What continues to fascinate me after more the 25 years in venture capital is how technology keeps democratizing access to knowledge and opportunities. Having joined IBB Ventures in 2000, I've witnessed firsthand how this accessibility has transformed not just how we find information, but how founders build companies and access capital. Today, it's remarkable how easily almost any question can be answered - and as an investor, I see this same principle of democratized access revolutionizing entire industries through the startups we back.

Working at IBB Ventures means being part of Berlin's venture capital story from the very beginning. I've had the unique privilege of watching our city's startup ecosystem evolve through multiple crises and growth cycles - from the dot-com crash to the 2008 financial crisis, to seeing Berlin emerge as Europe's startup capital. A real game-changer for us was incorporating EU funds into our venture funds after 2004. As a public VC, we operate on a fundamentally different model: returns and gains from our investments aren't distributed to external investors but are reinvested to finance the next generation of founders. This sustainable approach allows us to take a truly long-term perspective and focus on what matters most - developing new offerings and financial instruments that help founders realize their visions.

Having seen thousands of companies and pitch decks over the decades, I find myself most excited by ventures that combine economic success with genuine social impact. My finance background, developed over most of my career at IBB Ventures, helps me spot companies that don't just have great ideas, but can build sustainable economic models around them. What really captivates me are the new business models and technologies that seemed impossible just a few years ago, especially when they're built by founders who understand that lasting value creation requires both financial discipline and social purpose.