From Google deep dives to AI-driven sourcing
Before Inven, Investment Associate Jens Sauer and Investment Analyst Thomas Archer relied on a patchwork of tools. They conducted website deep dives, pieced together information, and used Google Translate to decode foreign-language content as part of their company research.
“We’d pick a sector, manually compile lists, inspect websites, and use translation tools – anything we could to figure out if a company matched our thesis,” explains Thomas. “It worked, but it wasn’t scalable.”
Although Lexar's deal sourcing was advanced for a young PE firm, it wasn’t fully automated. This presented a clear opportunity to increase automation and strengthen their tech-forward strategy.
Turning the corner with Inven
When Thomas and Jens first heard about Inven, they approached it with caution. “We'd tested other tools before, but they never gained traction internally. However, Inven was different right away,” Jens recalls.
After a short pilot phase, the entire Lexar team – from interns to senior partners – wanted access.
Six use cases, one streamlined workflow
To introduce Inven internally, Thomas and Jens identified six core use cases ranging from industry analysis and buy-and-build strategies to preparing exits. Previously, compiling a targeted list could take half a day to a full day of work. With Inven, this was reduced dramatically.
“We go from nothing to a clean, enriched, and actionable list in just 15–30 minutes,” says Thomas. “And with the integrations in play, we can start an outreach right away.”
This straightforward workflow – prompt, list, collaborate – quickly became second nature. Analysts and interns could continue each other's tasks, significantly accelerating outreach.
Results: 10x faster sourcing and more meetings
The most significant impact for Lexar was the increased momentum in their deal sourcing efforts. They’re not only finding more companies but also engaging with them earlier in the process.
“In the past, one search could drag out over several weeks. Now, searching is part of a weekly sourcing routine: every Friday morning, the whole team jumps in to identify and share new lists,” says Thomas.
The result? Sourcing became 10x faster, which directly translates into more meetings and better opportunities. Proprietary sourcing remains one of the key drivers behind Lexar’s most successful transactions. By reaching founders earlier and with more relevance, the team consistently unlocks deal conversations that other investors miss.
What sets Inven apart?
Compared to alternative tools, Inven's global reach and search accuracy stand out.
“With Inven, we’re consistently able to find exactly the companies we’re looking for, even when searching highly specific or niche topics. The results are impressive.”
Thomas adds, “With a U.S. competitor, we struggled to effectively search internationally. Inven solves that, providing relevant results across languages and regions.”
"Overall, it’s the intuitive workflow and collaborative capabilities that really power our efficiency,” Thomas concludes.
How Lexar gets the most out of Inven
An essential step in successful adoption was helping the team master effective prompts. “Early on, some results were too generic, mostly due to unclear prompting. So, we created an internal guide covering best practices like keyword choice and country filters. That quickly boosted quality,” explains Thomas.
The future of AI-native deal sourcing
For Lexar, Inven is a core part of their PE 2.0 playbook.
Every new team member begins using the platform immediately. With Inven, Lexar has embedded AI-native sourcing into its core operations, combining speed, accuracy, and proprietary reach in line with the firm’s forward-looking investment strategy.
“It’s fully integrated into how we work,” says Thomas.
About Lexar Partners
Lexar Partners is a Netherlands-based private equity firm focused on investing in and scaling ambitious software and technology-enabled businesses across Europe. From day one, the firm has built and relied on a large internal tech stack, applying the same digital-first mindset it looks for in its portfolio.
