New Mittelstand

New Mittelstand is a German platform dedicated to external business succession and search funds in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). Founded in 2017 by Evgeni Kouris, it began as an idea within artistic-economic experiments such as Humix, and was publicly introduced on LinkedIn in summer 2019. The platform aims to foster a humanistic, purpose-driven economy by bridging the Mittelstand (German SMEs) and startup worlds. It has grown into a community of over 4,000 curated members, including more than 300 ambitious successors. New Mittelstand hosts an annual summit—the New Mittelstand Summit (NMS)—which in 2026 drew 150 participants and over 400 registrations, with the 2027 edition planned for 15 April in Berlin, expecting 450 attendees. The platform offers matchmaking, pipeline insights, investor contacts, and confidential discussions between owners and successors. It also produces a whitepaper on the New Mittelstand Economy and provides a safe space for exchange. The organization is privately held and operates as a community-driven initiative.

New Mittelstand was initiated in 2017 by founder Evgeni Kouris, initially within artistic-economic experiments such as Humix. During this time, Kouris refined his idea of making companies more humanistic and striving for an economic model characterized by purpose-driven collaboration between entrepreneurs and companies. In 2019, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, Kouris observed that the innovation rate in German SMEs had fallen to 19 percent. He felt that many mid-sized companies had given up in the face of dominance by tech giants from Silicon Valley and increasingly from the economy of the People's Republic of China. Many SMEs failed to digitally transform in time. Therefore, in summer 2019, he published the idea of New Mittelstand on LinkedIn. The motivation was to develop a new and sustainable transformation approach for the German economy that connects rather than divides—emphasizing 'and' instead of 'or' and creating a combination of Mittelstand and startup worlds. The idea evolved from his own startup experience since 2017 and met with great and positive resonance. This was the starting point to work together with initial partners, especially Zebras-Unite, and selected Mittelstand entrepreneurs to develop a new corporate vision for a good future for Germany and Europe. The vision of the New Mittelstand Economy emerged. Over time, they collaboratively developed a whitepaper on the idea of the New Mittelstand Economy, and in parallel, the New Mittelstand Community was created—a 'safe space' for exchange. The platform has since grown to over 4,000 curated community members, including more than 300 ambitious successors. It hosts an annual summit, the New Mittelstand Summit (NMS). The 2026 edition took place on 16 April 2026 in Berlin with 150 participants and over 400 registrations. The next summit is scheduled for 15 April 2027 in Berlin, with an expected tripling to 450 participants. The platform continues to serve as the leading DACH platform for external succession and search funds.

• 2026

  New Mittelstand Summit 2026 held on 16 April in Berlin with 150 participants and over 400 registrations.

• 2019

  Idea of New Mittelstand published on LinkedIn in summer 2019.

• 2017

  New Mittelstand initiated by Evgeni Kouris within artistic-economic experiments such as Humix.

• New Mittelstand Summit 2027 scheduled for 15 April in Berlin, expecting 450 attendees.

The leading DACH platform for external succession and search funds, bridging Mittelstand and startup ecosystems.

• New Mittelstand Community

  A curated community of over 4,000 members, including successors, owners, investors, and service providers.

• New Mittelstand Summit (NMS)

  Annual event with three tracks, pre-dinner, and networking opportunities. 2026 edition had 150 participants; 2027 edition expects 450.

• New Mittelstand Economy Whitepaper

  A collaborative whitepaper outlining the vision for a new economic model combining Mittelstand and startup worlds.

1. 1New Mittelstand - Externe Nachfolge & Search Funds in DACHnewmittelstand.org
2. 2Über uns: Organisation und unsere Story | New Mittelstandnewmittelstand.org
3. 3New Mittelstand - Wikidatawikidata.org