Thorben Rothe

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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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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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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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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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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Excited to share what I learned from Sandro Stark, founding partner at Vanagon Ventures backing FrontierTech from Munich/DACH 🚀 to the World at the YUVC video podcast (links in comments) 💡 Above all, Sandro is a super nice person to get along with and has a great NPS from founders 👋 Here 3 Core Takeaways ✨ 1. Vanagon’s approach to startup evaluation 👀 - Distribution capability is now the key differentiator, not just technical innovation - Customer "stickiness" and deep industry understanding - The solution must demonstrate both climate impact and profit potential 2. Why is Munich's ecosystem strategic? 🇩🇪 - Part of DACH region - third-largest market globally after China and US - Rich concentration of technical talent and corporate headquarters - Untapped potential in Mittelstand venture engagement 3. What's the philosophy behind sustainable success? 😉 - Don't postpone happiness for future achievements - True leadership creates more leaders, not followers - Consistent effort matters more than breakthrough moments Now listen in for more insights! ❤ Kudos to his great co-founders/GPs @Vanagon: Susanne Fromm Axel Roitzsch Shoutout to their amazing portfolios: Senken Particula Renoster youba The Landbanking Group LoopID heartstocks Learn.xyz ExoMatter and more

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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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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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Attention NRW Tech Startups! 🌟 Want to know what it takes to get the attention of top VCs? Dive into the latest insights from industry giants like Realyze Ventures, coparion, Cusp Capital, Simon Capital , and neoteq ventures. Discover the key ingredients they're looking for in the vibrant NRW startup ecosystem in our latest "One question - five answers" VC edition. These investment experts reveal the unique criteria they consider when evaluating tech startups in our region. From the importance of local talent to embracing the Mittelstand ethos, this is your chance to get an inside look of what makes a NRW startup stand out to investors. Find out what specific criteria they look for when evaluating a NRW tech startup. Kai Panitzki, Realyze Ventures: “When it comes to location, we're open-minded. However, we are very happy to invest in startups from the region and have good experience with investments from local university and research institutions. We also definitely have something in common, if you are a fan of carnival.” Tom Hackenberg, coparion: “NRW offers a unique environment with some of the best universities, medium-sized family businesses and talent we have in Europe. A startup's ability to leverage this environment and collaborate with stakeholders in this ecosystem can be one of its greatest assets. Jan Sessenhausen, Cusp Capital: We invest in companies all over Europe, however, our home turf NRW holds a very special place in our hearts. Therefore, we’re eager to contribute to and further develop the local ecosystem. Jan Leicht, Simon Capital : "As a fund based in NRW, one of the Germany’s key industrial heartlands, we appreciate the region's robust ecosystem and its broad German Mittelstand heritage. When assessing NRW-based startups, we look for their ability to cater, serve and leverage these regional resources by tapping into local talent pools and forging meaningful relationships with the Mittelstand to the benefit of all parties." B.J. Park, neoteq ventures: “Location is not the most important factor for the success of a startup. Nevertheless, there are many good general conditions for young technology companies in NRW.” Stay tuned for more and don’t miss out, when we announce our TOP 24 in 2024 tomorrow. **The OOTB.NRW award was initiated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Industrie, Klimaschutz und Energie des Landes NRW MWIKE) and is proudly hosted by Founders Foundation gGmbH .**  #outoftheboxnrw #whatvcssay #ootbgoeshinterland

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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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Capmont Technology raises €100m fund to back early-stage B2B startups in Europe and the US Munich-based VC Capmont Technology has closed its first fund of €100m, to back B2B tech startups across Europe and the US. But the firm, previously known as DI Technology, isn’t a total newbie. Founded in 2016, the VC has already been making investments on a deal-by-deal basis into startups working in enterprise SaaS and industrial tech — in fields including robotics, industrial automation, manufacturing, IoT and supply chain and procurement. Its portfolio includes Konux, which optimises railway operations using AI, and ProGlove, an industrial IoT firm acquired by private equity investor Nordic Capital in 2022 for an undisclosed amount. The fresh €100m brings the total raised by the firm since its founding to €300m.  Fund strategy Capmont Technology invests in late seed stage to Series B startups that have proven traction and customer demand. With the new fund, it will write cheques of between €2-5m into 15-16 startups. It plans to reserve 40% of the €100m for follow-ons — however, it has “additional soft commitments from LPs” which allows the fund to make co-investments in addition to those from the fund, especially at the later stages, says Dr Torsten Kreindl, managing partner at Capmont Technology. The firm has already made seven investments from the new fund including Celus, a design platform offering solutions for electronic designers and component suppliers, and Arch Systems, an industry-4.0 machine data and AI platform for electronics and discrete manufacturers. Kreindl says that the firm is keen to back more companies using AI to improve industrial processes, saying that Europe is a good place to build these companies “due to its substantial industrial-related customer base”. LPs in the new fund include institutional investors, family offices and ultra high net worth individuals, such as entrepreneurs and C-level executives at enterprises in the DACH region, which Capmont declined to name. #economy #Bangladesh #World #economic #US #Bank #startup #UK #growing #investment #USA #investors #Europe #WorldBank #business #News #fund

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Next week, it’s time once again for our Investor Committee Meeting #14 🚀 ______ At COREangels Big Data & AI Europe, we actively scout the best European startups, providing our investors access to top-tier opportunities. Five to six times a year, we present three standout startups at our Investment Committee Meetings, where we recently discovered, for example, Horizon. Horizon is an innovative marketing-tech startup that empowers clients by predicting market success with painted door tests for innovation, product and consumer insight teams tackling the problem of not knowing enough about what customers want and if they really will purchase. Founded in 2021, they’re on a mission to become a leader in their field by providing accurate purchase-intent data from real consumers in a highly automated way. We’re proud to count ourselves among their investors now and can’t wait to explore more promising opportunities at next week’s meeting. ______ If you’re a qualified investor, some seats are left for joining our exclusive network and gaining access to Europe’s top AI and Big Data startups. For more details, reach out to me directly. The angel ticket for the portfolio starts at 75,000 CHF. Want to participate as a guest and potential investor next Wednesday, November 20, at 18:30 CET in Zurich or online? Please send me a PM by Monday evening, November 18. COREangels Big Data & AI Europe COREangels Daniel Putsche Pascal Stämpfli, CFA Samira Courti Sebastian Heinz Daniel Parisi Lutz Nagy Carsten Schäfer Jochen (Josh) Eckert Stephan Rathgeber Florian Haberler Sara Feiz Henry Piney Jakob Kaiser Jana Myers Sophia Burns Hanno Hartmann

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🚀 Austrian VC firm Round2 Capital leads a $20M round for EvoluteIQ 👉 https://ain.social/4e5HvDu EvoluteIQ, a Stockholm-based leader in AI-powered automation, has raised $20M in equity and debt, led by Round2 Capital Partners with contributions from Nordea Growth Fund, DCAP Digital Select, and PH Ventures LLC. EvoluteIQ’s low-code/no-code platform combines generative AI, data processing, and process automation, simplifying digital transformation for industries like healthcare, finance, and insurance. Founded in 2019, EvoluteIQ enables businesses to automate processes without advanced tech skills, driving efficiency and reducing costs. This fresh funding will accelerate EvoluteIQ's global expansion and support enhancements to its robust automation platform. #Automation #AI #DigitalTransformation #SeedFunding #TechInnovation

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#fundingalert 💼Company: Langdock 💰Funding: $3Million ⚡Round: Seed 👥Investors: General Catalyst and La Famiglia, Y Combinator, Rolf Schroemgens, Hanno Renner, Johannes Reck, Erik Muttersbach Langdock, Maintain complete control on your data while enabling your staff with LLMs. Build personalised assistants, automate whole workflows, and have conversations with your internal experts. The money will be used by the business to grow both its operations and growth initiatives. Under the direction of CEO Lennard Schmidt, Langdock offers a platform with enterprise-grade security, on-premises and cloud-based solutions, and a chat interface that lets coworkers access LLMs from different departments. Tobias Kemkes, Nono Konopka, Niklas Hoelterhoff, Justus Tölle, Thomas Plattner, Karl Richter   Read more - https://lnkd.in/gaHs-B6f To share your startup story write us on - [email protected] #Langdock #security #business #growth #funding #fundingnews #startupnews #news #startuprise

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A milestone worth celebrating! Five years ago, our Index Ventures team launched #NotOptional alongside more than 500 CEOs and founders to improve stock options and conditions for employee ownership at European startups. A lot has changed since we started in 2019: The most celebrated win so far goes to Germany 🇩🇪, one of the biggest economies in the world that used to have one of the worst stock options policy in Europe. Last year, the German Parliament voted to turn their failing policy into one of the best in the world. 10 other countries also updated their stock options legislation: the UK 🇬🇧, Portugal 🇵🇹, France 🇫🇷, Austria 🇦🇹, Czechia 🇨🇿, Spain 🇪🇸, Latvia 🇱🇻, Lithuania 🇱🇹, Greece 🇬🇷, and the Netherlands 🇳🇱. 7 countries now have policies that match or exceed the US: Germany, France, Portugal, the UK, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. Only one, Estonia 🇪🇪, already had a policy better than the US in 2019. That includes Europe’s three largest economies and the largest VC hubs. There’s still a long way to go for some countries. Finland 🇫🇮, Switzerland 🇨🇭 and Norway 🇳🇴 have the worst policies, followed by the Netherlands (even with updated legislation already), Belgium 🇧🇪 and Denmark 🇩🇰. These are countries with strong tech credentials where the tech innovation flywheel is being hampered. With the help of European entrepreneurs everywhere, we will keep pushing until every single European country’s options policy is at least as attractive as the US! There is no reason why they can’t be. We are also working on taking it to the next level: standardization at the EU level through a single corporate entity. The “EU Inc.” initiative launched earlier this month and builds on the success of #NotOptional at Andreas Klinger European Accelerationism. Thankfully, the challenges European startups face are more in the spotlight than ever because of Mario Draghi’s report to the European Commission in September, which emphasized that innovative startups should have the opportunity to adopt a new EU-wide legal statute. Already, the European Commission has established a Stock Options Working Group, the European Securities and Markets Authority has urged the Commission to consider a dedicated EU-wide framework for ESOPs, and commission president Ursula von der Leyen appointed the first-ever commissioner for startups. Every improvement makes it easier for startups to attract and retain talent and makes it more likely that the next tech giant will come out of Europe. To everyone involved in this fight, congratulations on five years of progress. Now let’s keep going!

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Snell & Wilmer Partner Roger Rappoport led an insightful seminar titled ''Startup Fundamentals: Start Right, Avoid Common Mistakes and Pitfalls.'' This event marked the first of three workshops tailored to startup founders, executives, entrepreneurs, innovators, and developers. We’re proud to collaborate with Access Silicon Valley and EvoNexus to support this series and help startup leaders navigate the unique challenges of early growth. Stay tuned for more from this valuable series. #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Technology

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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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How is your New Year's Resolution going? Have you made a plan? Set goals? Or write down what you want to achieve? Are you eating better? Running faster? Or sleeping longer? One of my favorite questions to ask founders for the past few months and still is now: What is your biggest challenge for 2025? #challenge #newyear I want to hear your doubts, struggles, problems, and worries. You should be constantly worried (but I do hope not constantly). You have chosen a life as an entrepreneur, a path I usually do not wish even on my worst enemies. This question is telling perfectly. We can solve the problem we know we have and face it directly. Here are some of the major ones I have heard thus far. If none of these are yours, maybe you are very lucky! 💰 #Fundraising - Let's be honest: Why would a founder want to get on a call with a VC? The No.1 challenge for start-ups lies in runway, burn rate, and the never-ending expenses to keep the mill running. 📈 #GTM Strategy and PMF validation - I have heard founders and entrepreneurs talk about "building" too many times. I get it; they love to build, so why would they otherwise choose to become entrepreneurs? Do not forget, your product needs a customer! 👯 #Hiring and #Expansion - Nobody can do it alone. You need a good team, whether fantastic engineers, killer salespeople, or just the right legal person, to help you jump through all the hoops. 👏 #Marketing & #Brand Recognition - Ah yes, the good old marketing campaigns! Nobody can get away from it. We all need brand awareness, increasing name recognition, and word of mouth! Sooner or later, these challenges will become a top priority for most founders to solve. Think hard and keep thinking. They become significant challenges to most start-ups regardless of their business model, product, and sector focus because no one formula fits all, and there is no simple solution. Everybody's business is different, yet the struggle remains essentially the same. So, how do you solve them as a founder, a BD, a salesperson, a strategist, an employee, or an advisor? We at tbv love to hear and stand alongside founders and entrepreneurs who are honest, candid, and passionate. It takes more than one person to succeed, and having the right partners by your side makes all the difference! #crypto #web3 #newyear Tobias BauerBrent FulferFarah Aridi tbv

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