KEBA Group acquires AI pioneer 7LYTIX

After 7LYTIX, founded in 2016, surprisingly filed for insolvency in October 2024, KEBA immediately initiated contact with the Linz-based IT specialist. About half a year after the initial talks, the acquisition has been agreed upon, laying the foundation for a shared future. “We had known 7LYTIX for some time and had been following their development over the years,” says Christoph Knogler, CEO of KEBA Group AG. “The experience and expertise of 7LYTIX in the field of artificial intelligence are particularly valuable to us as a specialist in automation. Furthermore, this merger opens up new market opportunities for the distribution of innovative software solutions. We are also pleased that many well-known companies are already among 7LYTIX’s customer base.”

The final legal effectiveness of the acquisition is expected by the end of April 2025. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. With the integration into the KEBA Group, all activities, technologies, and digital business of 7LYTIX will be continued under the KEBA brand in the future.

7LYTIX was founded in 2016 by Franziskos Kyriakopoulos, who studied technical physics at Johannes Kepler University in Linz and has been involved in AI and data science since 2005. The company focuses on applications in the field of artificial intelligence and has implemented numerous successful projects in banking, retail, and industry over the past nine years.

The insolvency in fall 2024 resulted from a challenging overall economic situation combined with non-repayable loans and credits – a common challenge for scaling companies.

“In addition to expanding AI-based functions in our existing product portfolio, the future focus will be on growing our software and digital business, which we will enhance through the acquisition of 7LYTIX and their clients,” explains Christoph Knogler, CEO of the KEBA Group, about the strategic background. “We are very pleased to welcome our new colleagues and their wealth of experience, which will bring valuable AI know-how to KEBA.”

“With KEBA, we have found the ideal partner,” says Franziskos Kyriakopoulos, founder and CEO of 7LYTIX, now Vice President Digital Business at KEBA. “On one hand, we can contribute our expertise directly to KEBA’s projects. On the other, we are now jointly pursuing the strategic goal of further expanding the digital and software business – something that has been central to 7LYTIX’s work with clients and partners for nearly nine years and will now gain even more momentum with KEBA.”

“In an intensive and very focused process, we found that 7LYTIX is a strategically ideal addition for KEBA and for further growth in the digital and software sector. I am excited to welcome the innovative and competent AI pioneers from 7LYTIX to the KEBA Group so we can jointly unlock new potential in a rapidly growing market,” says Andreas Schoberleitner, CFO of the KEBA Group, about the acquisition.

Organizationally, the 7LYTIX team will be part of the Digital Business division of KEBA Group AG. This division is led by Sulejman Ganibegovic, a technology expert in AI and digital product development who joined KEBA at the beginning of 2025. Together with Franziskos Kyriakopoulos, he will drive the integration in the coming months, further developing existing projects and unlocking new potential.

“The integration of 7LYTIX is a consistent step to further expand our digital competencies. Together, we are combining technological know-how and market experience to continue developing our innovative AI solutions and to systematically expand the Digital Business. I am very much looking forward to shaping this path together with Franziskos Kyriakopoulos for the KEBA Group,” says Sulejman Ganibegovic, Vice President Digital Business of KEBA Group AG.