Thomas L.

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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Great to see what Jan Thomas and his team at Startup Insider did with the new Investors Report 2024 for the DACH region! Anyone who wants to learn more about the German #venturecapital ecosystem and its investors, go get the report: https://lnkd.in/ehiVqmX6

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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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"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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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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Fly Ventures closes a $80 million fund to back technical founders Berlin-based #VC firm #FlyVentures has announced its third fund, raising €80 million to back technical founders across Europe at the seed stage. The firm, co-founded by Gabriel Matuschka and Fredrik Bergenlid, focuses on startups in enterprise and deep tech, investing €1–4 million in funding rounds ranging from €2–10 million. With partners distributed across Berlin, London, Paris, and Zurich, Fly Ventures maintains an equal-GP model to target Europe’s strongest tech hubs. Fly Ventures' new fund reflects a boutique approach, prioritizing high-potential technical innovations before they gain widespread attention. Approximately 45% of the firm’s investments have been in AI, with vertical applications and industrial tech making up 35%, and dev tools/infrastructure accounting for 20%. Notable portfolio companies include Inato, a clinical trials marketplace, GitGuardian, a cybersecurity startup, and Wayve, which recently raised $1.05 billion to advance autonomous driving. Fly Ventures’ deep technical expertise and regional focus have made it a standout player in the European VC landscape. The firm continues to emphasize cutting-edge industries like AI, materials science, and cybersecurity, building a portfolio that showcases the transformative potential of technical founders in shaping the future of innovation. The article on TechCrunch in the first comment.

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European VC Fundraising Uptick Germany's KfW Capital, has reported a significant uptick in VC fundraising, indicating a positive trend for startup investments. Jörg Goschin, managing director at KfW Capital, noted that fundraising was sluggish in 2022 and 2023, but things are "steadily improving." He highlighted that KfW Capital examined around 220 funds last year, expecting an even higher number this year. Goschin stated, “I think we can say that the light at the end of the tunnel which we saw last year is getting brighter.” KfW Capital is a prominent limited partner (LP) in various European VC funds, including Germany’s Project A, Earlybird Venture Capital, and France’s Partech. Since its establishment in 2018, KfW Capital has invested in 120 VC funds, with nine funded this year. Goschin also mentioned an increase in capital calls from VCs, which he described as a “reassuring” sign that investments in startups are also on the up. In analyzing the types of funds being considered, KfW Capital found that 50% of the 220 funds were from the ICT sector (SaaS startups, AI, marketplaces, and e-commerce). About a quarter of the funds focused on life sciences, while the remainder were generalist funds without a specific sector focus. Notably, KfW Capital is also witnessing an increase in deeptech funds seeking investment, which Goschin identified as necessary, given the longer development times associated with these types of investments. Gender diversity is a key focus for KfW Capital in its due diligence process, with 46.3% of the funds having at least one female GP in 2023. The firm’s €200 million emerging manager facility, aims to invest in funds with €50 million in AUM that prioritize representation of women and non-binary individuals in leadership roles. Its first investment through this facility was in Nucleus Capital, a deeptech and climate tech VC fund led by GPs Dr. Isabella Fandrych and Maximilian A. Schwarz. In terms of increasing private capital in VC, Goschin highlighted the launch of Germany's €1B Fund of funds last year, which aims to boost investments in German and European VC funds. He noted the importance of mobilizing private capital, especially as state budgets become tighter. “The mobilization of capital from private investors is very important, especially from a point of view as a sovereign investor,” he remarked. ✅ Looking to raise capital for your #VCfund and increase the international pool of your LPs?   🤝 Need warm #LP introductions?   📝 Selling #secondaries to increase liquidity?   🧐 Looking for co-investments (Series A/Series B)?   ▶ Please use G+QUANT's link for inquiries and fund decks, or send an inquiry to [email protected] #VentureCapital #VentureFunding #VentureDebt #Fundraising #Innovation #Technology #Entrepreneurship #Investing #Network #Investors #LPs #GPs #EmergingManagers #Economy #Business #Founders #Startups #StartupFunding #ai #artificialintelligence #unicorn #secondaries #secondarydeals

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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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It was a great honor to record this week's Startup Insider podcast together with Dirk Sahlmer. 🚀 🚀 🚀 Dirk is a former intern at our TS Ventures and is now Head of Deal Origination at saas.group. Moreover, he has become one of the most recognized voices on LinkedIn when it comes to SaaS M&A and VC (bashing?), which often leads to - shall I say - inspiring conversations. We talked about bootstrapping vs. hypergrowth in the podcast, about the discrepancy between M&A valuations and the valuations of VC rounds and about the chances of success of startups in the parking sector... 😉 It's impressive what someone who has had nothing to do with the startup scene up to that point can build up in 5 years. Have fun with this podcast episode. Link to the episode as always in the comments. I have also linked Dirk's LinkedIn post, as it contains exciting figures on the SaaS and M&A market. Dirk, keep rocking! Here's to many more podcasts! #saas #ai #startup #vc #venturecapital #businessangel #funding #bootstrapping #exit #podcast #parking

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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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20 years in VC. Going from CVC to VC. Here's the story of Rainer Märkle, General Partner at HV Capital. 1/ Engineering roots: His journey began in electrical engineering. Working on exciting projects like mobile and fiber communications. 2/ A twist of fate. By chance, he landed a role at a corporate VC arm of Siemens. Investing in the very tech I helped build. 3/ VC journey: That's where the VC journey began! He discovered a passion for nurturing innovation. So, he knew his mission was to help promising startups. What inspired your VC journey? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. #venturecapital #angelinvesting #startupfunding #europe

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Kudos to ECO2GROW founders Paul, Niklas, and Konrad for raising their €4 million seed round! We have been on board since the pre-seed stage and couldn't be happier with their progress. Welcome to the new investors, neoteq ventures and NRW.BANK! Other notable co-investors include Axel Thiemann (Sonnedix), Stefan Mueller (enerparc), and Techstars. ECO2GROW's solution reduces energy costs for SMEs, provides reliable long-term planning, ensures an authentic, fully traceable supply of green energy, and removes legal and transactional barriers. With its model, ECO2GROW revolutionizes the way SMEs procure green energy and opens up Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to SMEs for the first time. Using an innovative credit risk portfolio approach, the platform aims to democratize access to PPAs by welcoming smaller market players. It is designed to fully integrate with existing energy contracts, ensuring a seamless transition and uninterrupted operations for companies. #EnergyTransition #GreenEnergy #SMEs #Sustainability #PPA #EnergyTech

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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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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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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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70+ years of venture capital experience in one row! Great panel with my four superstar guests at the Crypto Asset Conference at Frankfurt School. On the panel today, I had Alex von Frankenberg from HTGF | High-Tech Gründerfonds, Olaf Hannemann from CV VC, Dominic Briggs from Blockwall, and Heinrich Zetlmayer from yabeo  . In case you missed it, stay tuned for the video recording, which we will post soon. #cac24a #cryptoassetconference #frankfurtschool #venturecapital #web3 #blockchain #bitcoin

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Startup Insider has released the German "Investoren-Report 2024," featuring an interview with EQT Ventures. 🇩🇪 Link in comments. What's your top advice for startup founders currently fundraising or aspiring VC investors? Doreen Huber, Partner EQT Ventures: "Stay resilient, cultivate relationships, and prioritize delivering tangible value. Adopt a learning mindset, welcome feedback, and glean insights from setbacks. Furthermore, build a diverse team that both strengthens and challenges your abilities. Remember to prioritize your well-being and stay connected to your purpose, as it will guide you through challenging times."  💪

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Proud to be one of the first believers with Climate Founders in kolum.earth! Carbon pricing like the European Trading System (EU-ETS) and supply chain pressure are in my opinion the two most powerful approaches for decarbonization. Cross boarder adjustment mechanisms (CBAMs) are the link to combine those approaches. The limitations of the EU-ETS are the regional limitation, that just a few industries are involved and the prices are not high enough yet. CBAM solves the first limitation in my opinion entirely, as it includes all suppliers from Non-European countries into the system. This is a huge step und creates pressure in the supply chain. Last year I was looking for a startup working in this field, as I believe it sits in a very important position in the supply chains of carbon heavy industries and can enable many other impactful solutions. Very glad that Helge Wieggrefe and Marius Sprenger decided to join our Climate Founders program and start Kolum. With their speed and know-how they instantly convinced me to be the best team in this space. Let‘s rock this together! Also very happy to work with fantastic investors like Christian Guba, Nicolaus Norden, Anna Alex, Thomas Gottheil, Markus Linder, Andrei Podlesnyi, Christian Peters and many others. https://lnkd.in/gmihdUJ5

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