The Center for Entrepreneurial and Financial Studies (CEFS) combines research on private markets and alternative investments with that on public and private capital markets. It was established in May 2003 as a joint institute by the Chair of Entrepreneurial Finance (former KfW-Chair in Entrepreneurial Finance) and the Chair of Financial Management and Capital Markets. In 2015, Prof. Dr. Reiner Braun (Chair of Entrepreneurial Finance) joined the scientific director team. Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Dr. Ann-Kristin Achleitner, Prof. Dr. Christoph Kaserer and Prof. Dr. Reiner Braun the CEFS research and teaching activity is currently supported by about 20 academics. Moreover, several well-known lecturers are enriching its teaching program. 

The CEFS is part of TUM School of Management at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), which was founded in 2002 and consists of over 40 professors in the fields of economics, business administration and social sciences. TUM is the highest-ranked university in the EU in many rankings, and has more than 500 professors, almost 10.000 employees and approximately 40.000 students. Its unique profile combines natural sciences, engineering, life sciences and medicine, which provides excellent conditions for transdisciplinary cooperations with scientists and researchers from other academic backgrounds. The CEFS is located in Munich, which is a leading location in terms of both research and economy. With Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and Technical University of Munich it hosts two internationally renowned universities as well as numerous other high-quality research institutions (e.g. Max-Planck-Gesellschaft or Fraunhofer Institute). Munich has a viable financial industry (insurance, banking, venture capital, private equity) and offers one of Europe's leading tech ecosystems, not least thanks to the UnternehmerTUM entrepreneurship center associated with TUM.