Gründerfonds Ruhr

aws Founders Fund is an Austrian venture capital fund. As co-investors, we invest in high-growth start-ups in their later seed and early stage phase. As a long-term partner, we offer both start-up and follow-up financing. As a subsidiary of Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft mbH (aws), aws Founders Fund has EUR 68.5 m under management. The objective of aws Founders Fund is to establish a partnership among equals with portfolio companies and to offer a supportive role in establishing a market position as well as achieving and maintaining sustainable growth. Overview of aws Founders FundVenture Capital for Start-UpsYou have already developed an innovative product or service? You would like to launch an innovative product or service onto the market? Are you a high-growth start-up looking for initial or follow-up financing options? Are you planning further investments to achieve your first growth spurt? For the above mentioned and other situations, aws Founders Fund can become a strong partner on your side. In the past, we have repeatedly proven that our involvement enables companies to unlock further entrepreneurial potential. We collaborate closely with the management team to enhance the strategic and operative performance of our portfolio companies, without interfering with day-to-day operations. In order to ensure optimal development of their business, our partners are granted excellent access to our international investor and corporate network, as well as our market expertise and the numerous support opportunities provided by aws.

Wir unterstützen frühphasige, innovative B2B Hightech Startups auf dem Weg zum erfolgreichen Unternehmen. Unser Fokus liegt auf der Investorensuche, dem Gewinnen von ersten Kunden und dem Coaching in allen Bereichen, die für Gründer:innen und den Erfolg ihres Startups wichtig sind. Sie profitieren dabei von unserer Erfahrung aus der Begleitung hunderter Gründungen und mehr als zehn Jahren Expertise im Startup-Support. Wir bringen unser stetig wachsendes Netzwerk an Co-Foundern, Coaches, Investor:innen und potentiellen Kund:innen ein und investieren in ausgewählten Fällen auch selbst. Unser Erfolg ist der Erfolg unserer Startups!

We invest in and support ambitious entrepreneurs to get them where they want to go, whether at early stages with sights on the US market, or at later stages looking to the potential of Europe. Frontline today is a team of 17 people with a growing portfolio of over 80 exceptional companies across Europe and North America, and an expanding, global, investor base. EXPERTS IN EXPANSION Founders see what the world misses. In fast pursuit of opportunity, you make critical decisions with little certainty. We get it, because we’ve been there. Frontline is the venture firm for globally ambitious B2B companies on both sides of the Atlantic. Frontline Seed speeds up ideas at inception across Europe. Frontline X is a growth-stage fund, for fast and frictionless US-Europe expansion. WE'VE LEARNED IT THE HARD WAY As a team of entrepreneurs, we have built many businesses, many ways. And as a venture fund, we’ve helped tens of founders and CEOs cross the pond. We’ve scaled too – with team members in Dublin, London and San Francisco. Today, our team, LPs and advisors represent senior leadership at many of the world’s most successful B2B companies (Think: Segment, Stripe, Looker, Linkedin, Airtable, Google and Workday – to name a few). Collectively, we can add value when founders need it most – at company defining moments. CAPITAL IS CHEAP Look around; the venture market is drowning in noise. Hundreds of funds and millions of blogposts – all claiming to “add value” left and right. We believe that capital is cheap, and we know that value-add is not made equal. Our focus is clear; we back challengers with global ambition, and we dedicate our time to helping them fly higher – faster. Our experience makes us knowledgeable. Our global network makes us unique. Want more detail or first-hand accounts? we are happy to introduce you to our founders. SYMBIOSIS In nature, the best things work together. We see the landscape ahead and can warn you of the risks, while you stay strong and focused on your goals. Indispensable; that’s how we see our relationship.

Basinghall believes in smart capital: connecting tech pioneers with established industry partners through deep data insights and startup expertise. By enabling new technologies to solve genuine global challenges, we de-risk investment and build companies that endure. Basinghall is the venture fund backing early-stage, pioneering technology companies across Europe. Operating from London, Munich, Lisbon, and Luxembourg, it is our mission to support Europe’s competitive advantages by providing capital, expertise, and guidance to the next generation of entrepreneurs. Why partner with us? At Basinghall we don’t just provide funding – we actively help our portfolio companies to enter relevant markets and scale their business. With expertise in commercialising innovative ideas, and structuring high-value investments from early stage to exit, we know from personal experience what it’s like to build a startup. B2B Startups & European Industry The Basinghall model rests on two elements. Innovation Circle: We introduce our business network to our startup universe, connecting European industry with innovation. Tech Fund: We invest in tomorrow’s industrial entrepreneurs

We invest up to €100,000 of our own money and offer hands-on support with fundraising and on the B2B client side with access to the Austrian market. We are your proactive sparring partner to take your startup to the next level.

We want to learn about the journey that turned you into founders. We want to understand your insight that leads to a big idea. We want to help you build the business that big idea can become. About Episode 1 Going from raising your first institutional investment round to building a scalable business is hard and risky. We’ve done it ourselves as founders, and we’ve become good at helping other companies make it. We are a seed stage Venture Capital fund, investing £500k – £2m in early stage software companies in the UK. Our eight strong team is a combination of former entrepreneurs and experienced investors. We have deep connections with Silicon Valley, where several of us have built businesses. We are passionate about the technologies, the ideas and the business models that are reshaping the world. But most of all, we love the dreamers, the technologists and the creators that are making this happen. We want to share our knowledge with you, and we always roll our sleeves up to support our founders. This means helping our founders across all areas of early stage company building, from hiring to refining the Go To Market strategy to making crucial introductions. But don’t take it from us, speak to the founders in our portfolio!