GERMANY. Gebr. Heinemann vision hub GHARAGE Ventures has launched its first fund, establishing itself as an independent venture capital platform for early-stage technologies shaping the future of global travel and retail.
Fund I amounts to €40 million and is anchored by Gebr. Heinemann.
GHARAGE said it will collaborate with further strategic investors, including airports, brands and retail partners, to “actively drive innovation across the travel and retail ecosystem”.
GHARAGE Ventures noted that while air travel continues to grow, many operational areas within airports and travel retail remain under-digitalised. It said its investment in startups will help this gap, focusing on automation, AI-enabled operations, digital infrastructure, travel technology services, logistics and supply chain innovation. The fund invests globally from Seed to Series A.
Originating from the venture capital and innovation activities of Gebr. Heinemann, GHARAGE Ventures said it has built “a unique network of operators, brands, technology partners and investors across the travel and trade ecosystem”. With Fund I, this platform is now open to further Limited Partners seeking access to innovative technologies, real-world testing environments and global market insights.
“Large parts of the airport and travel retail ecosystem remain structurally under-digitised,” said GHARAGE Ventures Managing Partner Lennard Niemann. “The Fund brings together capital, operational know-how and immediate access to industry environments. This is exactly where long needed innovation can be turned into scalable, profitable impact.”
“Travel and trade innovation must work across regions, regulatory settings and operational realities,” added GHARAGE Ventures Partner Darren Soh. “With teams in Europe and Southeast Asia, we help founders validate and scale internationally from the start – accelerating market access and building globally relevant companies.” GHARAGE operates from Berlin, Hamburg and Singapore.
Global potential
With Fund I, GHARAGE has already invested in several pioneering companies and technologies that address structural challenges in the travel and retail industry:
- FileAI, based in Singapore, automates document processing and reconciliation workflows, reducing friction in complex retail environments.
- Bounce, headquartered in San Francisco, is building a global luggage storage network. Other investors include leading US venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z).
- Gumshoe AI enables brands and retailers to optimise their visibility across AI-generated search interfaces, positioning operators for the transition toward conversational and agent-driven commerce.
Fund I plans to make around 30 additional investments across the entire travel and trade value chain, backing companies that create tangible operational value. The investment focus is on technologies that drive greater efficiency and enable sustainable growth across global travel and trade markets.
While Gebr. Heinemann serves as the anchor investor, the platform is designed for broader industry participation, and strategic LPs such as airports, travel retailers and brands joining Fund I as Limited Partners to gain early access to innovation and shape the sector’s digital future.
“GHARAGE Ventures embodies our commitment to shaping the future of our industry,” said Gebr. Heinemann Co-CEO Max Heinemann.
“By investing in bold ideas and building bridges across the ecosystem, we are not only future-proofing our business – we are helping redefine what travel retail can become. And we welcome strong partners to join us on this journey.” ✈
