Dieter von Holtzbrinck Ventures

Dieter von Holtzbrinck Ventures (DvH Ventures) is an early-stage investor in Europe, focusing on partnering with passionate founders who are disrupting industries. Since 2014, they have positioned themselves as active investors, managing multiple venture capital funds from their Cologne office. Initially, DvH Ventures focused on publishing-related digital business models, leveraging the media reach of Handelsblatt, Tagesspiegel, and DIE ZEIT publishing groups to support their portfolio companies. They then expanded into fintech and insurtech investments, building a successful portfolio in those sectors. Today, DvH Ventures operates two independent early-stage investment funds. Their Digital Tech Fund (DvH Ventures Fund III) invests primarily in deep tech and education startups. In 2020, they launched a Digital Health Fund (DvH Ventures Fund IV) with a first closing of €70 million, targeting technologies that solve future healthcare challenges across Europe. DvH Ventures acts as a partner with strong entrepreneurial passion, providing expertise and networks to their portfolio companies and founders. They emphasize close and trusting interactions. Their investment approach involves taking lead positions in early-stage rounds, providing not only financial resources but also management expertise and an international investor network. Additionally, DvH Ventures offers a media-for-equity program, granting access to brands like Handelsblatt, WirtschaftsWoche, DIE ZEIT, and Apotheken Umschau to provide portfolio companies with significant reach into target markets. They are always seeking innovative ideas, even outside their defined focus areas, from compelling entrepreneurs. DvH Ventures focuses on building successful investment clusters, including digital health, education, and financial services, while remaining open to digital innovation in areas like artificial intelligence, enterprise software, the Internet of Things, big data, mobility, energy, and the future of work. The firm culture emphasizes working at eye level with founders, celebrating successes, overcoming challenges together, and operating in a fast, unbureaucratic, and highly professional manner. They commit to providing hands-on support for the growth of their portfolio companies with full entrepreneurial commitment.