Konrad Augustin

"The last 18 months have been brutal. Many startups that received high valuations during the 2021 boom are now struggling to survive." says Gina Domanig, Managing Partner at Emerald Technology Ventures in this Forbes Austria article. Yes, 2024 has been a tough year for many fledgling companies. But I am encouraged by some of the startups scaling disruptive technology and business models in service of accelerating the energy transition in India and across the Asia Pacific and Middle East. They will survive and thrive - with the support of a growing investor community who have come to appreciate that the global south possess truly innovative solutions. One of the highlights for me this year was the first Asia Climate Tech Venture Fair, held in Singapore in October. The brainchild of Gina and her team, it brought together a critical set of VCs, CVCs and PE firms to share insights and leads on startups in the region. Looking forward to more conversations in 2025. Read now: https://lnkd.in/dhEtFTbV #Cleantech #Venturecapital #Innovation #Startups #energytransition #Corporates #Climatetech #Entrepreneurship #Sustainability #Futureoftech #Cleantechventures #Startupgrowth #Corporatecollaboration #Techinvestment

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🚀 A Conversation on Enabling Healthcare Innovation with Venture Capital: I recently had the privilege to welcome Nicole Graner from the Süddeutsche Zeitung at our YZR Capital headquarters. Article in 1st comment. Tldr: 🔎 Critical need for venture capital in fostering healthcare innovation. 🔎 How our expertise-driven approach is making a difference. 🔎 My journey as a physician, entrepreneur and investor, always deeply intertwined with my passion for #healthtech. 💡 That's why: alongside Markus Feuerecker I co-founded YZR Capital with a clear vision: to propel European healthtech startups into global leadership positions. 💡 We strongly believe that our team’s expertise in health is key to supporting founders who are dedicated to change the European healthtech ecosystem. ✔ Apparently our name is difficult to pronounce – for everyone who is still wondering, it’s “wise” with an R at the end ;) -> Thanks again to Nicole - it was a pleasure! And thanks to the fantastic team at YZR Capital - Christina Schmidt, Paul Epple, Urs Keller, Holger Ebersberger, Elmar Willebrand, Michael Dr. Bitzer. #HealthTech #VentureCapital #Innovation

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Germany’s Investor Drop – Why Climate Tech is Bucking the Trend A recent article by Nadine Schimroszik in Handelsblatt today mentioned that the number of active investors in Germany has dropped by 40% this year. Based on PitchBook data, the conclusion is that venture capital in Germany has become significantly more challenging, particularly in early-stage and growth-stage investments. However, for Climate Tech, the story is different. Despite the overall decline in venture capital, the sector continues to attract attention, with a 16.2% increase in pre-seed and seed investments. Indeed, we have seen some positive developments recently: 1. Growing Commitment to Addressing the Climate Crisis 🌱 2. Long-term Investment Horizon ⏳ 3. Robust Capital Availability for Scalable Solutions 💰 Big thanks to Nadine Schimroszik for raising awareness on this important issue. As investors, how can we ensure we're not just reacting to trends, but actively driving the transformation needed for a sustainable future? 🌍🔋 #ClimateTech #SustainableInvestment #VentureCapital  

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Private Equity: Resilience in Times of Crisis – The Facts Speak for Themselves! 💡📊 An impressive 25-year analysis reveals how private equity has consistently proven its strength during global crises. Here are the standout stats from Schroders’ study: 🔹 5 major crises, including the 2008 financial meltdown, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the dot-com bubble, tested markets worldwide – yet private equity held firm. 🌍 🔹 Returns: Despite economic shocks, private equity funds delivered an average annual return of +14%, compared to just +8% in public markets. 📈 🔹 Drawdowns: Public markets saw drawdowns exceeding 45%, while private equity held up far better, with declines of only around 20%. 🔹 Cash distributions: Even in turbulent times, private equity funds returned an average of 70% of committed capital to investors – showcasing the industry’s strong liquidity. 💸 🔹 10 million jobs globally are supported by businesses backed by private equity – a significant driver of economic and social progress. 💡 The takeaway: Private equity demonstrates that long-term vision and active management pay off, even in the toughest times. 👉 Curious for more? Dive into the full study here: https://lnkd.in/dWWsTJAK #PrivateEquity #Innovation #Transformation #Economy #PrivateCapital #CrisisResilience #LongTermGrowth #StrongReturns #Investing #FactsMatter 🚀📊

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Dirk Hoerig shares how he’s overcome near-death business moments to lead commercetools to Centaur status, all while balancing family life. “This is it, we’re not going to make it next month,” – Dirk Hörig and his team had this same thought over and over again between 2010 and 2014. So, how did they go from this to becoming one of Germany’s only Centaurs? Today, Dirk gives us a peek behind the scenes of his journey building the game-changing e-commerce platform. When asked about his top achievements, Dirk says “Number one, would be not messing up the big opportunity we had—seizing it and not screwing it up. Number two is raising three great kids while building a company. And number three is disrupting a whole category that didn’t even exist before.” From sharing stories from the early days, when they had to fight so hard to survive, to today where the company has undergone impressive growth and success – Dirk has learned to embrace the ups and downs with a cool head. Dirk also talks about what’s kept him grounded - from squeezing in surf workations with friends to traveling with his family and playing sports with his kids. Read on to find out how Dirk finds that sweet spot between work and life; finding a way to lead a fast-growing business without losing sight of what really matters.

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🌟 Welcome HyperHeat to our Portfolio! 🌍 We’re proud to announce our investment in HyperHeat, a European startup transforming industrial heating with zero-carbon, high-temperature technology. Co-founded by Lars Amsbeck, a veteran in high-temperature engineering with 20+ years at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) Center, and Frederick Lessmann, a seasoned entrepreneur and industrial engineer, HyperHeat is tackling the enormous challenge of decarbonizing heavy industries like steel, cement, and chemicals. Their innovative electric heaters reach up to 2000°C with 98% efficiency, offering a cost-effective, renewable-powered alternative to fossil fuels. This €3.5M funding round, led by the Amadeus APEX Technology Fund in partnership with Finindus, Possible Ventures, E44 Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Fellows, and experienced angel investors, will help HyperHeat expand its team, accelerate R&D, and collaborate with pilot customers by 2025. 🌟 Why it Matters Heavy industries face immense challenges in transitioning to sustainable energy, particularly at the high temperatures required for production. HyperHeat’s technology bridges this gap, enabling industries to achieve their climate goals without sacrificing efficiency or economic viability. We’re excited to support HyperHeat’s mission to reshape industrial heating and significantly reduce global emissions. Welcome to the family! #HyperHeat #ClimateTech #Sustainability #IndustrialInnovation #Decarbonization APEX Ventures / Amadeus Capital Partners Tim Hos, Wolfgang Neubert, Ion Hauer, Diana Röttger, PhD, Stefan Haubner, Hannah Stein, Vera Kunz https://lnkd.in/dMsEX-SS

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After closing a Series A funding round, companies enter a pivotal phase where the right approaches significantly influence their journey toward Series B. In brutkasten, Jan Lozek and I recently shed light on the critical strategies companies should adopt after securing Series A funding. 👉🏻 Here are the more top priorities companies should focus on post-fundraise: 📈 Optimize cash flow:  Investors are particularly interested in startups that efficiently manage their cash flow, maximizing growth and revenue while keeping expenses in check. 💰 Show them the money: Show investors how exactly you are making money: real customers, real sales, economies of scale. In other words, show you have a plan and that the plan is working. To outline flexible sales models, and exchange various key parameters, will also be a win. 🚀 Partner up, big time: Leverage your existing networks instead of spending more capital. Corporates can be great partners at this stage and could vouch for your startup. Be it for accessing a market or for increasing your sales, it always pays off to have the right partners. What additional tips would you add for companies navigating this crucial transition? 💡 #SeriesA #Funding #StartupGrowth

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The digital world thrives on start-ups, which require support through robust capital markets and minimal bureaucratic interference. While Germany provides a strong support system for established companies, it falls short when it comes to fostering start-ups. The country lacks a modern venture capital ecosystem, and its subsidies are designed to benefit large corporations with extensive legal resources, not entrepreneurs focused on growing their businesses. Bureaucracy poses a significant challenge - large companies can navigate it, but small businesses often cannot. #venturecapital #investing #startups #germany

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Honoured to be featured in the latest Tech Funding News article discussing Germany’s role as a leading tech hub. 🚀 I’m also proud to see standout companies from the Earlybird Venture Capital portfolio—N26, Marvel Fusion, Isar Aerospace, and others—highlighted alongside my alma mater, Technical University of Munich, which is another key driver of innovation in the country. While Germany is often dubbed the ‘Silicon Valley of Europe,’ there’s still much to do, such as overcoming regulatory challenges and channeling more growth funding into promising startups. My advice for those navigating the Central European startup landscape: Leverage government-backed funding, connect with business angels, and build relationships with established companies. Do not wait to build a global network early on. Together we can strengthen this ecosystem so that one day it can truly live up to its nickname. Read more by Sofia Chesnokova here: https://bit.ly/404yyXr Cc: Dr. Hendrik Brandis, Paula Wehmeyer, Mario Kohle, Filip Lukac, Benjamin Berényi, Elisheva Marcus #Innovation #DeepTech #VentureCapital #GermanyTech

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How to improve Tech Transfer from Research Organizations and Universities? Finding good answers and collaborating to implement them across the European Ecosystem is crucial for us to stay attractive as a business location. Especially at times of stagnating investments, we urgently need to increase transfer effectiveness and reduce barriers. In the Munich Ecosystem, we have fantastic success stories like Reverion or FERNRIDE but are constantly working on how we can create an even better ecosystem for our sciencepreneurs at XPRENEURS incubator for high-tech start-ups by UnternehmerTUM. So I am excited to discuss this topic with experts across Europe at Podim Conference in a panel and a keynote next week in Maribor. Looking forward to opportunities to join forces - reach out if you are there and want to connect. #startup #ecosystems #sciencepreneurship

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M&A Strategy: Key Elements for Success By Thomas Kessler   Managing Partner at Integration Success GmbH and Atlantic M&A Partners | Pioneer in AI and M&A Integrations   #MergersAndAcquisitions #StrategicAlignment #ExecutiveEngagement In the fascinating world of M&A, success hinges on a well-crafted strategy that covers every aspect from target selection to post-integration. Here’s a concise guide on essential elements to focus on: 1. Target Capabilities and Profile: Identifying the right target involves assessing capabilities and ensuring alignment with strategic goals. This means evaluating potential targets’ strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats within their environment. 2. Purpose and Value Proposition: Clarifying the strategic purpose behind the acquisition and the value it brings is crucial. This involves aligning the acquisition’s objectives with the overall strategy and tracking performance post-acquisition. 3. Best Owner of the Asset: Determining the optimal owner involves understanding which entity can extract the most value from the asset. Identifying synergies and integration points is essential to maximize value. 4. Business Case Development: Building a robust business case ensures that the acquisition is financially sound and strategically justified. This includes forecasting potential outcomes and assessing risks to ensure a solid foundation for the acquisition. 5. Integration Approach: The integration strategy should focus on achieving operational and cultural synergy. Effective change management and meticulous planning facilitate smooth integration and track progress. 🔍 What strategies have you found most effective in your M&A projects? Share your insights below! #SynergySessions #CorporateStrategy #IntegrationPlanning #PostMergerIntegration #MandAInsights #IntegrationSuccess #MandAStrategy #LeadershipInMandA

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Sharing a few thoughts from my annual migration for #SuperReturn #SuperVenture in Berlin. 1) This continues to be the best VC/LP/PE event annually. Many are at the conferences, and almost everyone has a representative in town. Any managers or LPs not in attendance should consider it next year. 2) The European emerging manager scene is on fire. I met with almost a dozen, some old friends, some new, all as sophisticated as their US counterparts with thoughtful strategies and impressive growing portfolios. 3) Europe lacks the concentration that SF provides the US. Many startup hubs, some larger, but everyone in Europe is spending way more time on planes than their US counterparts. 4) Nobody knows where the market is going, and fundraising has been tougher in the last 18 months than before, but most agree a lot of money is still being put into the venture ecosystem. That's resulting in a return to deal pace & valuation acceleration -- is FOMO back? TBD 5) In an ironic twist, there seems to be strong interest from US LPs in European managers, and from European LPs in US managers. What did you see? What interested you this year? Welcome thoughts. P.S. the conference logistics were tough this year. To all those that shared the burden, thank you. Let's hope next year is better. cc: Dale Chang Stephan Eberle Patrick Murphy Carmen Alfonso Rico 🍫Jaime Novoa Sebastian Blum Paul Pruijmboom Jasper Masemann Marie Schildt David York Lior Litwak Karey Barker Maximilian Claussen Ameer Awadiyeh Jonathan Heiliger Oana O. Philipp Moehring

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The Importance of Strategic Alignment in M&A Transactions: A Case for Early Executive Engagement By Thomas Kessler   Managing Partner at Integration Success GmbH and Atlantic M&A Partners | Pioneer in AI and M&A Integrations | #MergersAndAcquisitions #StrategicAlignment #ExecutiveEngagement In the fascinating world of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), the value of early and effective executive alignment is often underestimated. That is why I am proponent of proactively aligning the leadership teams down to departmental management of the acquiring company and the target before publicly announcing a takeover. This is crucial for establishing direction and laying the groundwork for later success. 💡 Well-planned alignment enables the development of shared visions and objectives that go beyond financial synergies and facilitate cultural integration. This is particularly important, to guarantee the success rate of M&A. Because clarity about strategic direction and what behaviour is expected are the foundation for M&A success. 🤝 Prior to the actual deal, both sides should consider not only the financial and strategic aspects of the transaction but also develop a robust plan for post-merger integration. Early alignment fosters an atmosphere of trust and openness, essential for overcoming integration obstacles. The challenge lies in getting both leadership teams to prioritize joint sessions and engage in open dialogues before the market learns of the acquisition. These sessions should aim to formulate a clear and actionable integration plan that supports both the short-term and long-term goals of the new corporate entity. The question I pose to my network: How do you view the role of executive alignment in ensuring the success of M&A activities? What strategies have proven effective in your experience to ensure seamless integration? #Leadership #BusinessStrategy #Innovation

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Three biggest learnings from a fundraising journey. Shared by Rainer Märkle, General Partner at HV Capital at EUVC 1/ Have a time box with a deadline attached. Have a defined horizon & create a clear plan. Have some urgency to get things done at some point. Execute very transparently and reliably. 2/ Stick to your narrative. But don't do it blindly. Tweak it when necessary. Adapt it. Don't let yourself be surprised by major changes. Keep focusing on delivering according to your strategy & plan. 3/ Fundraising is a marathon with many sprints. There are moments when you'll ask yourself - Why do I do this? Is it gonna work out? But don't get too negative during the down phases. Adapting and pivoting is part of our job. As it is for the founder of a company. How about you? What fundraising lessons have you learned? Join the conversation. 🔽 #venturecapital #angelinvesting #startupfunding #europe

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Many thanks to Johannes Tiefenthaler and the team at neustark, a rapidly growing Swiss company with a fascinating idea for creating localized circular systems for capturing and storing carbon. The company has grown from just a clever idea before COVID to now boasting 40 sequestration sites either operational or under construction in Europe. Read my latest article on Forbes to learn more about this wonderful venture. Many thanks too to Virginia Mugo, who assisted with the research and reporting for this article. #CDR #carboncapture #circulareconomy #climatechange #investing #venturecapital https://lnkd.in/gbNmeh7K

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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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There is a new book on #startup ecosystems by Gary Schoeniger and it includes information on the work of NC IDEA

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In the run up for Impact/Week, time for the spotlight on RemoteSolar GmbH and the awesome founders Mathias Kühne and Michael Schmitz. 🔦 Founded in 2023, RemoteSolar has invented a new way of getting cheap and reliable access to solar power: Using a dedicated platform, households and companies can select the ideal capacity size in a solar park and rent a part of the infrastructure (with batteries!), receiving the produced energy for 1 Cent.☀️ This upends the whole PPA model for companies and enables - for the first time - direct access for households to secure green energy long-term. Similar to how hosting companies are sharing data centers, RemoteSolar provides a scalable model for solar park owners to sell capacity and for users to have managed infrastructure for their energy needs, all via one website and app. With the growing need for clean energy and the changes in the sector around grid stability, battery storage and solar and wind production, RemoteSolar will be the leading brand to provide access for millions of clients, removing middlemen and risk. And the best part: RemoteSolar has signed contracts for solar parks and found the first group of customers, now receiving inbound requests for everything from small households up to large hospital groups.🚀 Meet them in person in Barcelona or watch their Norrsken Demo Day presentation here: https://lnkd.in/dBCyp7MD

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🇪🇺 Reflecting on a Milestone Discussion on the Future of European AI 🇪🇺 Yesterday, I had the distinct honor of moderating a transformative roundtable discussion initiated by President Emmanuel Macron and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier Bundespräsidialamt. This gathering brought together influential French and German business leaders, distinguished scientists, and key policymakers. Our focus? Charting the path for Europe’s leadership in artificial intelligence and technology. The dialogue was rich and insightful, addressing pivotal questions: What does Europe need to excel in AI competitiveness? How can we attract and retain top talent? How can we strengthen European resilience and competitiveness This was more than a conversation; it was a reaffirmation of the deep friendship between Germany and France, a testament to our shared commitment to strengthening our liberal democracies and bolstering our competitive edge through cooperation. We explored the potential of creating a pan-European AI initiative, discussing the essential ingredients needed for such a venture, including governmental support in research and talent mobility. The outcome is clear: Europe faces real challenges, but also unprecedented opportunities. By uniting our efforts, we can shape a resilient continent that thrives on unique, cutting-edge technology. That way, Europe can become a pioneer of digital transformation. Thank you to President Macron and Federal President Steinmeier for championing this cause and to all participants for their valuable contributions, Michael Backes, Katharina Hölzle, Christian Müller, Cedrik Neike, Bastian Nominacher, Dr. Gundbert Scherf, Susanne Wiegand. Together, we are paving the way for a brighter, tech-driven future for Europe.

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