Enise Arslan studied business administration in Vallendar and Hong Kong, where she gained extensive work experience. Her activities ranged from sales and business development in technology companies to venture capital, corporate strategy, transaction consulting, global macro investments and her own ventures. Most recently, she worked as an endowment fund manager at a Berlin university, supported an AI start-up and expanded a family-run hotel business. She joined the Abacus alpha investment team in January 2024, where she identifies and evaluates new investment opportunities, supports existing investments and makes valuable contacts from her diverse network.

She is particularly fascinated by Abacus alpha's strong technology, industry and innovation-oriented investment focus. "I want to be surrounded by people I respect both for their humanity and their expertise, and I have found both at Abacus alpha." In her free time, Enise Arslan is active in sports, enjoys listening to techno and sings in the philharmonic choir.

After he graduated with a degree in business informatics, Bertold Biffar’s first position was as a consultant for the Boston Consulting Group. His proclivity for all things technical soon led him in the direction of mechanical and automotive engineering. He accomplished two successful buy-ins and exits in this market sector as a managing director and company member. Since then, Bertold Biffar has worked in this area both as entrepreneur and advisor.

In addition, he has served at Abacus alpha since 2010. As a co-investor and associate partner, he enriches the company by contributing his expertise and experience to the investment management team – in transactions as well in support of portfolio companies. In his free time, he indulges his interest in technology and enjoys endurance sports: running, swimming and cycling.

Contact partner for the portfolio companies AddVolt S.A. and Fireboard GmbH

Franz Burghagen, a native of Dresden, grew up in Berlin Mitte. After completing his high school education, he began studying industrial engineering for mechanical engineering, which he interrupted to pursue a scholarship in the U.S.A. There, he dedicated himself to competitive athletics in track and field before resuming his studies in business economics.

Following the completion of his MBA, Franz Burghagen worked for several years in the United States. Initially, he served as an Institutional Client Services Support Analyst at McKinley Capital Management, and later as a Project Manager Consultant for a U.S. bank. Returning to Germany some years ago, he pursued a Master of Applied Data Science program at the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.

During this period, he gained practical experience through internships at various companies, including KPMG's Deal Advisory, KPMG's Lighthouse, and, most recently, at Lafayette Mittelstand Capital. These experiences fueled his enthusiasm for all aspects of Private Equity.

Franz Burghagen has been a member of the Investment Management team since the beginning of 2024. In this position, he deals with potential investments in the areas of mechanical engineering, metal processing, digitalization, IT infrastructure and AI-supported solutions. What he particularly likes about working at Abacus alpha is the openness, humanity and professional commitment of his colleagues, which is consistently practiced from the first contact to the day-to-day collaboration with portfolio companies and advisors.

Following many years working in one of Abacus alpha’s portfolio companies, Dieter Cullmann made the move to Abacus alpha in summer 2020 to become a Project Manager in our investment management team. With a Master’s degree in engineering, he provides expertise on all aspects of automation and digitisation as well as professional knowledge regarding the organisation and development of high-yield engineering enterprises. In addition, he has been Abacus' Chief Digital Officer (CDO) since 01.06.2021. His goal is to drive the transformation from analogue to digital processes both at Abacus alpha GmbH and in the group and to actively shape, accompany and manage this digital transformation. One main focus is on the intelligent use of digital tools, platforms, technologies and business models.

What does he value most about working at Abacus alpha? ‘I feel my work is varied, interesting and geared for the long term. At the same time, I value the cooperative collaboration in a strong team.’

Konstantin Emich has been with Abacus alpha since October 01, 2023. The business administration graduate (FH) and investment controller has extensive knowledge in the preparation of reports, corporate planning and analyses. His professional journey began with a tax consultant before working for several years in industry at a medium-sized company specializing in the supply of household appliances and the recycling and metal trading industry.

What Konstantin Emich particularly likes about his work is that he always encounters a variety of different companies from different sectors. He also enjoys working and interacting with the various people from the Abacus alpha Group.

His passion for the mountains always takes him to Austria in his free time, where he likes to enjoy the beauty of nature while hiking. He can also often be found on the tennis court.

After training for a banking career, Thomas Götzmann earned a degree in business administration. His career then progressed from corporate accounts executive with a major German bank – including an assignment in the bank’s London office – to a CFO position with an international service company in the pharmaceuticals industry. Since 2010, Thomas Götzmann has been a member of the business management team at Abacus alpha. This highly qualified banking executive holds responsibility for the areas of finance, accounting and business control. Additional responsibilities include supporting and negotiating M&A transactions.

In his work at Abacus alpha, Thomas Götzmann particularly values working with such a professional team and the friendly, open atmosphere. His maxim is ‘not to take myself too seriously and to question things at all times’. When not at work, he enjoys reading a good book, playing golf and tennis and taking a relaxing morning walk with his dog, Sammy.

Contact partner for the following portfolio companies: ASB Systembau Horst Babinsky GmbH, ASB Rental Solutions GmbH, Abacus Experten GmbH, Ludwig Heuse GmbH, Salinnova GmbH

After graduating from high school and completing her training as a commercial assistant, Maria Hibinger worked for several years in the industrial and retail sector, including as a team assistant, visual merchandiser manager and department manager. Since February 2023 she strengthens the assistance team at Abacus alpha, with a special focus on M&A projects, investment management and supporting the investment management team.

What she particularly appreciates about her work at Abacus: "the variety of topics and the great colleagues".

Having grown up in a small village in the Palatinate, Maria Hibinger now enjoys discovering the world with her husband and son. It doesn't matter how near or far a destination is, because "home is where the family is.

After completing his degree in business management in Mainz and Mannheim, Frank Hüther embarked on a traineeship at a German industry association. He then entered the family business, a mechanical engineering and plant construction company in the industrial services sector. Further positions included service as a member of the management team in a group company and as Managing Director of an industry association. Frank Hüther joined Abacus alpha in 2014 as sales and marketing director and investment manager. Since 2016, he has also served as Abacus alpha’s Managing Director. He summarises his professional outlook in this way: ‘I identify completely with the strategic aims and values of the company, and I have an exceptional team around me with respect to both expertise and personal qualities.’

Frank Hüther is actively involved in volunteering. He balances all this by relaxing with his family, cooking and enjoying a morning swim. His motto: to succeed, you need to move out of your comfort zone.

Contact partner for the following portfolio companies: airinotec GmbH and Jumag GmbH

Heiko Jopp has a doctorate in mechanical engineering. After graduating from Kaiserslautern University, he began his career in Chemical Plant Construction and progressed to a management role with supervisory responsibilities. Heiko Jopp is characterised by great technical expertise and entrepreneurial know-how, particularly in regard to due diligence and post-merger processes. Most recently, he was engaged as a Department Manager and Deputy Head of Engineering for a company involved in Petrochemical Plant Construction. In this role, he successfully integrated two geographically separated business units into the established Engineering organisation as part of a post-merger process.

Since September 2020, Heiko Jopp has been supporting the Abacus alpha team. His role here is evaluating the technologies of investments or investment opportunities and identifying synergy potentials. He is also active in scouting new technology fields and overseeing various investee companies. His motivation: “I really enjoy the wide range of technological subjects and the personal interaction with people from our investee companies.” In his free time, Heiko especially enjoys music; he plays clarinet and trombone.

Contact partner for the following portfolio companies: AIM Service Italia S.r.l., Autec Softwareentwicklung & Hardwareplanung GmbH, VinRoc Solutions GmbH, VSR Elektrotechnik GmbH

‘At Abacus alpha, the team spirit is just unbeatable,’ says Christina Kronauer. She worked for many years as a multilingual administrative assistant to the management boards of various multinational companies. In her role as team assistant at Abacus alpha, she has provided support to the management team, administration and investment management team since 2019. A native of Frankenthal, she originally came to the company as a temporary replacement. Her energy, dynamism and openness have now earned her a firm place on the team.

In her free time, Christina Kronauer is a painter and jewellery designer. She has also used her creativity on behalf of Abacus alpha in such activities as the organisation of company events and the redesign of our office space at the start of 2020. She lives by the words of French writer Nicolas Chamfort (1741-1794): ‘A day without laughter is a day wasted.’

Following completion of her business management degree, Sladjana Obadovic worked for several years in management consultancy before joining Abacus alpha in 2008. Using her business training, she established the company’s control area, becoming its director in 2015. She sees her role in this process as bringing the objectives and plans of all the portfolio partners together to form a synchronised whole, supporting each company’s own individual development. Her motivation – ‘I enjoy my work here because Abacus alpha is unique – a community of different businesses from very distinct sectors, all linked and unified through collegiality, common humanity and our shared vision for the future.’

Sladjana Obadovic has a talent for bringing together apparently disparate things. When asked for a maxim, she quotes Morticia Addams from the Addams Family: ‘Black is such a happy colour.’ This eloquent family woman frequently amazes the team with her broad and detailed knowledge of facts and figures concerning the Abacus alpha portfolio.

Lukas Pohl describes himself as a "dynamic team player with an enthusiasm for technology". This enthusiasm is evidenced not only by his Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering and a Master's degree in Technical Economics (both from KIT), but also by his professional experience in various companies, including in the areas of process/project/knowledge management, future technologies and mechanical engineering. Since January 2022, he has been contributing to Abacus alpha as a member of the investment management team in finding and evaluating investment opportunities, assisting in transactions and exploring potential start-ups. As investment manager he is the contact person for Abacus Resale GmbH and supports his colleagues in the management of our investments airinotec GmbH and Personal Hub Holding GmbH.

Lukas Pohl likes his work at Abacus alpha because "we are a great team that analyzes a wide variety of companies together - which allows us to learn a lot and ultimately make a difference." - One way to achieve his goal of contributing to the technological advancement of the world.

Contact for the portfolio company Abacus Resale GmbH

After completing banking training, Carolin Sperandio worked for many years as an assistant and clerk in the private and university sectors. Since August 2020, she has been a Team Assistant at Abacus alpha, providing day-to-day business support to the investment manager and our portfolio companies.

She is keen on sport and nature, volunteers in her free time for animal protection causes and enjoys time at home with her dog Nala. Carolin Sperandio has a maxim she follows in her life and actions: ‘Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can´t help them, at least don´t hurt them.“ (The Dalai Lama)

Laura Stoll followed up her dual degree in accounting and control with a Master of Arts at Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences. Since 2017, she has been responsible for subsidiaries control at Abacus alpha. Laura Stoll supports our portfolio companies with operational and strategic control in company planning as well as in specialised business areas.

A highly qualified expert, she is able to get to the heart of an issue and knows the right questions to ask, as reflected in her maxim: ‘If you don’t ask the question, then the answer is always “No”!’ In her free time, Laura Stoll, a cheerful soul from Rhineland-Palatinate, is active in pursuing the local tradition of the ‘Fasnachts-Hexen’ - the Carnival Witches – thereby supporting a non-profit enterprise. The team at Abacus alpha occasionally benefits from her love of baking.

After completing her bachelor's degree in "International Human Resources Management and Organization (B.A.)", Petya Tantcheva worked for several years in the field of recruiting and HR management. Since July 2023, she has been applying her expertise as a personnel officer for Abacus alpha and as a contact person for HR topics for the Abacus Group. Petya Tantcheva is particularly interested in process optimization, solution finding and good teamwork.

Born in the beautiful city of Plovdiv (Bulgaria), Petya Tantcheva, who lives in the Palatinate region of Germany, is able to put her organizational skills to good use, as well as in family management: for example, as a "mommy cab" for her kids or when traveling. Petya Tantcheva is relaxed about the fact that she doesn't have time for her sewing hobby at the moment - true to her motto: "Everything that happens, happens for a good reason.

Philipp Weidinger first completed his bachelor degree in media studies before building up approximately 5 years of professional experience in the agency industry (as a digital project manager with a focus on websites, SEO and paid ads). He then moved to the Abacus Group, where he was responsible for the exciting task of a brand and website relaunch at the Bayreuth-based portfolio company airinotec. After airinotec was equipped for the future in terms of marketing, he moved to Abacus alpha in March 2023 as a marketing consultant, where he additionally supports the Abacus Group companies in the area of marketing.

What he particularly likes about his job: "The extremely diverse range of tasks, the modern way of working and the high level of personal responsibility. In addition, the working atmosphere at Abacus alpha is excellent and I benefit greatly from the nice and competent colleagues."

Philipp Weidinger lives and works in Bayreuth. He likes to spend his free time with his friends or on the tennis court. At home, he enjoys watching movies, playing video games and listening to music - preferably while eating Italian food!

After completing her business management training, Karina Zeitz chose to gain initial experience working in direct sales for a company in the sports sector. After further training as a multilingual administrative assistant, she worked for many years in the role of assistant to management boards, including at an international engineering company and a tax consultancy. Originally from Lower Franconia in Bavaria, she found her professional home in 2008 at Abacus alpha. In 2017, after gaining her professional qualification as a business administrator, she assumed the role of supporting Abacus alpha and the portfolio companies in their sales and marketing activities.

‘At Abacus alpha, you are challenged and also given the chance to progress,’ says Karina Zeitz. ‘I like the way that all of us, from the team to all the companies, consider ourselves to be one community and that I can actively contribute to its success as part of this whole.’ Outside work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, going to concerts and travelling – and sometimes doing all these at once. In addition, she likes fluffy furry animals and hard guitar riffs.