Baystartup has had a new dual leadership since June 1, 2025: Barbara Dombay was appointed Managing Director, complementing Carsten Rudolph, who has led Baystartup since 2009. Together, they are now responsible for the strategic development of the network, which provides key impetus for the startup ecosystem in Bavaria.
Barbara Dombay is intimately familiar with the structures and requirements of the startup scene. She has been part of the Baystartup team since 2012 and has played a key role in building the company's investor network during this time. This network now includes around 400 business angels and over 200 venture capital investors and has established itself as the first point of contact for early-stage financing in Bavaria. Since 2015, Baystartup claims to have brokered a volume of over €650 million in seed financing.
A feel for successful financing
Carsten Rudolph, Managing Director of Baystartup, says about the new management:
"Barbara Dombay has played a key role in shaping Baystartup over the past few years. She has firsthand knowledge of the needs of founding teams and investors and has developed a keen sense for how successful financing is achieved. With her network and experience, she is a key contact for startups seeking capital—and a real asset to our management team."
And also Barbara Dombay, Managing Director of Baystartup, is delighted with her new position:
"After more than ten years at Baystartup, I'm looking forward to continuously expanding our startup support offerings and adapting them to changing market conditions. Baystartup connects people from innovation, capital, and industry—exactly the constellations startups need for growth and successful development."
Focus on strategic development
In her new role, Barbara Dombay will be jointly responsible for key strategic areas, including the targeted expansion of the investment ecosystem, the stronger networking of startups with medium-sized companies and industry, and the further development of growth programs for startups.
Dombay brings extensive experience in the technology and innovation environment to these tasks. Before joining Baystartup She held various positions in marketing, sales, and corporate development. She studied economics at the Otto-Friedrich University of Bamberg and at the Université Jean-Moulin-Lyon III in France.
