The Audi e-tron Foil - The Next Big Thing in Lifestyle Water Sports
Aerofoils GmbH takes off with growth capital: FIL Bros. Capital GmbH, based in Kitzbühel, joins the Garching-based spin-off of AUDI AG in a Series A funding round.
Munich, June 2023 - Aerofoils GmbH, the manufacturer of the world's first jet-powered e-foil, the Audi e-tron Foil, announced the Series A capital increase by the family office of Tom Schröder.
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Figure 1: Audi e-tron Foil by Aerofoils
Founded by Dr. Christian Rössler and Franz Hofmann, Aerofoils has been in the market since 2022 with electric hydrofoil surfboards that can glide over water at speeds of up to 50 km/h.
The DeepTech team at FCF Corporate Finance in Munich has exclusively supported the startup from Munich in Bavaria in developing a strategic financing structure and connecting them with potential funding partners. With the successful capital increase, the manufacturer of high-end water sports equipment can drive its growth and expand internationally.
With FIL Bros., Aerofoils gains a partner that is invested in the yacht industry and holds a 75% stake in the Italian shipyard CdM Cantierre delle Marche, based in Ancona. CdM exclusively builds extremely robust explorer yachts ranging from 27 to 45 meters in length. The strategic value of FIL Bros. lies in its access to owners in the superyacht sector, where e-foils are in high demand, as well as yacht brokers and service companies that outfit the yachts. Furthermore, CdM's presence at major yacht shows such as Cannes, Monaco, and Florida is beneficial. CdM will involve the AUDI e-tron foil in future developments. In addition to planning specifically designed storage spaces and charging stations on board the yachts, a new tender concept has been developed that seamlessly integrates the AUDI e-tron Foil.
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Figure 2: Tender of the CdM FLEXPLORER 146 M/Y Maverick
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Figure 3: CdM FLEXPLORER 146 M/Y Maverick (Launch Q4/2023)
In addition to FIL Bros., the existing investor AUDI AG, through its investment vehicle A4nXT, has made further commitments to the company, strengthening the company's capital base and elevating the cooperation in marketing and business development to a new level. "With our investment holding A4nXT, we have created a vehicle to support investments in innovative business ideas. Aerofoils, as a young and dynamic company, is an important strategic investment pillar to support Audi's strategy goals," says Hauke Toewe, Managing Director of A4nXT. With the successful co-branding of the AUDI e-tron Foil, Audi positions itself as an innovative premium manufacturer of sustainable products, and Aerofoils benefits from the brand's global reach.
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Figure 4: Audi activesphere concept - The new Audi Concept Car
The transactions with FIL Bros. and Audi are part of a series of financing measures that will bring the funding volume of the young company into the double-digit million range and significantly accelerate the company's growth. The successful capital measures, significant revenues, and the operational break-even provide the company with all options for further corporate development.
According to Franz Hofmann, Co-Founder and CEO of Aerofoils GmbH, these capital measures with strategic partners are the crucial step towards growth. "We wanted an investor who brings not only capital but also strategic and operational benefits and can support us in our expansion phase. With FIL Bros. and their network in the yacht industry, thanks to FCF, we have found the right partner. We look forward to working with FIL Bros. Capital and AUDI AG."
"The AUDI e-tron Foil by Aerofoils is the perfect lifestyle water sport equipment, independent of weather conditions, dynamic, silent, reliable, safe, and easy to learn. The high-tech jet foil aligns with our CdM Explorer Yacht philosophy of building the best possible product for flexible remote operations. The team's expertise and their passion convinced us from the very beginning," said Jürgen Popp, Managing Director of FIL Bros. Capital GmbH, Kitzbühel.
ABOUT FIL Bros. Capital GmbH, Kitzbühel:
ABOUT AUDI A4nXT GmbH; Ingolstadt
Aerofoils press contact:
Lukas Sallomon
Marketing Aerofoils GmbH
E-Mail: Aerofoils Marketing
Munich, June 2023 - Aerofoils GmbH, the manufacturer of the world's first jet-powered e-foil, the Audi e-tron Foil, announced the Series A capital increase by the family office of Tom Schröder.
[image1]
Figure 1: Audi e-tron Foil by Aerofoils
Founded by Dr. Christian Rössler and Franz Hofmann, Aerofoils has been in the market since 2022 with electric hydrofoil surfboards that can glide over water at speeds of up to 50 km/h.
The DeepTech team at FCF Corporate Finance in Munich has exclusively supported the startup from Munich in Bavaria in developing a strategic financing structure and connecting them with potential funding partners. With the successful capital increase, the manufacturer of high-end water sports equipment can drive its growth and expand internationally.
With FIL Bros., Aerofoils gains a partner that is invested in the yacht industry and holds a 75% stake in the Italian shipyard CdM Cantierre delle Marche, based in Ancona. CdM exclusively builds extremely robust explorer yachts ranging from 27 to 45 meters in length. The strategic value of FIL Bros. lies in its access to owners in the superyacht sector, where e-foils are in high demand, as well as yacht brokers and service companies that outfit the yachts. Furthermore, CdM's presence at major yacht shows such as Cannes, Monaco, and Florida is beneficial. CdM will involve the AUDI e-tron foil in future developments. In addition to planning specifically designed storage spaces and charging stations on board the yachts, a new tender concept has been developed that seamlessly integrates the AUDI e-tron Foil.
[image2]
Figure 2: Tender of the CdM FLEXPLORER 146 M/Y Maverick
[image3]
Figure 3: CdM FLEXPLORER 146 M/Y Maverick (Launch Q4/2023)
In addition to FIL Bros., the existing investor AUDI AG, through its investment vehicle A4nXT, has made further commitments to the company, strengthening the company's capital base and elevating the cooperation in marketing and business development to a new level. "With our investment holding A4nXT, we have created a vehicle to support investments in innovative business ideas. Aerofoils, as a young and dynamic company, is an important strategic investment pillar to support Audi's strategy goals," says Hauke Toewe, Managing Director of A4nXT. With the successful co-branding of the AUDI e-tron Foil, Audi positions itself as an innovative premium manufacturer of sustainable products, and Aerofoils benefits from the brand's global reach.
[image4]
Figure 4: Audi activesphere concept - The new Audi Concept Car
The transactions with FIL Bros. and Audi are part of a series of financing measures that will bring the funding volume of the young company into the double-digit million range and significantly accelerate the company's growth. The successful capital measures, significant revenues, and the operational break-even provide the company with all options for further corporate development.
According to Franz Hofmann, Co-Founder and CEO of Aerofoils GmbH, these capital measures with strategic partners are the crucial step towards growth. "We wanted an investor who brings not only capital but also strategic and operational benefits and can support us in our expansion phase. With FIL Bros. and their network in the yacht industry, thanks to FCF, we have found the right partner. We look forward to working with FIL Bros. Capital and AUDI AG."
"The AUDI e-tron Foil by Aerofoils is the perfect lifestyle water sport equipment, independent of weather conditions, dynamic, silent, reliable, safe, and easy to learn. The high-tech jet foil aligns with our CdM Explorer Yacht philosophy of building the best possible product for flexible remote operations. The team's expertise and their passion convinced us from the very beginning," said Jürgen Popp, Managing Director of FIL Bros. Capital GmbH, Kitzbühel.
ABOUT FIL Bros. Capital GmbH, Kitzbühel:
- FIL Bros. Capital GmbH is a company of FIL Bros. Family Office GmbH & Co. KG, which is owned by the Tom Schröder family. In the field of entrepreneurial investments, FIL Bros. is involved, among others, in CdM Cantiere delle Marche SRL (Ancona, Italy) and two biotech companies, Cellbox Solutions GmbH (Cologne) and InfanDx AG (Cologne). Additional investment focuses include project development and realization of luxury properties in Mallorca and limited partnerships in private equity funds such as Extantia and Nordic Capital. The foundation for the family office was the Wishcard Technologies Group, co-founded in 2014, which was successfully sold in 2019 and 2022. While the founding partner continues to hold a significant stake in, FIL Bros. now holds a minority share.
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Contact via FIL Bros.; Managing Director Jürgen Popp, Kitzbühel, Austria.
- FCF is a specialized investment bank and financing specialist for publicly traded and private middle-market companies in the German-speaking region. From SmallCap/Growth: Companies with revenues between €10 million and €150 million and high/above-average growth rates. MidCaps: Mid-sized companies in traditional middle-market sectors such as industrial products and machinery, automotive, telecommunications, logistics, and consumer products, etc.DeepTech: Companies with a strong research and development focus in the technology sector, which are in the commercialization phase and already experiencing initial rapid revenue growth.
- Contact via FCF
ABOUT AUDI A4nXT GmbH; Ingolstadt
- A4nXT GmbH is the holding company of AUDI AG for investments in startups and strategic collaboration projects.
- Contact via: A4nXT GmbH
Aerofoils press contact:
Lukas Sallomon
Marketing Aerofoils GmbH
E-Mail: Aerofoils Marketing
