SevenVentures

We are thrilled to be Startup Insider's #VC of the Day! 🙌🏼 Not only are they shining the spotlight on us today (thanks for that Startup Insider!), but they have also featured relevant VCs in the DACH region in their Investor Report. You can find us on page 63 of this year's edition. There, you can learn more about our investment strategy and criteria. In the interview, our #SevenVentures Managing Directors Florian Weber, Maximilian Jochim and Florian Hirschberger also talk about industries relevant for our investments as well as their ideas and opinions on the development of the VC landscape over the next five to ten years. 👉🏼 The report can be downloaded via the link in the comments.

“It was mind-blowing! I loved it from the very start.” In 2021, the SafeNow safety app applied for #SevenVentures Pitch Day and made it to the finals. Although they didn’t win the top prize, they gained a valuable connection. Our longstanding host, Steven Gaetjen, watched Founder Tilman Rumland’s pitch, and from that moment, a great partnership blossomed. Steven is rightfully proud and shares his reasons for supporting #SafeNow in his latest film. SafeNow, an app that allows users to send a digital call for help if they find themselves in unsafe situations, has come a long way since then. There has been a collaboration with Deutsche Bahn in Hamburg and Berlin stations, and we at ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE use the app on our campus in Munich. It has been launched at the Oktoberfest München, Stuttgarter Frühlingsfest, swimming pools in Berliner Bäder-Betriebe, and many other places. Just one month ago, SafeNow celebrated half a million app downloads. Congratulations to #PitchDay alumnus SafeNow and Steven! We are proud to welcome back Steven as the host of SevenVentures Pitch Day 2024 at the New Com summit on 15th October, where he will once again preside over the event. The winning startup will win a massive €3 million in media advertising and a budget for a TV spot. And to all our applicants, the example of SafeNow demonstrates that our top prize is just one of many opportunities available at SevenVentures Pitch Day. It shows that if you've got what it takes, there might be many other fantastic opportunities waiting in the wings. Apply to find out! Applications open soon, so to all #B2C #start-ups: keep an eye on this LinkedIn channel and the SevenVentures website for an announcement. To hear more (in German) about Steven and Tilman’s partnership, click on the link in the comments: #innovation #futurism #entrepreneur #pitchcompetition

We are thrilled to announce the return of our longstanding host, Steven Gaetjen, to #SevenVentures #PitchDay! A multi-talent, Steven is not just a TV presenter and producer but also an actor, podcaster, interviewer, and restaurateur. His diverse experience and vibrant energy have made him an indispensable part of our event for many years. Steven’s passion for innovation and his keen eye for spotting potential have always elevated the SevenVentures Pitch Day experience. In this film, Steven shares why he loves the Pitch Day and what start-ups can look forward to this year.  Stay tuned for the opening of the application phase and join us in welcoming back Steven Gaetjen to SevenVentures Pitch Day on 15th October 2024 at the New Com Summit! #futurism #innovation #pitchcompetition

„𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿” – our SevenVentures Vice President Equity Investments Christopher Halbig gave an interview to Gründerszene As a media investor, we at #SevenVentures have different investment forms to accompany and support #startups in various growth phases: From seed financing and early stage to growth and later stage companies we tailor individually optimized media-for-revenue and media-for-equity deals to achieve maximum #growth and #brand awareness for our partners. Through our big #reach, we are experts in brand building, establishing #trust and speaking to customers’ emotions that are involved in making purchase decisions. Our aim is to make a positive impact on the customers’ decisions together with our partners so that the customer lifetime value can and will grow through the brand building enabled by our marketing power. 🤝🏻 Christopher talked about all of this in more detail in his interview with Antonia Remmerbach from #Gründerszene. Additionally, he gave insights into our investment criteria and the different marketing strategies needed for different product types. 👉🏼 Curious? The link to the full article is in the comments. Thanks for having us, Antonia! 

🎉 Big News! 🎉   We are delighted to welcome Boris Hardi, the Managing Director and Founder of OONIQUE, as our fourth jury member for #SevenVentures Pitch Day! OONIQUE is at the forefront of the fashion knitting industry, creating high-quality DIY knitting sets for the new generation. They collaborate with designers and influencers to provide a unique shopping experience and innovative logistics for up to 10 million passionate knitters in Germany. Since 2022, OONIQUE has partnered with SevenAccelerator, creating impactful TV campaigns and podcast ads. OONIQUE has always been a prime example of how TV can lead to raised brand awareness and increased website traffic and conversion rate.   Prior to founding OONIQUE, Boris was formerly Managing Director at FMS Wertmanagement AöR, Head of Real Estate Germany at Victoria Asset Management and Co-Founder of RentePlusImmobilie.de by RPI GmbH, alongside many other roles – making him a serial #entrepreneur and #founder. Boris' expertise and innovative mindset will be a tremendous addition to our jury, and we look forward to the insights he'll bring to the table! Welcome aboard, Boris! We took the opportunity to talk with Boris about his first-time Pitch Day role:    1. Boris, this is your first time on the SevenVentures Pitch Day jury! What is your connection to the start-up world, and where does your passion lie? After 15 years in the corporate world, I transitioned into the #startup ecosystem as a business angel. I realized that young entrepreneurs often need more than just funding; they require operational support in areas like finance and marketing. This led me to take on operational roles, eventually inspiring me to start my own venture. My passion lies in nurturing innovative ideas and helping start-ups scale their impact. 2. What are you most looking forward to at SevenVentures Pitch Day 2024? Are there any current start-up trends or innovations that you are particularly excited about? I am excited to share my experiences and ask insightful questions that can benefit the audience and other start-ups. One trend that excites me is the generational shift from baby boomers and the silent generation to Gen Y and Gen Z, and how start-ups can leverage this transition. This shift brings new perspectives and opportunities for innovation. 3. How can Pitch Day finalists pitch to impress you this year? I want to see a sustainable business model. Not just a fancy one-product-store but a whole community ecosystem. It's crucial to move beyond viewing customers as mere buyers and aim to turn them into passionate fans and active contributors. 4. And lastly - what do you want to see from a Pitch Day winner? I want to see the winner succeed with their idea and company, becoming a role model for others who face challenges in starting up. Entrepreneurship is primarily about taking that first step - it constitutes 90% of the journey. #startups #innovation #futurism #pitchcompetition

#Teamwork makes the dream work!    It takes a village to bring something extraordinary like the 12th SevenVentures Pitch Day to life. We are thrilled to introduce our incredible #team for 2024: Lisa Maria Greimel, Patrick Schmid, Julia Brenninger, Thomas Schubert, Lisa Marie Scholten, Vanessa Borevac and Katy Diggory. The #SevenVentures Pitch Day is a symphony of moving parts – from events management and communications to operations and organisation. Every element is meticulously planned and executed, showcasing each team member's talents. For many of us, this isn’t our first #PitchDay. Year after year, we take immense pride in the project, the participants, and the grand prize: a EUR 3 Million advertising budget and TV spot. This competition not only supports emerging brands we're passionate about but also unites people from across the ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE universe. It’s a true testament to teamwork in action! On the big day, our operational team will be joined by a distinguished jury and longstanding host, Steven Gaetjen, to create an unforgettable experience and help turn #startup dreams into reality. Stay tuned, start-ups—applications will be opening soon! #innovation #futurism #pitchcompetition

Cold drinks and hot start-ups – the Gründerszene Spätschicht Berlin Summer Edition 🚀 ☀️ Last Thursday (June 27), we had the pleasure of partnering with the Gründerszene Spätschicht Berlin. This years’ Summer Edition took place at the fancy location Oberhafenkantine. Our team, represented by Alexander, Daniel, Andreas, and Luca Pauline really enjoyed meeting and talking to many interesting founders. Prior to the main event, Andreas and Pauline participated in the Office Hour VC Pitches. Representing #SevenVentures and SevenAccelerator the two could use this platform to listen to some great business ideas in a smaller circle and connect with founders and other investors. 🤝🏻 Starting off the main event, Alex took the stage for a Q&A session about SevenVentures. He explained what media investments mean and how exactly we collaborate with #startups in different stages of maturity. Afterwards, everyone had the chance to approach Alex and the others as they mingled in the crowd, checking out the speed networking event, the food start-up stalls and all the other activities. After the good experiences we had at the Spätschicht in Munich, we also really enjoyed the Berlin edition! Thanks Gründerszene for having us and collaborating once again on this exciting project. We are looking forward to what’s to come! ✨ 📸: Chris Marxen / Headshots-Berlin.de

Brand awareness is everything! 🌍✨ The winners of our last SevenVentures Pitch Day, the vitamin gummy brand BEARS WITH BENEFITS®, truly maximized on their victory in the Summer of 2022. They created a catchy commercial featuring Jana Ina Zarrella, which aired on ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE channels, effectively leveraging their €3 million #advertising budget prize! The spot underlines how we help #startups address their respective target groups to the mass market.  It was important to us already during the in-house production that the ad mirrors the brand values of the up-and-coming food supplement company from Marlena Hien and Laurence Saunier and brings across their core message: true beauty comes from within. Ready to make your mark like the #Bears? 🐻 Apply for SevenVentures Pitch Day 2024! Stay tuned here and at sevenventures.com for details on the application process and key dates. 📅🚀    #innovation #futurism #pitchcompetition #startup

🚀 Save the Date: On June 27 it is time for Gründerszene Spätschicht again After co-hosting the #Gründerszene #Spätschicht in Munich end of April, we’re excited to be a part of the Berlin edition of the event only two months later. Our Berlin #SevenVentures team Alexander and Luca Pauline will be there and can’t wait to meet all the founders and fellow investors attending. Next to a Speed Networking session, face-to-face VC Pitches, and a Pitch Battle, you can also find our team on stage: Alex will answer three questions about SevenVentures and media investing. Curious? There are still a few tickets left and with the code “𝗦𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗩𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀𝟮𝟬” you get an exclusive 𝟮𝟬% 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 on the ticket price. We’re looking forward to seeing you there:   📅 27.06.2024 🕙 19:00 – 01:00 o’clock 🏠 Oberhafenkantine, Am Flutgraben 2, 12345 Berlin 🎟️ https://lnkd.in/eJ6xYj_c

Welcome back our CCO and Managing Director Florian Weber as host jury member for #SevenVentures Pitch Day! Alongside Alexandra Szarmach from flaconi, Jason Modemann from Mawave, and two more jury members to be announced soon 😉, he will once again be choosing between our four incredible #PitchDay finalists on October 15th.    Florian brings a wealth of experience and insight to our #7VPD judging panel. His strategic vision and deep understanding of the media and investment landscape will be invaluable in identifying the next big ideas and B2C start-ups poised for success.     We caught up with Florian to get his thoughts on this year's SevenVentures Pitch Day and advice for aspiring start-ups:     Q: You've been on the Pitch Day jury for a number of years. What in your view is special about it?     A: For me, it's the immediate impact. The winning start-up will instantly tap into an incredible media prize, fueling their growth. This is truly transformative. It also opens doors to intensive support from SevenVentures, and potentially leads to future partnerships.     Q: Are there any trends or sectors that you are particularly excited about this year?     A: AI is creating a buzz, of course. I'm particularly excited about products and services with broad consumer appeal. Whether in digital health, food, or beyond, we're seeking innovations that leverage TV advertising to scale effectively.     Q: How do start-ups pitch their ideas most successfully at 7VPD?     A: Success lies in articulating your vision clearly and convincingly, even under pressure. Highlighting your business model and demonstrating how our mass-market media package can accelerate your growth are crucial. With a larger jury this year, diverse perspectives will undoubtedly lead to lively discussions!     Q: What do you want to see from the 7VPD 2024 winner at the New Com Summit this year?     A: Three things - scalable potential, a clear path to sustained growth and an exciting pitch!    Thanks, Flo! See you at the New Com Summit on October 15th.     Applications for SevenVentures Pitch Day 2024 will open soon. Stay tuned here and on sevenventures.com for more details.  #startups #innovation #entrepreneurship #pitchcompetition