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.
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.
02.07.2026
The startup Additive Marking has gained butterfly & elephant as a strategic investor. Additive Marking has developed a patented process that makes components digitally identifiable with GS1-compliant codes during 3D printing.
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:
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.
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.
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