Jungheinrich has founded a corporate venture subsidiary, Uplift Ventures, to invest in attractive start-ups and to start innovative companies looking at, among other things, AI-based optimisation of supply chains and material flows, robotics and autonomous logistics systems.

Jungheinrich says Uplift Ventures has two managing directors, Christina Mayer and Kerk Wichmann, who started the company operationally in Q1 2025. 

“With Uplift Ventures, we are strengthening Jungheinrich's innovative power and opening up new and forward-looking business areas,” Lars Brzoska, Jungheinrich’s chairman of the board, says.

“By founding our corporate venturing unit, we are intensifying the execution of our long-term innovation strategy. 

“We deliberately established Uplift Ventures as an independent company outside the Group. That way, we give the unit maximum entrepreneurial freedom and agility to consistently rethink innovative business models, with the industrial experience and financial strength of Jungheinrich behind it.”

Uplift Ventures, as well as targeting opportunities in the logistics, artificial intelligence and robotics spaces, will also be looking at sustainable energy solutions, digital platforms, and “solutions related to the circular economy and sustainability”. 

Managing director Christina Mayer adds: “We are now taking off and driving the first venture projects with Uplift Ventures in a focused manner. Disruptive thinking and a high speed of implementation are crucial for success here”.

Jungheinrich states that its existing partnership with High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) will be intensified and further expanded in the future through Uplift Ventures and “additional fund investments will follow”.