Building a startup is a kind of expedition that often extends for over a decade. You don’t know what you’re going to discover or where you’ll end up, but your early investors are with you from the first step all the way until the end. Select them wisely.
Choose someone that stays with you through the inevitable twists and turns, through celebrations and disappointments. Choose someone you want to win together with.
We have backed over 50 teams since our founding and have seen A LOT. We lost plenty, won a few, but most importantly, we were always able to adapt to new circumstances and evolve our product. Below are the core elements of our approach.
It’s all about the founders
Our enthusiasm for investing really comes down to one thing: You. We are drawn to individuals who are deeply curious and intellectually agile. They’re high-agency, mission-driven fighters who want to win big. Such traits are rare and our goal is to find them before it is obvious to others. We strongly believe that CEE is a great hunting ground for such individuals and once we find them, we are all in.
When we partner with you – often at the idea or seed stage – we stay up late with you, listening carefully and learning fast, but not getting in the way. We aspire to mirror your attributes. Several of us come from humble backgrounds and started businesses without a safety net. We do know what it means to hustle and to have the mindset of an entrepreneur.
Your expedition will transform you
The expedition you are on is a long series of high-intensity stages, near-death experiences, and exhilarating moments. From Day 1 you are forced to learn fast, and we believe that if exceptional talent is paired with the right support, it can be very impactful.
We surround you with all of our collective experience, that of our Venture Partners, and we equip you with various toolkits and people to challenge you and nudge doors open for you. We are a small team – not a platform – but we focus intensely on a small number of companies and fight like hell – as a team – to get you what you need.
Find strength in community
No one can do it alone, even the best of founders need a peer group. We organize all manners of events, from expert talks to offsites to informal dinners. We help you forge friendships and mentorships that make your founder journey less lonely.
While we are heavily invested into our funds ourselves, we are not in it for that alone. We are proud to count some of the most successful entrepreneurial families and financial institutions among our LPs. Shepherding their capital for the long term gives us a heightened sense of responsibility and it’s important that we not only win, but play the game the right way – without taking shortcuts.
If this resonates, you are in the right place. We are here to build together!
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