Team | Hanse Digital Access OÜ

Partners

ALJ

Mag. Axel Ludwig Jacob

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Axel is a private equity investor and investment banker specialising in structured finance and asset management, with over thirty years' industry experience across market infrastructure technology, defence manufacturing, and energy generation.

Since April 2021, his principal focus in corporate finance and strategic advisory has been on Europe's energy resilience and nuclear generation capacity, NATO's European defence manufacturing capabilities, a series of corporate restructurings, and supporting Ukraine's resistance to the ongoing invasion. Jacob has served as Co-Founder and Principal at Aorta Capital Ltd., a London-based investment banking boutique, with particular expertise in restructurings, forensic analysis, and hostile takeovers. Previously Vice President at Global Capital Finance GmbH, he advised on €3.2 billion in project transactions across Central and Eastern Europe. Earlier positions included Principal at Bank of America Frankfurt and VP structured finance roles at Babcock & Brown and ING Barings.

He holds a Master's degree in Economics and Business Administration from the Vienna School of Economics and a Bachelor's degree from Philipps-Universität Marburg, with additional studies in Law, History, and Physics. A former member of the German Luftwaffe, Jacob serves as Co-Founder of Hanse Digital Access OÜ and directs and advises family enterprises across multiple jurisdictions. He writes on geopolitics and defence matters, appearing regularly on the Information Warfare Initiative channel.

Dr. Christopher Kacher

Co-Founder & Partner

Dr. Kacher has been engaged in blockchain technology and digitalisation of finance since early 2013, acquiring Bitcoin at approximately $10. He participated in early discussions with Vitalik Buterin prior to Ethereum's public launch, acquiring ETH at an average cost of $0.68.

Formerly the youngest trader and Head of Fundamental and Technical Research at William O'Neil & Co., Inc., Dr. Kacher consistently outperformed elite, hand-selected traders. Recognised as a techno-fundamental investor, he achieved KPMG-verified returns of +18,241% between January 1996 and December 2002, spanning bull and bear markets. He applies similar strategies in cryptocurrency markets, drawing upon over 25 years' trading experience.

Author of William O'Neil's Model Book of Stocks (1998) and four Wiley & Sons publications, including the bestseller How We Made 18,000% in the Stock Market (2010), translated into five languages. Featured across Bloomberg, CNBC, Reuters, Forbes, and MarketWatch, he currently publishes on Medium, Crypto Reports, and CryptoEvolutions™.

Dr. Kacher earned his PhD in Nuclear Physics from UC Berkeley in 1995, co-creating Element 110 and confirming Element 106 (Seaborgium) under Nobel Laureate Dr. Glenn Seaborg. A former concert pianist and composer, two of his works charted on iTunes.

Advisers

Chuck Pfarrer

Senior Adviser – Defence & Security

Chuck Pfarrer is a former Squadron Leader at SEAL Team Six with worldwide operational experience supporting US policy objectives. For over 30 years, he has served government and private sector clients as counterterrorism, military, and intelligence analyst.

Pfarrer authored the Weapons of Mass Destruction annex to the National Counterterrorism Plan and served as Chief Operational Planner for the National Red Team. He has superintended classified projects for the FBI's WMD Counter-measures Unit, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defence, DARPA, US Special Operations Command, and the Intelligence Community. His expertise encompasses intelligence, counterintelligence, terrorism, special operations forces, WMD counter-proliferation, grey zone operations, and counterinsurgency.

A New York Times bestselling author and screenwriter of six major Hollywood films, Pfarrer has served as conflict correspondent, reporting from Afghanistan and presently covering Ukraine as Special Correspondent for the Kyiv Post. He has founded multiple technology companies, including Visual Purple and Parallel Blue, providing AI-powered national security affairs training.

Markus J. Leininger

Senior Adviser – Corporate Finance & Real Estate

Markus is Principal and Owner of SIMRES Real Estate, a private equity real estate advisory firm operating across Europe since 2012. Currently serving as Independent Director on multiple boards, including AROUNDTOWN S.A. (MDAX-listed European real estate investor), Pradera European Long Income GP, and various Luxembourg-based real estate development entities. Leininger serves as Non-Executive Director of Hanse Digital Access OÜ.

Previously Head Central and Eastern Europe at EUROHYPO AG (2002–2012), where he managed commercial real estate financing across multiple jurisdictions, originating and servicing loan portfolios exceeding €8 billion whilst supervising teams of up to 61 professionals. Earlier experience includes senior roles at RHEINHYP Rheinische Hypothekenbank AG, where he established Central European operations across Poland, Czech Republic, and Hungary.

He was founding member and Chairman of ULI's District Council Central and Eastern Europe (2007–2010) and Co-head of ULI Germany's Retail Leader Circle (2011–2013). Leininger holds a Diploma in Business Administration from Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen and professional banking qualifications. He is fluent in German and English, with advanced French and basic Russian and Polish. Author of publications on Central and Eastern European real estate financing.

"Our team combines operational experience, technical depth, and financial acumen—the synthesis required to advise on matters where all three converge."

Work With Our Team

We welcome enquiries from organisations seeking strategic counsel on defence, energy, or structured finance matters. Initial consultations are conducted on a confidential basis.