Munich Startup: Please tell us briefly about Better Ventures.
Tina Dreimann, co-founder of Better Ventures: We are Better Ventures, a curated network of like-minded entrepreneurs who invest in ambitious impact founders. We are committed to helping impact teams succeed by connecting them with the best investors. In addition to capital, we offer impact startups above all our experience and our network. Our network already brings together over 70 successful entrepreneurs with the shared goal of sustainably improving the world and rethinking business. And we are convinced that founders are the most effective lever for this.
Impact and return approach
Munich Startup: What do you prefer to invest in?
Tina Dreimann: We invest exclusively in startups that pursue a strong impact and return approach and build solutions to pressing social or ecological problems. We focus on the areas of people and planet – from green energy to circular business models and materials, to health and education. For us, it’s important to have a scalable business model, an ambitious and diverse team, and the stage of the company – ideally startups in the early phase of their development.
Munich Startup: What type of startup would you never invest in?
Tina Dreimann: We invest exclusively in impact startups. We would never invest in startups that do not act sustainably or whose business model is based on the exploitation of resources, people, or the environment. Additionally, our focus is on startups that were founded in Europe. This means we do not take teams that were founded outside the region into the process.
Better Ventures: Focus on European impact startups
Munich Startup: Do startups have to worry that you will interfere too much?
Tina Dreimann: No, startups should not worry about excessive interference. The Better Ventures network is united by strong values. The highest value for us all is “Founders first”. Beyond that, we place great value on a partnership on equal footing, where we provide ad-hoc support through relevant experience – primarily on request – without restricting the entrepreneurial freedom of the founding team. Our so-called “better angels” have themselves founded, built, or led companies. They know that management must be in the “driver’s seat”.
Munich Startup: How long does it take from first contact to closing the contract?
Tina Dreimann: The time from first contact to contract closure can vary, but it strongly depends on the readiness and preparation of the startup. We accompany some teams long before the financing round. With attractive rounds, we can also reach a decision within two weeks.
Munich Startup: To be successful, a startup must…
Tina Dreimann: …have a clear vision, act in a solution-oriented manner, build a strong and diverse team, and pursue a sustainable, scalable business model.
That’s a no-go: lack of transparency or dishonesty
Munich Startup: Tell us the knockout criterion in the pitch!
Tina Dreimann: A knockout criterion in the pitch is lack of transparency or obvious dishonesty regarding the challenges the startup is facing. Additionally, the teams should have their key metrics under control – both in terms of impact and return potential!
Munich Startup: When have you seriously miscalculated?
Tina Dreimann: Miscalculation is built in as an early-stage investor! Precisely because we invest in pre-seed and seed, business models in annual planning are rarely reliable. For this exact reason, we focus our due diligence on the team, traction, and initial problem-solution validation.
What is turning the VC industry upside down?
Munich Startup: The trend of the year is…!
Tina Dreimann: Artificial intelligence, because it will turn the VC industry upside down.
Munich Startup: Last but not least: Who do startups contact if they want to have a conversation with you?
Tina Dreimann: Startups that want to have a conversation with us can contact us directly through our website. We are open to exciting dialogues and new partnerships.
