Carsten Maschmeyer

In February it will be 6 years since I had a 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘁. With some distance Business Insider has asked me to talk about my experience in consulting, my burnout and the new company I started: WirDämmenDeinHaus.com You can find the link in the first comment.  (I’m also happy to share the pdf, in case you cannot access it.) My ask to you:  𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝘁. Having talked to many people that suffered a burnout, my observation is that it can be tremendously helpful to get a nudge from people that care about you. It is a common burnout symptom to “try to keep pushing through” and “take care of one self, after X, Y, Z is finished” -> this often significantly prolongs the healing process. Be there for the people you care about and encourage them to take care of themselves now and not when it’s too late. I’m also here for anyone that wants to talk 1:1 about their experience or ask questions. Please feel free to reach out. Happy holidays to all of you!

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Is the retail giant REWE Group building Germany’s first food-superapp? 🛒📲 Rewe has always been a pioneer in digital offers and now expands its portfolio with investments and partnerships. Last month alone, 2 deals hit the news: 1️⃣ Rewe participated in Flink's new funding round of 150$mn valued at ~900$mn (down about 70% since its peak valuation). With this cash injection, Flink plans to break even in Q2 2025, apparently having reached operational profitability in selected markets already today. Also they plan to open 30 additional warehouses. 2️⃣ Lieferando and Rewe announced a partnership, providing access to 3000 SKUs of Rewe’s assortment via Lieferando’s app, delivered by Lieferando’s courier network. “Rewe Express” promises delivery times of 45 minutes, closing the gap between Rewe’s scheduled delivery and Flink’s ultrafast delivery. With the new offers, Rewe now ticks many boxes that I expect from a food-superapp, combining all things food, and beyond: ✅ Brick and mortar stores ✅ Click and collect ✅ Scheduled delivery ✅ Quick-commerce (via Flink and Lieferando) ✅ Offer promotions in app  ✅ Digital travel agency  ❌ The only piece missing is food delivery. Did you know that the Russian chains X5 and Magnit are also at the frontier of supermarket tech? ➡️ Magnit has integrated AI to monitor inventory at shelf level, ensuring products (including 5000 pharmacy SKUs) are always available for their 30 minute delivery & click and collect. ➡️ Meanwhile, X5 Group deploys smart shopping carts, automatically scanning products for a frictionless checkout. I’ve just talked about why the concept of the food-superapp is so appealing at a conference and will share the takeaways here, soon. 

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Business angel statistics: How to come from 500 contacts to 5 deals a year.   Here is what it looks like from my perspective:   500 to 250: Not relevant Like many well-connected angels and VCs, I receive approximately 500 requests to meet through various channels yearly.   I have an Open-Door policy, where I try to meet all startups that fit my primary investment criteria (stage, company type, location, etc.). This results in meeting around one new startup a day for a brief introductory meeting. For example, I am having 13 online meetings today, as it’s one of my Open-Door days.   I politely decline meetings for the remaining contacts, as it would be a waste of their time. I’m not going to invest in a US Series C round of $50M or in a pre-seed round for a German restaurant chain, for example.   250 to 50: Not a good fit Most initial meetings don’t lead to further action, as there isn’t a good fit. This goes both ways and is just part of the process for both parties.   The startup might be looking for a different type of investor (VC?) or may have misunderstood my investment criteria.   I’m a pre-seed investor, which means there isn’t much data available in these early stages. Therefore, I mainly rely on gut feeling about whether the opportunity is exciting and if I believe these are the founders worth betting on.   It’s important to quickly say “not for me” to most opportunities, so nobody’s time is wasted.   50 to 20: Digging into the opportunity Most angels are not experts in the specific fields of the opportunities they evaluate, so even though we may initially be excited, we need to dig in and learn more.   Personally, I do this through two main sources:   1. My personal network. If you’re presenting software for industry X, I will consult someone in my network (ideally potential customers) and use their input to further validate the opportunity. 2. My business angel network. I’ve built an angel network that currently has 20 members. They possess a wealth of industry insight, and in most cases, we have experts in each field. Their opinions and potential co-investments matter greatly. Many opportunities fail in this process. Perhaps the solution isn’t unique, or the assumed problem doesn’t truly exist.   20 to 8: Due diligence Even if the opportunity seems promising from a market/problem/solution perspective, many things can still go wrong. I can’t list them all, but common issues include: Founder due diligence (reference checks) and ownership issues (messed-up cap table, dead equity) 8 to 5: I also lose deals Remember, selection goes both ways. Sometimes, I lose deals to other investors, either because they offer better terms or valuation, or simply because they are more attractive. For example, it’s hard to compete with Sequoia if they want to invest.

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400.000 to 500.000 Impressions on LinkedIn per week Every day, I engage with numerous entrepreneurs and investors. Often, it is challenging to make them understand that sales are what truly matter. What good is investing millions in a magnificent product if it doesn't sell? So, what is the missing piece? The most fundamental elements: marketing and sales. For the past few months, Quarero Marketing Accelerator has been managing my personal account and the accounts of some of the companies in our Tactical Management portfolio. In recent weeks, I personally have been able to achieve between 400,000 to 500,000 impressions per week on my LinkedIn posts. Many of these impressions have turned into leads, and some have resulted in deals. I want to express my gratitude to Quarero Marketing Accelerator. Without a doubt, investing in marketing brings a return, but it is crucial to entrust it to experts. While it may seem like anyone can make posts, it is clear that not everyone can create quality content that generates business. And without marketing, there are no leads, and logically, there are no deals. THE ABRAHAMIC BUSINESS CIRCLE ⭕️ Tactical Management Nagel & Partners #Innovation #Technology #Startups #VentureCapital

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🚨 Red Alert for Germany’s Startup Ecosystem: A 30% Drop in Active Investors – How Can We Keep the Innovation Engine Running? A recent article from Handelsblatt (link in comments) points out that early-stage startups are especially at risk during this downturn since they depend on venture capital to scale. The expanding funding gap will further stifle growth in areas where innovation is most needed. Yet, within this challenge lies opportunity: 🌱 Resilient Sectors Lead the Way Sectors like #GreenTech and #AI are still drawing investment, showing their potential to drive innovation. These industries highlight where Germany can have the most significant impact. 🏠 Family Offices as Growth Catalysts As traditional investors pull back, family offices can step up. By leveraging patient capital, they can empower promising startups and lay the foundation for long-term success. 🤝 Venture Clienting as a Key to Co-Innovation Strategic partnerships between startups and established businesses bridge the funding gap. These alliances not only drive digital transformation but also deliver mutual value and foster innovation. At D11Z. Ventures, we believe Germany’s competitive edge depends on collaboration. That's why we invest in high-potential startups and create co-innovation opportunities with family offices and industry leaders. Together, we're fostering an ecosystem that drives innovation and supports long-term growth. 🚀 💬 How can family offices and industry leaders support the next wave of startup innovation? Share your ideas below! #D11ZVentures #Innovation #StartupEcosystem #VentureCapital #InnovationLeadership #FamilyOffices #CoInnovation #ArtificialIntelligence

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Ep.17 Drop #20Angel 🎙 The one & only Philipp Moehring, Co-Founder of Tiny Supercomputer Investment Company, joined me in the hot seat for a rare public appearance 🔥 👉 Introducing Tiny Supercomputer Investment Company FUND III ✍ 👉 Higher valuations = higher expectations 💣 👉 Giving Founders the freedom to be extreme 🤪 👉 Your access gives you your price 💰 Some Founder References on Philipp: dennis müller (Amie): "More than most, pmoe is a cheerleader. The journey is already hard enough, some VC's make it harder by sending unsolicited articles with "seen this?". He's the opposite. always fun to brainstorm ideas with him. Differentiated intros relative to others." David Budde (trawa): “He‘s been a great sparring partner and has a ton of experience. I remember, the night before our Pre-Seed closing, we found a minor but important error in our cap table. Unsure what to do, we called Phil late that evening for guidance. To me, it‘s super important to know that I can reach my investors, if it actually matters, and that they‘ll be able to help! + he’s just a really nice guy.” Milos Rusic (deepset): “Phil is amazing! He was actively involved in assembling each of our funding rounds - even in the first round where he committed before we had settled for a lead investor. He actively helped to construct our favourite setup of lead investors for that initial round. He knows everyone and his support is not limited to great intros - he really helps founders to assess and identify which investor could be a right fit for them. 100% reliable, massive value for every company. What they do is really unique.” This was a special one to do, hope you enjoy 🍿 https://lnkd.in/gTRT_SmJ 20VC, #AngelInvesting, #technology, #podcast, #entrepreneurship, #VC, #Founder, #Investing

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Germany-based venture capital fund Robin Capital closed its Robin Fund One at 13 million euros (about $13.6 million). #venturecapital #veteranventures

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𝗜𝘀 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗩𝗖? 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂. Michael Treskow from Eight Roads Ventures said recently on #startupland powered by deutsche-startups.de that we're already playing in the big leagues. But are we? Let's dive into some numbers. Germany's venture capital scene is booming, but how do we compare globally? 1. In 2022, Germany attracted €11.3 billion in VC investments. Impressive, right? 2. Yet, the US still leads with €150 billion. The gap is significant. 3. But here's a twist: Germany is closing the distance fast. Growth rates are higher than many expect. So, what's behind this momentum? → A strong startup ecosystem that fosters innovation. → Government initiatives supporting tech ventures. → A cultural shift towards embracing entrepreneurship. But challenges remain. The focus is now on creating an inclusive environment where diverse voices, especially from the HR sector, can thrive. To truly lead, we must leverage untapped potential, like the 50+ generation and women in STEM. Germany's VC landscape is evolving, and the future looks promising. Yet, we must continue pushing boundaries to maintain our upward trajectory. What are your thoughts on Germany's VC potential? Are we ready to lead globally?

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Hey all you #startups and #scaleups, you #sme and #mittelstand companies. Have you done great work adopting to #ai, optimized your #funnel or worked on your #bottomline? If yes, then get nominated for the A-Awards, presented by Startup Insider and Project A!

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American Exceptionalism: Investors expect 4% of the world's population to drive the future revenues and profits more meaningful than the rest of the world. Even German DAX All-Time-Highs (despite a faltering economy) doesn't change that relative price performance. Spoiler: Imho, this will revert to the mean.

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Book Review #25 | 2024: The StorySelling Method: Master The Art Of Storytelling To Build Trust, Stand Out, And Boost Sales by Philipp Humm “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you” Big picture: Story-telling is an important tool to connect with people and leave a lasting impact on memory The book provides a guide to build skills to tell captivating and lasting stories Review Simplistic book providing useful anecdotes on art of story telling Key learning was that story-telling isn’t a monologue but an exchanging dialogue and listening is actually more important #bookreviews #thepowerofreading #storytelling https://lnkd.in/di-34ktR

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𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 “𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐭.” Having a clear understanding of your financials—especially in the early stages— is incredibly important for making informed decisions and driving growth. 🌱 As we continue to grow, I’m happy to share that startbereit is partnering with re:cap, bringing our products closer to the vibrant German startup community! If you’re looking for something more interactive and fun than Excel, re:cap Insights connects your financial data in real-time, giving you valuable view into liquidity and forecasting. So fellow startups and entrepreneurs, if you're tired (like I am) of Excel-based financial forecasting, enjoy a much simpler process with the special startbereit 💜 x re:cap offer: https://lnkd.in/d7eYaz7Y #partnerships #startbereit #financialforecasting #founders #germany

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Camels instead of unicorns? 🐫 🦄 In a recent comment article with immobilienmanager, I shared insights on why I believe the #proptech comeback won't mirror the past "good old times." The green transformation in real estate is reshaping structures profoundly. To seize this vast potential, startups must embody qualities of camels, not unicorns. That means prioritizing endurance, cash efficiency, and profitability over skyrocketing valuations and high burn rates. Curious to learn more about the proptech camels approach and my personal perspectives on the evolving proptech landscape? Check out the full article [link in comments]. STYX David Zwilling Erik Walkling Inger Egeland-Helgøy Josep R. Novell LL.M.

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What would you wish to have told your 10 year younger self? Here are some pieces of advice. From Christoph Deckert, Strategy Expert at Personio & a16z scout. 1/ Invest in your passion. This is the main driver behind everything. Let it come through. Let us see your passion. 2/ Nurture your relationships. Personal. Professiomal. All kinds. People will always support people. 3/ Trust yourself. Trust your skills. Trust what you can achieve. What about you? What piece of advice would you offer to your younger self? #venturecapital #angelinvesting #startupfunding #europe

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I have news to share: In the upcoming months, you will see more of me in Business Insider Gründerszene as I share some of my perspectives on the startup ecosystem as a founder turned investor. First up: Why do start-up companies with remote-only employees face significant disadvantages, and why am I reluctant to invest in them? A take that I’m aware everyone won’t agree with... but I rest my case here! Here are three key takeaways: The importance of a strong corporate culture: A strong corporate culture, built when actually working together, is essential for the success of all startups. It fosters engagement and builds loyalty - crucial for a company’s stability and growth, especially during uncertain times. The risks of remote work: Remote work increases the risk of communication errors, delays in information sharing, team-building challenges, and potential employee isolation, which can hinder team development. The importance of a balanced approach: Hybrid teams must invest in building and maintaining a strong corporate culture through regular in-person interactions, team-building sessions, and coaching to keep employees motivated. Thanks to the team at Gründerszene for a great collaboration – more to come! Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dgD-KUBr

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Thank you, ZyCrypto and Krypto News Deutschland, for including us in your recent list of "10 Fast-Rising Crypto VCs Shaping the World of Web3" together with our esteemed VC colleagues from all around the world. And yes, "it does take a village to raise a startup" but nothing beats working with obsessed founders on a mission! Recall, Trever, River Platform Company, OpenQ, KINO https://lnkd.in/en3SvQ5t #blockchainfounderscapital #zycrypto #venturecapital #blockchain #crypto #startups

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Exciting news in the world of angel investing is rare these days, which makes me even more thrilled to share a "double dose" of good news 🎉 – Novaheal GmbH has successfully exited to AMBOSS, a company well on its way to becoming one of Germany’s next unicorns 🦄. This news is particularly exciting for me as I’m indirectly invested in Novaheal through my early investment in allygatr, an "operative HR Tech VC". This makes it a double win ✌️: not only does allygatr now have a stake in a potential unicorn, but it also highlights allygatr’s unique edge over other investors in the HR space. Allygatr's unfair advantage comes from their deep network of investors with extensive HR market expertise. This network enables them to accelerate HR startups’ growth through mentorship, faster product iteration, and securing MVP customers to test solutions in real-world environments 🚀. Additionally, allygatr’s connections help identify strategic exit opportunities, as seen in this success with Novaheal 🔑. But what’s the real secret behind allygatr’s success? Better access to deals 🔥. Founders in the HR Tech space know about allygatr’s network, and as a result, allygatr often funds pre-seed rounds that other investors never even see 👀. Basically allygatr is a "German Y Combinator for HR Tech". We hoped this would happen 3 years ago when we started allygatr (big shout to Mr. Allygatr Benjamin Visser) and it is amazing to see how it now bears first fruit! 🍇 Therefore: Congrats to Novaheal on this fantastic exit, and a huge shoutout to allygatr for their clear and clever investment strategy! 🎊👏 (and big thanks to my smart allygatr co-investors who helped Novaheal and many other startups: Jochen Eckhold, Michael Ensser, Pierre Dejonghe, Matthias Klaesener, Dirk Mundorf, Harald Poeschke, Christine Rittner, Cindy Rubbens, Carolin Schneider, Jens-Martin Schwärzler, Robindro Ullah, Tim Verhoeven, Marc Müller, Olav Sehlbach, Romy von Roeder .... and many more!)

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