Are we a match? - Our four investment criteria
Our main goal of the initial contact with founders is to find out as quickly as possible if we would be in each other's scope. Here we would like to elaborate on our heuristics in this first assessment. What are the key heuristics you use as a founder to see if we are in your scope?
In our first conversation with you as a founder we focus on the four criteria that form our investment thesis: 1) scientific breakthroughs, that 2) can create step-change progress in environment or health, 3) are still in a very early stage, and 4) founded by humans that love doing good with science as much as we do.
Scientific breakthroughs
First of all, we are looking for ideas that are based on recent scientific breakthroughs. We believe we are in the early phases of a new wave of innovations based not only on bits but atoms at their core. Many startup ideas are based on applying an innovative technology to a new market or creating a new business model. But only a few are genuinely based on novel scientific breakthroughs.The teams we invest in should have strong intellectual property and scientific knowhow at the core of their company - or at least a clear path towards it. Also, when we get in we would like to see the idea proven at lab scale at least. We are interested in all of science, and so far have made investments in areas ranging from quantum physics to life sciences.
Step-change progress in environment or health
Second, we fund initiatives that can create step-change progress in the environment (e.g. energy generation & storage, bio production), health (e.g. advanced diagnostics, out of the box therapeutics) and in technologies that can enable any of the former (e.g. quantum computing). And to get back to our first point: We think strong scientific innovations have the best potential to drastically reduce our footprint and improve our wellbeing. It is in all our interest that science is successfully brought to market to solve these urgent global challenges.
Are in an early stage
Third, we want to engage and fund initiatives that are in the earliest stage of development. Often this means a team that is science-only. Incorporated? Not necessarily. Quite honestly: We don’t think we can ever get to know you too early. We often see that such teams can benefit the most from the entrepreneurial and business experience we have built up as a team.
Founded by humans that share our passion for science & entrepreneurship
Finally, we are looking for founders with not only a strong scientific background, but also an entrepreneurial spirit and a realistic view of the challenges ahead. As long as this is fulfilled we don’t mind if some key skills or people are still missing; we will help you find or develop them. We are looking for people that are closely aligned with our values - nerds, modest but ambitious, driven to create some real value with their science, never taking ourselves too seriously - and in the end both sides need to think that we’ll have fun working together. To figure that out, let’s get to know each other well!
Do you feel like we could be a match? Please do not hesitate to reach out!
