Dr. Karl Michael Popp
I am a senior advisor at Lincoln International and a retired member of the Corporate Development M&A team at SAP SE in Germany.
In my 30 year career i have worked on over 50 acquisitions and successful merger integrations as well as a few divestitures.
I am an advisor for the software industry, for software investors, for software ecosystems and platform business models.
I am an ecosystem keystone, i like to leverage my vast network of corporate development contacts (see below) to help you.
What i can do for you (examples): Investment evaluation for investment and private equity companies (Strategy, Technology), Advice for leveraging AI in M&A, technical due diligence of software companies, introductions to my industry contacts below and more
Thinking about selling your software business? Contact me at +4962025829917 or email
German network
(not just names but real personal relationships)
adidas, Airbus, BASF, Bayer, Beiersdorf, Biontech, BMW, Bosch, Brenntag, Brose, Commerzbank, Continental, Daimler Truck, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Börse, DHL Group, E.ON, Fresenius Medical Care, Heidelberg Materials, Henkel, Infineon, KARL STORZ SE, MAN Truck, Medios, Mercedes-Benz Group, Merck, MTU Aero Engines, Münchener Rück, Porsche, QIAGEN, Rheinmetall, RWE, SAP, SAP Fioneer, Schott, Siemens, Siemens Energy, Siemens Healthineers, Stada, Volkswagen, Vonovia, Webasto, Zalando
Global software network
(not just names but real personal relationships)
Akamai Technologies, Alphabet, Amdocs, Ansys, Autodesk, BlackDuck, BMD, Cadence Design Systems, Celonis, Dassault Systèmes, Datadog, Diligent, DocuSign, EPAM Systems, ESRI, FICO, Fiserv, Five9, Fortinet, Freshworks, Genesys, Google, IBM, Intuit, Jedox, JFrog, Kong, Microsoft, Midaxo, NetApp, Okta, Oracle, Palo Alto Networks, PayPal, Qualtrics, Rexx, Sage, SAP, Sema Software, ServiceNow, Snap, Splunk, SS&C Technologies, Syniti, Synopsys, Twilio, UKG, Vantiq, VMWare, Workday, Tradeshift
Join a one hour consultation on mergers and acquisitions topics with Dr. Karl Michael Popp. Enjoy the deep insights from many successful acquisitions and integrations. After ordering, we will swiftly set up an online meeting.
What’s in it for you
Strategic Growth Insights and Partnership Opportunities
Dr. Popp has extensive experience in managing mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships—having overseen over 50 partnerships and more than 35 acquisitions and integrations in the software industry, many at SAP. Speaking with him could offer you valuable guidance on scaling your company , exploring inorganic growth strategies, and potentially finding partnership models that could help expand its reach beyond its current client base.
Best Practices in Digitization, AI, and Ecosystem Integration
Dr. Popp is a recognized expert in digitizing M&A processes, business model innovation, and building successful software platforms and ecosystems. A conversation could enable knowledge exchange on leveraging AI, digitization, and integration into broader software ecosystems, enhancing product offerings and increasing customer value
Applicable VAT will be added to the fees.
My services and downloads for you
Join a one day workshop on mergers and acquisitions topics with Dr. Karl Michael Popp. Enjoy the deep insights from many successful acquisitions and integrations. After ordering, we will swiftly set up the workshop.
This one-day workshop with Dr. Karl Michael Popp gives your leadership team concentrated access to decades of hands-on M&A experience in the global software industry, from strategic growth considerations to the practical realities of due diligence and integration. Drawing on over 50 acquisitions, more than 35 integrations, and extensive work with partnerships and ecosystems, the workshop is tailored to the specific challenges of software companies and investors, including platform strategies and inorganic growth options. Participants benefit from an intensive, interactive format designed to translate lessons from successful deals directly into your current M&A and corporate development agenda.
Across the day, Dr. Popp combines executive-level insights on mergers, acquisitions and strategic partnerships with focused sessions on digitizing M&A processes, leveraging AI, and building resilient software ecosystems and platform business models. Using real-world cases from his work at SAP and as Senior Advisor to private equity and technology clients, he explores how to evaluate software targets, safeguard investments, and design partnership models that extend market reach and customer value. The workshop also addresses business model innovation and ecosystem integration, helping your team identify concrete opportunities for scaling through acquisitions, alliances, or divestitures in line with your strategic objectives.
The format is deliberately pragmatic: you can use the day to stress-test your current M&A pipeline, discuss specific targets or carve-out situations, and develop a clear action plan for next steps in your transaction or portfolio strategy.
After booking, the workshop is swiftly scheduled, with fee-based, full-day delivery on-site or online, and travel and expenses charged separately in addition to the workshop fee and applicable VAT.
A prestigious catalogue of M&A Strategy questions
A prestigious catalogue of due diligence questions. Result of dozens of successful deals.
