December 01, 2020 – Mercedes-Benz's innovation forge Lab1886 is becoming the open innovation platform 1886Ventures.
Large parts of the project portfolio and the spinoffs of Lab1886 under general manager Susanne Hahn are being sold to the investment company RB-Capital of Ulrich Dietz, founder and primary shareholder of GFT. As a strategic partner, Mercedes-Benz AG holds a minority interest of 10% in the resulting 1886Ventures. Ulrich Dietz takes over the majority of 80% through his RB-Capital GmbH. Another 10% is held by the internationally operating software company GFT Technologies SE. The goal of the new company is to advance the already existing projects of Lab1886 and to develop innovative business models based on future technologies together with new partners. The focus is on the areas of automated driving, connectivity, green energies and digital business models.
Together with CEO Matin Ebrahimchel, a significant part of the team of the Berlin-based Daimler subsidiary Lab1886 GmbH will move to Deloitte in the course of another transaction. With Deloitte's Digital Ventures team headed by Andy Goldstein, the new division will operate under the name LAUNCH and start off with Mercedes-Benz as a client.
“In Lab1886, technologies, business models and start-ups with great potential have emerged. However, company-owned innovation areas with a focus on new business often reach the limits of implementation in the commercialization phase at the latest. We’re pleased that we have found an optimal solution for our Lab1886, which offers excellent setups for the respective teams in order to be able to efficiently implement newly developed innovation activities in the future,” said Jörg Howe, Head of Global Communications Mercedes-Benz AG.
