Dieter von Holtzbrinck Ventures

Dieter von Holtzbrinck Ventures (DvH Ventures) is a prominent early-stage venture capital firm based in Cologne, Germany, dedicated to investing in Europe's most passionate founders. The firm focuses on technology-driven startups with disruptive products and services, aiming to build successful investment clusters in various sectors. They typically invest in early-stage rounds, ranging from €500,000 to €2 million, often taking on the role of a lead investor. Their investment philosophy extends beyond capital, providing hands-on support, management expertise, and access to an international investor network.

The firm's story began in 2014 with the significant backing of publisher Dieter von Holtzbrinck. Initially, DvH Ventures concentrated its early-stage investments on publishing-related, digital business models, leveraging the extensive media reach of publishing groups like Handelsblatt, Tagesspiegel, and DIE ZEIT through a media-for-equity program. This was followed by a dedicated fund for fintechs and insurtechs. Today, DvH Ventures manages two independent and active early-stage investment funds: DvH Ventures Fund III, their Digital Tech Fund, launched in 2017, which primarily invests in deep tech and education startups, and a Digital Health Fund, launched in August 2020 with a first closing of €70 million, aimed at addressing future healthcare challenges across Europe.

DvH Ventures boasts a diverse portfolio of notable companies. Key investments include Gardia, a mobile emergency call system for seniors, and Virtonomy, a MedTech company. Other significant portfolio companies span various sectors, such as Masterplan (e-learning), LIQID (wealth management), Hypatos (automation solutions), Nect (digital identity verification), LiveEO (satellite data analytics), StudySmarter (educational technology), and buynomics (pricing optimization). The firm's investment clusters include digital health, education, financial services, artificial intelligence, enterprise software, the Internet of Things, big data, mobility, energy, and the future of work, demonstrating a broad interest in digital innovation.

The team at DvH Ventures is characterized by its entrepreneurial passion and commitment to working at eye level with founders. Led by Managing Partners Peter Richarz and Fabian von Trotha, and Partner Duc Quyen Tran, the firm provides comprehensive support to its portfolio companies. This includes not only financial resources but also strategic guidance, in-depth industry knowledge, and an exclusive media-for-equity program that offers access to strong brands like Handelsblatt, WirtschaftsWoche, DIE ZEIT, and Apotheken Umschau, providing significant reach to target audiences.