Motive Partners is set to acquire embedded/capital GmbH

By Edlyn Cardoza

Motive Partners, a specialist private equity firm focused on building, backing, and buying the technology companies that enable the financial economy, announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire embedded/capital GmbH (‘embedded/capital’), one of the leading European venture capital platforms focused on supporting the next wave of financial technology innovation.

Since its inception, Motive identified a whitespace opportunity to build a leading, fully integrated stage-agnostic investment firm focused solely on financial technology. In December 2021, having formed a strategic relationship with Apollo Global Management, Motive Partners launched Motive Ventures. Led by Mariano Belinky, former CEO of Santander Asset Management and founder of Santander’s venture capital business, Motive Ventures has invested in 5 companies to date.

In parallel, embedded/capital was formed in Berlin. The team of 11 people is led and founded by Ramin Niroumand and Michael Hock, FinTech business builders and operators turned investors. The embedded/capital portfolio consists of 9 investments, including Bezahl.de, Bunch, Februar.co, Getquin, Hero, Luca, Myne, Nelly and Pliant.

Leveraging Motive’s expertise, ecosystem, established IOI operating model and in-house innovation capabilities through Motive Create, Motive Ventures will continue to define and execute upon a value proposition that backs exceptional entrepreneurs’ visions and businesses. Motive Ventures focuses on early-stage investments, while Motive Capital Funds invest across growth and buyout. Both strategies focus exclusively on financial technology investments across North America and Europe.

“We are delighted to welcome the talented and accomplished embedded/capital team to the Motive family,” said Blythe Masters, Founding Partner at Motive Partners. “We have known the team by reputation for some time, and have admired their prowess as both business builders and investors in leading entrepreneurs that are evolving the financial technology landscape. This acquisition not only adds depth and capability to our team, but provides critical strategic benefits to the rest of the firm, including innovation insights and learning, attracting top talent and enhanced sourcing networks.”

Prior to founding embedded/capital, Ramin founded finleap, one of Europe’s most successful financial technology venture builders, which helped support the creation and growth of the European financial technology ecosystem. Michael joined finleap in 2017 as CFO and Managing Director. AAt finleap, Ramin and Michael successfully built 15 independent companies worth over €3 billion.

Since its inception, finleap has built 2 unicorns organically (Solaris & Clark) and realised two of the largest exits in the European FinTech industry this year (Qonto acquired Penta; PAIR Finance was sold to Pollen Street Capital). Ramin is also the Chairman and founding investor of Solaris, Europe’s largest embedded finance platform (also known as Banking-as-a-Service).

“We are delighted to be joining the Motive family. Motive’s team of experienced innovators, operators and investors is fully aligned with our ethos, DNA and sector focus, leading to an extraordinarily similar culture and team fit,” said Ramin Niroumand, Founder of embedded/capital and Partner at Motive Ventures. “I am looking forward to building out the Motive Ventures brand. Our vision is to be the largest and most successful early-stage fintech investor globally – built on an existing team, a portfolio and our fintech experience.”

“I am excited to welcome Ramin, Michael and the team into the Motive fold. Their combination of investor, innovator and operator DNA and their deep expertise in the European fintech ecosystem perfectly complements, strengthens and increases our reach and breath as we continue building Motive Ventures and the global Motive platform,” said Mariano Belinky, Partner at Motive Ventures.