Institute for Family Businesses & Entrepreneurial Succession

Overview

IFU Director

  • Prof. Dr. Alexander Lahmann

Executive Director

  • Dr. Maximilian Schreiter

Members of the Board

_Dr. Georg Flascha
_Dr. Thomas Hofmann
_Dr. Gerhard Köhler
_Stefan Leermann
_Prof. Dr. Stephan Stubner

Research Associate

  • Louisa Heiduk

Our Focus

  • Business succession and business valuation
  • Digitalization in SMEs

Network

  • Leipzig Chamber of Industry and Commerce
  • Association of Entrepreneurs in Saxony (Unternehmerverband)
  • Industrial Association Saxony (Industrieverein Sachsen)
  • SAB
  • IHK Nord Westfalen
  • InnoVet

Mission & Vision

We strive to support the economic development in the region of Central Germany.
A structured succession process as well as an overall digitalization strategy are key factors for SMEs for securing a successful future. Our institute helps SMEs to achieve both topics. We bring together entrepreneurs and potential successors and support them in the succession process. We help SMEs in their digitalization processes; with our experts, we create conversations on the topic of digitalization and we are a reliable partner when it comes to building your team’s competencies.

Prof. Dr. Alexander Lahmann
IFU Director

Our Focus

Succession

A successful succession plan is a necessity for many SMEs, especially in the region of Central Germany.
For this reason, the Institute for Family Businesses & Entrepreneurial Succession (IFU) regularly conducts research on developments and, based on the findings, offers coaching programs for entrepreneurs and successors alike.
Furthermore, we are happy to support you and your company in the process of succession, either in the entire process or in individual sub-steps, e.g. an objective company valuation.

Digitalization of SMEs

The IFU supports you and your company to implement the digital transformation process successfully and sustainably.
We base our approaches on the latest research findings on digitalization. We assist your company with a structured methodology for each step of the transformation process and help to develop your team’s competencies.
We create conversations and give food for thought.

Succession

Success counts

3
successions accompanied successfully

7
successions under active mentoring

20+
talks on entrepreneurial succession

27
indicative company valuations provided

Process

We are here to assist you –
from concept to
implementation

Valuation

We help you with the
indicative valuation
of your company.

Network

We offer you a comprehensive network to ensure your succession.

Matching

We support you in selecting the right partners in the succession process.

Process

We are here to assist you – from concept to implementation

The accurate valuation of an unlisted SME-company is often very challenging. The Institute for Family Business & Entrepreneurial Succession supports you on this topic to ensure a fair valuation of your company. Professor Dr. Alexander Lahmann, Professor for M&A at HHL is your competent contact for a business valuation.

    Valuation

    We help you with the indicative valuation of your company.

    The accurate valuation of an unlisted SME-company is often very challenging. The Institute for Family Business & Entrepreneurial Succession supports you on this topic to ensure a fair valuation of your company. Professor Dr. Alexander Lahmann, Professor for M&A at HHL is your competent contact for a business valuation.

      Network

      We offer you a comprehensive network to ensure your succession.

      One of the primary value adds of the Institute for Family Business & Entrepreneurial Succession is the creation of a comprehensive network of competent partners. The network consists of potential succession candidates, entrepreneurs and experts. These include, among others, M&A lawyers as well as private equity partners.

        Matching

        We support you in selecting the right partners in the succession process.

        In order to make the entrepreneurial succession successful in the long term, the selection of a suitable candidate is essential. That is why thorough consultations with both parties (entrepreneur and successor) are held, in order to increase the accuracy of fit. The individual one-on-one interviews with entrepreneurs and potential successors create a database, with information on the specific requirements of each respective company Thus creating a pool of candidates on both sides, which facilitates a long-term and efficient succession search.

          Digitalization for SMEs

          The digital transformation is one of the biggest long-term challenges for SMEs. The continuous development of digital products and digital business models can present itself as a challenging task for many companies.

          The Institute for Family Businesses & Entrepreneurial Succession (IFU) offers you a systematic, structured support approach and provides you and your team with the skill set needed. We open conversations, via research publications as well as regular events, thus inspiring you for your companies’ sustainable digital transformation process.

          Process

          We assist you –
          from taking stock to setting up an implementation

          Competencies

          We help you to implement a digitalization process that is sustainable, by training your team.

          Inspiration

          We create conversations – via exchanges with experts and by sharing research results

          Process

          We assist you – from taking stock to setting up an implementation project

          As a first step, we analyze the status quo of the digitalization process in your company (“pulse check”). After that, the Institute for Family Businesses & Entrepreneurial Succession assists you in defining your goals and setting up an implementation project.
          We can assist you throughout the process either with our own resources or by bringing in partners from our extensive network.

            Competencies

            We help you to implement a digitalization process that is sustainable, by training your team.

            Your team needs the necessary skills set to implement a digitalization process that is proactive, flexible and sustainable. We help you to equip your employees with the right skill set and train them for a successful digital future. You decide if you need training in basic skills, e.g. agile working methods, or more advanced knowledge, e.g. disruptive technologies and business models.

              Inspiration

              We create conversations – via exchanges with experts and by sharing research results

              We continue our research in the field of digitalization of SMEs and explain the latest developments and their relevance for the “Mittelstand”.
              We offer a platform for exchange with business experts and research specialists to show you, how the process of digitalization can be implemented successfully – from the first, basic steps to advanced topics, like the digital disruption of business models.
              Make use of our network and let us help you and your company, with solid advice.

                Join us for inspiration and exchange

                Sponsors and Partners

                 

                Our Team

                Prof. Dr. Alexander Lahmann
                Director | Institute for Family Businesses & Entrepreneurial Succession (IFU)
                About
                Dr. Maximilian Schreiter
                Executive Director I Institute for Family Businesses & Entrepreneurial Succession (IFU)
                About
                Louisa Heiduk
                Doctoral Candidate | Research Associate - Chair of Mergers & Acquisitions
                Prof. Dr. Alexander Lahmann
                IFU Director