The aircraft engine manufacturing industry in the DACH region is pivotal to aviation innovation and efficiency. Companies in this space range from established manufacturers to agile startups, focusing on technological advancements and sustainable solutions. They produce engines for commercial, military, and private aircraft while exploring eco-friendly alternatives such as hybrid and electric propulsion. Recent shifts towards sustainability and renewable energy sources are shaping investments and research within the sector, driven by increasing regulatory pressures and environmental consciousness. The future points towards enhanced collaboration among stakeholders to accelerate the development of next-gen aircraft technologies.


In 2024, a variety of investors have contributed significantly to the aircraft engine manufacturing sector in DACH. Notably, venture capital firms like Bayern Kapital and Earlybird Venture Capital have focused on innovative startups, while established corporations like Siemens and Wieland Group have leveraged their resources for strategic growth. These investors range from small teams to thousands of employees, with headquarters in cities like Munich and Berlin. Their extensive engagement highlights a commitment to advancing aerospace technologies, with many firms actively financing multiple deals in a year.


Top 11 Aircraft Engine Manufacturing Investors in DACH


1. Siemens

  • Website: siemens.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Munich, Bavaria, Germany
  • Founded year: 1847
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 11
  • LinkedIn: siemens

Siemens AG is a leading technology conglomerate based in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, specializing in industrial automation, energy solutions, rail transport, and health technology. Founded in 1847, Siemens operates globally with approximately 320,000 employees and significant revenue generation. Notably, Siemens has made strategic investments in the aerospace sector, including the acquisition of an 85% stake in Materials Solutions Ltd. in 2016, a company focused on 3D printing for gas turbines and aerospace systems. This acquisition enhances Siemens' capabilities in additive manufacturing, which is crucial for modern aircraft engine production. Additionally, Siemens has been involved in various other transactions, although they are not directly related to aircraft engines, the focus on aerospace systems in their investment portfolio highlights their relevance in this industry.


2. Bayern Kapital

  • Website: bayernkapital.de
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Landshut, Bavaria, Germany
  • Founded year: 1995
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 27
  • LinkedIn: bayern-kapital-gmbh

Bayern Kapital is a venture capital firm based in Landshut, Bavaria, Germany, founded in 1995. The firm specializes in providing investment and growth capital to innovative high-tech startups and scale-ups in Bavaria. Bayern Kapital supports its clients with financial resources and access to a network of industry experts, helping them navigate the challenges of growth and development in various sectors, including life sciences and software. Notably, Bayern Kapital has participated in significant funding rounds for companies like Isar Aerospace, which is focused on developing rocket engines and has completed numerous hot fire tests of its Aquila rocket engine. Their involvement in Isar Aerospace's Series C funding rounds, which aim to ramp up production and prepare for operational flights, highlights their commitment to the aerospace sector and positions them as a relevant investor in the aircraft engine manufacturing context.


3. Wieland Group

  • Website: wieland.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
  • Founded year: 1820
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: wielandgroup

Wieland Group is a corporate investor based in Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, specializing in the manufacturing of semi-finished products made from copper and copper alloys. Founded in 1820, the company has a long-standing history and operates globally with a strong emphasis on sustainability and innovation. In recent years, Wieland has made significant acquisitions to bolster its presence in the aerospace sector. Notably, they acquired Morgan Bronze Products, Inc., a manufacturer of precision machined parts, to enhance their manufacturing capabilities in North America, particularly for aerospace and defense applications. Additionally, their acquisition of Busby Metals, a leading provider of specialized copper-based alloys, further strengthens their aerospace product portfolio. These strategic moves demonstrate Wieland's commitment to expanding its influence in the aerospace industry, particularly in areas relevant to aircraft engine manufacturing.


4. Vsquared Ventures

  • Website: vsquared.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Munich, Bavaria, Germany
  • Founded year: 2020
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 12
  • LinkedIn: vsquared-ventures

Vsquared Ventures Management GmbH is a Munich-based venture capital firm founded in 2020, focusing on innovative startups across high-tech industries such as aerospace, quantum computing, and robotics. The firm is dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs by providing funding and resources to help scale transformative technologies that advance society. Among their notable transactions, Vsquared Ventures has invested in Vaeridion, which raised significant funding in 2024, and Morpheus Space, which is involved in aerospace technology. Most importantly, they participated in the Series C funding round for Isar Aerospace, a company that is developing rocket engines and has plans for operational flights, highlighting their commitment to the aerospace sector and technologies related to aircraft engines.


5. UVC Partners


UVC Partners is a venture capital firm based in Munich and Berlin, specializing in investing in B2B startups across Europe. Founded in 2011, the firm provides financial support and strategic guidance to early-stage companies, helping them grow in competitive markets. Their portfolio includes a diverse range of innovative startups in various sectors, including aerospace. Notably, UVC Partners has invested in Isar Aerospace, which raised significant funding in multiple rounds, including a Series C round where they raised approximately $69.6 million. Isar Aerospace is focused on developing rocket engines and has completed extensive testing of its Aquila rocket engine, indicating a strong commitment to aerospace technology. Additionally, UVC Partners invested in Lilium, which raised $192 million in a post-IPO equity round, focusing on eVTOL aircraft, further showcasing their engagement in the aerospace sector.


6. Earlybird Venture Capital


Earlybird Venture Capital is a venture capital firm based in Germany, founded in 1997, that specializes in investing in European technology innovators. They provide financial resources and strategic support to startups, particularly in the digital health and deep tech sectors. In recent years, Earlybird has made significant investments in the aerospace industry, including notable transactions such as a $69.6 million investment in Isar Aerospace in June 2024, a company focused on developing rocket engines and automated production capabilities. Additionally, they have invested in Lilium, which raised $114 million in May 2024 and is working on eVTOL aircraft, showcasing their commitment to advancing innovative technologies in aviation. These investments highlight Earlybird's role in nurturing early-stage companies that are pushing the boundaries of aerospace technology.


7. HV Capital

  • Website: hvcapital.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
  • Founded year: 2000
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 28
  • LinkedIn: hvventures

HV Capital is a venture capital firm based in Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, founded in 2000. With over €2.8 billion under management, HV Capital specializes in investing in digital companies and supporting entrepreneurs from seed stage to exit. In addition to their primary focus, they have also invested in companies within the aerospace sector, such as Isar Aerospace, which is developing rocket engines and has raised significant funding rounds, including €155 million in Series C funding in 2023. This involvement highlights HV Capital's capacity to engage with innovative technologies in the aerospace industry, further supporting their strategic guidance to startups across Europe.


8. Team Global


TEAM GLOBAL MANAGEMENT GmbH, based in Berlin, Germany, is a venture capital firm founded in 2008 that focuses on creating innovative solutions across various sectors, including air mobility, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence. The firm has been actively involved in funding companies that are pioneering advancements in air mobility, such as Volocopter, a German air taxi startup that has raised significant funding across multiple rounds, including a Series D round of over $242 million in March 2021. Additionally, Team Global led a Series A funding round for AutoFlight, a Shanghai-based eVTOL startup, which raised $100 million to scale cargo eVTOL production. These transactions highlight Team Global's commitment to investing in technologies that could influence the future of aircraft propulsion and mobility, making them a relevant player in the aircraft engine manufacturing landscape.


9. Deutsche Private Equity (DPE)


Deutsche Private Equity (DPE) is a private equity firm based in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, founded in 2007. The firm specializes in providing growth capital to medium-sized enterprises primarily in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. DPE focuses on fostering growth and creating sustainable corporate values for its portfolio companies, supporting them in expanding operations and achieving long-term success. Among its notable transactions, DPE acquired Air Alliance GmbH in January 2018, a company that serves as a certified dealer for aircraft manufacturers and offers maintenance and medical flight services. This acquisition highlights DPE's involvement in the aviation sector. Additionally, DPE has made other acquisitions, such as Bücker & Essing and Sill Optics, but the Air Alliance transaction is particularly relevant to the aircraft industry context.


10. Aenu

  • Website: aenu.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Founded year: 2022
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 9
  • LinkedIn: pirate-impact

AENU is a venture capital firm based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2022. The firm focuses on empowering climate tech founders by providing investment brokerage and advisory services, primarily targeting tech entrepreneurs addressing climate change and sustainability challenges in Europe. AENU aims to drive systemic change in venture capital through intentional investments in impactful technologies. Notably, Aenu has invested in ZeroAvia, which raised $30 million in Series B funding to develop hydrogen-powered aircraft engines, showcasing their commitment to advancing sustainable aviation technologies. Additionally, their involvement in other climate tech ventures, such as XFuel and AtmosZero, further emphasizes their focus on innovative solutions that could intersect with the aircraft engine manufacturing industry, particularly in the context of decarbonization and sustainability.


11. Zeno Ventures

  • Website: zenoventures.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Founded year: 2016
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: zeno-ventures

Zeno Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Geneva, Switzerland, founded in 2016. The firm specializes in private equity and venture capital, focusing on backing exceptional teams and investing in high-quality businesses across various sectors. Their clients primarily include institutional investors seeking exclusive investment opportunities while supporting portfolio companies in their growth and transformation efforts. Notably, Zeno Ventures participated in a $35 million Series A funding round for Heart Aerospace, a company dedicated to developing electric aircraft, which is directly relevant to the aircraft manufacturing industry. This investment highlights Zeno Ventures' engagement in the aerospace sector, alongside their other investments such as Spaceium and Applied Intuition, which, while not directly related to aircraft engines, showcase their diverse investment strategy.



Aircraft Engine Manufacturing Insights: Key Investors in DACH


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
SiemensMunich, Bavaria, Germany10001+184711
Bayern KapitalLandshut, Bavaria, Germany11-50199527
Wieland GroupUlm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany10001+18203
Vsquared VenturesMunich, Bavaria, Germany1-10202012
UVC PartnersGarching, Bavaria, Germany11-50201115
Earlybird Venture CapitalGermany51-200199729
HV CapitalFlensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany11-50200028
Team GlobalBerlin, Berlin, Germany11-5020080
Deutsche Private Equity (DPE)Munich, Bavaria, Germany51-20020072
AenuBerlin, Berlin, Germany11-5020229
Zeno VenturesGeneva, Geneva, Switzerland1-1020163


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