Family Office
Why this topic is important now
The number of family offices will grow by 4.8% annually to around 10,700 units worldwide by 2030 - according to Deloitte estimates in the Simple Report. At the same time, their investment teams are becoming more professional: 60% now have their own CIO and investment committee. For founders, the patient capital of wealthy families offers a crisis-resistant alternative to traditional VCs.
What is a family office?
A Single Family Office (SFO) manages the assets of a single entrepreneurial family, while a Multi Family Office (MFO) looks after several families. SFOs often arise from liquid assets of ≥ USD 250 million and offer the highest level of privacy and holistic services - from asset allocation to philanthropy.
Market size & structure
| Key figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Average assets per SFO | 2.7 billion US-\$ | UBS Global Family Office Report 2025(ubs.com) |
| Number of family offices worldwide (2024) | 8 030 | Deloitte via Simple |
| Growth until 2030 (CAGR) | 4,8 % | Deloitte via Simple |
The high number of unreported cases explains the wide range of 3,500 to 20,000 estimates. Private structures, different definitions and a lack of reporting obligations make an exact census difficult.
Asset allocation - where does the money go?
- Alternatives 45 % of the average portfolio (PE, VC, hedge funds, real estate).privatebank.jpmorgan.com
- Risk appetite is increasing: 43% of offices increased their equity allocation in 2024, particularly in Asia (68%).privatebank.citibank.com
- Private markets already account for 24% of European family wealth portfolios.privatebanking.hsbc.de
Take-away: Family offices are increasingly acting like institutional investors, but retain their flexibility with direct investments.
Family offices as start-up investors
Volume & ticket size
- 31% of all global startup deals are financed by family offices.
- Ø ticket size +23% (H1 2024 vs. 2023).
- 83% club deals: families bundle capital, expertise and risk.
Source: pwc.com
Sector hotspots
AI/ML start-ups, SaaS, fintech and health tech dominate the deal lists.
Case study
The longevity platform Biopeak secured $3 million in seed capital from Indian family office Claypond Capital, among others.
Advantages for founders & entrepreneurs
| Advantage | Why it counts |
|---|---|
| Patient capital | Investment horizon > 10 years, no fund exit pressure. |
| Fast decision-making processes | Direct access to the principal - fewer committees. |
| Entrepreneurial mindset | Families understand entrepreneurial cycles from their own experience. |
| Networks | Access to industry contacts, potential customers & follow-on investors. |
| Reputation bonus | Family brands open doors in B2B sales and politics. |
Best practice: How to approach a family office
- Show purpose fit - Many offices pursue impact or legacy goals.
- Pitch a long-term roadmap - EBIT break-even is more important than explosive GMV curves.
- Open club deal - space for friendly families signals willingness to cooperate.
- Transparency & governance - offer quarterly reports, ESG KPIs and co-information rights.
- Prioritize personal relationships - dinner > demo day; use references from the principal's environment.
Trend Radar 2025+
- Next-gen effect: 50% of millennial millionaires change advisor or domicile - mobility & digital affinity challenge traditional wealth managers.ft.com
- Cyber security push: 24% of offices have already been the target of a cyber attack; investments in tech stack on the rise.privatebank.jpmorgan.com
- Impact & ESG: 70% of European offices integrate ESG criteria; philanthropy serves next-gen engagement.privatebanking.hsbc.de
- AI exposure: 50% already invest in AI equity, but operational use is lagging behind.
Conclusion
Family offices are strategic long-term partners for founders who prioritize sustainable growth over lightning-fast exits. Those who understand their investment compass - wealth preservation, generational transfer, impact - and establish genuine alignment not only gain capital, but also an entrepreneurial dynasty as a sparring partner.
Further articles & studies
- UBS - Global Family Office Report 2025
- Citi Private Bank - Global Family Office Survey 2024
- J.P. Morgan - Global Family Office Report 2024
- HSBC/Campden Wealth - European Family Office Report 2024
- PwC - Five Trends in Family Office Investments in Startups
- Simple - Guide to Single Family Office Structure
- Simple - Family Office Market Size 2025
- Forbes - The Family Office Market: Does Size Matter?
- Capgemini - World Wealth Report 2025
- Financial Times - Mobile Millennial Millionaires
Table of contents
- Warum dieses Thema jetzt wichtig ist
- Was ist ein Family Office?
- Marktgröße & Struktur
- Asset-Allokation – wohin fließt das Geld?
- Family Offices als Startup-Investoren
- Volumen & Ticket-Size
- Sektoren-Hotspots
- Fallbeispiel
- Vorteile für Gründer & Unternehmer
- Best-Practice: So sprechen Sie ein Family Office an
- Trend-Radar 2025+
- Fazit
- Weiterführende Artikel & Studien
Focus Topics
Deep dive into hot topics
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