Creating something new with experience: Interview with new HTGF Managing Partner Dr. Achim Plum
Passion for innovation and life sciences – these are the qualities that characterise Dr. Achim Plum. On 1 January 2025, the doctor of genetics joined the management team at High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF). With a career of over 25 years in the life sciences sector, he brings in-depth expertise in the field combined with management experience. In this interview, he talks about the lessons learnt from his career, his new role, and the future of the industry.

Welcome, Achim. We are delighted that you joined us as Managing Director on 1 January.
Dr. Achim Plum: I am also very pleased. It has been an intensive first few weeks, but in the best sense of the word. The deal flow at HTGF is impressive, and my colleagues bring an incredible amount of expertise to the table. The team has involved me directly in all important topics – thank you very much for that! This has made it easy for me to familiarise myself with the company and I am looking forward to delving even deeper in the coming weeks, getting to know our great partners and working with the team, our portfolio companies and fund investors to further strengthen the start-up ecosystem and drive innovation.
What is important to you when working together?
Dr. Achim Plum: Personally, I work best in teams with high intrinsic motivation and that have high expectations of themselves. I see my job as developing a clear vision with my team and supporting them in realising this vision together – and having as much fun as possible in the process. Respectful interaction, transparency, and an open corporate culture are essential. It’s about creating an environment in which creativity and performance go hand in hand.
What are you planning to do at HTGF?
Dr. Achim Plum: HTGF is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and has achieved great things since then. At the same time, I see opportunities and also the need to continuously evolve our value proposition – i.e. our offering for founders and fund investors. We can continue to grow from our strength, support our portfolio even better and increase the added value for founders and partners.
What excites you about your new role at HTGF?
Dr. Achim Plum: As a public-private partnership, HTGF has a clear mandate: to act as a catalyst in the start-up ecosystem and strengthen Germany’s innovative power. The dual role between a public mandate and the ambition to be a financially successful investor makes the task particularly exciting. HTGF’s mission is to finance start-ups with innovative technologies and business models and work with the founders to shape future market leaders. I am thrilled to now contribute to driving this mission – particularly in the life sciences sector, of course, which I will be focussing on. Here we can be proud of our high-calibre start-ups and spectacular exits. I would like to further strengthen and expand our position as “Smart Money for Life Sciences”.
You mentioned life sciences: Your background is in this field.
Dr. Achim Plum: Indeed. I have a PhD in genetics and have been working in the life sciences industry for 25 years. I have got to know companies in the early and growth phases as well as large technology conglomerates. Along the way, I have learnt about many innovative technologies and business models, built up, restructured and – unfortunately sometimes – liquidated companies. These experiences have shown me what the needs of start-ups but also established companies really are and how to structure productive collaborations between them.
And during this time, you also accompanied two IPOs. How do you think we are doing in Germany in this area?
Dr. Achim Plum: The German capital market is still quite risk-averse, which makes it less dynamic in some areas. Another point is that large pension funds, which often play a central role in other countries, are missing as important market players in Germany. Although the market works well for revenue-driven and, in particular, profit-driven equity stories, it is more difficult for companies in the life sciences sector. These companies are often very capital-intensive, as they must finance clinical trials or operate in a highly regulated and conservative environment. Particularly in early, high-risk development phases, at some point their only option is an initial public offering (IPO) – e.g. when there is not yet a pharma company as development partner or acquirer available. Such IPOs may still work quite well on Nasdaq, but not so much in Europe. If shareholders of an R&D-driven technology company expect dividend payments immediately after going public, management knows that it is listed on the wrong stock exchange… However, I am optimistic that the attitude will improve in Germany… and it has to.
In your previous positions, you have familiarised yourself with the financing prospects of companies at all stages of development. Would you like to share a few learnings with us?
Dr. Achim Plum: There are a few pieces of wisdom that I’ve picked up along the way, but they never get old:
- Go for Smart Money, not Easy Money
- Listen, Listen, Listen & Learn
- Funding follows
- Stay focused & deliver
This actually all relates to the collaboration between start-ups and corporates. What is your experience in this area?
Dr. Achim Plum: The biggest challenge is often mutual understanding. Often enough the term “lost in translation” applies. The cultures and general conditions are often very different. Since I know both sides, I have learnt how to build bridges. Today, corporations are already much better positioned to work with start-ups. Insourcing – the integration of innovative technologies – is now the standard rather than the exception. The work of HTGF contributes to this. We bring start-ups together with SMEs and large corporations and thus create added value for all parties involved at many points along the value chain in the form of collaborations or M&A.
What are your tips for founders in the life sciences sector
Dr. Achim Plum: In a nutshell: excellent science is the key – but it alone is not enough; don’t look for problems for your solution, develop solutions for real problems; have the courage to be the dumbest in your team.
Where do we currently stand in the life sciences sector? What developments stand out to you in particular?
Dr. Achim Plum: Thanks to modern high-throughput technologies, we can now generate huge amounts of high-resolution biological data very cost-effectively. Coupled with advanced methods of data analysis and AI, this makes it possible, for example, to better understand disease mechanisms and derive new therapeutic approaches and develop them more efficiently. These therapies can be realised as classic small molecule drugs, biologicals, or (stem) cell therapies. Genome editing opens completely new possibilities in gene therapy. In addition, we will see more and more decision-support systems in medical diagnostics that are based on large, heterogeneous data sets and whose algorithms were developed with the help of AI, but which will also contain active AI in the future.
And if we look even further into the future – what do you see in the long term?
Dr. Achim Plum: In the long term, I see big potential in synthetic biology. It could help us to overcome major challenges such as climate change or the transition to a more sustainable economy. At the same time, medical technology will continue to advance. Just think of intelligent implants, innovative human-machine interfaces or implantable biosensors, which could enable early and optimised medical interventions.
In conclusion: When you’re not working intensively with the start-up ecosystem and the future of life science, what do you do?
Dr. Achim Plum: You mean in my private life? I’m a passionate photographer, enjoy cooking for my partner and friends, enjoy the cultural events on offer in Berlin, Cologne and Bonn and like to travel a lot. But I also enjoy reading a good book in front of the fireplace with a good glass of red wine.