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.
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.
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.
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.
Plug and Play is a prominent seed and early-stage investor based in Silicon Valley, specializing in innovative startups across various sectors, including Fintech, Insurtech, and Health & Wellness. The firm operates 12 industry-specific accelerator programs annually, connecting high-quality startups with major corporations and strategic partners. In addition to accelerator programs, Plug and Play participates in Seed, Angel, and Series A funding, co-investing with over 180 venture capital partners. Their Startup Camp provides a 10-week intensive program for entrepreneurs to refine their business models, while their global network of mentors and advisors supports startups in product development and investor presentations. With a portfolio exceeding 600 startups, Plug and Play has been instrumental in the growth of market leaders and continues to facilitate innovation by bringing together key stakeholders worldwide, including corporations, venture capitalists, and government entities.
Ribbit Capital is a venture capital firm based in Palo Alto, California, founded in 2012 by Meyer Malka. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage companies that aim to disrupt the financial services sector. Ribbit Capital focuses on various areas within financial technology, including lending, payments, insurance, accounting, tax preparation, bitcoin, wealth management, and personal financial management. With a global investment approach, Ribbit Capital seeks to support innovative individuals and brands that are transforming the financial landscape.
Intact Ventures is the venture capital arm of Intact Financial Corporation, a leading provider of property and casualty insurance in Canada. The company offers a wide range of insurance products for individuals and businesses, including personal auto and property insurance, commercial lines insurance, and specialty products for various industry groups. Intact Ventures aims to invest in innovative startups and technologies that can disrupt and enhance the insurance industry, leveraging the company's expertise and resources to drive growth and innovation. With a focus on customer-centric solutions and transparent insurance terms, Intact Ventures plays a key role in shaping the future of insurance through strategic investments and partnerships.
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.
Founded in 2009, Founder Collective is a venture capital firm headquartered in New York City, with additional offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and San Francisco, California. The firm specializes in seed-stage and early-stage investments, primarily targeting technology-related companies across various sectors, including e-commerce, healthcare, advertising, mobile, and the Internet of Things. With approximately $50 million under management, Founder Collective focuses on East Coast investments while maintaining a global reach. The firm is built by a network of successful entrepreneurs and is industry agnostic, though it prefers companies with a strong information technology component.