Munich Startup: Please introduce Superangels!
Franzi Majer, co-founder of Superangels: Alex Brand, Flo Gottschaller and I founded Superangels in March 2023. We’re a “business angel matching fund” and invest early on in tech startups in a wide range of industries – from deep tech to SaaS, from AI to climate tech. The special thing about us is that we always and exclusively match the investments of our business angels. We personally selected our twenty experts – our “all-stars” – from more than one hundred business angels. The selection was based, among other things, on their historical performance and investment strategies.
Everyone who made it into the network is an expert in their field since they’ve already founded and sold a company in the industry and/or have been investing in that area for years. In total, Superangels has a historical portfolio of more than 350 investments that we and our angels have made in the past.
When one of our experts decides to make an investment, we automatically go along with the same amount – without exception. This enables us to identify the most promising startups from a wide range of sectors and to invest in the best ones at an early stage. The advantage for startups is that when we invest, they receive additional capital from a passive investor. At the same time, we have enough capital on the sidelines to participate in subsequent funding rounds. On top of that, the startups gain access to our entire network of “business angel all-stars” and their expertise. And, of course, they can always rely on our support when it comes to content, be it by introducing them to other VCs, helping with access to potential clients and much more.
Now that we’ve completed our BAFin registration, we’re opening our “matching fund” to family offices and private investors for the first time.
Superangels: Anything having to do with bits & bytes
Munich Startup: Do you have a preferred investment area?
Franzi Majer: We have no preference whatsoever. As soon as one of our experts is convinced after doing due diligence and decides to invest, we go along with them. That being said, it always has to have something to do with tech, but that’s still very broad. In other words: anything having to do with bits & bytes.
Munich Startup: Do personal preferences sometimes influence your investments?
Franzi Majer: Our investment strategy 100 percent rules that out. Our experts always make the decision for themselves and their own money. Once the decision has been made, we go along with the same amount.
The best way to benefit from investors
Munich Startup: Do startups need to worry about you getting too involved?
Franzi Majer: While we are on the cap table (= a “capitalization table” shows ownership stakes in a company, note from the editor), we’re silent investors apart from that. If one of our portfolio companies needs help, we’re always here for them – but only at the request of the founders. The three of us have already founded several companies and know the best way to benefit from investors as a founder and also what’s counterproductive.
Munich Startup: To be successful, a startup needs to …
Franzi Majer: … be good at sales!
Munich Startup: Tell us about a no-go factor in a pitch!
Franzi Majer: When the founders don’t have a good handle on their numbers. And when you notice there is some disagreement among the founders.
Munich Startup: The trend of the year is … ?
Franzi Majer: Artificial intelligence.
An appealing combination of innovation, talent and support
Munich Startup: From an investor’s standpoint, what does the Munich startup scene do well?
Franzi Majer: In my opinion, the Munich startup scene is particularly exciting for tech investors because it has a multitude of innovative companies and technologies to offer. Munich is an important technology hub with first-rate universities, research institutions and established industries. The environment here fosters the development of new ideas and provides access to highly qualified professionals. The city also has a well-developed infrastructure for startups, including incubators, accelerators and venture capital funds.
Munich is also well-known internationally and attracts investors from all over the world. As a whole, Munich’s startup scene offers an appealing combination of innovation, talent and support that attracts investors from around the globe.
Munich Startup: What could be improved?
Franzi Majer: Despite all of the friendly restraint, this is where we get back to the topic of sales from earlier: The city could be a bit more aggressive as a whole! Munich has a great startup scene that it can definitely be proud of.
Munich Startup: Whom should startups contact if they would like to meet up with you?
Franzi Majer: It’s always best to contact one of our twenty business angels – an overview will be available very soon on our new homepage (launch planned for mid-July). R.), and until then, on LinkedIn.