HTGF Blog
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We think nothing is more exciting than the start-up and venture capital scene. Experts share their knowledge with you and start-ups reveal how they have successfully overcome challenges. Here you will find valuable input for your work and will find illuminating insights into our portfolio companies. There also will be plenty of fun and entertainment along the way! As we said, nothing is more exciting than start-ups.
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Digital health investments: Road to success requires bold steps and an interdisciplinary approach
Since as far back as 2012, High-Tech Gründerfonds has been investing in start-ups that operate at the intersection between healthcare and digital solutions. In this interview, our Senior Investment Managers Louis Heinz (Digital Tech) and Niels Sharman (Life Sciences) share some insights into the synergies that arise from the HTGF team’s diverse perspectives and also give their take on where the sector stands in Germany and internationally.
Louis Heinz and Niels Sharman, Senior Investme
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2024: Trends, opportunities and challenges for founders
What trends and technologies can we expect to see in 2024? And what are the opportunities and challenges that founders will face? Our Partners Dr. Angelika Vlachou, Dr. Markus Kückelhaus and Markus Kreßmann provide an outlook, focusing on our investment fields industrial tech, life sciences & chemistry, and digital tech.
Industrial Tech, Deep Tech and Climate Tech: An outlook by Dr. Markus Kückelhaus
In the traditional industrial tech cluster, which encompasses fields such a
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The year in review – 2023
As the year draws to an end, we sat down for a chat with the High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) management team. Read on to find out what Romy Schnelle, Alex von Frankenberg and Guido Schlitzer had to say about how HTGF fared in 2023, which trends are becoming important, and what will really count for start-ups moving forward.
What would you say were the highlights for HTGF this year?
Alex von Frankenberg: Looking at the figures, 2023 was a good year for us –
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ESG at HTGF: Helping to drive sustainable innovations
In this interview, Claudia Raber and Dr. Adrian Fuchs from our ESG team offer insights into their work and present High-Tech Gründerfonds’ (HTGF) recently published ESG Report. They talk about the importance of sustainability in the start-up world and show how we and our portfolio are actively contributing to a more sustainable future.
Our first ESG Report was recently published. What did it focus on?
Claudia: The ESG Report centred on our fourth fund generation, HTGF
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Is Product Management the missing puzzle piece in Europe?
In his daily work with early-stage Industrial Tech founders, our Principal Gregor Haidl places particular emphasis on deeply understanding the customer and defining a successful product. Effective product management is a cornerstone, vital not only for start-ups, but for companies of all sizes and industries. Gregor sat down with Elias Lieberich, who brings an extensive background in product management.
Having spent over a decade at Google and YouTube building some of their biggest
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Quo vadis e-fuels? The road ahead for alternative fuels
What role will e-fuels play for the drivetrains of tomorrow? It’s a topic that is being talked about more and more in politics and across society – sometimes in a highly emotional way. After all, many believe that the use of alternative drivetrains hinges on a fundamental question: Will we ever be able to move away from the principle of using combustion engines?
The discussion at the start of the year was an important one, as it shone a spotlight on the important topic of e-fuels an
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The best network is an active one – how HTGF supports C-level recruitment
For every company, finding access to specialized expertise and especially finding the perfect individual to complement a team can be a lengthy and resource-intensive search. This is where the HTGF can offer excellent support, thanks to its extensive network. It connects those who are seeking with those who are offering. For nearly three years, these threads have come together through Christina Siebel, Senior HR Relationship Manager. With over 15 years of professional experience in human reso
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Generation Greentech: How young ideas change the world
Five quick questions for Daniela Bach, Senior Investment Manager HTGF and Christian-Hauke Poensgen, Co-Founder Maya Climate
Christian-Hauke Poensgen, Co-Founder, Maya Climate and Daniela Bach, Senior Investment Manager, HTGF
What is Maya Climate and why can your idea make the world a little better?
Christian-Hauke Poensgen: We are a financing platform for nature-based solutions (NbS). These are some of the most efficient and scalable solutions for avoiding and reducing carbon in
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Investments in drug development: “We need to get to the source of the deals”
Dr. Frank Hensel is Principal at High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), where he is primarily responsible for start-ups from the field of drug development. Before joining HTGF, he was a successful entrepreneur himself and is now able to share his practical experience with start-ups. We sat down for a chat with him about the challenges of the sector, how HTGF is on the lookout for new innovations and why partnerships are especially important in this field.
Frank, your investments are focused