BERGFÜRST Bank AG

BERGFÜRST AG operates as a digital investment platform specializing in real estate, positioning itself as a key player in Germany's financial technology sector. The company was established in 2011 by Dr. Guido Sandler, a seasoned financial expert with a history of founding institutions like Berliner Effektenbank AG and E*Trade Bank AG, and Dennis Bemmann, the entrepreneur behind the social network studiVZ. Sandler's background is rooted in investment banking and corporate restructuring, while Bemmann brings extensive experience in developing social networks and investing in technology startups. This combination of financial acumen and technological expertise forms the foundation of BERGFÜRST's corporate identity.

The firm's business model centers on providing real estate companies with standardized access to mezzanine capital for project developments and refinancing existing properties. For investors, BERGFÜRST opens up access to the real estate asset class through a crowdfunding-based platform. It allows individuals to make investments starting from as low as €10, pooling these smaller contributions to finance large-scale real estate projects. This approach aims to democratize access to investment opportunities previously reserved for institutional or high-net-worth individuals. Revenue is generated through brokerage and service fees tied to loan originations. A distinctive feature is its secondary market, which provides investors with a degree of liquidity by allowing them to trade their investments before the end of the term.

Initially, BERGFÜRST also facilitated investments in startups but pivoted in 2014 to focus exclusively on real estate. The company briefly obtained a full banking license from BaFin in 2014, operating as BERGFÜRST Bank AG, but returned it in 2015 to gain more operational flexibility and avoid the heavy administrative workload associated with banking regulations. A significant milestone occurred in 2019 when Commerz Real, a subsidiary of Commerzbank, acquired a 24.9% stake, becoming a strategic partner and the second-largest shareholder. This partnership underscores the platform's standing in the market and provides strategic support for future growth, including plans for joint products and sales integration. The platform operates primarily in Germany, Austria, and Spain.

Keywords: real estate crowdfunding, digital investment platform, property investment, mezzanine capital, fintech, financial services, real estate financing, asset class democratization, secondary market, crowdinvesting, real estate development, property-backed loans, peer-to-peer lending, alternative investments, project financing, Commerz Real, Guido Sandler, Dennis Bemmann, Berlin startup, German fintech