On behalf of Saarland’s steel industry, SHS Ventures, a venture capital company, has acquired a stake in Mapudo GmbH, an independent trading platform for steel traders based in Düsseldorf.
The investment in the single digit million range has taken place along with two other investors, the NRW.Bank and HR Ventures, in order to finance Mapudo’s growth.
Founded in 2014, Mapudo is a promising e-commerce start-up in sales of steel products. With this participation, SHS Ventures intends to achieve an extension of the value chain within the SHS group as well as further impetus for both internal and external digitalisation. Dr Michael Müller, Chairman of the Board of SHS – Stahl-Holding-Saar GmbH&Co.KGaA, explained the reasons behind the commitment saying, “This participation suits our concept of further development as a technological leader.
With this step, we want to drive forward our activities in the fields of e-commerce and digitalisation of sales channels”. The Member of the Board at Saarstahl, responsible for Sales, Dr Klaus Richter, explained “Sales processes are becoming ever more varied, individual and flexible. We want to use Mapudo‘s digital know-how to be able to offer our customers the ideal mix of sales channels in the future too.”
“With the financing round concluded, we have the possibility to extend the technical development of our platform and thus further improve the product for our customers” says Sebastian Grethe, Managing Director at Mapudo GmbH. “In addition, we also have the possibility to place ourselves on a broader footing in the field of marketing in order to make the market place better known among steel consumers”, Grethe adds.
About SHS Ventures:
The investment company was founded by VSE AG and SHS – Stahl-Holding-Saar GmbH & Co. KGaA in February 2016. The aim is to identify and develop new business fields together for the location of the Saarland so as to be able to actively take part in current developments. In doing so, SHS Ventures targetedly contacts start-up companies both at home and abroad.
Ute Engel
Head of Public relations
Phone: +49 6898 102265
Fax: +49 6898 104014
ute.engel@stahl-holding-saar.de
Kontaktbild
Ulrike Jungmann
Public relations
Phone: +49 6898 102275
Fax: +49 6898 104014
ulrike.jungmann@stahl-holding-saar.de