The Lakestar Team
Ben Cousens
Principal
Ben is involved in sourcing investments across the UK and France, with specific interest in fintech, applications of AI and automation, cryptoeconomics and blockchain, digital media and interactive entertainment, and software.
Klaus Hommels
Founder and Chairman
Klaus Hommels
Founder and Chairman
Klaus is the Founder and Chairman of Lakestar and one of Europe’s leading venture capitalists. He is also a prominent voice for the European Tech Ecosystem with the aim of strengthening Europe’s position in times of digital transformation.
William Gibbs
Head of IT & Infrastructure
Stephen Nundy
Partner & CTO
Stephen Nundy
Partner & CTO
Stephen is Partner at Lakestar and serves as the firm's CTO. He spends time across much of the portfolio but specifically focusses on digitization and automation infrastructure applications as well as "deep technology" investments.
Companies
Industries
- Deep Tech
- Digitalization Tech
Geographies
- Israel
- Spain & Portugal
- United Kingdom
Amanda Schlumpf
Marketing & Communications Manager
Amanda Schlumpf
Marketing & Communications Manager
Amanda is responsible for managing and growing different communities within the tech ecosystem in the main European tech hubs. She is an active contributor by attending key events and conferences and building networks with entrepreneurs and investors.
Oliver Heimes
Partner
Oliver Heimes
Partner
Oliver is Partner at Lakestar and focusses on investment opportunities in the healthcare and real estate sectors, splitting his time between Europe and the US.
Moritz Nathusius
Legal Counsel
Moritz Nathusius
Legal Counsel
Moritz advises the Lakestar team on legal matters during all stages of the investment process. He also guides entrepreneurs and portfolio companies on overcoming the legal obstacles they encounter from start-up to exit.
Anja Gradl
Talent Manager
Jingkun Li
SENIOR FINANCE MANAGER
Jingkun Li
SENIOR FINANCE MANAGER
Jingkun collaborates closely with all teams in Lakestar as well as the fund administrators and the portfolio companies of Lakestar on topics such as the preparation of the investor reporting package, valuation, financial planning and forecasting.
Christoph Schuh
Partner
Christoph Schuh
Partner
Christoph is a Partner at Lakestar and focuses on growth investments in travel, transportation and mobility. He also advises portfolio companies on marketing and ‘go-to-market’ related matters.
Industries
- Marketing & Sales
- Mobility
- Transportation
- Travel
Geographies
- Germany
- Netherlands
Alessandro Lanfranchi
Investor Relations Associate
Alessandro Lanfranchi
Investor Relations Associate
Alessandro is representing Lakestar to its existing Limited Partners and potential investors. Working closely with the Finance, Investment and Marketing teams, he is supporting all investor-facing communications and fund updates.
Ninja Struye de Swielande
PARTNER & CCO
Ninja Struye de Swielande
PARTNER & CCO
Ninja is Partner at Lakestar and focusses on PR, Marketing and IR. She is responsible for Lakestar's positioning in the ecosystem, including events, PR and ESG as well as oversees the firm's relationships with investors globally.
Julian Wokoeck
Senior Investment Associate
Julian Wokoeck
Senior Investment Associate
Julian focuses on investment opportunities in the DACH region. He is specifically involved in industrial automation technologies, transportation & mobility, and deep technologies such as applications of machine learning.
Andreas Klukas
CFO
Andreas Klukas
CFO
Andreas is Lakestar's Chief Financial Officer. He advises the group on all finance and fund administration matters. Andreas facilitates the collaboration of the investment and operational team and ensures compliance with all regulatory and further relevant requirements.
Mika Salmi
Managing Partner
Mika Salmi
Managing Partner
Mika is Lakestar's Managing Partner and sources early stage deals in the media and consumer sectors. He is a serial entrepreneur and angel investor who has built or brought to market globally-recognised brands, talent and products.
Companies
- Agora
- Amuse
- Darewise
- Netspeak Games
- Teralytics
- Trace
- Welcome
- Gameye
Industries
- Consumer
- Gaming & Media
Geographies
- Israel
- Nordics
- US West Coast
Asha Mistry
Head of Talent
Asha Mistry
Head of Talent
Asha leads internal HR for Lakestar and partners with our portfolio companies’ founders and leadership teams to advise them on everything to do with talent and people. This can include topics such as organisational design, executive hiring, scaling teams, culture creation, compensation, diversity and onboarding.
Nicolas Brand
Partner
Nicolas Brand
Partner
Nicolas is Partner at Lakestar and focusses on the intersection of finance and technology. His sector expertise includes the digitisation of finance, insurtech and blockchain infrastructures.
Companies
Industries
- Blockchain
- Fintech
- Insurtech
Geographies
- France
- Spain
- Switzerland
Mathias Haniel
Principal
Mathias Haniel
Principal
Mathias is a Principal at Lakestar and focusses on Industry 4.0 as well as consumer related investment opportunities.
Companies
Industries
- Industry 4.0
Geographies
- Austria
- Germany
Natalia Neuman
COO & General Counsel
Natalia Neuman
COO & General Counsel
Natalia is Lakestar's General Counsel and COO. She is responsible for all legal and regulatory oversight of Lakestar's entities. She represents the company during all investments and is also coordinating Lakestar's internal operations.
Advisors
Annet Aris
Senior Affiliate Professor of Strategy
Insead
Young Sohn
Corporate President & CSO, Samsung
Chairman of the Board, Harman
Matteo Renzi
Former Italian Prime Minister
Niall Ferguson
History Professor and Writer
Christoph Keese
CEO
Axel Springer HY
Ann-Kristin Achleitner
Co-Scientific Director
Center for Entrepreneurial and Financial Studies, TU Munich
Thorsten Dirks
Former Executive Board Member
KPN, Telefónica and Lufthansa Group
Thijn Lamers
Fmr. Executive Vice President
Adyen
Martin Hofmann
Former Group CIO
Volkswagen AG
