Julia Wilde

💼 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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VC-Markt im DACH-Raum: So sieht die "neue Normalität" aus https://buff.ly/45vkOpn The VC market in the DACH region reflects the changing landscape of the "new normal." Companies are focusing on online presence, e-commerce strategies, cloud technologies, and data analytics for decision-making. Cybersecurity investments have increased, and remote work setups are crucial for business continuity. Adaptability and resilience are shaping the current VC market in the DACH region. #VCtrends #DACHregion.

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Gründer: Zahl der Start-up-Insolvenzen steigt auf Rekordhoch https://buff.ly/3Y8hwa8 The number of start-up insolvencies has reached a record high, indicating a challenging environment for new businesses. Factors contributing to this trend could include economic instability, lack of funding, or insufficient market demand. It's crucial for entrepreneurs to carefully plan and manage their finances to navigate these risks successfully. According to recent reports, the rise in start-up insolvencies underscores the importance of resilience and adaptability in the business world. #startups #insolvencies

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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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Let‘s talk #longevity! Join me and Marc P. Bernegger on the 5th of September ar the SBN lunch and learn more about our plans with Maximon - The Longevity Company Builder!

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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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The venture capital industry is experiencing a comeback: Over 500 funding rounds of two million dollars or more were closed by European startups in the first quarter of 2024, according to Dealroom. This represents an increase from 24 percent (Q4, 2021) to 43 percent (Q1, 2024) in Series A funding rounds. The crucial question is, how do founders manage to quickly move from the seed phase to Series A in today’s highly competitive landscape? The essential tools for this can now be found in a new book, titled “Series A Blueprint: A Guide for Seed-Stage Founders“ written by my amazing colleagues from XAnge in collaboration with HV Capital, Carta Zendesk, Amazon Web Services (AWS), torq.partners and featuring tips from dozens of experienced founders. https://lnkd.in/dzx622hB

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The Deutscher Gründerpreis Award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurial achievements in Germany, celebrating innovative business ideas and fostering a positive startup climate. 🏆 💡 In the "StartUp" category, young entrepreneurs are being honored with impactful ideas, seizing new market opportunities and leading their companies to success. Two outstanding companies were nominated by the jury, which is made up of representatives of the award partners stern, Sparkasse, ZDF, and Porsche AG: BLUU Seafood, a biotech company revolutionizing food production, aims to cultivate fish cells from Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout to produce sustainable alternatives to industrial fishing. Their products offer the taste and nutrition of real fish while reducing environmental strain—an important solution given that 90% of global fish stocks are fully or overfished. WeSort.AI GmbH uses AI to revolutionize waste sorting by accurately identifying and sorting materials, even damaged or dirty ones. The company focuses on creating a circular economy. Their AI recognizes over 7 million products and sorts five times faster than humans with near-perfect accuracy. The systems are used for commercial waste, recycling, and e-waste, with key clients including major waste management companies. The company aims to expand both in Germany and internationally. As a finalist for the award, they will receive personalized support from our experienced consultants to help further develop their businesses. #StartUp #Sustainability #Biotech #AI #Consulting #Entrepreneurship

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𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗜𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸? 🌿 Germany’s start-up scene has made strides, but let’s face it - if we want to compete on a global scale, we need 𝘣𝘰𝘭𝘥, transformative change, and we need it now! As a serial founder, I’ve witnessed promising developments, especially in Berlin, Munich, and Cologne, where start-up ecosystems are taking shape. These hubs, with incubators, venture capital, and research centers, have undeniable potential. But when it comes to actually launching and scaling businesses, we’re still stuck in the past. Bureaucracy, outdated regulations, and a fear-driven mindset are holding us back. Starting a business here is a bureaucratic obstacle course. The process is slow, complex, and anything but founder-friendly. Why can’t we learn from countries like Estonia, where a streamlined, digital-first approach makes registering a company as easy as a few clicks? A one-stop, fully digital system would not only empower entrepreneurs but show the world that Germany is serious about supporting innovation. And then there’s our attitude toward failure. In Germany, failure is often stigmatized as a red mark on one’s record, a permanent setback rather than a learning experience. But in entrepreneurship, failure is part of the journey. If we want to foster a truly innovative culture, we must embrace failure, take risks, and learn from mistakes without fear of societal judgment. Innovation demands resilience and experimentation; we should celebrate, not penalize, these qualities. Germany’s tax incentives for early-stage investments are also overdue for an overhaul. Targeted incentives could attract far more venture capital, making Germany one of the world’s top destinations for ambitious founders. Just imagine the growth potential if investment in start-ups was not just encouraged but rewarded. And let's talk about collaboration: academia, corporates, and start-ups must work in tandem to truly drive groundbreaking innovation. Without this synergy, we risk staying in an echo chamber while other countries race ahead. Germany has the talent, the drive, and the potential to lead - what it lacks is a system that supports that drive. We can’t afford to move at a snail’s pace in a world that’s rapidly accelerating! What’s your perspective? If you’ve launched a business in Germany or anywhere else, how has the environment shaped your journey?

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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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It's the ecosystem, stupid. Building robust ecosystems is crucial for the success of startups. Max Meister’s article in Handelszeitung highlights the current exit challenges and the importance of strong financial health and market readiness. In the US, a well-established exit culture fuels continuous reinvestment, but in Europe and Switzerland, this is just emerging. As a serial entrepreneur and investor, I see it as both a privilege and responsibility to actively shape this ecosystem, fostering growth and innovation. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/er3Y3-84 #ecosystem #venturecapital #entrepreneurship #venturebuilding

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Wow - thanks Simon Walter, Magdalena Maier and Charlotte Niklahs for the program you've put together for the #management hive of #pakcon24! 🔥 How to set up a 10x innovation culture by Nina Michahelles, Sarina Hergarten, Alexander Böhm, Nils Wagner How to build and scale high-performing companies by Friederike Reuter, Stefan Roebel, Martin Sondenheimer, Magdalena Maier Strategy is broken by Sebastian Herzog, Isabelle Schnellbuegel, Paul Becker, Simon Walter AI: The Biggest Opportunity for the German Mittelstand? by Dr. Alexander Mrozek, Dr. Sebastian Walter, Anna Franziska Michel, Dr. Alexandra Deichsel Why Digital Transformations often fail - particularly in Germany by Miriam van Straelen, Marc Schiekofer, Cecilie Hohlbein Hegelund, Moritz Trutschel Venture Clienting - Success Factors of Startup - Corporate Collaborations by Arno Baltruschat, Dr. Sophie Chung, Stefan Schmautz, Anne Decker Last ticket drop: https://lnkd.in/duPQg3Wc

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⏰ 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟭 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗢𝗠𝗬! ⏰ At #WECONOMY, founders win what money can't buy: The competition brings founders together with experts and managers right up to the executive boards of the German economy. Are you a tech start-up and want to take your business to the next level?  This is your chance! ✔️ 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆? Start-ups in the early stage / pre-seed phase as well as start-ups that have not yet been founded with proof of concept or pilots. ✔️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝘀? We are looking for startups with a focus on STEM and technology. MedTech, FinTech, AgriTech ... the possibilities are endless! ✔️ 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺? Not a must, but all the better. After all, it has long been known: More diverse teams are more successful. Any questions? Message Christine Heuwing or comment below! ⏰ 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟰! WECONOMY is an initiative of Wissensfabrik - Unternehmen für Deutschland e.V. in cooperation with UnternehmerTUM and Handelsblatt.

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The best ideas are born when great minds come together. Last week, we experienced it firsthand at the Founder Breakfast at the gate: a morning full of exchange – from challenges to milestones, wrapping it up with a breakfast from the gate-Kitchen. This is the power of founders coming together:  “We really liked the breakfast! I think it was a good format - really encourages the main networking purpose.” “It was fun to get to know some other startups.” “Immediately made contacts with two robotic startups.” “Thank you for this event; it was an excellent opportunity to meet the other founders and learn from their stories and experiences.” A big thank you to everyone who joined and made this moment so special. 🙌 Leverage Robotics GmbH Dimitri Butsch Roman Weitschat Dr.-Ing. Daniel Carton BotCraft Dr. Mahmoud Masri Global Sustainable Transformation GST Björn Wunderlich Lilio Health Fabian König Irasun GmbH Alexander Reyers RoboTUM Alimzhan Rakhmatulin Dmitry Chokovski KEWAZO Dr.-Ing. Richard Eckl Energyminer GmbH Daniel P. Zolg MSAID Lumatix Biotech Peter Keil Christian Heckemann What has been your most valuable networking experience as a founder?  Share it in the comments!

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Last week, WEPA Ventures partnered with WEPA Stiftung and WHU Institut für Familienunternehmen und Mittelstand for a unique gathering. We invited a selected group of family entrepreneurs, family officers, founders, VCs, and business angels to our office in Düsseldorf to discuss startup investments by family businesses and family offices. With every participant bringing valuable practical experience, the atmosphere was highly engaging and trustful. Alongside keynotes and panel discussions, we had lively debates that covered a wide range of topics. Here are my three key takeaways: 💡 Multiple Approaches to Investing: Most participants shared more than one approach to startup investments that is currently actively pursued by their organization. While there is certainly a bias due to the preselection of attendees, this signals a growing maturity of VC investments by family businesses and family offices in Germany. Notably, around 50% of participants manage more than 10 investments in their current role, which underlines this perspective. 💡Direct Involvement of Entrepreneurial Families: The discussions reaffirmed the critical role of direct family involvement. Ideally, entrepreneurial families are crafting investment setups that are attractive to both founders and VC co-investors, while maintaining the trust of their family peers or core organizations. Combining execution speed with the value brought by industrial networks or core business capabilities is key to being a valued investor in the early-stage VC ecosystem. 💡Feedback on Keynote about my PhD Research: The initial findings from my PhD research received positive feedback from other practitioners. You might say, "Didn’t you interview them in the first place?" True, but stepping away from interviewer role allowed me to share what I had derived from the research, and it was rewarding to hear that the abstraction and models resonated well. To everyone who participated and supported—you know who you are—thank you so much for the insightful discussions and your valuable input! We’ll continue to foster these exchanges. I’m also more than eager to hear more perspectives on this topic. If you’re interested in a chat, please feel free to reach out!

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Dr. James Hollis is a fascinating American Jungian psychoanalyst, author, and public speaker. After starting to read one of James Hollis's books, I also listened to the podcast #SpeakingofJung #32, which discusses his book „Living an Examined Life“. You can watch it here https://lnkd.in/dsJEV-Uw. Three main points stood out to me as very relevant to my own life and to our society. As I prepare my workshop on the Landscape of Impact Investing in Europe at #Noah24 on June 3rd at 11:50, I wondered if these points are also important for us as investors. First, he talked about Meaning vs. Happiness: "I'm saying it's not about happiness, it's about meaning. Happiness is not a permanent state, it's transient... and what is meaningful is often found in areas that are uncomfortable." Second, he discussed Accountability and the difference between hedonism and adulthood: "It's the word accountability at the end of our journeys. All of our systems—civic, political, religious, ethical, etc.—all of them consider us accountable for the life we've lived, even though we've had hard times. We're accountable, and becoming an adult means you have to deal with what is difficult for you and exercise as much freedom of choice as you can manage in the face of the circumstances of the outer and the inner world! Now, when you look at popular culture, you realize that the typical rites of passage for men and women have really disappeared. What we have is an extended adolescence, which describes modern American pop culture. I mean, where is the depth of discussion when we have a reality show president, for example, and a bunch of clowns in public office? We have people who respond to slogans that are emotionally charged, and very few people sit down and really sort of work through anything. It's almost as if I occupied a big body and played big roles, and then I died without ever really knowing who I was, why I was here, and in service to what. So why should we not live a hedonistic lifestyle? Why not take responsibility for things and stop blaming other people for everything? The world needs grown-ups to survive!" Third, he explained that True spirituality is about embracing the mystery: "Intellectual development sometimes involves the work of your hands. It's whatever really moves and touches you and engages your spirit. Your spirituality is not a single thing, and true spirituality often takes us deeper than that which is comfortable. True spirituality, in a way, respects the mystery and allows it to be mysterious. Because any time you have a psychology or religion that has figured it out and wrapped it up in a package, it's really delusional. Those are people enchanted by and captivated by their own ego constructs. They are bewitched by their own construction rather than allowing the mystery to be the mystery." What has that todo with #Impactinvesting? Read in my comment!

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James Hollis is a fascinating American Jungian psychoanalyst, author, and public speaker. After starting to read one of James Hollis's books, I also listened to the podcast Speaking of Jung #32, which discusses his book „Living an Examined Life“. Three main points stood out to me as very relevant to my own life and to our society. But also being an Investor talking with Cyril Colin at #Noah24conference on Impact Investing. First, he talked about Meaning vs. Happiness: "I'm saying it's not about happiness, it's about meaning. Happiness is not a permanent state, it's transient... and what is meaningful is often found in areas that are uncomfortable." Second, he discussed Accountability and the difference between hedonism and adulthood: "It's the word accountability at the end of our journeys. All of our systems—civic, political, religious, ethical, etc.—all of them consider us accountable for the life we've lived, even though we've had hard times. We're accountable, and becoming an adult means you have to deal with what is difficult for you and exercise as much freedom of choice as you can manage in the face of the circumstances of the outer and the inner world! Now, when you look at popular culture, you realize that the typical rites of passage for men and women have really disappeared. What we have is an extended adolescence, which describes modern American pop culture. I mean, where is the depth of discussion when we have a reality show president, for example, and a bunch of clowns in public office? We have people who respond to slogans that are emotionally charged, and very few people sit down and really sort of work through anything. It's almost as if I occupied a big body and played big roles, and then I died without ever really knowing who I was, why I was here, and in service to what. So why should we not live a hedonistic lifestyle? Why not take responsibility for things and stop blaming other people for everything? The world needs grown-ups to survive!" Third, he explained that True spirituality is about embracing the mystery: "Intellectual development sometimes involves the work of your hands. It's whatever really moves and touches you and engages your spirit. Your spirituality is not a single thing, and true spirituality often takes us deeper than that which is comfortable. True spirituality is something that I think asks us to embrace ambiguity and uncertainty rather than resolve it. True spirituality, in a way, respects the mystery and allows it to be mysterious. Because any time you have a psychology or religion that has figured it out and wrapped it up in a package, it's really delusional. Those are people enchanted by and captivated by their own ego constructs. They are bewitched by their own construction rather than allowing the mystery to be the mystery." #impactinvestment XAnge #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #climate #sustainability #startup See my points of discussion below in the comments!

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Do you wonder what kind of founders and topics we are looking for at Climate Founders? This is our investment thesis Lin Gong-Deutschmann, Franziska Ponick and I with some sparring from Philipp Herkelmann put together: 👩‍🔬 💚 📈 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹. We are here to support the ones who deeply care about our planet and have found their angle to contribute significantly to a brighter future. As we observed how incredibly fast open-minded, resilient, highly productive and intrinsically motivated people can grow personally, we naturally strongly believe in first-time founders who show these characteristics. We don't have a specific CV in mind, when we look for perfect founders, we look for people who gathered special insights in an industry, market, problem or technology. When you surprise the experts in your field with your thoughts, then we should talk. 💡 🌍 𝗪𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝗴𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁. We look for teams who discovered an unsolved problem and aim to break through the status quo. Those potential breakthroughs can be rooted in science or technology of new or improved deployment of existing climate solutions. We value transformational changes over efficiency improvements. Our greenhouse gas savings threshold is the potential to save 10 million tons CO2e per year after 10 years from now, but we love to see cases with even much higher impact potential. We are technology and business case agnostic: industrial hardware, biotech, nature-based solutions, data-driven software or renewables deployment, we look at high impact breakthroughs in all categories. 🤝 🏆 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀' 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀. We are not the ones you start your fundraise with, we are the ones you prepare your fundraise with. Unlike most others we don't wait for inflection points, we anticipate them and we don't wait for traction, but we push you for crystal clear validation. We want to be your most favorable investor and even more we want to be your strongest ally even before we have invested. Interesting for you or someone you know? Have a look at our remote program and apply until tomorrow: https://lnkd.in/diWDSpnw Even if this thesis is quite new, our portfolio already and especially the investments in the last two years reflect it well:

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