start-ups and providing venture capital for their financial needs, whereas in each case the aim is a long-term participation and ongoing support of the investment. FinLab also invests globally, as part of venture rounds, in fintech companies, primarily in the USA and Asia.