We partner with remarkable companies
Introducing Mixvoip Ventures
Introduction
At Mixvoip Ventures, we're more than just investors. We're collaborators, partners, and tech enthusiasts. Together, we aim to elevate European tech companies that align with our vision and services.
Our vision
At the heart of Mixvoip Ventures lies a passion for fostering growth and collaboration among European tech companies. We're not just looking for investments; we're seeking partnerships that can mutually benefit from our network and expertise.
Our criteria
We're interested in companies where there's potential for a symbiotic relationship. Whether Mixvoip can become a customer, or vice versa, or if there's tech that can be bundled into our products, we see potential. We're especially keen on businesses in similar markets or those offering complementary services to ours.
Our approach
We value autonomy and mutual respect. While we're eager to share our processes and culture, we never impose them. Instead, we believe in learning from each other, ensuring that both Mixvoip and our partners grow stronger together.
Potential partnerships
Add-ons to our portfolio
We're always on the lookout for innovative companies that can add value to our network. This could includes marketing and design agencies, development dervices, AI tech innovators, alarm systems, cabling companies and companies specializing in support systems & CRMs.
Overlapping businesses
Mixvoip actively seeks businesses that operate in similar domains or even compete with us. We offer services such as Internet, IT, telecom, cloud and VOIP. Our aim is to collaborate with or acquire companies that mirror our offerings, ensuring that both, our partners and customers benefit from our combined strengths and expertise.
Benefits of partnering
Joining the Mixvoip network means being part of a thriving ecosystem. Whether you're a small company looking for integration or a larger entity seeking autonomy, we offer the flexibility and support to ensure mutual growth.
Investment philosophy
Investment criteria
Our investment approach is methodical and strategic. We often target small companies where founders are considering retirement or scenarios where one or more of the founders are looking to exit. While we aim to have a significant stake, typically around 25% or much more, it underscores our dedication and confidence in the collaboration.
Integration vs. autonomy
For smaller entities, integration into the Mixvoip culture offers numerous growth opportunities. For a little larger companies, we value autonomy, believing that there's much we can learn from each other.
Join our network
If you resonate with our vision and believe in the power of collaboration, we'd love to hear from you. Whether you're a founder seeking the next chapter or a company eager to tap into a broader network, Mixvoip Ventures is the place for you.
Investments
ICT-PRO
Belgium (2023) - 7 Employees
In 2023, we embarked on a strategic partnership with ICT-PRO, a dedicated IT integrator based in Belgium with a tight-knit team of 7. Recognizing their potential, we invested in a 35% stake, aiding their expansion and facilitating the opening of two new offices within Belgium.
When one of the original founders decided to move on, we stepped in, assisting in the acquisition of those shares. While we hold two seats on their board, we're firm believers in autonomy. We've ensured that ICT-PRO operates independently, granting them significant freedom in hiring and investment decisions. While we're always available for consultation, especially for larger strategic expenditures, our terms sheet emphasizes their operational independence.
"Our collaboration with Mixvoip Ventures has been a journey of mutual respect and learning. Their trust in our team, paired with the autonomy they've provided, has been both humbling and empowering."
Shoghi Vanhove
Openfield IT Portfolio
Luxembourg and France (2023)
Established in 2005, Openfield carved a niche for itself by offering both consulting and managed IT services across Luxembourg and France. However, as the years progressed, they chose to streamline their focus solely on consulting. This decision paved the way for Mixvoip to acquire Openfield's IT customer portfolio, along with a dedicated employee. Openfield's primary concern was ensuring a seamless transition for their customers, with no downtime or degradation in services. This acquisition not only enriched Mixvoip's portfolio but also served as a springboard for our expansion, leading to the establishment of our very first office in France and marking our foray into a new market landscape.
Salary.lu
Luxembourg (2022)
Through an indirect minority participation, a stake was secured in Salary.lu, a dedicated team of five. The team operates independently, with Mixvoip not being involved in day-to-day operations.
This strategic alignment led to Mixvoip becoming a customer of Salary.lu and initiating an API integration with its own time badging solution. This partnership enhanced the capabilities of time-badging data, leading to complete pay slip automation. As a result, significant cross-selling opportunities have emerged for both Salary.lu and Mixvoip, ensuring greater customer stickiness.
"When Mixvoip became one of our early customers, handling 100 pay slips per month, it was a real test for our system. We quickly realized some essential features were missing for a company of their scale. Their feedback was invaluable, helping us refine and make our minimum viable product truly market-ready."
Patrick Malget
Voipgate
Luxembourg (2019)
Voipgate, established in 2005, was a formidable competitor to Mixvoip in the B2B telecom market within Luxembourg. However, as the landscape evolved, Voipgate's parent company, Datacenter Luxembourg, decided to focus on their core offerings: Colocation, Hosting, Housing, IAAS, and PAAS. They sought a reliable partner who could ensure top-tier service for their VOIP clientele.
The acquisition in 2019 was a significant milestone. Within a span of just two years, Mixvoip seamlessly integrated nearly all of Voipgate's customers into its portfolio, achieving this feat with minimal churn. The transition was smooth for Voipgate's employees too, who found a welcoming team at Mixvoip where their expertise was both valued and complementary.
By 2023, the relationship between Mixvoip and Datacenter Luxembourg had flourished beyond expectations. The two companies embarked on multiple collaborative projects, culminating in the creation of a joint venture, Emios SA. This 50/50 stake partnership was designed to offer cutting-edge internet and connectivity services in Luxembourg.
"The journey post the Voipgate sale in 2019 has been nothing short of remarkable. I hadn't anticipated such a profound collaboration. It's heartening to see our initial interactions evolve into a joint venture and mutual board representations. This partnership has truly been an avenue for shared growth and success."
Manuel Coelho
Firstline Systems
Luxembourg (2018)
Established in 2001 by Alasdair Barclay, Firstline Systems was a beacon of IT consultancy services for businesses. As 2018 approached, Alasdair looked ahead to his retirement and made the strategic decision to sell all his shares to Mixvoip. Seamlessly integrating into our team, he became an invaluable asset to our IT division. His expertise and dedication shone through until 2022, when he gracefully transitioned into his well-deserved retirement.
"Transitioning to Mixvoip after my journey with Firstline Systems felt right. It was crucial for me to ensure that the trustful relationships I had built with my customers over the years were maintained. Joining Mixvoip gave me the confidence that they would be in good hands, allowing me to focus on my work and later transition into retirement with peace of mind”
Alasdair Barclay
IPFix
Belgium (2018)
Venturing into Belgium in 2018, Mixvoip was on the lookout for opportunities to broaden its reach. This led to the acquisition of IPFix, a B2B phone system operator in the region. However, it's essential to acknowledge that not all acquisitions unfold as envisioned.
The integration process revealed a disparity in expectations between Mixvoip and the founder of IPFix. The anticipated return on investment took longer to materialize than initially projected. By 2023, reflecting on the journey, it's evident that while the acquisition had its challenges, it wasn't entirely devoid of value.
The founder of IPFix departed within a year of the acquisition. While a significant portion of IPFix's customer base was integrated into Mixvoip, there was an inevitable churn. This experience, though testing, was a valuable learning curve for Mixvoip. It offered insights into the complexities of acquisitions and integrations. Transparently, we can admit that there are aspects we'd approach differently today, having learned from this particular adventure.
Installations téléphoniques
JEAN KONSBRUCK
Luxembourg (2017)
In the wake of the unfortunate passing of the founder of Installations téléphoniques JEAN KONSBRUCK,
the company faced challenging times. By 2017, one dedicated employee remained, who had begun his journey with the company as an apprentice. Recognizing the value and potential of both the employee and the company's portfolio, we stepped in.
We acquired the customer portfolio, the existing contracts, and welcomed the lone employee into the Mixvoip team. Fast forward to 2023, and we're proud to share that the very same employee now leads a robust team of 6 at Mixvoip, exemplifying resilience, growth, and the power of nurturing talent.
Go to Market
Luxembourg (2016)
GO TO MARKET began as the entrepreneurial venture of Frederic Vanholder. Frederic initially collaborated with Mixvoip as an independent consultant in 2012
and transitioned to a halftime employee by 2014. His company specialized in development services and application hosting. As the challenges of scaling and ensuring 24/7 operations became evident, Frederic saw the potential in integrating with a larger, well-established team. Recognizing the strength and capabilities of the Mixvoip team, he decided it was the perfect home for his existing customers and services. This integration led Mixvoip to expand its service offerings. As of 2023, Frederic continues to be a valuable asset to Mixvoip, now excelling in his role as a senior account manager.
"My journey from an independent consultant to becoming a part of Mixvoip has been incredibly rewarding. The challenges of growing a business are many, but finding a team that resonates with your vision and values makes all the difference. Looking back, it's been rewarding to focus on my strengths and contribute my best to Mixvoip.”
Frederic Vanholder
FAQ
Why do you say you only invest in Europe?
Investing and nurturing businesses is a hands-on endeavor for us. Fostering communication, managing, and coaching people can be challenging even when they're just a few meters away. The dynamics of remote offices introduce additional complexities. Given our focus on small companies and our humble approach, we believe in setting ourselves up for success by minimizing potential challenges. Large time zone differences can introduce additional burdens. While we might explore broader horizons in the future, for now, we choose to operate within an environment we're confident in managing effectively, and that happens to be
How do you go about selecting a company for investment?
-
Initial discussion: We kick things off with an informal video call. It's an opportunity for both sides to get acquainted and understand mutual interests. You can schedule this meeting directly through our booking link.
-
Financial review: After our initial conversation, we'll need to take a look at your balance sheets from the past 1-5 years. Just provide whatever you have readily available. Before sharing any sensitive information, we recommend signing our Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) [link to our NDA here]. If preferred, we can send over a signature request using an online system.
-
In-Person meeting: If our discussions indicate a potential fit, the next step is an in-person meeting. This is where we delve deeper, brainstorming the specifics of our potential investment and ensuring our visions and goals align.
It appears that you primarily invest in smaller companies. Why is that?
That's a keen observation. While we currently have a team of over 110 dedicated employees, we recognize that we're not a massive investment entity. Our focus on smaller, remarkable businesses stems from a desire to foster close-knit collaborations. We seek out companies where we feel confident in our ability to contribute and guide, but equally important, where we see opportunities for mutual growth and learning. Investing in smaller businesses allows us to maintain this balance, ensuring a symbiotic relationship where both parties thrive together.