Cooperation with European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) Berlin

As part of the WIN initiative (“Growth and Innovation Capital for Germany”), KfW Capital is working alongside the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) Berlin to further develop the venture capital ecosystem in Germany.

With the “Leader in Venture Capital Programme”, ESMT offers a practice-oriented continuing education programme for the next generation of venture capital investors. The aim is to build up specialist knowledge, practical skills and networks in order to further drive the development of the German and European venture capital markets.

The programme is run by the DEEP Institute for Deep Tech Innovation at ESMT Berlin and supported by KfW Capital. It runs for a total of seven days and combines face-to-face modules in Berlin with independent project work. Participants benefit from academic expertise, practical knowledge from the venture capital sector and the opportunity to exchange ideas within an international community.

Two tracks offering different perspectives

The programme is aimed at both prospective General Partners (GPs) and Limited Partners (LPs). Both tracks provide specific knowledge relevant to each role, whilst also bringing together the perspectives of GPs and LPs in a targeted manner.

Leader in Venture Capital – GP Track

The GP Track is aimed at partners and founders who wish to set up their own VC fund or lead an existing investment team. Key topics include, amongst others:

• Fundraising and Investor Relations
• Deal Sourcing and Investment Strategy
• Due Diligence and Portfolio Construction
• Governance and Value Creation
• Setting up and managing a venture capital firm

Leader in Venture Capital – LP Track

The LP Track is aimed, amongst others, at family offices, institutional investors, foundations and high-net-worth individuals who wish to develop their expertise in the field of venture capital. Topics include:

• Asset allocation and portfolio construction
• Selection and evaluation of VC managers
• Fund selection and benchmarking
• Due diligence
• Co-investments and legal and regulatory issues

Furthermore, the programme is also aimed at experienced entrepreneurs and angel investors who wish to professionalise their investment activities, as well as executives from companies, banks and public institutions who make strategic use of venture capital.

Practical learning and strong networks

The programme combines academic expertise with practical knowledge from the venture capital industry. Alongside interactive exercises, case studies and project work, particular emphasis is placed on exchanges between participants and with experienced industry experts.

The programme’s experts include, amongst others, professors from ESMT and Harvard Business School, as well as experienced venture capital investors and industry experts. These include, for example, Prof. Josh Lerner, Pawel Chudzinski from Point Nine, Christian Meermann from Cherry Ventures and Susanna Meiners from the EIF.

A particular added value lies in the interplay between GP and LP perspectives: GPs gain insights into the priorities of institutional investors, whilst LPs gain a better understanding of the decision-making processes and challenges faced by GPs. The aim is to foster stronger and more professional collaboration within the venture capital ecosystem in the long term.

A shared goal

Through this partnership, KfW Capital and ESMT aim to help attract more qualified investors to the venture capital asset class and to enhance the quality of investment decisions. A stronger knowledge base and better networking can help to mobilise additional private capital for innovative companies, thereby improving financing opportunities for start-ups and scale-ups in Germany and Europe.

“Venture education is crucial for attracting new groups of investors to the venture capital asset class and thereby strengthening funding opportunities for start-ups.” – Dr Jörg Goschin, Chairman of the Management Board of KfW Capital

Further information and applications:

ESMT Berlin’s Leader in Venture Capital Programme⁠