Logo: butterfly & elephant - The Accelerator by GS1 Germany

we give wings 
to your ideas

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smart capital – smart connections

At butterfly & elephant, we invest to enable. Our startups build on their product vision and we provide the environment that makes growth possible: access to GS1 standards, industry partners, technology platforms, communities, reach and strong co-creation formats.

Welcome to butterfly & elephant, the investment company of GS1 Germany. 

What makes us unique?

We bring “Smart Capital & Smart Connections” to the point: capital and access to the GS1 community from the consumer goods industry and retail, e-commerce and healthcare sectors - a network of over 97,000 companies in Germany and two million worldwide. We place great value on the entrepreneurial freedom of start-ups to develop their product and growth strategy in a self-determined manner.

The Lichtwart founding team. From left to right: Johannes Mailänder, CMO; Jackson Bond, CSO; and Gregor Giataganas, CEO.

NEWS: Lichtwart Brings GS1 Standards to Digital Building Operations

29.07.2026

PropTech company Lichtwart has gained a strategic partner in butterfly & elephant. The Herford-based startup’s IoT platform digitalises the operation of branch networks and uses GS1 standards to uniquely identify technical assets and locations across different systems.

Go to the article

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butterfly and elephant:
We invest where innovation meets relevance.

How we invest

Our focus is on seed and early stage companies from the consumer goods industry, retail, e-commerce and healthcare. With access to GS1 standards and a strong community, we create the environment in which your ideas can grow sustainably and develop their impact. We offer you:

  • a fair valuation and corresponding capital
  • Mentoring and coaching tailored to you and your startup
  • High-caliber and first-class networking events
     

This is how we find together

Who we are?

We are butterfly & elephant, the holding company of GS1 Germany. You don't know GS1 Germany yet? How could this happen to us... - find out more about the hidden champion that has been beeping at scanner checkouts for over 50 years.
 

 

Growth needs freedom and allies

  • Product freedom instead of corporate obligation: We don't invest so that you can bend your solution, but so that you can scale it. Hands-on instead of show-up: We are approachable, direct, reliable - at eye level. Not above you, not below you.
  • Think entrepreneurial, act entrepreneurial: We contribute our network, our time and our conviction, not just capital.
  • Standardization as a growth driver: With GS1 standards, you immediately create connectivity for your markets, customers and partners.
  • Co-creation with real players: We bring you together with the right partners, platforms and use cases - from SMEs to global brands.
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We support you in developing your full potential.

Why butterfly & elephant?

The butterfly and elephant are symbols of transformation and strength. Our Accelerator is a place for developing and building successful companies. “butterfly” stands for change and transformation, while “elephant” emphasizes strength and a supportive community. The combination of both symbols highlights the diversity and collaboration that underpin our program and enable growth and success.
 

More about the accelerator