Contents

PARTNERSHIPS

ACE Alternatives secures major investment from Kneip to expand tech and geographic reach

Published date:  6 August 2024   |  5-Min Read

Aug 1, 2024 – Berlin, Germany – ACE Alternatives (‘ACE’), Europe’s fastest-growing alternative asset fund service provider, announces a significant seven-figure seed round (2) investment from Bob Kneip, who also joins as Chairman of the Advisory Board. This investment will drive ACE’s expansion into new markets and the enhancement of its tech offerings.

Use of proceeds

  • Expanding operations into Luxembourg and Ireland, leading fund domiciles.
  • Targeting the underserved DACH equity market.
  • Enhancing AI capabilities, including LLM-based report scripting and Portfolio Valuation services, to improve offerings for GPs and LPs.
  • Accelerating the roll-out of ACE’s advanced Suite7 expert software solutions, focusing on process automation and data connectivity.
  • Attracting top-tier talent to support a rapidly growing customer base.
  • Launching add-on services focused on the downstream market; including accounting and reporting for fund portfolio companies by 2025.

This investment follows a period of exceptional growth for ACE Alternatives, with over 200% year-over-year increases in revenues and assets under service. Over 50% of new clients come from referrals with recent additions including notable fund managers like VSquared; Matterwave; Nucleus; altitude; Identity.vc; and Emergence.

Quote from Nucleus Capital

Isabella Fandrych, Managing Partner of Nucleus Capital, which recently closed its Fund Nucleus II with significant backing from KfW and other top institutional investors, commented:

The ACE team and platform services have already proven to be a significant value for us and a real strategic asset. Our investor onboarding and fund closing process has been complex and tightly scheduled – the ACE team has been extremely supportive and proactive, making this fast-closing process possible.

Quote from Matias Collan

Matias Collan, Founder and CEO of ACE Alternatives, expressed his enthusiasm:

This partnership with Bob Kneip is a major milestone for us. Bob is a highly accomplished entrepreneur who, over a tenure of more than 25 years, built Kneip Communication into an international market leader in financial information services for investment funds and transformed it into a digital information service company.

Therefore, it was only natural to invite Bob to become Chairman of our Advisory Board. In this role, he will support the ACE management in an advisory capacity and share his extensive experience in product strategies, operational growth, and international expansion.

With his strong roots and excellent networks in Luxembourg, as well as in Ireland, the UK, and other international markets relevant for ACE, Bob will be an important senior ambassador for ACE in the future.

As part of the strategic expansion plan, Felix von der Planitz joined ACE Alternatives as Co-CEO on July 1st. A former PwC Senior Partner and Head of Tax Compliance in Germany, Felix will co-lead the new ACE Tax Unit with Matias. This move strengthens ACE’s senior leadership and expands its expertise and service offerings.

Quote from Bob Kneip

Bob Kneip, speaking on his investment in ACE Alternatives, said:

My investment in ACE Alternatives emphasizes the transformative potential of their technology-driven approach. ACE Alternatives is at the forefront of the digital revolution within the alternative investment industry.

The platform is designed to provide enhanced clarity, efficiency, and transparency in processes and information for both limited partners (LPs) and general partners (GPs). This innovative approach is intended to streamline fund management activities, improve data delivery, and facilitate seamless communication between fund managers and investors. This what the market is craving!

Quote from altitude.vc

Echoing this sentiment, Marc Penkala, Managing Partner of the German early-stage investor altitude, noted:

With increasing customer-side demand for high-quality tech-driven fund services, ACE has defined a new gold standard for fund administration services – thanks to its great combination of top-notch experts and service-oriented technology.

Quote from Emergence Ventures

Similarly, Benedikt Franke, Managing Partner of ACEs recently signed on client, Emergence Ventures, said:

ACE has been instrumental in providing a full suite of services, from expertise in ESG/SFDR and Tax to advanced fund administration technology, and personalized assistance in accounting and operations. With ACE Alternatives, we can lean into years of experience and a great digital toolkit to take care of all our fund requirements, allowing us to focus on generating value.

About ACE Alternatives

ACE Alternatives, a leader in managed services for the Alternative Assets sector, specializes in venture capital, private equity, fund of funds, private real estate, and more. Leveraging tech-driven processes and extensive industry experience, ACE offers tailored solutions for fund administration, compliance and regulatory, tax and accounting, investor onboarding and ESG needs.

Our vision is to redefine fund management standards with data-driven processes, combining advanced technology with deep industry knowledge. We are committed to demystifying complex fund operations, promoting transparency, and achieving sustained growth across the fund lifecycle.

About Kneip

Kneip is a leader in fund data management and reporting solutions for the asset management industry. Kneip empowers clients to efficiently manage their data and ensure compliance in a constantly evolving regulatory landscape. Kneip’s comprehensive solutions simplify the fund lifecycle, enabling clients to reduce risks, control costs, and focus on delivering optimal returns to their investors. Since 2022, Kneip has been part of Clearstream and Deutsche Börse Group. Kneip Management S.A., former owner of Kneip, acts as a single-family office with focus on investing in the asset servicing industry.

 

Rhea Colaso Media Contact

Rhea Colaso

VP of Experience, ACE Alternatives