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Founderlake is a specialized executive search and investment firm that headhunts exceptional co-founders for early-stage startups, operating from an undisclosed headquarters location. The organization utilizes its proprietary professional network and active search methodologies to conduct initial candidate interviews and actively support the complex matching process between entrepreneurs. Operating strictly on a contingency basis, the firm charges a EUR 50,000 service fee exclusively for successful executive placements. Rather than collecting traditional cash payments, the organization reinvests this entire placement fee directly into the client startup via a convertible note with a EUR 2 million valuation cap or at current funding round terms. Beyond early-stage ventures, the firm provides specialized digital hiring consulting services to established scaleups, growth companies, and major DAX 30 corporations. The organization was established in an undisclosed founding year by co-founders Cassy and Daniel.
Founderlake employs a strategy it terms "talent investing," focusing on backing exceptional founders from the earliest stages. This approach prioritizes the individuals behind the venture as a core element of its investment decision.
Beyond capital, Founderlake provides active support to founders, including assistance with critical early-stage challenges such as co-founder identification. This aims to help build strong teams and accelerate growth.
Founderlake primarily invests at the earliest possible stages of a company's lifecycle, often engaging with founders even at the pre-team stage. The firm aims to be involved from the very beginning of a venture's formation.
Founderlake employs a strategy it terms "talent investing," focusing on backing exceptional founders from the earliest stages. This approach prioritizes the individuals behind the venture as a core element of its investment decision.
Beyond capital, Founderlake provides active support to founders, including assistance with critical early-stage challenges such as co-founder identification. This aims to help build strong teams and accelerate growth.
Founderlake primarily invests at the earliest possible stages of a company's lifecycle, often engaging with founders even at the pre-team stage. The firm aims to be involved from the very beginning of a venture's formation.
Founderlake is a venture capital firm established in 2019 and headquartered in Munich, Germany. The firm operates with a distinct focus on early-stage investments, aiming to identify and support promising ventures from their earliest conceptual and developmental stages. Its operational model is specifically designed to engage with founders at the earliest possible points in their company's journey, often even at the pre-team stage.
Central to the firm's strategy is its philosophy of "talent investing," which places a strong emphasis on backing exceptional individuals and their nascent ideas. This approach extends beyond merely providing financial capital, encompassing active, strategic support for the founders themselves. Founderlake seeks to partner with entrepreneurs who are in the initial phases of building their companies, often before a fully formed team or established product exists.
A significant component of Founderlake's engagement involves assisting founders with critical early-stage challenges, such as the crucial process of co-founder identification. By actively helping to assemble robust and complementary founding teams, the firm aims to significantly enhance the long-term viability, resilience, and growth potential of its portfolio companies. This hands-on support is considered integral to its overall strategy for accelerating business development and fostering sustainable innovation.
Operating as a dedicated partner, Founderlake provides both financial resources and strategic guidance necessary to navigate the inherent complexities of early-stage growth. The firm's commitment is to foster innovation by investing deeply in the foundational elements of a successful startup: its visionary people and its earliest, most impactful ideas. This comprehensive support system is intended to lay a strong groundwork for future scaling and market penetration.
| Date | Company | Round | Lead Investor(s) | Co-Investor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 11, 2026 | Hades Mining | $17.9M Seed | Headline, HV Capital | Founders Factory, Interface Capital, Project A Ventures, Viessmann Generations Group, Visionaries Tomorrow |
