Global Founders Capital is a venture capital firm founded in 2013 and based in Berlin, Germany, with a focus on empowering entrepreneurs globally. The firm is stage agnostic, investing in companies across various sectors, including internet, software, fintech, e-commerce, and telecommunications. Global Founders Capital typically invests in the equity of young technology companies, with a preference for startups located in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Vietnam, Colombia, Europe, the United States, and China. Investment amounts range from €0.01 million to €10 million, with specific allocations varying by stage: seed investments typically between €0.1 million and €1 million, early-stage investments between €1 million and €3 million, and growth-stage investments between €3 million and €8 million. The firm often seeks to be the lead investor and aims to secure board representation in its portfolio companies.

SoftBank is a multinational telecommunications and internet corporation based in Tokyo, Japan, founded in 1981 by Masayoshi Son. It offers a wide range of services, including mobile and fixed-line communication, broadband, digital television, and internet services. The company operates through several segments, encompassing mobile communications, fixed-line telecommunications, and internet services, including the operation of the Yahoo! JAPAN portal and e-commerce platforms. SoftBank has also expanded into robotics, artificial intelligence, and clean energy technology, with notable acquisitions like Arm Holdings. Its investment arm, the SoftBank Vision Fund, focuses on growth-stage technology companies across various sectors such as IoT, fintech, and cloud computing, aiming to drive innovation and technological advancement. Additionally, SoftBank is involved in renewable energy, payment processing, and media distribution, maintaining a diverse portfolio that supports its overarching goal of fostering the Information Revolution and enhancing global connectivity.

Picus Capital is an early-stage technology investment firm with a long-term investment philosophy. We work together with daring technology companies to build successful, global companies challenging the status quo and shaping tomorrow. We want to become the closest partner of our portfolio companies by working together on key strategic decisions and operative challenges. As a privately financed venture capital investor with long-term and flexible capital we are looking for exceptional founders who are committed to building category leaders throughout the next 5-10+ years. We invest in early-stage technology ventures with a focus on Real Estate, Finance & Insurance, Human Resources, Renewable Energy, Mobility, and Health. Picus makes initial investments in pre-seed, seed and series A ventures thereby starting to work together with entrepreneurs in various stages of their companies ranging from ideation phase to initial traction. We follow a very long-term investment approach investing significant amounts throughout the lifecycle of the companies. We have invested in over 50 companies to date. At Picus we work in a culture combining the discipline of a financial investor with the creativity and pragmatism of an entrepreneur. We follow a comprehensive and well-structured investment approach in order to identify the most attractive and ambitious investment opportunities in our target industries and geographies. Within our core investment team every member has a distinctive industry competence and a functional or geographic focus. We are working closely together with our portfolio companies to develop large and successful market leaders. This comprises in particular leveraging our marketing & sales expertise and our global market perspective to provide strategic advice, providing HR management to grant access to top talent, connecting our portfolio companies with our broad B2B & investor network as well as supporting the fundraising process.

Ulu Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Palo Alto, California, founded in 2008 by Clint Korver and Miriam Rivera. The firm specializes in seed-stage and early-stage investments, primarily targeting technology-enabled services across various sectors, including enterprise IT, educational technology, legal informatics, digital media, mobile, IoT, FinTech, AgTech, and online advertising. Ulu Ventures focuses on opportunities within the Bay Area, particularly in the Stanford and Silicon Valley ecosystems. The firm typically collaborates with other investors to make cumulative investments ranging from $500,000 to $1 million, emphasizing a disciplined approach to decision-making that carefully weighs risk-reward trade-offs. Ulu's investment strategy aims to identify viable exit opportunities for portfolio companies as they progress through their growth stages.

Hellman & Friedman LLC is a private equity investment firm established in 1984, with offices in San Francisco, New York, and London. The firm specializes in large-scale equity investments across various sectors, including financial services, retail, healthcare, energy, and digital media. Hellman & Friedman focuses on leveraged recapitalizations, acquisitions, traditional buyouts, and growth investments, typically targeting investments ranging from $50 million to $1.2 billion. The firm has raised over $25 billion of committed capital and invested in more than 75 companies throughout its history. With a team of over 45 professionals, including 18 managing directors, the firm emphasizes working closely with management teams to support strategic objectives. Hellman & Friedman seeks opportunities in North America, particularly the United States, as well as in Western Europe and Australia, often investing alongside management in businesses undergoing significant transitions.

Techstars is a global startup accelerator founded in 2006, headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. It provides a supportive environment for entrepreneurs through various programs, including mentorship-driven accelerators, startup programs, and corporate innovation partnerships. Techstars connects founders with a vast network of mentors, investors, and industry experts to foster company growth. The organization operates multiple accelerator programs worldwide, focusing on diverse sectors such as mobility, retail, and social impact. It also manages a venture capital fund that invests in innovative technology companies at early stages. With over 1,000 companies in its accelerator portfolio, Techstars has developed a reputation for nurturing successful startups across various markets, helping them scale and achieve significant valuations.

Speedinvest is a European venture capital firm based in Vienna, Austria, founded in 2011. It focuses on early-stage investments in technology-related companies, targeting sectors such as fintech, insurtech, deep tech, and consumer tech. The firm typically invests between €250,000 and €3 million, aiming for minority stakes of up to 20% in its portfolio companies. Speedinvest emphasizes operational support and seeks to collaborate closely with entrepreneurs, often taking on operational roles for six months to a year. With a network that extends to Silicon Valley, Speedinvest positions itself as a pivotal investment and development hub within Europe’s start-up ecosystem, actively investing in Central and Eastern European markets including Austria, Germany, and the UK.

Wellington Management is a leading investment adviser founded in 1928, based in Boston, Massachusetts, with additional offices in major global financial centers. The firm specializes in providing comprehensive investment management solutions for a diverse range of institutional clients, including sovereign institutions, endowments, foundations, family offices, insurers, and wealth managers across more than 50 countries. Wellington Management employs a collaborative and research-driven approach, harnessing proprietary research to identify opportunities and manage risks in global equity, fixed income, alternatives, and multi-asset markets. The firm's structure fosters independent thought and enables teams to operate as entrepreneurial entities, ensuring they have the necessary resources to achieve strong, consistent results. Wellington Management also recognizes the importance of collaborating with consultants to address client needs effectively. Their commitment to environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) principles further enhances their investment strategies, reflecting a modern understanding of responsible investing.

Accion is a global nonprofit organization founded in 1961 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, dedicated to enhancing financial inclusion worldwide. The organization focuses on providing access to financial tools and services for underserved individuals, small businesses, and communities. Accion collaborates with financial service providers to deliver affordable and high-quality solutions, while also engaging with industry leaders and regulators to promote a more inclusive financial landscape. Through its Venture Lab initiative, Accion invests in innovative fintech startups that work to improve the accessibility, quality, and affordability of financial services for underserved populations. In addition to capital investment, Accion offers strategic and operational support to these startups, helping them scale and thrive in the formal economy. The organization emphasizes the use of technology and new business models to create impactful customer experiences, thereby fostering financial health and capabilities among those traditionally excluded from financial services.

Sequoia Capital is a prominent venture capital firm founded in 1972 and based in Menlo Park, California. The firm specializes in investing across various sectors, including energy, financial services, healthcare, internet, mobile, and technology. Sequoia targets startups at different stages, from seed to growth, providing investments ranging from $100,000 to $100 million, depending on the company's maturity and market potential. The firm has a global presence, with significant operations in regions such as China, India, and Israel, where it actively partners with innovative founders to support the development of transformative companies. Sequoia Capital is known for its long-term commitment to its portfolio companies, leveraging extensive experience and industry knowledge to guide entrepreneurs from initial concept to public offerings. The firm also emphasizes the importance of social impact, as a significant portion of its profits is directed towards philanthropic causes.