For Monika Fuchs, vice president of DB1 Ventures, the corporate venture arm of the international exchange organisation Deutsche Börse Group, the highlight of being involved in corporate venturing is centred around the people.
For her, to be a CVC investor, the most important thing is having a good grasp on personality and being able to assess people, especially when talking to founders. That is why she enjoys scouting and networking with people in the start-up ecosystem.
She also emphasises the importance of the analytical aspect of the job. Being able to develop a thorough understanding of the presented business models, including its drivers and market dynamics, is vital for being a good investor and helpful to the start-up. “You need passion and interest for the people and the technologies,” says Fuchs.
“It is all about being a cherished partner for the startup, by adding value for the internal group and being a reliable partner for co-investors.”
The greatest challenge in the CVC job lies in excelling at networking, relationship building, investment scouting and execution. It is all about “being a cherished partner” for the startup, by adding value for the internal group and being a “reliable partner” for co-investors.
DB1 Ventures invests in early-stage companies in capital markets driven by superior teams that create business models or new markets with a high degree of innovation and scalability. DB1 Ventures partners with start-ups to actively support its growth journey and add value.
Fuchs’ team invests specifically in series A-stage fintech companies that are building capital market infrastructure across the globe, focusing on investment management solutions, new asset classes and marketplaces, and securities, token and fund services.
For Fuchs, being “passionate about the business and people you are investing in and partnering with in the venture ecosystem, as well as in your parent company”, will ultimately lead to being successful as a CVC investor.
See the full list of GCV Emerging Leaders for 2024 here.