Allocator One Alpha Summit '24

Dr. Jörg Goschin is the Co-CEO and Senior Managing Director of KfW Capital, a subsidiary of the KfW banking group. He co-manages the company alongside Alexander Thees, with a focus on providing support for innovative technology companies. Jörg was instrumental in establishing KfW Capital, positioning it as one of Germany’s largest Limited Partners (LPs) in the venture capital ecosystem. He is recognized for his expertise in the German VC market, frequently offering insights on market trends, fundraising, and the importance of diversity and ESG commitments in the investment landscape. Under his leadership, KfW Capital focuses on sectors such as health, AI, mobility, life sciences, and climate, and prioritizes first-time funds with a minimum investment threshold of €50m.

Roxanne Varza is the Director of STATION F, the world’s largest startup campus located in Paris, where she leads a dynamic ecosystem of entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators. She is also a scout for Sequoia Capital, identifying and supporting high-potential startups in their early stages. In addition to her role at STATION F, Roxanne serves as the Innovation Lead for the AI Summit, focusing on the latest advancements in artificial intelligence and its applications across industries. With a background in both startup ecosystems and corporate innovation, she is widely recognized for her expertise in fostering growth and innovation in tech communities. Roxanne’s leadership continues to shape the future of tech, bringing together cutting-edge innovation and entrepreneurship.

Carlos is Managing Partner at Seedcamp, the leading European seed fund launched in 2007 with a belief that European entrepreneurs have the power to compete on a global scale. With investments in over 500 companies including publicly listed Romanian-founded, UiPath, Wise (formerly TransferWise), and unicorns Revolut, wefox, Pleo, Sorare, Grover, viz.ai, and Synthesia. Carlos is experienced in identifying and supporting founders from the earliest stage and helping them to create the breakout businesses of tomorrow. Carlos is a published author, podcaster and made it onto Forbes Midas List as one of the most influential VCs in Europe in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Carlos was awarded an MBE for services to the British Technology Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in 2021.

Paula Schwarz is a German-Greek serial entrepreneur, philanthropist, and social activist. Currently, she serves as a Cohort Partner at Allocator One. Paula has founded several impactful organizations, including Startup Boat, Cosmopolis, World Datanomic Forum, and the Migration Hub Network. Her innovative work, particularly with Startup Boat, a mobile humanitarian incubator, earned her recognition in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for social entrepreneurs. Paula’s focus is on leveraging technology and entrepreneurship to address complex societal challenges, such as refugee crises and social inequality.

Sarah is a solo GP at Common Magic investing in products with community at their core (think; Figma, Hugging Face, Github). Previously she was an active angel investor with the same thesis, and an operator specialising in building ecosystems around products at Google, Protocol Labs, Zoe and more.

Bunmi Adekore is the visionary behind DawnBox, a fund dedicated to climate action through innovative business solutions. With a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Bunmi has launched four successful startups in semiconductor engineering, industrial chemistry, and biotechnology. Previously, as a Senior Partner at Breakthrough Energy Ventures, he led investments in climate technologies across electricity, manufacturing, and transportation sectors in emerging economies. DawnBox focuses on logistics, industrial chemicals, distributed power, and critical materials processing, leveraging modular technologies from the U.S. and Europe. Under Bunmi’s leadership, the fund is committed to delivering decarbonized solutions that offer strong commercial returns and drive sustainable development across Africa.

Fredrik Debong is the founder of 1921 Ventures – 1921.vc – a fund dedicated to helping making type 1 diabetes suck less.

As a co-founder of mySugr.com, a leading diabetes management app acquired by Roche, as well as hi.health, a fintech in the health insurances space, Fredrik has a proven track record of leveraging technology to improve healthcare. He also cofounded Pioneers.io, an innovation platform fostering entrepreneurship and startups. In his angel portfolio of over 30 companies, his diabetes investments stick out.

1921 Ventures makes use of the expertise and deep networks of its partners and friends. With decades of experience with the disease, its therapy, technology and ecosystem, Fredrik is deeply committed to advancing the future of the therapy and potential cure through cutting-edge innovation.

Benjamin Ehrlich is the founder of First Momentum Capital, an investment firm dedicated to backing the very best highly technical, new venture capital firms and their breakout companies. Benjamin invests from an operator first lens as he previously worked at high growth startups taking them from 0-1 and 1-n. He saw first hand how investors can be a catalyst or deterrent to building a tremendous company. At First Momentum Capital, he takes a hands-on approach, backing the VCs that founders love and put the vision and mission first when making an investment.

Nicola Sinclair is currently focused on establishing Twin Track Ventures, a venture capital initiative aimed at fostering innovation and supporting early-stage startups. With a background in entrepreneurship and venture development, Nicola brings a wealth of experience to the table, working on creating opportunities for high-growth companies. She is passionate about building the next generation of ventures that balance both financial and social impact, leveraging her deep expertise in the startup ecosystem.

Noa Khamallah is the solo General Partner of Don’t Quit Ventures, backing AI-native founders worldwide. He was Lime’s first employee in Europe, scaling it to 50+ cities in eight months, and co-founded Charge, which exited for $17.5M and is now Nasdaq-listed. Four years of angel investing followed, returning 6.68x MOIC across 15+ startups. Fund I is performing well ahead of benchmark, with several portfolio companies now valued above $1B and capital already returned to LPs.

Denis Gursky is a Partner at 1991 Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on supporting early-stage startups. With a strong background in entrepreneurship and investment, Denis plays a key role in helping innovative companies grow and scale. His extensive experience in the startup ecosystem has enabled him to foster meaningful partnerships and drive strategic growth for portfolio companies. At 1991 Ventures, Denis is dedicated to empowering founders to build disruptive technologies and create impactful businesses.

Siddhartha Ahluwalia is the Managing Partner at Neon Venture Fund, where he focuses on enabling Indian SaaS companies to scale globally. With deep expertise in SaaS and venture capital, Siddhartha is committed to helping Indian startups achieve international success. In addition to his work at Neon, he hosts The Neon Show, a podcast where he interviews leading founders and investors, sharing insights on entrepreneurship and scaling businesses. His vision at Neon Venture Fund is to build a bridge between Indian SaaS talent and global markets, unlocking growth opportunities for emerging tech companies.

Videesha Boeckle, based in London, is a seasoned entrepreneur and venture capitalist known for pioneering innovative venture capital models in Europe. She co-founded and led Signals Venture Capital, where she introduced the “Innovation Ecosystem” to enhance corporate investment in startups through partnerships and incubation programs.

At Redstone, she developed the concept of “Venture Capital as a Service,” setting a new standard for co-GP and multi-advisory corporate funds. Videesha champions judgment, ambition, and the courage to be different as essential traits for venture capitalists, and values diversity, respect, and transparency in venture capital teams.

Currently, she is a Co-Founding General Partner at āltitude, the first pan-European early-stage VC fund dedicated to digital transformation of SMEs. āltitude invests in startups that are redefining technology for small and medium enterprises across Europe.

Jens Hilgers is a pioneer in the gaming and esports industry, currently serving as the Founding General Partner at BITKRAFT Ventures, a global investment platform with $830 million in assets under management, focusing on gaming, esports, and Web3 technologies. He co-founded ESL (Electronic Sports League), G2 Esports, and Bayes, and is known for his role in leading the first unicorn exit in Germany’s gaming industry, with ESL’s acquisition by Saudi Arabia’s SAVVY Games Group for $1.05 billion. Through BITKRAFT, Hilgers continues to invest in and shape the future of gaming and interactive entertainment.

Tom Preston-Werner is a serial entrepreneur and open-source advocate best known as the co-founder of GitHub, the largest software development platform in the world. Under his leadership, GitHub became the go-to platform for developers, accelerating collaboration in the software development community. In addition to GitHub, Tom is the co-founder of Preston-Werner Ventures, where he focuses on philanthropic initiatives and investments in climate, education, and social equity. His influence extends into the tech ecosystem, having played a significant role in shaping the open-source landscape and fostering innovation.

Lucas Ward is a seasoned entrepreneur and technology leader, currently serving as a Fractional CTO and Venture Partner at Fluent Ventures. Based in Chicago, Lucas brings a wealth of experience from the insurtech and consulting sectors. He co-founded Kin Insurance in 2016, where he served as Chief Technology Officer, leading the company’s technology strategy until 2022. His background also includes roles as CTO of Rippleshot and Fundspire, as well as a managerial position at Accenture. Lucas is known for his expertise in technology-driven business solutions, with a focus on innovation and growth.

JC Glancy is a serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist, currently serving as a Venture Partner at Fluent Ventures. Known for founding ZenBusiness in 2017, a unicorn company offering comprehensive tools and services for small businesses, Glancy has made a significant impact in the fintech and commerce space. His leadership philosophy emphasizes personal passion, strategic partnerships, and diversity, as seen in his decision to prioritize ZenBusiness’s growth by bringing in a CEO and maintaining a nearly 50% female workforce. Now, as an LP in several VC funds, Glancy focuses on ventures that align with his social impact goals, applying his experience from scaling a unicorn to fostering socially conscious enterprises.

Alex Lazarow is a global venture capitalist and the founder of Fluent Ventures. With a focus on geo arbitrage - investing in early stage startups replicating the success of proven, scaled businesses elsewhere, Alex has backed 7 unicorns like Chime, ZenBusiness, Kin, Neon, Kredivo and more. He is the author of “Out-Innovate: How Global Entrepreneurs from Delhi to Detroit Are Rewriting the Rules of Silicon Valley.” Previously, Alex was a Partner with Cathay Innovation, is a Kauffman Fellow and worked with Omidyar Network and McKinsey. He is passionate about supporting innovative entrepreneurs and fostering startup ecosystems outside of traditional tech hubs.

Kwasi Kwarteng is a British politician and former Conservative Member of Parliament for Spelthorne. He previously held senior government roles, including Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Chancellor of the Exchequer in 2022. Kwarteng’s brief but impactful 38-day term as Chancellor was marked by his controversial mini-budget, aimed at driving economic growth through tax cuts, which led to significant market instability. With a background in financial analysis and a PhD in economic history from Cambridge, Kwarteng brings together academic, business, and political expertise. Having recently stepped down from Parliament, he continues to be influential in discussions on economic policy and market dynamics.

Sara Pazin is the Co-Founder and CEO of Founders Health, a company focused on developing innovative solutions to extend healthy human lifespan. With a background in translating research into practical health interventions, she leads efforts to make advanced longevity science accessible to all. Under her leadership, Founders Health explores cutting-edge technologies like epigenetic reprogramming, senolytic therapies, and AI-driven health optimization. Pazin advocates for a multidisciplinary approach, promoting collaboration between researchers and healthcare experts to deliver personalized healthspan solutions.

Michael Ströck is a co-founder of Allocator One. With extensive experience in tech and entrepreneurship, he has co-founded multiple companies and venture funds, including Candidately (YC S17), First Circle Capital, and Calm/Storm Ventures.

Felix Staeritz is a co-founder of Allocator One. He has successfully built and exited several companies, and is passionate about backing new fund talent and high-potential ventures, bringing an extensive network and deep experience in scaling businesses to the investment community.

Philip loves to empower entrepreneurs fostering growth within the startup ecosystem. He has been building key relationships within venture capital and other LP networks for many years across many different geographies. From his role as a founder and collaborator with founders at Founders Pledge, to his work with emerging managers and VCs at SVB and Asset Class, Philip is extremely well rounded and can literally talk about anything.

Phil Newman is the CEO and Founder of Longevity.Technology, a leading platform in the longevity industry. Focused on integrating scientific research, business strategy, and investment, his platform provides crucial data, analysis, and insights to professionals and investors in the longevity sector. With over 1 million annual visitors, Longevity.Technology is a key resource in identifying investment opportunities and trends in healthspan extension technologies. Newman is committed to advancing innovations like cellular reprogramming, senolytics, and biomarker technology, all poised to reshape industries like healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and finance. He also emphasizes addressing regulatory and ethical challenges to ensure responsible adoption of longevity technologies.

Alyx van der Vorm is the Founder and CEO of Clyx, a platform focused on addressing loneliness and mental health challenges among Gen Z by creating digital solutions that foster real social connections. Clyx aims to make socialising effortless, allowing users to find activities and connect with others in under 62 seconds. Alyx’s multidisciplinary background includes neuroscience and government studies at Harvard and Oxford. She has worked in roles such as Human Rights Officer and Biotech Analyst, blending advocacy, market insights, and innovation. Alyx also serves as an Expert Judge for MassChallenge and an investor for Marint Monaco.

Kate Woolhouse is the CEO of Hooke, a luxury health and longevity clinic in London that specializes in advanced health screenings and personalized longevity plans for high-net-worth individuals. With a focus on proactive care and prevention, Woolhouse leads Hooke’s operations, integrating data-driven health tracking to prevent serious conditions. She emphasizes regular assessments, tailored health interventions, and a blend of state-of-the-art medical technology with a calming, spa-like environment. Under her leadership, Hooke attracts top-tier professionals, offering clients premium health and longevity services.

Armen Sarkissian, Armenia’s fourth President (2018–2022), built a distinguished career across academia, diplomacy, and business. Educated in physics at Yerevan State University, he later became a professor at Cambridge University. Sarkissian began his political career in 1991 as Armenia’s first ambassador to the UK, later serving briefly as Prime Minister in 1996. In the private sector, he advised corporations like BP and Bank of America Merrill Lynch and founded Eurasia House International. As President, he focused on constitutional reforms and attracting international investment, emphasizing the importance of leveraging Armenia’s global diaspora.

Christina Korp is the Founder and CEO of SPACE for a Better World, established in 2021, and also serves as president of Purpose Entertainment. Known as the “Astronaut Wrangler,” Korp has worked closely with Apollo astronauts like Buzz Aldrin and Charlie Duke, along with several female astronauts, and other modern-day space leaders. Her career includes producing major global projects around space and sustainability, managing events and creating educational initiatives aimed at using space technology to address global challenges. With over 16 years of experience promoting space science and space inspiration projects, Korp continues to produce space-themed events and advocate for industry collaboration to drive innovation for a better world.

Dr. Jeremias Kettner is an accomplished entrepreneur, investor, and board member with deep expertise in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) region. Known for his strategic thinking and ability to drive growth, Jeremias focuses on building bridges between Europe and the GCC, facilitating East West business opportunities and partnerships . With a strong background in both entrepreneurship and advisory roles, he has helped numerous organizations expand and thrive in international markets. Dr. Kettner is passionate about driving progress and fostering innovation in a multipolar world, making him a key figure in the global business landscape.

Iliana Oris Valiente is the Managing Director and North America Innovation Hubs Lead at Accenture, and a recognized thought leader in emerging technologies such as AI and Web3. A CPA, active startup advisor and investor, and published author, she also serves on several boards of directors, including at Sunnybrook Hospital.

Lord Richard Harrington is a British businessman and former politician, serving as the Non-Executive Chair of Regal, a residential-led mixed-use developer in London. He was the Conservative MP for Watford from 2010 to 2019 and held several ministerial positions, including Minister for Syrian Refugees and Minister of State for Refugees. Known for his leadership in refugee resettlement, Harrington implemented the Syrian Refugee Programme and the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship scheme. He recently led The Harrington Review of Foreign Direct Investment, aimed at increasing foreign investment in the UK.

Markus Fuhrmann is the CEO and Co-Founder of GROPYUS, a company focused on revolutionizing the building industry with sustainable and technology-driven solutions. Markus is an experienced entrepreneur, best known for co-founding Delivery Hero, a global leader in the food delivery sector. At GROPYUS, he is leading the charge in creating affordable and sustainable multi family housing at scale by bringing cutting-edge technology - from robotics to artificial intelligence - to the construction industry. With a strong background in scaling global companies and fostering innovation, Markus is dedicated to reshaping how the world approaches housing and urban development.

Judith is a venture capital investor in the longevity space and has been an active biohacker for the past 15 years. As a serial-entrepreneur-turned-VC, she advises family offices, venture capital firms, and other senior allocators on navigating the growing field of non-biotech longevity investments, enabling decision-makers to explore the transformative potential of healthspan and joyspan extension—a market that ultimately affects every human being on the planet.

With a background in building longevity clinics for a large single-family office and investing in medtech and longevity innovations, Judith co-founded the Longevity Clinic Builder Network, a global consortium of entrepreneurs and practitioners developing clinics from Singapore to San Francisco and Copenhagen to Cape Town. Additionally, she is a co-founder of Longevity Week Berlin and the founder of Biohacking Eve, a platform that differentiates health optimisation strategies for women.

Tihomir Bajić is a Founding Partner at Fifth Quarter Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on investing in high-growth tech companies. With extensive experience in entrepreneurship and venture capital, Tihomir is dedicated to supporting innovative startups that are pushing the boundaries of technology. At Fifth Quarter Ventures, he plays a key role in identifying, mentoring, and scaling early-stage companies, particularly those in the SaaS and AI sectors. His leadership is marked by a strong commitment to driving growth and value creation for both startups and investors. Tihomir is also the Managing Partner at X&, where he continues to shape strategic partnerships and foster technological innovation.

Huiting is the Founding Managing Partner of Blueprint Ventures, a regional Southeast Asian seed-stage venture capital firm. The fund invests in consumer and consumer tech businesses that have the potential to become Southeast Asia’s new generation-defining, iconic Brand-led businesses. Blueprint’s unique advantage is in helping dynamic founders unlock Brand Value to drive outsized business returns. Blueprint Ventures is actively deploying from Fund I and has invested in 3 companies across Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore.

Huiting has more than a decade of relevant experience in building and investing in consumer-first businesses. She spent 8 yrs in brand management and the last 5 years, as a Partner at an early stage venture fund in Southeast Asia investing into Consumer and Fintech companies such as Tonik, Stashfin and SATURDAYS.

Born in Australia, David Cubbin leads the family office of Bjoern von Siemens and runs a London-based investment management firm, Cure Capital Advisors, a specialised healthcare asset manager which invests into the venture healthcare space.

David commenced his career in London at the world-leading infrastructure bank and asset manager, Macquarie Capital, before leaving to work for and learn from two Luxembourg-based VC billionaires.

From there, he established highly successful businesses in sub-Saharan Africa, before returning to Australia to work for Challenger Limited (an Australian Asset Manager listed on the Australian stock exchange with over $110bn AUM). After five years in Sydney, he returned to London to spearhead the business in the EMEA region.

Andreas Klinger leads Prototoype a first-check/first-round frontier-tech fund focusing on automation and industry in Europe. He has participated in 90+ deals including Remote.com, Lumalabs, Fly.io, and Sunrise Robotics. Previously he was founding team & CTO of Product Hunt, VPE of CoinList, Head of Remote at AngelList, and CTO at On Deck.

Additionally, Andreas is one of the loudest voices in european tech, having among other things co-initiated EU-Inc.org a proposal to create a pan-European legal entity, currently becoming law.