Dr. Anne Umbach
Senior Investment Manager
About me
| Team | Industrial, Climate & Deep Tech |
| at HTGF since | 2022 |
| my focus | New materials and processes, optics/photonics, climate and clean tech |
| my background | PhD in physical chemistry, group leader at the University of Cologne, development engineer at Philips, head of the Technology Transfer Institute |
CV
Since obtaining her doctorate in physical chemistry, Anne Umbach has been involved with new technologies at both the academic and industrial levels. After leading an interdisciplinary research group at the University of Cologne, she moved to Philips in Aachen as a development engineer. From 2015, she was employed in a leading position at the COPT Center for Organic Electronics in Cologne; initially as scientific and technical manager, later she took over the overall management. In addition to conducting R&D projects, the center offered consulting, technology space, and an open device platform for tech startups. The close collaboration with start-ups formed in Anne the thought to move into direct start-up funding and to support them with her experience from process and product development as well as her network and knowledge regarding sustainability / circular economy.
Four questions for …
What drives you?
Innovative ideas are needed to master the major challenges of our time. I can make an important contribution to this with my job.
What inspires you outside of work?
Nature, travel, sport, music and especially my family.
What are the most important skills for founders?
Motivation, ambition, stamina, critical faculties, willingness to take risks.
Which metaphor do you like to use to describe your job?
Duracell bunny juggling with 100 balls, not wanting to lose or miss any and having to pick up a few at the same time.
My success stories in the HTGF portfolio
Pixel-Flo develops a process for enabling scaled-up MicroLED display manufacturing. Founded on groundbreaking academic research from the University of Sheffield, the spinout’s Continuous-Flo mass transfer manufacturing process addresses a key …
reverse.fashion was founded in 2024 as a spin-off from the Technical University of Berlin (Chair of Micro and Precision Devices, Prof. Dr. Dirk Oberschmidt). The technology is based on intellectual …
FION Energy was founded in 2025 in Berlin. The cleantech startup makes industrial battery storage systems economical and easy to use – through manufacturer-independent project development and AI-optimised real-time operation. …
AILOS Robotics builds the next generation of robotic actuators through its patented R2poweR gearbox — combining quasi-direct drive-like agility with class-leading torque density. Originating from the VUB BruBotics research group …
eyeo B.V. is redefining imaging with the world’s most advanced nanophotonic color-splitting technology. For the first time, image sensors can capture all of incoming light, overcoming the current 30% limit …
Seqana is a pioneering company focused on enhancing the monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) of soil carbon through machine learning and satellite-enabled technology. This innovation facilitates carbon removal via soil …
The KIT spin-off Phytonics, founded in 2021, wants to make a significant contribution to the energy transition. While the market launch of the Phytonics coating is planned in the anti-glare …
Variolytics is a Stuttgart-based technology company focused on measurement technologies and process optimization. Dr. Matthias Stier (CEO), Johann Barlach (CFO) and Steffen Goerner (CTO) founded the company in March 2020, …
GS Bavaria is the world‘s first supplier of nano- hard metal materials on industrial scale. Production is extremely cost-efficient, sustainable and comes with minimal energy consumption through our unique bioleaching …
Synapticon specializes in embedded hardware and software technology for connected, sensor-based and motion-intensive products. Manufacturers of industrial robots, service robots and smart automation systems benefit from our cross-domain expertise through …
Guided to exit
Recent posts
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University of Sheffield spinout Pixel-Flo raises £5.25 million Seed round to tackle critical bottleneck in MicroLED manufacturing
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Textile Circularity Needs Smart Sorting: reverse.fashion Secures Seven-Figure HTGF Investment
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Seqana raises EUR 3.2M, led by Pymwymic, to extend soil health measurement beyond carbon
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