Christian Fenner

A big thank you to Peter Schmetz from Vorwerk Ventures, Jan Thomas from Startup Insider and everyone involved for such a great discussion on the future of plant-based alternatives. 🌱 It was an honor to share my insights on why taste and price are critical for consumer adoption—sometimes even more than sustainability—and what technologies have the potential to truly disrupt the market. Here’s a sneak peek of what we covered: 🍔 Key trends that are shaping the future of plant-based meat. 🚀 Strategies for startups to succeed in this highly competitive space. 🥩 And for those curious to try it themselves, use my discount code NADINE123 to test the plant-based steaks from our World Fund portfolio company, Juicy Marbles. 🎧 Tune in to the Startup Insider Podcast – link in the comments! #Innovation #Sustainability #Startup 👉 Teaser: In the next episode, we’ll dive into the exciting topic of #Fermentation in #FoodTech. 🧀🍺🧪 If you have specific questions or topics you’d like us to address, let us know in the comments!

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Berlin-based greentech everyone energy closes seven-figure seed. Berlin-based greentech startup everyone energy announced the successful closing of its seven-figure seed financing round. Founded in August 2021 by Céline Göhlich, Fabian Reetz and Florian Gmeiner, everyone energy has quickly established itself as a leading provider of white-label software for customized advisory services on renewable energy solutions. The company’s innovative software enables energy service providers to leverage digital customer services to scale their business with automation.  Despite increased awareness of environmental issues and the availability of technologies such as photovoltaics and heat pumps, many people face a critical hurdle: the complexity and lack of transparency of the energy industry’s regulatory framework. The multitude of rules and regulations makes it difficult to keep track and make informed decisions. At the same time, energy service providers face a highly competitive market environment and an acute shortage of skilled labour. The complex initial consultation of end customers is time-consuming and requires specialized experts who are scarce and expensive. Everyone energy’s software for automated energy transition consulting solves this bottleneck in the energy transition and creates a win-win situation for energy service providers and consumers. #energy #green #greentech #familyoffice

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The best part of work is always at the terminals. Yesterday at the HHLA Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG Container Terminal Tollerort. Supporting the incredible works of founders Marcel Wiegand and Nico Marks and their exciting venture passify that secures and automates gate processes. The roll-out was a blast. Speaking with hundreds of truck drivers all day long and showing them the easiness of the gate process via smartphone App. This is another great example why founders who have years of terminal work experiences make the difference when it comes to gate integration, process knowledge and smooth software roll-outs. And this is just the start. passify simplifies and streamlines the access management process for both truck drivers and facility operators, while providing real-time information on pick-up and delivery availability. Definitely a startup to watch on an exciting growth path. #smartport #terminalaccess #startup #truck #gateprocess

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Is your tech startup ready to enter the German market? 💼 Then, register for the Netherlands Enterprise Agency's (RVO) trade mission to the Startup Baden-Württemberg Summit (Startup BW Summit) on 9 - 11 July in Stuttgart. Top 5 opportunities that the Startup BW Summit offers: 1. Present your product or service to a large German audience. 2. Validate or test your product or service. 3. Expand your international network. 4. Meet potential investors. 5. Gain knowledge about the German market and create partnerships. Register before 7 May!

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We're one of Handelsblatts "New Food Stars 2024" 💥🚀 And we couldn't be more proud of it! Munich Strategy analyzed 300 German-based food startups for this and we're among the 50 most innovative Food Start-ups. 💪🤯 We're especially proud that GREENFORCE was rated the highest score (3) regarding our market potential. 📈 Besides being purpose-driven and changing the food industry or even global nutrition for the better, there were three other criteria used to select the New Food Stars: 1️⃣ Maturity: In which development phase is the company? 2️⃣ Disruption: How innovative is the company and how big is it's potential impact in the industry? 3️⃣ Potential: Does the company have a significant market leverage with its business model in the medium term? We're only at the beginning of our journey - let's make plant-based the new normal and sustain our planet, together! 🌱💚 #top50 #foodtech #foodindustry #plantbased #foodstartup #innovation

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🏅Congratulations to The Exploration Company & KoRo for featuring in Sifted’s 50: Germany! The ranking lists Germany’s fastest-growing startups in 2024 by revenue growth. 🇩🇪 🚀 The Exploration Company, part of our Seed portfolio since last year, came in 9th with an impressive 254.65% revenue growth. The company was founded in 2021 by French rocket scientist Hélène Huby, with the aim of democratizing space exploration, making it affordable, sustainable, and open. 🥜 KoRo also featured in Sifted’s ranking. The Berlin-based ecommerce startup has been part of our Venture portfolio since 2022 and aims to make high-quality food accessible to all at fair prices. In Sifted’s report (link in comments), KoRo’s CEO Florian Schwenkert gave more insights into the company's current growth and their experiences with the challenges and success of the past years. The ranking also identified the following trends: 💻 B2B SaaS is the most dominant vertical, followed by fintech and consumer tech  📈 Average funding is €139.6M, with average revenue of €35.8M  📊 The average two-year revenue CAGR is 162.08%  🌍 Berlin is home to the most companies, followed by Munich, Cologne, and Hamburg Congratulations to The Exploration Company and Koro, as well as all 50 featured startups! Here’s to further growth, innovation, and achievements. 👏 Head to the comments to explore the full leaderboard and see who’s shaping the future of the German startup ecosystem ⚡ Cc Hélène Huby, Artur Koop, Jon Reijneveld, Constantinos Calios, Florian Schwenkert

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What a great week! 🚀 Last week Monday we aired on Germany’s top 📺 Startup-Show “Die Höhle der Löwen” (DHDL) – similar to India’s “Shark Tank” or UK’s “Dragon’s den”. It was an intense and smooth week at the same time. How did it all happen? 😤🫡 What made it intense: - We made important changes to our shop system and processes. Would it all work with the expected order volume? - And the B2C order volume was above our expectations, and we added a great 4-digit number to our online consumer base. - In addition, we received multiple B2B orders and enquiries from new clients in Germany and various European countries. - We were covered in many press articles, including Bild and N-TV. And of course, we featured more stories on our social media and answered many customer enquiries. 👌 What made it smooth: - Our web shop, the processes and the fulfilment went extremely smoothly. All the hard work in the past few months paid off. - Most of the orders were dispatched directly after airing within a couple of days. Only due to a delayed container from India, the last orders are being dispatched at the beginning of this week. - For comparison, in January 2023, we were also covered on German TV at Galileo with a featured story. Back then, we received a high 3-digit number of orders; but it took us multiple weeks to deal with the dispatch and aftermath. - Special thanks to my cofounder Timo Schütz for setting up the operations to be ready for substantial B2B and B2C growth, and a big thank you to team d-log Robert Konzack for delivering exactly as promised 🙂 Nevertheless, we also faced various hick-ups, but hick-ups which could be quickly solved to ensure continuous smooth operations and customer satisfaction. ⏭ What is happening next: - We are continuing to focus on our B2B roadmap and the grocery retail sector in the DACH-region, where we have seen strong traction in the past few months. Our target is to deepen the distribution mainly within Germany and increase the number of POS-locations continuously. - The TV airing will help us to build on a wider brand and product awareness as well as support opening further doors in the retail sector. As shared in the press after the TV airing, our announced deal didn’t go through. So, we are looking forward to stepping now into the normal fundraising process. ❓ Question: Do you know early-stage investors with keen interest and network within the consumer goods and food/beverage industry (preferably ‘business angels’) that you could recommend? Please DM me. 😊 And if any of you are considering going to DHDL; feel free to reach out, maybe I can answer your questions. 🤗 Lars Markull Timo Schütz #startupshow #entrepreneurship #growth

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Always asked myself, if I can be happy …always? As an entrepreneur you are in the natural habit of optimizing all aspects of a project so why don’t optimize your life? After many years of learning about what makes us happy, I think it is only a transient state. But maybe we can feel even better … when we are in Flow! Flow is the state of consciousness in which we forget space and time, are maximally happy, motivated and efficient. In this state, we feel our best and achieve the most. What do we need to achieve this flow? Why is it so important for founders and managers? I talk about this in the podcast with editor Elena Todeva Listen in and share your best flow moments. #flow #flowmoment #success #performance #motivation #alignment #leadership #newwork #startup #vc #entrepreneurship

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Only 1 day to go! 🔜 Attention agrifood startups and investors! 🌟 Join us this October 10th at 3 pm CEST for a deep dive into Germany's agrifood sector. This session will cover: - Tap into Market Opportunities: Gain insights into Germany’s agrifood sector, exploring market demands, growth areas, and consumer preferences. - Connect with Industry Leaders: Engage with the key players in the local agrifood scene, building valuable relationships with potential partners, clients, and collaborators. - Innovations: Discover how local startups transform the industry with new technologies, enhance productivity, and promote sustainability. 📅 Don’t miss out – mark your calendars and register for our webinar! 🔗 Save the event: https://shorturl.at/CfW8S #Agrifood #Sustainability #Innovation #Germany #SmartAgriculture

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💼 Looking to save up to 30% on your new office rent? 💼 For businesses and startups in Germany, the GRW subsidy can be a game-changer when it comes to reducing operational costs. In our latest guide, we walk you through everything you need to know about how to leverage this subsidy and save BIG on your workspace expenses. ✨ Why should you read it? - Step-by-step guidance to navigate the application process ✅ - Tips to optimize your workspace strategy 🏢 - Discover coworking solutions that can maximize your savings 💰 - Get a free consultation from One Coworking 🆓 👉 Take action now: Don't miss out on this opportunity to cut costs and grow smarter. Read our full guide here: https://lnkd.in/dyc-W_vG #businessgrowth #coworkingspace #officerent #costsaving #workspaceoptimization #GRWsubsidy #businessoffice #startup #grants #subsidy

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"Verzögerung der #EUDR gefährdet Investitionen" - sagen auch Nestlé, Unilever und Mars 👀 Die EU-Verordnung für entwaldungsfreie Lieferketten ist ein Meilenstein. Der Bundesverband Nachhaltige Wirtschaft (BNW) berichtete nicht nur darüber, sondern arbeitet auch mit seinen Mitgliedsunternehmen an der Umsetzung. So wurden beispielsweise im Webinar mit der deutschen Umsetzungsbehörde BLE Fragen der Implementierung diskutiert. Und nun schließen sich auch Industriegrößen wie Unilever Nestlé Mars den Protesten gegen die Verzögerung bei der EUDR an: …aus dem Beitrag: „Set to be implemented on 30 December, the companies argue that the EU’s decision to delay the landmark deforestation policy is causing uncertainty across the industry and putting investment at risk. Ferrero global public affairs vice president Franceso Tramontin told the Financial Times that “avoiding potential reopening of the regulation” was fundamental to protecting the preparations companies had already made and to drive further investment in more sustainable practices.“ Weiterlesen hier: https://lnkd.in/dYyn7HnS 📷 BNW e. V. Simon Veith 🌱

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Mister Spex Comeback? That was the headline of the latest article from DER AKTIONÄR, highlighting our story and, more importantly, our recent developments like the SpexFocus program, which we rolled out just a month ago, and our new rebranding: Mister Spex – Optician for Life. We’re in the midst of implementing changes and meticulously executing our plans and I can’t help but shamelessly quote the author Michael Schröder: “Hinter den Kulissen tut sich was” // "Behind the scenes, something is happening." With that, let me be cheesy and close by saying: "Stay tuned!" and "Gute Chancen gibt es immer wieder" Mister Spex Stephan Schulz-Gohritz #investorrelations #deraktionär #smallcaps #opticianforlife

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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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Deeptech startups are the driving force behind some of the most innovative products the world has seen in recent years. But fundraising for a company with a grand vision and long R&D cycles is not without challenges in the current market environment. I am looking forward to discuss our recent learnings with two of biggest Infinite Roots‘ supporters and investors, European Investment Bank (EIB) and redalpine, at the TechBBQ in Copenhagen tomorrow. #Startup #VentureCapital #DeepTech #Fundraising

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𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮'𝘀 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲+ 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲... Swiss dairy giant Emmi AG discovered the power of Meta's automated Advantage+ audience feature through a decisive A/B test campaign for their popular product, Emmi Caffè Latte. This innovative approach resulted in more efficient marketing spend and increased customer interactions. 𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝑰-𝑫𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒚: ✅𝟏𝟑% 𝐋𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡: Emmi utilized the automated Advantage+ audience feature and saw a significant reduction in costs compared to traditional manual targeting. ✅𝟑𝟓% 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: The AI-powered feature helped the brand engage more users, showing a substantial rise compared to its usual audience. ✅𝟐𝟓% 𝐋𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Not only did engagement increase, but the cost for each engagement dropped, making the campaigns more cost-effective. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆: Traditionally, Emmi AG targeted a core audience of Austrian and German adults interested in coffee. Wanting to expand their reach, they tested the Advantage+ audience feature, which uses AI to identify and target new customer segments likely to be interested in their products. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲: The A/B testing confirmed that the AI-driven approach outperformed the manual targeting strategy, allowing Emmi Caffè Latte to connect with new audiences more effectively and at a lower cost. This case study not only highlights the benefits of integrating AI into advertising strategies but also showcases the potential for brands to innovate and thrive in competitive markets. #ai #performancemarketing #metaads #advertising #advantage+

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Connect. Seed. Succeed. In less then a month we're ready to rock #FD24 in beautiful #Berlin 🇩🇪 Make connections with a diverse investor community, engage with visionary entrepreneurs, and interact with like-minded innovators! HTGF | High-Tech Gründerfonds is one of the leading seed investors in Europe. Embark on a journey through our start-up and grown-up portfolio, which features cutting-edge ventures in the fields of deep tech, climate tech, life sciences and digital tech. Draw inspiration and gain valuable insights that will help to propel your business. Unlock investment and collaboration opportunities that pave the way for your success. All info via link in first comment! #crossindustryinnovation #ideaDJ #moderation #keynotes #Startups #hightech #VC #investment

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"Most founders start planning their next funding round too late." The best time to start working on your next funding round is right after closing the previous one, by drafting the new fundraising deck immediately. This inspiring topic we discussed during my latest workshop with our portfolio company Valuecase with Dr. Jan Niklas Wick & Lennart Prange and Mika Weissenberger from XAnge. I've noticed a pattern among our most successful founders they're already visualizing and planning their next milestones while the ink is still drying on their current term sheet. The strategy is simple: Work backwards from the next funding round! Here’s a quick example: One of our portfolio founders wrapped up their Seed and immediately mapped out their Series A milestones in a draft deck (such as Paul Hock & Nina Germanus @ Green Fusion GmbH). Six months later, not only were those goals achieved, but the original deck turned into the blueprint for their next pitch. They saved valuable time and secured a successful future by having a clear plan from the start. Here’s why this "VC manifesting" approach works: 📍 Crystallizes the goals for your next milestone. 📊 Creates clear accountability to achieve them. 🎨 Shapes the narrative evolution of your company. 🧭 Provides a north star for team alignment. The (next round’s) deck becomes more than just a fundraising tool, it’s your company’s strategic compass. And here’s the magic: when you actually hit those milestones, the deck becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. You’re not scrambling to piece together a narrative at the last minute; you’ve documented the journey from the beginning. Pro tip: - Include specific numbers. - Make it a living document. - Review it quarterly. - Let it evolve with your learnings and market dynamics. This approach ensures the final version is stronger, clearer, and ready when you need it. Remember, the best founders don’t just build to raise, they raise to build. Having a clear picture of your next chapter? That’s just smart business. What’s your process for preparing your next funding round? Would you try working backwards like this? #VentureCapital #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Fundraising

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Standing ovations für Ursula von der Leyen bei der DLD Nature! Sie hat so viele wichtige Punkte gemacht. Hier kommen die wichtigsten Aussagen: >> “We need a fundamental rethink of the relationship between our economy and the natural world.” >> "For generations humanity has only rewarded the plundering of our natural environment und today we see how fundamentally wrong this is. From a moral point of view but as well from a economical point of view." >> “There is a clear economic case for restoring and preserving nature. There is a growing awareness that intact nature has an economic value." >> "Natur is starting to feature in our companies business plans eg. dutch insurance companies which is offering discounts to customers who install green roofs. Because it will make the house and the whole neighbourhood saver, it will drain accessive rainfall and expand the lifespan of the roof." >> "We need to put Nature on the balance sheet" >> "We want a circular and competitive economy, that gives more back to Nature than it takes from it." >> "A recovery is possible, it is not for granted, but it is possible with the spirit of innovators and problem solvers it can be done." Danke für diese unfassbare inspirierende Konferenz Steffi Czerny, Maria Furtwängler, Dr. med. Eckart von Hirschhausen, Dr. Frauke Fischer und Prof. Dr. Martin R. Stuchtey A small step for you but a huge step for Nature!! #DLD #UrsulavonderLeyen #Nature

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