synaforce Unites Top German IT Partners via Buy-and-Build

7 min read

A new company forged from strong partners across Germany, uniting their strengths to create a rising star in the IT services landscape. Last week, the Motorworld in Munich-Freimann played host to the first public event of synaforce, where the entire leadership team introduced itself to some 70 invited partners, customers, and media representatives and presented its growth strategy along with two success stories.

Key Takeaways

What is a fusion?

In 2023, fusion is a tangible lever for companies because it directly shapes software modernization, operational stability, and managed services. This article uses synaforce as an example to show which requirements, KPIs, and operational steps matter in practice.

Over the past six months, synaforce has emerged through a buy-and-build strategy with Munich investor Afinum, uniting leading mid-sized IT specialists. Leading the charge is the (former) Hartl Group from Hofkirchen near Passau, joined by Baden-Württemberg’s abakus IT Service GmbH, Mainz-based ITecon and its subsidiary ITecon FS, and Hamburg’s TriKom GmbH. Further partner integrations and expansion across the entire DACH region are on the agenda. Each company contributes its own expertise to the synaforce ecosystem.

The fusion aims to combine the distinct strengths and experience bases of each firm, delivering 360-degree services to customers.

The four founding partners at a glance

Hartl Group

As a full managed service provider, Hartl Group delivers comprehensive IT solutions from its own sustainable data center in Hofkirchen and additional sites in Munich and Vienna. For more than 27 years, the company has been crafting tailored solutions in data center operations, software solutions, and cloud services.

abakus IT Service GmbH

With 55 years of system-house expertise, abakus IT Service GmbH from Waldburg, Baden-Württemberg, brings deep know-how to synaforce. Its focus lies on broad managed services from its own data center and the development of cutting-edge security solutions.

ITecon and ITecon FS

The Mainz-based software specialists ITecon and ITecon FS provide extensive solutions for companies in finance, banking, and insurance. With its RZ Mainz data center, ITecon supplies customers with a wide array of services—from cloud and software to managed services. ITecon FS specializes in developing bespoke software for ATM operations.

TriKom GmbH

TriKom GmbH specializes in vendor-independent consulting for customers implementing complex IT environments. Through comprehensive analysis of existing systems and expert advice from its experienced team, the network specialist delivers the right solution for every requirement.

At the same time, decision-makers in individual companies recognize the market challenges and seek to strengthen and expand their position through collaboration.

The Management Team

At the helm of synaforce are four seasoned industry experts: CEO Peter Hartl, COO Andreas Braidt, CTO Tobias Lehner, and CMO Hannes Beierlein. This constellation combines entrepreneur Peter Hartl’s vision with the operational expertise of Andreas Braidt and Tobias Lehner from the participating companies, as well as the strategic and communicative strength of Hannes Beierlein as Chief Marketing Officer.

„The biggest growth barrier for us is the acute shortage of skilled IT professionals. With our limited resources, we’re struggling to keep up with demand, and we’ve already had to turn down customer requests. That’s why we’ve decided to consolidate our expertise to meet the enormous demand for our services and take on even larger projects in the future. By combining our strengths, we can also offer our customers even better services.“
– Peter Hartl, CEO of synaforce

The Merger Opens New Doors

Thanks to the expanded scale of the new company, synaforce can now offer employees entirely new career opportunities—a major advantage in the war for talent, Peter Hartl adds. The high-end data center solutions provider no longer needs to shy away from competing with larger rivals, whether for skilled professionals or lucrative contracts from major clients.

The company benefits from the diverse expertise each team member brings. No external consultants are needed—all competencies are already in-house, enabling synaforce to deliver comprehensive services. Moving forward, the focus will increasingly shift to developing new open-source offerings, which are in higher demand due to rising cost pressures from major vendors. The joint effort is already paying off, with teams across Germany collaborating seamlessly toward synaforce’s success.

Strong Potential in Healthcare

Peter Hartl and his team see particularly high growth potential and demand for IT services in one sector: healthcare. While the industry can benefit from digitalization, it also relies on strategic partners with experience handling sensitive data and industry-specific requirements. Synaforce provides this critical expertise, as demonstrated during the launch of the new company with two concrete examples.

For instance, a private hospital operator with 18 facilities and over 3,000 employees switched from a major provider to synaforce to leverage benefits like scalability, flexibility, customization, and cost savings in its data center environment. The migration was completed without downtime and in full compliance with strict data protection regulations.

Another customer, vivascope—a provider of digital solutions in cancer diagnostics—required a competent partner due to its specialized needs. Vivascope depends on reliable IT infrastructure, data protection expertise, and global scalability to run its AI software. Synaforce delivers the right services and hardware, combining multiple solutions to optimize performance and security.

Aiming for Further Growth

Synaforce, a privately held high-end data center solutions provider, is setting a new benchmark in the industry and demonstrating how successful positioning for the future is possible even in challenging times. Competitors are already inquiring about opportunities to participate in the model, whether through technological partnerships or as a potential target for further expansion. The company plans to grow to around 300 employees in the medium term, according to Peter Hartl.

The focus remains on customers and their individual needs. Thanks to its high degree of flexibility, synaforce can tailor solutions precisely to these requirements and develop optimal offerings. As Andreas Braidt, COO of synaforce, notes: “We don’t sell what we wouldn’t use ourselves.” This ensures consistently high quality and allows the company to adapt quickly to new market demands and evolving services.

Context: Buy-and-Build in the German IT Mid-Market

The establishment of synaforce reflects a strategy gaining traction in the German IT mid-market. Rather than relying on traditional M&A transactions focused on short-term synergies, the Buy-and-Build approach consolidates specialized mid-market players into a unified platform. The financial partner (in this case, Afinum Management from Munich) provides capital and governance, while the operationally proven companies retain their identity and customer proximity.

For customers, this brings two key benefits: a significantly broader service portfolio delivered from a single source, and a more stable financial foundation for long-term projects. At the same time, consulting remains local and personal—contacts and locations stay the same, while access to the expertise of sister companies enhances technical depth. This is particularly valuable for complex infrastructure and security projects.

What the Merger Means for the DACH Market

The German market for managed cloud services and data center operations has long been fragmented, with numerous regional providers competing alongside hyperscalers and national players. Consolidations like synaforce create mid-market alternatives that can deliver German data sovereignty, personalized consulting, and economies of scale simultaneously. For IT decision-makers in mid-market firms, public sector organizations, and regulated industries, this expands the pool of reliable partners.

The planned DACH expansion of synaforce aligns with this market logic. Austrian and Swiss mid-market companies share similar expectations around data sovereignty and language proximity with their German counterparts. A Germany-based provider with local presence can establish greater credibility than US hyperscalers or global managed-services giants. The coming months will reveal how quickly synaforce translates this expansion into concrete locations and teams.

A Market Signal for the German IT Mid-Market

The launch of synaforce sends a signal that extends beyond the companies involved. For other mid-market IT service providers, the question arises: how to respond to increasing consolidation pressure? Three core strategic options currently dominate the market: proactive expansion through targeted acquisitions, participation in existing Buy-and-Build platforms like synaforce, or a focused niche strategy in highly specialized technical or regulatory areas. Each path has advantages and drawbacks, and the choice depends heavily on ownership structure, succession planning, and technological specialization.

For customers, this dynamic phase of consolidation presents unique strategic opportunities. Those preparing tenders for multi-year IT projects can benefit from intensified competition between emerging platforms and traditional mid-market rivals. At the same time, it pays to scrutinize the governance structures of new providers: Who bears responsibility? How long are investors committed? What exit scenarios are foreseeable? These questions now form part of the due diligence process for any major IT contract and should be clearly addressed in tender documents and contractual exit clauses to prevent costly surprises during the contract term.

Frequently Asked Questions

Source of cover image: synaforce / Motor World München (press photo)