Heidelberger Invests €10 Million in Subsquid (SQD) Token, Shifting Focus to AI Strategy

# German Firm Heidelberger Beteiligungsholding AG Shifts Focus to AI with €10 Million Investment in SQD Token Heidelberger Beteiligungsholding AG, a listed German firm, announced its strategic pivot toward artificial intelligence (AI). To spearhead this transition, the company plans a €10 million investment in the decentralized AI data infrastructure protocol, SubQuery (SQD). This marks the firm’s initial foray into the flourishing AI industry. A comprehensive overhaul will follow, including rebranding to "SQD.AI Strategies AG" and amending its charter to align with the new strategy. This transformation will kick off post an extraordinary shareholders' meeting set to occur in the coming weeks. # Strategic Backers Include Apeiron Group and Piëch Family Office Prominent entities like Christian Angermayer’s Apeiron Group and the Piëch Family Office—the investment branch connected to the Porsche and Volkswagen legacy—have shown interest in the realignment. Apeiron Group will serve as an anchor shareholder in the revamped SQD.AI Strategies AG and partake in the SQD token investment. # What is SQD.AI? Founded in 2021 by Dmitry Zhelezov and Marcel Fohrmann, SQD.AI provides decentralized data infrastructure solutions tailored for AI agents and Web3 applications. The platform has seen substantial growth, doubling its revenues in the past year, and achieving multimillion-dollar revenue milestones. It is renowned for its advanced data indexing services and decentralized data lakehouse architecture. The SQD token is actively traded on top cryptocurrency exchanges such as Binance Alpha, Bybit, and Crypto.com. # Plans for $50 Million in Additional Funding SQD.AI aims to raise up to $50 million in additional capital by year-end to enhance its strategic initiatives and expand SQD token holdings. Clemens Jakopitsch of the Piëch Family Office, already an investor in SQD, has been nominated as chairman of the supervisory board. With his private equity and AI expertise, Jakopitsch is set to direct the company’s strategic path. "AI is on the brink of transforming the world," Jakopitsch remarked. “By focusing on SQD, we aim to secure a pivotal role in this emerging arena.” # Prominent Venture Capital Firms Among Existing Investors SQD.AI's investor base includes leading venture capital firms and tech investors. Notables include Peter Thiel’s Elevat3 Capital, a strategic partnership with Founders Fund, and other esteemed names like Zee Prime Capital, Hypersphere, Digital Finance Group, Anthos, Banter Capital, and Blockchange Ventures. These investors, known for their penchant for innovation and technological disruption, have lent considerable credibility and trust to the SQD project, bolstering its reputation in the AI and Web3 sectors. With this strategic shift, Heidelberger Beteiligungsholding AG aims to lead the rapidly advancing AI and decentralized data landscape, positioning itself as a pivotal sector player.