Latest news with #Munich-based
Forbes
8 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
German Golf Ball Brand Snyder Eyes Slice Of U.S. Market
Backed by Porsche-country engineering and a grassroots-first mindset, Snyder seeks to carve out its own path in the crowded U.S. golf ball market. Germany successfully launched Vice Golf across the pond ten years ago, but Snyder sees a fresh opening by bringing a very different playbook to the table to make it fly. The official dimpled sphere of the Deutsche Golf Verband (Deutschland's equivalent of the USGA), Snyder launched stateside earlier this year after establishing a presence in their home country over the past half decade. Increased participation has emboldened expansion, but finding a niche in the $540 million U.S. golf ball market—dominated by Acushnet's Titleist with Callaway, Bridgestone, Taylormade and Srixon also commanding sizeable share—is no simple task. Vice may have paved the way for German ball brands in the U.S., but it also set a high bar. The slick, Munich-based DTC disruptor has long owned the top step of the podium and now boasts a significant green grass retail presence to go with its entrenched online clout. Whereas Vice built buzz with bold colors, graphics and irreverent digital marketing, Snyder is banking mostly on technical credibility coupled with a very ground-up approach to connecting with golfers. Over 70% of PGA Tour players use Titleist's Pro V1 and Pro V1x models and the trickle-down impact on the recreational golf market is massive. Snyder hopes to make inroads by targeting the game's junior ranks along with under-resourced collegiate programs, niches often overlooked by the sport's biggest brands. "I've helped build U.S. sports in football, basketball, lacrosse and hockey and I always start with the youth,' Emmanuel Brown, Snyder's vice president of marketing, said. 'Those big brands all invest in the youth and Snyder is going to do the same thing. We're going to go after being the high school golf ball of choice or the smaller DII and DIII college players who don't get much support from their golf programs. We want to be there to support them along their journey,' added the exec, who previously worked at Nike and Adidas. Snyder Golf currently offers six ball models, all manufactured in Taiwan, ranging from $29.99 for a box of low-compression beginner balls to the $49.99 Pro X aimed at low-handicappers—that comes in a few bucks below a box of Pro V1s. Pricing may eventually shift though, depending how tariffs shake out. For comparison, Titleist's premium balls are made in a plant in Fairhaven, Massachusetts and in Thailand, though the Asian facility primarily serves markets outside the U.S. Metrics nerds can glean robot testing results performed at Golf Laboratories Inc. in San Diego on the DTC brand, which puts Snyder largely in line with the established players when it comes to ball speed, spin rate and carry distance. While there has been plenty of opposition chatter, as of now the USGA and R&A are still going ahead with the planned ball flight rollback. The rule, which will trim 13–15 yards off driver shots of the game's longest hitters, is set to take effect in 2028 for pros and will affect amateurs in 2030. Though many recreational players may not even notice as at lower swing speeds the new ball will only lose five yards or less off the tee with distance loss becoming imperceptible from 4-iron on down. "Golf courses aren't getting any longer and guys are just hitting them out of the park,' Brown said, adding that 'our balls are already there from an innovation standpoint,' which he believes will give them a bit of an edge when the equipment change goes into effect. Snyder USA is also planning to roll out a ball fitting tool to help golfers choose the appropriate sphere for them, a 'prescribed for you' model that could, in effect, end up being along the lines of Bridgestone's digital tool. Asked if price was not an object and they could get any pro to play their balls, Brown doesn't even hesitate for a nanosecond when posed the question. 'Bryson DeChambeau. Bryson understands the science behind what is going on in the game these days and he would appreciate the craftsmanship, detail, innovation and the stewardship around the game that we put into our balls. I can see him appreciating the nuance of detail. He's the same kind of person and would be likeminded as far as where we are going with the future of the game.' But the days of a notable pro playing Snyder on tour are not the immediate horizon. Currently they are engaging up and coming influencers to grow the brand. They are in talks with Gavin Parker and Gary Carey and exploring a deal with an APGA Tour player in an effort to connect with the next generation of golfers. Snyder's aim is squarely on golf's next chapter—youth-first, data-driven, and less beholden to the old guard. Whether that spin translates into enough golfer mindshare to keep the mission rolling remains to be seen. But by locking in on overlooked segments they could chip their way into one of the sport's most brand-loyal markets.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Great Hill Partners Announces Strategic Growth Investment in Peter Park
Investment to Enhance Go-to-Market Capabilities and Accelerate Growth Opportunities MUNICH & LONDON, June 03, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Great Hill Partners, ("Great Hill"), a private equity firm that invests in high-growth, disruptive companies, today announced that it has agreed to make a majority investment in Peter Park System GmbH ("the Company"), a leading provider of digital parking solutions. Great Hill's investment will support the accelerated build-out of Peter Park's salesforce and technology, expand the Company's footprint, and help continue executing its ambitious growth strategy. As part of the investment, the family office of ARBAnova Familienstiftung will make an additional minority investment, and Maximilian Schlereth, Co-Founder and CEO of Peter Park, along with the founding management team, Patrick Bartler (COO), Stefan Schenk (CCO), and Christoph Heinle (CTO), will roll over their equity investments and continue to lead the Company. This investment in Peter Park will bring the Company's total growth financing to over €100 million to date. Peter Park is a Munich-based technology company redefining off-street urban parking with a fully digital, frictionless platform. In a sector long constrained by analog systems, high operating costs, and inefficient revenue models, Peter Park enables customers across various industries, including retail, healthcare, and tourism, to streamline operations and increase efficiency while enhancing user experience. The Company currently has more than 450 customers and over 90,000 parking spots across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy and has achieved 274% organic, year-over-year growth since 2021, accelerating the digitization of urban mobility. "We believe Peter Park is redefining what modern, digital parking can look like," said Drew Loucks, Managing Director at Great Hill Partners and head of the firm's London office. "We see a significant runway for growth in this market, and we believe Peter Park stands out from the competition with its highly sophisticated platform, seamless on-site implementation, and a truly customer-first approach. We're excited to partner with Maximilian and the Peter Park team to further their goal of turning outdated lots into connected, revenue-optimized mobility hubs." "As cities across Europe face growing pressure to reduce congestion and make smarter use of limited urban space, the need for scalable, digital parking infrastructure has never been more urgent," said Schlereth. "We're thrilled to welcome Great Hill as a value-add partner. Their proven track record of turbocharging growth through effective go-to-market strategies, deep operational expertise, and access to seasoned growth partners makes them the ideal fit for our next phase. With their support, we believe we're well-positioned to scale our salesforce, expand our footprint, and unlock new growth opportunities." Great Hill's investment in Peter Park will build on the Firm's recent momentum and activity across the UK and continental Europe since opening its London office in 2023. Great Hill has recently completed a number of investments in the region, including Vivup/Perkbox, BigChange and Dealfront. About Great Hill Partners Founded in 1998, Great Hill Partners is a private equity firm targeting investments of $100 million to $500 million in high-growth companies across the software, financial services, healthcare, consumer, and business services sectors. With offices in Boston and London, Great Hill has raised over $12 billion of commitments and invested in more than 100 companies, establishing an extensive track record of building long-term partnerships with entrepreneurs and providing flexible resources to help middle-market companies scale. Great Hill has been recognized for its industry leadership, being ranked in the top five of HEC Paris-Dow Jones' Mid-Market and Large Buyout Performance Ranking lists from 2021-2024. For more information, including a list of all Great Hill investments, please visit About Peter Park Peter Park System GmbH is a leading provider of AI-driven digital parking infrastructure, transforming traditional parking lots into fully automated, intelligent mobility hubs. Founded in Munich in 2019, Peter Park replaces outdated systems - such as paper tickets and physical barriers - with proprietary license plate recognition (ALPR) technology and a scalable, cloud-based platform. Designed for maximum operational efficiency and minimal friction, the system enables seamless, end-to-end automation across entire parking portfolios. Peter Park delivers a best-in-class customer experience for drivers and provides real estate owners, municipalities, airports, and healthcare facilities with centralized control, real-time analytics, and flexible monetization tools. Active in Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland, the company is positioned at the forefront of the digital transformation in parking and mobility - shaping the future of how people arrive at and depart from destinations. Learn more about Peter Park here About ARBAnova Founded by the entrepreneurs Marianne and Reinhold Barlian in 2017, the family office of the trust invests into mid-sized companies and startups via its venture arm. View source version on Contacts Media: For Great Hill Partners FGS Globalgreathill@ (212) 687-8080 For Peter Park Press and Communicationpresse@ +49 152 23087890 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Great Hill Partners Announces Strategic Growth Investment in Peter Park
MUNICH & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Great Hill Partners, ('Great Hill'), a private equity firm that invests in high-growth, disruptive companies, today announced that it has agreed to make a majority investment in Peter Park System GmbH ('the Company'), a leading provider of digital parking solutions. Great Hill's investment will support the accelerated build-out of Peter Park's salesforce and technology, expand the Company's footprint, and help continue executing its ambitious growth strategy. As part of the investment, the family office of ARBAnova Familienstiftung will make an additional minority investment, and Maximilian Schlereth, Co-Founder and CEO of Peter Park, along with the founding management team, Patrick Bartler (COO), Stefan Schenk (CCO), and Christoph Heinle (CTO), will roll over their equity investments and continue to lead the Company. This investment in Peter Park will bring the Company's total growth financing to over €100 million to date. Peter Park is a Munich-based technology company redefining off-street urban parking with a fully digital, frictionless platform. In a sector long constrained by analog systems, high operating costs, and inefficient revenue models, Peter Park enables customers across various industries, including retail, healthcare, and tourism, to streamline operations and increase efficiency while enhancing user experience. The Company currently has more than 450 customers and over 90,000 parking spots across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy and has achieved 274% organic, year-over-year growth since 2021, accelerating the digitization of urban mobility. 'We believe Peter Park is redefining what modern, digital parking can look like,' said Drew Loucks, Managing Director at Great Hill Partners and head of the firm's London office. 'We see a significant runway for growth in this market, and we believe Peter Park stands out from the competition with its highly sophisticated platform, seamless on-site implementation, and a truly customer-first approach. We're excited to partner with Maximilian and the Peter Park team to further their goal of turning outdated lots into connected, revenue-optimized mobility hubs.' 'As cities across Europe face growing pressure to reduce congestion and make smarter use of limited urban space, the need for scalable, digital parking infrastructure has never been more urgent,' said Schlereth. 'We're thrilled to welcome Great Hill as a value-add partner. Their proven track record of turbocharging growth through effective go-to-market strategies, deep operational expertise, and access to seasoned growth partners makes them the ideal fit for our next phase. With their support, we believe we're well-positioned to scale our salesforce, expand our footprint, and unlock new growth opportunities.' Great Hill's investment in Peter Park will build on the Firm's recent momentum and activity across the UK and continental Europe since opening its London office in 2023. Great Hill has recently completed a number of investments in the region, including Vivup/Perkbox, BigChange and Dealfront. About Great Hill Partners Founded in 1998, Great Hill Partners is a private equity firm targeting investments of $100 million to $500 million in high-growth companies across the software, financial services, healthcare, consumer, and business services sectors. With offices in Boston and London, Great Hill has raised over $12 billion of commitments and invested in more than 100 companies, establishing an extensive track record of building long-term partnerships with entrepreneurs and providing flexible resources to help middle-market companies scale. Great Hill has been recognized for its industry leadership, being ranked in the top five of HEC Paris-Dow Jones' Mid-Market and Large Buyout Performance Ranking lists from 2021-2024. For more information, including a list of all Great Hill investments, please visit About Peter Park Peter Park System GmbH is a leading provider of AI-driven digital parking infrastructure, transforming traditional parking lots into fully automated, intelligent mobility hubs. Founded in Munich in 2019, Peter Park replaces outdated systems - such as paper tickets and physical barriers - with proprietary license plate recognition (ALPR) technology and a scalable, cloud-based platform. Designed for maximum operational efficiency and minimal friction, the system enables seamless, end-to-end automation across entire parking portfolios. Peter Park delivers a best-in-class customer experience for drivers and provides real estate owners, municipalities, airports, and healthcare facilities with centralized control, real-time analytics, and flexible monetization tools. Active in Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland, the company is positioned at the forefront of the digital transformation in parking and mobility - shaping the future of how people arrive at and depart from destinations. Learn more about Peter Park here About ARBAnova Founded by the entrepreneurs Marianne and Reinhold Barlian in 2017, the family office of the trust invests into mid-sized companies and startups via its venture arm.
Fashion Network
29-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
SpAItial raises $13 million to develop AI-powered 3D design tools
While AI-driven 2D image generation is becoming increasingly sophisticated, attention is turning to AI use in the field of 3D design, in which Munich-based company SpAItial, which has recently completed a $13 million funding round to boost its growth, is currently active. On May 27, SpAItial announced it carried out a funding round led by the Earlybird Venture Capital investment fund, and also backed by SpeedInvest and a group of 'prominent' business angels. 'We are focused on improving our models' core capabilities, developing the technical foundations to support a scalable deployment, and expanding our team with exceptional talent in AI, graphics, and 3D systems,' said SpAItial. The market for the design of 3D environments and objects is being closely monitored by various sectors, like the product manufacturing industry, and real estate, where AI tools are used to visualise projects. Marketing and media specialists are interested too, with many companies increasing their investments in ad campaign generation tools. Not to mention the videogame sector, keen to use AI to generate scenery. Several notable players have already emerged in this domain, like US company World Labs, valued at more than $1 billion, and its compatriot Odyssey, which raised $27 million at the end of 2024.
Fashion Network
29-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
SpAItial raises $13 million to develop AI-powered 3D design tools
While AI-driven 2D image generation is becoming increasingly sophisticated, attention is turning to AI use in the field of 3D design, in which Munich-based company SpAItial, which has recently completed a $13 million funding round to boost its growth, is currently active. On May 27, SpAItial announced it carried out a funding round led by the Earlybird Venture Capital investment fund, and also backed by SpeedInvest and a group of 'prominent' business angels. 'We are focused on improving our models' core capabilities, developing the technical foundations to support a scalable deployment, and expanding our team with exceptional talent in AI, graphics, and 3D systems,' said SpAItial. The market for the design of 3D environments and objects is being closely monitored by various sectors, like the product manufacturing industry, and real estate, where AI tools are used to visualise projects. Marketing and media specialists are interested too, with many companies increasing their investments in ad campaign generation tools. Not to mention the videogame sector, keen to use AI to generate scenery. Several notable players have already emerged in this domain, like US company World Labs, valued at more than $1 billion, and its compatriot Odyssey, which raised $27 million at the end of 2024.
