We invest in the future of the SME sector by empowering skilled and passionate entrepreneurs to become the next generation of CEOs – partnering them with SME owners looking for the right successor to take their business forward.
We help entrepreneurs solve their succession issues by finding the perfect candidate to continue their business legacy and drive future success.
We make the dream of company ownership a reality, by empowering entrepreneurial, talented operators to step-up and become the next generation of CEOs.
Our founders are entrepreneurs-turned-investors, focused on diversifying and scaling their investments in the SME sector – a crucial part of the economy.
The AIA management buy-in program was created by successful entrepreneurs, with a passion for empowering ambitious individuals deeply rooted in our DNA.
Our vast experience across a spectrum of industry sectors allows us to understand the challenges facing today’s business owners, as well as those starting their acquisition journey.
Our Founder
Ralf Grass founded his first company in Germany 30 years ago but is best known for establishing EnergieTEAM in France in 2002, a leading name in the wind and renewable energy sector. A serial entrepreneur and passionate investor, Ralf has invested in more than 20 owner-operated SMEs across diverse sectors and markets, in recent years.
AIA now provides a platform for entrepreneurial investors like Ralf to scale and accelerate investments in profitable, well-managed SMEs.
We partner with experienced operators to carry out management buy-ins on owner-operated SMEs across Europe, transforming them into institutional-grade assets.
By focusing on owner-operated SMEs, we help address the succession crisis facing many businesses. Our approach provides stability, continuity, and the resources needed to ensure these vital companies thrive in the future.
By investing directly into the SME sector we diversify our investors' portfolios into the "other half" of the economy, insulating them from the valuation risks of mid- and large-caps.
We create value by bringing in new leadership that embraces sellers' legacies and amplifies already established growth trajectories.
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