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

7 min read

A new company, formed by strong partners from across Germany, is joining forces to create a rising star in the IT services sector. Last week, Motorworld in Munich Freimann hosted synaforce’s first public event. During the event, the entire leadership team introduced themselves to approximately 70 invited partners, customers, and media representatives, while also presenting their growth strategy and two success stories.

What is Merger?

Merger is a concrete priority for companies in 2026 because it directly shapes stable IT operating models and practical modernization steps. This article uses synaforce as an example to show which requirements, figures and operational steps matter in practice.

The Most Important Points in Brief

Over the past six months, synaforce has emerged as a leading mid-sized IT service provider through a buy-and-build strategy, backed by Munich-based investor Afinum. The initiative was spearheaded by the former Hartl Group from Hofkirchen near Passau. Other key members of the newly formed entity include Baden-Württemberg-based abakus IT Service GmbH, Mainz-based ITecon and its subsidiary ITecon FS, as well as Hamburg’s TriKom GmbH. Plans are underway to integrate additional partners and extend operations throughout the DACH region. Each company contributes its unique expertise to the new organization.

The primary objective of this merger is to combine the diverse strengths and areas of experience of the individual firms, enabling them to offer clients comprehensive, 360-degree services.

An Overview of the Four Founding Partners

Hartl Group

As a full managed service provider, the Hartl Group offers comprehensive IT solutions in its own sustainable data center in Hofkirchen, as well as at additional locations in Munich and Vienna. For over 27 years, the Hartl Group has been developing customized solutions in the fields of data centers, software solutions, and cloud services.

abakus IT Service GmbH

The combined experience of 55 years in the system house business is brought to synaforce by abakus IT Service GmbH from Waldburg, Baden-Württemberg. The company focuses on extensive managed services in its own data center, as well as on the development of innovative security solutions.

ITecon and ITecon FS

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

TriKom GmbH

The primary focus of TriKom GmbH is providing vendor-independent consulting to clients during the implementation of complex IT environments. Through thorough analysis of existing systems and expert advice from seasoned professionals, this network specialist finds the right solution for every requirement.

On the other hand, the leaders of these individual companies have recognized the challenges in the market and aim to strengthen and expand their overall position through collaboration.

The Leadership 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 leadership structure brings together entrepreneur Peter Hartl with the extensive operational experience of Andreas Braidt and Tobias Lehner from the participating companies, alongside Hannes Beierlein’s strategic and communication expertise as Chief Marketing Officer.

“Our biggest obstacle to growth is the very noticeable shortage of skilled IT professionals. With our limited staffing resources, we can barely keep up with the volume of orders, which has already forced us to turn down individual customer requests. That’s why we decided to pool our expertise-to meet the overwhelming demand for our services and to take on even larger projects in the future. By combining our capabilities, we can also offer our clients even better services.”

– Peter Hartl, CEO of synaforce

Fusion Opens New Opportunities

According to Peter Hartl, Synaforce can also offer its employees entirely new career advancement opportunities thanks to the size of the newly merged company, which is a significant advantage in the War for Talents. As a result, the high-end data center solutions provider no longer needs to shy away from competing with larger rivals-both for skilled professionals and for lucrative contracts with major clients.

In doing so, synaforce benefits from the broad expertise that each team member brings to the table. This eliminates the need for external consultants, as all necessary competencies are already present within the organization, enabling synaforce to deliver comprehensive services. Moving forward, the focus will increasingly be on developing new open-source offerings, which are seeing growing demand due to increased price pressure from major vendors. The joint journey is already paying off, with teams spread across Germany collaborating seamlessly across locations to ensure synaforce’s success.

Great Potential in the Healthcare Sector

Peter Hartl and his team see particularly strong growth potential-and a significant need for IT services-in one industry. After all, while the healthcare sector can benefit from digitalization, it also relies on strategic partners with experience in handling sensitive data and meeting the industry’s specific requirements. Synaforce offers precisely this urgently needed expertise, as was clearly demonstrated during the company’s launch through two concrete examples.

For instance, a private clinic operator with 18 facilities and more than 3,000 employees switched from a major provider to Synaforce to take advantage of hosting their data in the IT specialist’s data center environment-reaping benefits such as scalability, flexibility, customization, and cost savings. The migration was carried out without any downtime and in full compliance with strict data protection regulations.

Another client, vivascope, a provider of digital solutions for cancer diagnostics, also required a competent partner due to its unique needs. Vivascope depends on reliable IT infrastructure, expertise in data privacy, and global scalability to operate its AI software. Synaforce provides the appropriate services and hardware, combining a range of solutions to deliver optimal performance and security.

Further Growth Targeted

Synaforce, as an entrepreneur-led high-end data center solutions provider, is setting a new industry standard and demonstrating how successful future-oriented positioning remains possible even in challenging times. Competitors are already exploring opportunities to participate in this model-either through technological partnerships or as potential targets for further expansion. According to Peter Hartl, the company aims to grow to approximately 300 employees in the medium term.

The company consistently prioritizes its customers and their individual needs. Thanks to its high degree of flexibility, synaforce can precisely address these requirements and develop optimal solutions tailored to each client. As Andreas Braidt, COO of synaforce, notes, “We don’t sell anything we wouldn’t use ourselves.” This principle ensures consistently high quality while enabling the company to respond agilely to new developments and services, adapting swiftly to evolving market demands.

Classification: Buy-and-Build in Germany’s IT Mid-Market

The founding of synaforce exemplifies a strategy that is gaining traction within Germany’s IT mid-market. Rather than relying on traditional M&A transactions aimed at short-term synergies, the buy-and-build approach focuses on consolidating mid-sized specialists 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 distinct identities and close customer relationships.

This arrangement offers customers two key advantages: a significantly broader range of services delivered through a single provider, as well as a more stable financial foundation for long-term projects. At the same time, advisory services remain regionally focused and personal. Contact points and office locations stay unchanged, yet clients benefit from access to the expertise of sister companies, enhancing overall depth of knowledge. This represents a tangible added value, particularly in complex infrastructure and security initiatives.

What the Merger Means for the DACH Market

The German market for Managed Cloud Services and data center operations has traditionally been fragmented. Numerous regional providers compete with hyperscale cloud operators and pan-European players. Consolidations like synaforce create mid-sized alternatives that can simultaneously offer German data sovereignty, personalized consulting, and economies of scale. For IT decision-makers in medium-sized businesses, government agencies, and regulated industries, this expands the pool of reliable partners.

synaforce’s planned DACH expansion aligns with this market dynamic. Austrian and Swiss mid-sized companies have similar requirements for data sovereignty and linguistic proximity as their German counterparts. A German-led provider with a local presence can appear more credible in these markets than U.S.-based hyperscalers or global managed services corporations. The coming months will reveal how swiftly synaforce translates this expansion into concrete locations and teams.

Market Signal for German Mid-Sized IT Companies

The formation of synaforce sends a signal that extends beyond the participating companies. For other mid-sized IT service providers, the question arises as to how they should respond to increasing consolidation pressure. Currently, three fundamental strategic options dominate the market: independent active expansion through targeted acquisitions, participation in existing buy-and-build platforms such as synaforce, or consistent niche positioning in highly specialized technical or regulatory areas. Each approach has its own advantages and disadvantages. The decision largely depends on ownership structure, succession planning, and technological specialization.

For clients, this dynamic consolidation phase presents unique strategic opportunities. Those preparing tenders for multi-year IT projects can significantly benefit from the competition between emerging platforms and their traditional mid-sized rivals. At the same time, it is worthwhile to take a close look at the governance structures of these new providers. Who bears the ultimate responsibility? How long are investors committed? What exit scenarios can be anticipated? These questions are now part of due diligence for any major IT contract and should be clearly addressed both in tender documents and in contractual exit clauses to prevent costly surprises later in the contract term.

Frequently Asked Questions

Image source: synaforce / Motor World Munich (press image)