Those early days sparked an artistic spirit that still guides Maximilian von Aufschnaiter, a Marketing Manager for the DACH market at Reliance Group and our guest in this edition of #meettheteam. 

In this interview, Maximilian shares what he values most about his work at Reliance and reflects on how his years in South Tyrol and his life in Berlin shape the way he approaches marketing, blending calm reflection with urban energy and creativity with strategy. 

What sparked your interest in marketing in the first place? 

I grew up surrounded by creativity. My mother, an artist and graphic designer, and my father, a photographer, transformed our living room into a vibrant mix of an art studio and a photo lab. Brushes, colors, and cameras were part of my everyday life, and as kids, we spent countless hours drawing and painting together. That environment sparked an early passion for creativity in me. 

Years later, I discovered marketing through its digital side and realized it was the ideal way to blend my creative roots with my growing interest in strategy and systems. At first, I was focused on making things look visually appealing, but as time went on, my curiosity about why things work took over. This shift led me to dive deeper into the strategic and data-driven aspects of marketing. Now, I focus on building smart systems and automating processes to make campaigns more effective and impactful. 

Are you more of a “big-picture visionary” or a “details-matter” kind of person? 

“Big picture visionary” sounds like a big label. What I would say about myself is that I tend to focus more on the bigger picture, especially when it comes to strategy. I like to understand the overall direction and goals because if you know where you want to go it makes everything else clearer. But knowing the direction is not enough you also have to set things up properly and work through the details to get there. For me it is a mix of both keeping the focus on strategy while making sure the steps to get there are developed and executed well. So I would say I lean a little more toward the strategic side but I am definitely hands on when it comes to making sure it actually happens. 

What marketing trends excite you the most right now? 

In the last year, so much has changed in how we work. New technologies and opportunities have come up, especially around automation tools, no code solutions, and the whole AI sector in general. What I’m currently focused on is AI agents and hyper personalization. One of the hardest things in business is that there is never enough time for actual strategy. There are always a bunch of small repetitive tasks that eat up your day. What I like about AI agents is that they are really useful, they can handle those tasks for you, link up different tools, and adjust things on the fly based on data. That gives you more space to focus on the bigger stuff. 

The second trend I’m currently looking deeper into is hyper personalization. It’s really about showing people only what they actually care about. Instead of sending the same message to everyone, you use data and AI to make the message fit each person. This means looking at things like what they’ve done before, what they’re interested in, or what they need right now. The message then feels more relevant and personal, which makes people more likely to listen and engage. 

What’s your favorite part of being a Marketing Manager at Reliance Group? 

My favorite part of being in marketing at Reliance is definitely the culture of collaboration and trust. I really appreciate having the freedom to take ownership of my projects, come up with new ideas, and test them out. What makes it even better is working closely with colleagues from different countries and departments. It gives me a broader perspective, I’m always learning something new, and I get to see how marketing connects with the bigger picture of the company. 

Having lived in both South Tyrol and Berlin, would you say you’re more alpine calm or Berlin energy when it comes to your creative process? 

“I would say both the calm of the Alps and the energy of Berlin,” he reflects. Having lived in South Tyrol for a few years I learned the importance of slowing down and taking time to reflect whether it is hiking in the forest or simply enjoying nature’s quiet. I still visit South Tyrol regularly to see my mum, where I recharge and enjoy being in nature, which I sometimes miss in Berlin. 

At the same time, Berlin’s urban energy is very inspiring. Being around driven people and a fast-moving environment pushes me to stay focused, act quickly, and keep up with new ideas and opportunities. I also love trying new things and finding inspiration, which is something you find more of in Berlin than in South Tyrol. “So, I appreciate both worlds,” he smiles. 

You have a free weekend and no plans. What’s your ideal way to spend it? 

“It really depends on where I am, Berlin or South Tyrol,” he grins. 

If I am in Berlin, I would book a small cabin at Raus for the weekend. I would spend time in the kitchen trying out new recipes and enjoying simple meals. Afternoons might be for sitting outside sipping coffee and soaking up the quiet away from the usual city noise. The evenings are perfect for reading or just relaxing under the open sky. 

When I am in South Tyrol, the day usually starts with a hike through the forest, keeping an eye out for chanterelle mushrooms. Later I would go for a swim in the Kalterer See. As the day ends I would gather with friends around the stove, cooking a mushroom pan, sharing stories, together. 

What’s a quote that inspires Maximilian?

Whether he is cooking with friends in South Tyrol or testing new ideas at Reliance in Berlin, Maximilian brings the same mix of curiosity, creativity, and strategy to everything he does. His perspective adds a unique voice to our team, and we’re excited to continue sharing more stories like his in the upcoming editions of our #meettheteam series.

Read an interview with Franziska Haeßler here:

The fascination of venture capital – about innovation, investments, and big ideas:
Interview with Lukas Linn

The post Between alpine calm and Berlin buzz: Meet Maximilian von Aufschnaiter  first appeared on Reliance - Blog.

Born and raised in southwest Germany, Lukas has lived and worked across international innovation hubs like London, Copenhagen, Vienna, and the San Francisco Bay Area before landing in Berlin, a city he now calls home.

In this interview, he shares what excites him about working with early-stage companies, how California shaped his perspective, and why wellness help him reset after long days of venture building.

What excites you most about working with early-stage companies?

The energy, actually! Early-stage companies are driven by innovation, bold ideas, and a genuine desire to reshape the world for the better. I am inspired by the visionary thinking and passion that founders usually bring to the table. It is impressing that start-ups and scale-ups are able to spot trends early and challenge the status quo. And beyond that, the entrepreneurial spirit I encounter daily motivates me personally – it is a constant reminder of why I am in this field and fuels my own ambition to build something big one day!

What’s been one of your most rewarding moments at Reliance so far?

Over the past 1.5 years at Reliance Group, I have experienced many exciting & memorable moments. I really enjoy working with smart colleagues from different countries, forward-thinking founding teams, and visionary investors who ask the right questions.

But one of the most fulfilling milestones has been proving – through our recently launched business section in DACH and my newly created role – that impact investment platforms in Germany (and Europe, anyways!) can invest real equity. This is just the beginning of something bigger: enabling scale-ups to access growth capital in exchange for shares through an investment platform like ours. That is something truly new for the German-speaking market – and I am happy to help shape the new direction and drive this shift!

What first got you into the world of Venture Capital?

I have always been fascinated by start-ups, investments, and innovation. That interest guided my academic path – from writing my bachelor’s thesis on start-ups to pursuing a master’s in innovation management, combined with working student roles and projects in the European start-up ecosystem.

A key moment was my exchange semester in California – the world’s innovation capital. The experience was incredibly inspiring: from top-tier university lectures and professors to guest speakers like VCs and serial entrepreneurs. Company visits to tech giants like Airbnb, DocuSign, and Uber – once small start-ups themselves – made innovation feel tangible and real change possible.

Returning to Europe, I was eager to bring that mindset and inspiration back with me. I found the perfect opportunity for my master’s thesis and later a full-time position for several years at Europe’s first PropTech accelerator and the leading innovation platform in real estate. The role as Scouting & Investment Manager combined my passion for innovation, technology, investment, and the built world.

Now at Reliance Group in Berlin, I am heading the equity funding efforts for the DACH market – right at the intersection of start-ups, scale-ups, and investors. It is exactly where I see most potential when driving innovation forward: inside the start-up- & VC-ecosystem, helping outstanding innovators enter their next phase in their journey.

What motivated you to leave your hometown and make the move to Berlin, and how has the transition been so far?

Before moving to Berlin, I had the chance to live, study, and work in some amazing metropolises like London, Vienna, Copenhagen, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Just before COVID hit, I returned to Germany and spent most of my time between Mannheim (with my family) and Frankfurt (for work). After almost four great years, I felt it was time for a new chapter, in a place where all my interests come together: a big, international city, exciting opportunities, great people, and one of Europe’s leading start-up hubs. Berlin basically ticked all the boxes.

The transition has been going really well, and honestly, it has been a lot of fun. A few close friends were already living here, which made the early days – including the no-apartment phase (he laughs) – much easier. Since then, I have met a lot of new people, had a great start at Reliance with awesome colleagues, and joined more business events than I can count. And thanks to my constant curiosity (or slight FOMO), I have discovered a lot of what the city has to offer – though my Berlin to-do list somehow keeps getting longer… (he smiles)

What’s your favorite way to disconnect after a long day?

Definitely sports and wellness! After a long day (or short weekend… he grins), there is nothing better than a good workout, sometimes even with friends, followed by some real relaxation in the wellness area. Ideally with strong sauna infusions or a quiet steam bath. I take my sauna sessions very seriously (he smiles) – yes, I know the exact schedule in detail and the sauna masters know me quite well. It’s the perfect way to reset and recharge!

What’s a quote that inspires Lukas?

“Work hard, play hard.” Life is about balance – don’t let the pursuit of success make you forget the joy of living.

Lukas’ think-outside-the-box mindset and passion for building bridges between innovators & investors is as clear as his curiosity for new challenges (and Berlin’s endless to-do list). With his energy and willingness to question the status quo, he is helping shape the future of equity funding at invesdor, one venture at a time.

The post Start-ups, Serendipity, and Sauna Sessions: Meet Lukas Linn first appeared on Reliance - Blog.

In this interview, she shares honest insights into what it was like in the early days, what makes great leadership in a startup, and what she might be doing if finance hadn’t come calling.

Looking back at the early days, did you ever imagine Reliance would become what it is today?

No, I didn’t exactly think Reliance would one day become Europe’s go-to platform for impact investing. We started out as a small German startup with big dreams and the goal of reshaping SME financing.

I still remember nervously sitting in the ‘back room’ of one of our shareholders, probably never meant for actual work, waiting for our very first project to launch. There were maybe five of us, and everyone did a bit of everything: marketing before lunch, customer support after, and maybe cleaning the coffee machine in between.

Today, we’ve grown into a European company with a strong presence in four core markets and real experts in every area. The leap from local startup to international business came with a few bumps, but that mix of chaos, ambition, great people, and just enough caffeine during nightshifts (she smiles) helped us grow into who we are today.

What advice would you give to someone joining a startup today?

Be prepared for the unexpected, seriously. The most important skill in a startup isn’t coding, pitching, or even making great coffee (although that helps). It’s being able to adapt when the unexpected hits. I know that sounds like a motivational poster, but it’s true.

Thinking flexibly, being open to feedback, and never ever uttering the words “but we’ve always done it this way” is exactly the mindset you need in a startup. And that’s how we still work at Reliance today.

Change is the only constant. Yes, Heraclitus said it first, but we live it daily. And honestly, that’s what I love most about working at invesdor. No two days are alike. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, surprise! Something new lands in your inbox. Everyone at Reliance has embraced this mindset in their own way. It’s what enables us to push boundaries together, keep each other motivated, and achieve results for our customers that others would have given up on ages ago.

Obviously, it can be intense sometimes, but routine is far more draining for me than change will ever be.

What’s a leadership lesson you always carry with you?

Listen carefully! No skill is as underrated as genuine listening. Really, most problems don’t arise because people don’t talk, but because others don’t actually listen.

Usually, people tell you exactly what’s bothering them, what they need, or how you could help. It’s all there, loud and clear. You just have to resist the urge to start composing a clever reply in your head before they’ve even finished their sentence.

Sure, leadership is also about balancing interests and finding compromises, just like in relationships, family dinners, or group holidays. But making your team feel heard, seen, and genuinely taken seriously? That’s the core of good leadership, at least in my book.

And honestly, this isn’t just about the office. It applies just as much when you’re grilling with friends (“yes, your tofu sausage matters too”), in a relationship (“yes, I am listening this time”), or dealing with a grumpy government clerk.

If you take a moment to really listen and show a bit of empathy, most problems dissolve faster than you can say “Was that so hard?”

If you weren’t working in finance, what would you be doing?

Sometimes I joke in the office that if I weren’t working at invesdor, I’d probably be in the secret service (she laughs), you know, trench coat, sunglasses, mysterious phone calls, the full package.

Because honestly, if there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s finding missing information and connecting the dots. No matter how well something is hidden, give me a hint and a cup of coffee, and I’ll track it down.

Maybe it’s no coincidence that I have a soft spot for spy movies and political thrillers. The mix of classified intel, shadowy alliances, and high-stakes decision-making? That’s totally my thing, minus the car chases. Usually.

If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be?

Dr. Oppenheimer. I was deeply moved by the recent film, especially his inner conflict between scientific innovation and moral responsibility. As someone who also strives to act with good intentions, I’d love to discuss how decisions can ripple through a lifetime… ideally over a glass of wine.

What’s a quote that inspires you?

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Our conversation with Franziska is a reminder that startups grow on passion, adaptability, and strong leadership. Stay tuned for more stories from the people behind invesdor, the ones making impact investing happen every day.

The post From a small German startup to a leading European platform: Meet Franziska Haeßler first appeared on Reliance - Blog.

Max, you founded Beets & Roots in 2016 together with star chef Andi Tuffentsammer. You offer healthy bowls, salads, wraps and high-quality soups in your restaurants and via online ordering. You first financed your growth via crowdfunding on Reliance in 2019, and you are now in your fourth crowdfunding round. How did you get into crowdfunding? 

At that time, we only had our first three restaurants in Berlin and wanted to expand further. With our ordering system via the internet, we had a real boom phase at the time and wanted to expand that further. We used the capital to open more restaurants. In the meantime, the investors have received their 750,000 euros back, along with 8.5 per cent interest per year and a one-time profit interest of 5 per cent. So it was a complete success for us and for the investors.

Your second funding campaign was then in October 2021, in the middle of a peak phase of the pandemic. Wasn’t that risky?

Corona was like a dark shadow over us at the time. But we wanted to continue the growth course and reach more customers with our own app, among other things, despite the pandemic. It was important for us to become a mobile-first company in the next step, and we made up for it. In addition, we want to take customers and investors along on our journey to climate neutrality 2025, which we had set as a goal. Our products, the brand and our target group fit very well with the theme of sustainability. That’s why we designed the second campaign differently.

What did you do differently from the first time?

This time we did not pay interest on a subordinated loan from our investors, but issued 16,000 shares in our company as participation rights, which corresponds to 8.7 percent in our company. In return, the basic interest rate was lower at 5.0 percent. With the participation rights, we offered investors a new participation model, especially since we tokenised the shares, i.e. issued them digitally. This allows investors to participate in the increase of the company’s value. We were among the first in Germany to choose this path.

Was that well received?

Yes, after only 22 days we had the 1.1 million euros together. The goal of this financing round was to also expand nationwide with restaurants in Stuttgart, Frankfurt am Main and Düsseldorf.

In 2022, a third round of financing for 537,000 euros took place. Did you take the big leap after the Corona pandemic? 

That’s one way to put it. In the third crowdfunding round, the main focus was on financing our new high-frequency locations in Berlin at Potsdamer Platz, at the main railway station and at BER airport. Here, too, crowdfunding was the best fit because we had already won the leases and were able to appeal to the travel industry at the same time. For investors, this was an interesting investment opportunity. We always finance everything in a mix, which means we financed both equity and mezzanine capital via the crowd. In terms of marketing, we focused less on the retail investor and more on the semi-institutional investor.

You also joined a large family office, which brought you 2.7 million euros for 18.5 percent of the company shares. Why did you turn to the professional investor?

For us, it is important to create stable growth, and for that we need a stable financing structure with substantial equity. That’s why we didn’t want to focus everything on the crowd, especially in uncertain times where the equity cushion always plays a big role. We need strong partners, we need a strong equity ratio. That is also in the interest of the crowd. 

Is this participation of a family office directly linked to distributions or does it only rely on an increase in the value of the company?

There are no distributions, we are a growth company and reinvest our cash flow in our growth projects. This is also comprehensible for all existing shareholders and crowd investors. No one has to fear that any shareholders will be served from crowdfunding funds.

How is the fourth crowdfunding round offer constructed?

In terms of company law, it is the same as the first and third rounds, so it is a subordinated loan. But because of the increased interest rate environment, we have also increased the interest rate to 10 per cent. In addition, a one-off success interest of another 10 per cent is possible. The financing costs have risen for us, as they have for all companies, which is why we now have to offer investors a higher return.

What sum are you aiming for and what do you intend to do with it?

For example, we currently have the second contract with Deutsche Bahn in the pipeline for Ostbahnhof, where we would like to open a restaurant. We are hoping for investor money between 500,000 and one million euros. We would also like to use the money to expand the licence business. We already have two licensed stores with partners, for example in Frankfurt. We want to grow in the markets outside of Berlin primarily with licence partners, simply because it enables operational stability and faster growth.

Where does beets & roots stand today, how has the business developed?

We now have 14 restaurants in five major cities. In 2022, we had a turnover of 7.2 million euros including the licence partners. For 2023, we expect a turnover of around 11 million euros. We also have initial cooperations with Rewe and Edeka, which resell our bowls from the freezer. The delivery services Flink and Gorillas have also included our dishes in their range. The desire for healthy, sustainable gastronomy is huge.

You have remained loyal to Reliance as a crowdfunding platform for your campaigns. What are the advantages for you? Why did you choose invesdor?  

At the end of the day, what counts for us is the relationship of trust, which also comes from our circle of shareholders. From the first to the fourth campaign, the cooperation with Reliance has been characterised by a high level of professionalism. That gives us a very good feeling. After all, we also enter into liabilities with this form of financing and want everything to be based on the highest legal and social standards, both for the investors and for us. Reliance guarantees that.

Another huge plus is the flexibility and simplicity. Existing banks are more cumbersome in the financing process than a modern, digitalised partner like invesdor.  In addition, Reliance itself is a growth story and has continued to expand through mergers and continuous improvements to the platform and investor experience. This shows us that we are betting on the right partner.

So further crowd campaigns with Reliance are not out of the question?

Absolutely not! The bigger we get, the bigger the funding pots get, and the mix can certainly change in some way. But the crowd always plays a big role for us. As long as it works for us and for the investors, we want to continue the cooperation.

The post Interview with Max Kochen from beets & roots first appeared on Reliance - Blog.

Jakoba is involved in managing various funds in the renewable energy and sustainability field. She brings a wealth of experience in financing wind power projects. She has gained this experience in her home country, the Netherlands, and in numerous professional and private positions worldwide.  

Jakoba, how did you get into green investments?  

My family runs a taxi business in the north of the Netherlands. When I was young, alternative fuels came on the market, and we were one of the first companies to invest in them. At that time, the fuels were plant-based, and the cars smelled like a potato chip factory – but it was the first step towards sustainable mobility. We tested different fuels and tried to continue our business professionally despite the changes and challenges. It wasn’t easy because the plant-based fuels clogged the diesel filters. The cars broke down after a few hundred kilometres, and the filters had to be cleaned or replaced. But this is how it started. Today, my brothers and I are the shareholders of the family business, and a director runs it.   

So that was the beginning. What came next? 

After my economics degree and master’s in finance, I started investment banking at JP Morgan in London. I started looking for deals in renewable energy at a time when the whole energy sector was all about gas and oil. Significantly few companies were even involved in renewable energy. I then found a Finnish corporate finance boutique in London dedicated to paper packaging, energy, and forestry.  

I have accompanied many transactions with connections to the Nordic countries. I love working internationally! After my time in London, I went to India to travel and work. There I came into contact with incubators and impact investing, among others. It was a great time. After a year, I went back to the Netherlands and decided to combine finance and renewable energy. I helped finance onshore and offshore wind farms for three years for a Japanese bank. 

Before joining StartGreen, you cycled through North and Central America for a year. How did that come about?   

After working for the Japanese bank, we went on our honeymoon for a year. My husband and I wanted to make the trip meaningful, so we travelled across America, visiting various renewable energy projects along the way.  

We wanted to make the trip as eco-friendly as possible, so we travelled from Alaska to Panama with a wind-powered bicycle, Whike. It combines cycling and sailing. During our trip, the altitude differences were sometimes enormous, but the many places we visited and the friendly people who helped us get to know the country better were worth the effort. 

Then you started working at StartGreen Capital? 

When we returned from our trip, I looked for a finance and sustainable development job. I came across StartGreen Capital, and my bike trip to America was no problem for them – quite the opposite. It showed them that I was very committed to environmental issues. 

How do you bring your know-how to StartGreen and OnePlanetCrowd? 

I divide my time between the funds and the crowdfunding platform. We have been doing crowdfunding for ten years and want to expand it further in the renewable energy sector; my background in banking and financing onshore and offshore wind energy projects is as helpful here as it is in fund management.  

How would you describe your daily work?

After a morning team meeting, most of the day consists of having meetings with entrepreneurs, among others. An exchange with a lot of inspiration. It can be about acquisitions, about new structures for new deals. This also helps my colleagues at Reliance in Finland, Austria, and Germany, who ask me for an assessment of potential projects: whether something is financeable, whether it is suitable for OnePlanetCrowd, whether it is not too risky, where the revenue should come from and much more. I might also participate in our campaigns, hold a presentation in front of the investment committee to get a project on the platform or invest in a project from one of StartGreen’s funds.  

What I like about my work is that every day is different. And now I can work internationally again. That’s really where my heart lies. I am happy with different cultures, people with different backgrounds, and learning about new markets.

What are the highlights of your job?  

My favourite days are when I can talk to entrepreneurs about their innovative ideas for the energy transition and think together about how we can solve the financing problems. I also like to make new markets accessible where private investors can invest into future-proof projects to contribute to the energy transition.

I deliberately chose the venture capital industry because now I can make a difference as a financing partner; I can pave the way for entrepreneurs and make projects fundable that banks see as too challenging.   

What is your idea on how StartGreen, OnePlanetCrowd and Reliance will develop?  

With the opportunities presented by the merger of Reliance and OnePlanetCrowd, we can now spread our wings to build Europe’s largest impact investing platform. A platform that helps to ensure that we don’t overstep the boundaries of our planet – that is a vision worth fighting for.  

What do you do in your private life to save the planet?  

We are currently renewing the taxi company’s fleet with electric cars and using electricity from our own solar roof. Beyond that, of course, I do everything I can. We are modernising our house to make it more sustainable and energy efficient, for example, with a heat pump and solar panels on the roof. I usually travel by bike or public transport; when I drive, it’s electric or via car sharing. I also often ride road bikes and like to go sailing – Fortunately, these are pretty sustainable hobbies.

The post Faces of invesdor: Jakoba van der Mei  first appeared on Reliance - Blog.

Maarten, how did you get into crowdfunding? 

Before working for Oneplanetcrowd, I ran an investor network for companies in emerging markets that helped raise capital. Then I got to know the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter in the US when it came to the Pebble Watch, the first smartwatch at the time. The watch had already been developed and was offered for pre-sale on Kickstarter. The company wanted to collect 100,000 dollars, but in the end, over 50 million were raised. It was a huge success and a very effective and innovative way to raise capital. That’s how I got to know crowdfunding and was inspired by it.  

How did the founding of Oneplanetcrowd come about? 

One of the investors in my network was Start Green Capital, a fund company that primarily invests in the energy transition in the Netherlands. When I spoke to one of the fund managers there, it turned out that Start Green already had the idea of a crowdfunding platform for sustainable investments or impact investing in the Netherlands. At the beginning of 2012, we decided to launch that. My job was to bring the platform to market together with Start Green Capital. Since the founding of Oneplanetcrowd, we have financed 300 companies with 35,000 investors and with a volume of around 120 million euros. 

In the meantime, you have announced that Oneplanetcrowd will merge with Reliance Group. Why? 

We announced the merger of Oneplanetcrowd with Reliance months ago, but we have only now received approval from the regulatory authorities in Finland, the Netherlands, Germany and Austria. In April we will be able to close the merger formally. But the two companies have already been working closely together since November. First, we want to merge the crowds of both platforms. The goal is to give investors access to all investment projects with just one login. We want to realise it this summer.  

One of the main reasons for us to merge with Reliance was that Reliance is already active internationally and across borders. Conversely, Reliance chose Oneplanetcrowd because we are highly specialised in impact investing here, including projects around renewable energy in the Netherlands. We are now working to build the people, expertise and network for sustainable projects in invesdor’s locations in Finland, Germany and Austria.  

What changes does the merger bring to your daily work? 

As Managing Director Benelux of the Reliance Group, I continue to manage the team in Amsterdam, which looks for interesting sustainable investment projects to offer to crowdinvestors. The big difference is that we can now offer financing projects from our colleagues in Finland, Germany and Austria to Dutch investors. Conversely, we can also offer our investment projects in these partner countries. We expect more “crowd power” with larger business projects and faster capital acquisition via a larger European platform. This opens up many more opportunities. I can also reveal that we are planning, among other things, to expand to Belgium in the near future.

Do you have an example of a successful financing project in the field of sustainability and impact investing? 

Yes, for example, Fairphone. This is an Android smartphone made with metals and minerals from sustainable supply chains that can be repaired and upgraded by the owner. So users don’t have to buy a new smartphone when their old one is broken or obsolete. The project has enormous sustainability potential, as e-waste is also a significant problem of our time. We funded Fairphone in 2018 with 2.5 million euros. The crowdinvestors were among the core investors at the time and have contributed significantly to the company’s profitability today. Now the investors can sell their shares in a new financing round with a good return. That is an excellent success story. 

What kind of funding rounds do you typically organise?

Fairphone is an example of scale-ups, i.e. successfully launched young companies that need to finance their rapid growth. But we also accompany many new renewable energy projects in the Netherlands. Actually, they could quickly raise capital through private equity investors or banks. But for projects like solar panel fields or wind turbine parks, the regional authorities in the Netherlands require that a certain percentage of the capital must be investable by local residents so that the local community also benefits from the projects. Together with the project managers, we then organise a financing campaign in the region intending to increase the acceptance of the projects via citizen participation.  

Does that go down well with the citizens?  

Yes, it is very attractive for investors because they finance a project with a good return and very low risk. Usually, these projects are mature, all permits are in place, and contracts with the grid operators or electricity consumers are already signed. Local citizens share in the revenues and become an immediate part of the energy transition. People like that and it attracts many citizens. 

If renewable energy projects are often a local issue, what is the benefit to investors of a larger crowdfunding platform operating across Europe? 

Local projects indeed remain local for the time being. But often the projects are big enough to attract investors from outside. We often open up investment to outside crowdfunding investors after the local participants had their chance to invest. In this way, German investors will also have the chance to invest in a Dutch wind farm in the future.  

Have the interests of crowdinvestors changed over the years? 

We believe that more and more people in Europe are increasingly interested in investments that offer them both a financial return and a sustainability return. We call this a double return. Our employees, entrepreneurs and investors all think similarly: use business as a source of good. I believe this movement will grow significantly in the coming years.  

Through the combined investor crowd, we will attract more of Europe’s most promising and ambitious sustainable scale-ups. We also want to follow the companies through several funding rounds and offer larger funding volumes as they grow. In fact, the funding campaigns are getting bigger: we started with funding volumes of 10,000 to 20,000 euros, and today, the average is one million euros per project. If we channel this into impact companies, the contribution to sustainability also becomes bigger and bigger. Our impact as a platform will grow substantially.  

Investing money in sustainable investments with a good return does not have to be contradictory. Read more: crowdfunding platforms allow you to invest funds sustainably in a growing market in times of the energy transition and increasing environmental awareness and to advance meaningful projects together.

About Maarten de Jong 

Maarten de Jong is co-founder and CEO of the Dutch crowdfunding platform Oneplanetcrowd. After graduating in Technical Business Administration from the University of Groningen (NL) and spending six months in Sri Lanka, he started working in the Netherlands for the Business in Development Network, where he and his team arranged funding opportunities for many entrepreneurs in emerging markets. He built a network of more than 150 business angels, high net worth individuals, banks and development banks, and venture capital funds. In 2012, he co-founded Oneplanetcrowd with Coenraad de Vries and Laura Rooseboom under the StartGreen Capital umbrella. Oneplanetcrowd specialises in financing sustainable and social initiatives that offer investors financial and social returns.

The post Reliance expands to the Netherlands: “We expect significantly more crowd power”  first appeared on Reliance - Blog.

May we introduce? This is Hannah Reinicke

Hannah (28) is a campaign manager at invesdor. She has always been interested in writing and learning new languages: she speaks English, French and Italian and spent two months in Italy to improve her language skills before studying at Wiesbaden Business School. Although her Italian is rarely used in everyday work, her writing skills are all the more useful: Hannah supports companies in writing the campaigns that explains the companies’ business models to investors. With her help complicated technical jargon gets turned into an appealing investment opportunity. Hannah loves to think her way into new ideas.

Hannah, one of your favourite books is “The Martian”. Does your preference for science fiction have anything to do with the fact that you have so much to do with innovations in your job and often find yourself in new worlds?

Hannah Reinicke: “Well, fortunately my job doesn’t have much to do with science fiction, or let’s say: with science yes, with fiction no (laughs). After all, we only offer products on our platform that we are convinced will work. But yes, I love science fiction, fantasy, novels and books in general. And what I like most about my job is that – similar to reading – I always have to think my way into new ideas.”

Speaking of your job: What exactly do you do at invesdor?

Hannah Reinicke: “Basically, I am a kind of “translator” between companies and investors. I make the companies and business models that land on my desk tangible for investors with the help of texts, films and images. So our tasks – there are four of us, our team head Nancy, our student trainee Sophie, Vanessa and me – include writing storyboards for the campaign films, creating texts and sourcing suitable images. We also analyse the progress of each campaign to guide companies through the whole process.”

How long does it take to get a campaign like this up and running?

Hannah Reinicke: “Between three and six weeks, it depends on the scope. A two-million-euro campaign needs more preparation time than a 300-thousand-euro campaign because we provide more extensive information. But it also depends on the complexity of the business model.”

As a campaign manager, you probably recognise quickly whether a project will go down well with the investors on your platform. Which topics are particularly popular?

Hannah Reinicke: “Everything from the field of mechanical engineering, for example, technology, the classic SME topics. But also projects with a lot of heart and history behind them. These are mostly products that are directly for end customers. The Berlin-based schnapps distillery Mampe, for example, is one of those projects that are close to the heart. Mampe is the oldest spirits brand in Berlin with a tradition going back almost 200 years. So the investment decision clearly also has an emotional component.”

And your personal favourites?

Hannah Reinicke: “There are a few. Campaigns that deal with technical topics are always a lot of fun because you have to learn about topics I may never have heard of before. I have to do my own research and understand it. I like the challenge of explaining these business models in a way that is easy to understand for the investors, so they don’t have to do hours of research. But I also like writing campaigns for companies like Haferkater where the business model is easy to understand and there is a strong brand behind it.”

Which campaign has been your biggest success so far?

Hannah Reinicke: “Our campaign for L’Osteria was very successful because we raised over 2.3 million euros. Anyway, it’s mostly the B2C products, the business-to-customer products, where the investors are also the end customers, that are always really fun.”

So there is certainly reason to celebrate more often …

Hannah Reinicke: “Definitely. In our team-internal WhatsApp group, we always post updates to each other about ongoing projects and I’ve definitely toasted to one or two particularly successful campaigns with a glass of wine.”

If you were to start a company yourself …

Hannah Reinicke: “… it would probably be something with books.”

What are you looking forward to at the end of your working day?

Hannah Reinicke: “To laying on my couch – with a good move or show or something new to read.”

Do you have a vision for the future of invesdor?

Hannah Reinicke: “I think that Reliance will be present in even more countries in the future – and my goal is to support investors and entrepreneurs across Europe in turning their visions into reality.

The post Faces of invesdor: Hannah Reinicke first appeared on Reliance - Blog.

“I look back on a great time, full of conquered challenges and memorable milestones. We have funded hundreds of SMEs, scale-ups and renewable energy projects and gained the trust of over 30,000 investors. From $10,000 euro funding per project in 2012, we went to over $25,000,000 recently for Windpark Fryslân. Through the successful merger with invesdor, we are now Europe’s largest impact investment platform with over 180,000 investors. And as icing on the cake, just before my retirement, we received the ‘Gouden Stier Award’ for best crowdfunding platform. It is with pride and confidence that I hand over the baton to my successor Ellen Hensbergen.”

– Maarten De Jong, former Managing Director BeNeLux at invesdor

Meet Ellen Hensbergen 

Ellen Hensbergen is eager to start as Managing Director at Reliance and is determined to contribute to its (continued) growth. We speak to Ellen about her background, ambitions and vision for the future of Reliance and making financial and social impact.  

Welcome to the club. We’d love to get to know you better. Can you tell us who Ellen Hensbergen is?  

Sure! I was born in Zeeland on March 8, 1979. Shortly after I moved to Geleen with my parents and older sister. After living in southern Limburg for 4 years, we moved with the family to reformed Barneveld. There they still prayed at school in the morning and read from the Bible at the end of the day. That was an instructive period in which I learned to adapt more easily. I went to study international relations in Groningen, the city where my sister was also studying. I did my internship at the Beijing embassy. There I discovered that traveling made me very happy, but also that the hierarchy and negotiation games made me less happy. On the advice of my sister, I went on a management traineeship at ABN-AMRO. There I noticed for the first time that I really felt at home and that the financial world gave me a lot of energy. When I was declared redundant, I went on a one-year trip around the world with my husband. Once back home, I wanted to get back into financial services. Eventually I became a director at Munt Mortgages. There they believed in transparency, honesty and a quality product and partly because of that I had a huge click with the company and colleagues. What else should you know about me? You can wake me up at night for herring! Without onions, though!  

You have a professional background in the financial world, in the field of mortgages and at various banks. What experience can you bring to the position as Managing Director at invesdor?  

I understand the basics of investing very well because of my background. I have a lot of expertise in customer service, in growing businesses, and I understand how the financial world works. I also understand the relationship with regulators due to my former role within Munt Mortgages. The other side of the story is that I really like challenges and learning new things. A number of opportunities have come along where I was offered a role in the mortgage world, but I don’t want to just “put on another coat” and keep doing the same thing right now. I’m looking forward to learning.  

What exactly does your role as Managing Director entail in terms of responsibilities and tasks? 

Reliance is now an implemented platform. That means it is especially important to start growing. I very much believe in the balance between entrepreneurs and providing value to investors. Ideally, we do that better than other platforms. In process, customer service, experience, transparency, engagement with entrepreneurs and the platform, I believe I can add a lot, but also to take Reliance further into Europe. I want to do this together with the team, which has expertise in areas less known to me. I would like to think from a team effort perspective and it is up to me to set the course in this.  

You are involved with Epic Angels, a network of women executives and entrepreneurs. How important are women in leadership roles to you?  

Epic Angels focuses only on the APAC region, not Europe. All the investors are women. There is still a gap in access to finances for women. I firmly believe that diversity makes your business better. I am therefore happy to contribute to bridging the global gap that still exists in this area.  

Reliance focuses primarily on sustainability and social impact. How do these themes resonate in your own life?  

I have two daughters and I am very conscious of their future. We are far from being the greenest family in the Netherlands, but we do try to make a difference by eating less meat and riding our bikes more. Even when we fly, we try to skip flying the year after for our holidays. We want to feel that we are contributing and definitely have the belief that it starts with ourselves. Also through the position I will now hold within invesdor, I feel that I can start to contribute on a larger scale. Not only idealists can improve the world, certainly companies and people with capital can too!  

What will be the biggest challenge for you, as far as you can estimate right now?  

If we really want to make an impact, we need to grow and become even more visible and findable in Europe. The goal is to become the largest pan-European impact investment platform and be top of mind with every investors and entrepreneurs. I see having projects live continuously as an interesting opportunity. 

How do you invest your own money?  

Through Epic Angels, I recently invested in a scale-up in Bangladesh. A lot of people were dying there because they were given a drug that didn’t work or were given a working drug too late. They developed an app in collaboration with general practitioners and hospitals and set up a very large pharmacy that way, so everyone can now get their medicine within 2 hours. These are, of course, problems of a very different order than what we face in Europe. It’s very cool to be able to contribute to such an impactful project by investing in it.  

What does Ellen do when she’s not working?  

The whole family loves music! My husband plays the guitar, my daughter plays the drums and my other daughter plays the piano. I recently started taking singing lessons. We love making music together, as well as going to concerts or festivals. The most important thing for me is to make memories together. That can be with friends, neighbors, family or colleagues. I invest in doing fun things together. 

The post A warm welcome to Ellen Hensbergen: Managing Director BeNeLux first appeared on Reliance - Blog.

May we introduce? This is Christian Becker.

Christian Becker joined Reliance (former Kapilendo) after 30 years in the classic banking business. He worked at various Berlin banks as an account manager, credit analyst and restructuring specialist. Today, he takes a close look at every company that applies to invesdor.

Christian, you have more than 30 years of banking experience. After so long, you must have developed your own work routines. What do you do first thing when you come to your desk in the morning?

Christian Becker (laughing): Presuming my desk is empty for once, I first check to see if Sales has sent me any new cases. Then it starts: I flip through the balance sheets, look at the figures during the year, check financial plans, check formalities. Then I delve deeper into the analysis.

…Wait a minute, that was a lot of banking jargon, you’ll have to explain that to me in more detail, please!

To sum up: My job is to ensure as far as possible that investors get back the money they invest at the end – ideally plus a bonus or exit participation. To do this, I check whether a company’s business model is coherent at the level of the figures – i.e. income and expenses as well as planned investments. If something seems conspicuous to me, we talk to the company about it or, in the case of very obvious inconsistencies, we take it out directly.

For example?

For example, a company has an outstanding receivable that accounts for a large portion of its reported sales. This may be fine if a large order has been accepted by the contractor, the invoice is not yet due, e.g. due to a payment period granted, and the creditworthiness of the contractor is good. If, on the other hand, the receivable has not been paid for a long time despite being due and there is no information or even negative information about the creditworthiness of the contractor, we will not support the case.

Your platform is also known for its innovative projects. The companies probably can’t be evaluated in the same way as in a traditional bank, can they?

The review process at Reliance is similar to that of a bank. But crowdfunding involves some special features. For example, unlike banks, we do not usually take collateral and financing is often subordinated, i.e. if the worst comes to the worst, the investors can only expect repayment after all other creditors. Therefore, in case of doubt, we prefer to look twice. In addition, we charge higher interest rates than banks, which in turn benefits our investors and reflects the risk.

New ideas in particular need investors, which at first glance seems riskier than, for example, the second-generation family business – is that really the case?

We don’t get into companies at the very beginning of an idea, because developing a product can take years. Even if the idea is top-notch, we cannot predict whether a competing company will launch something similar shortly before the product launch – that would indeed be too risky in the interest of our investors. Therefore, our principle is: the product must already be there. And: the company must have proven that the product is already selling on the market.

You were born in Berlin and also live in today’s startup and founder metropolis. Although the startup scene didn’t really shift to the capital until the 2000s, as a banker you certainly experienced the beginnings?

From the banks’ point of view, many of these companies were and are not financeable. Many founders have very technology-driven and grand visions. The risk of default is too high for classic start-up financing, because the products have not yet been (fully) developed and/or there are no comparable business models yet. I worked for years in the restructuring department of a bank and had to experience how many ideas and plans did not work out due to various reasons – and start-ups in today’s sense were not even among them.

…nevertheless you left the classic banking business. At invesdor, your focus is not on founders, but in many cases on younger companies. What is the attraction?

Banks are mainly open to classic corporate business, i.e.: someone takes over their father’s bakery and to set up the business anew, they need a loan. Or an old-established company needs financing for new machinery. As a crowdfunding platform, we have a slightly different focus. We are also interested in whether the company has an exciting story to tell. This can be traditional companies, such as the Berlin schnapps distillery Mampe, but also completely new products – increasingly in the area of sustainability.

You hear it all the time in the media how Berlin is changing: where there used to be businesses, apartments are now being built, rents are rising, and traditional production is moving to other cities. As an original Berliner, you must have experienced the changes in the city intensively?

Well, that doesn’t affect me so much in my private life. I’m already over 50 and my Sturm und Drang days are long gone. Sure, after all this time, whole districts are no longer recognizable, but whether that happened in the 1990s or in the 2010s, I often no longer know. But Berlin has so many beautiful corners and much of it will hopefully be preserved.

If you were to have visitors from out of town, which of these beautiful corners would you definitely show?

Christian Becker: I hardly have any acquaintances outside of Berlin, my circle of friends is here, so I never wanted to leave. But there is one thing I would show anyone: The Beelitz sanatoriums in Brandenburg are a former lung sanatorium from the beginning of the 20th century. The buildings fell into disrepair during the GDR and sometimes serve as a backdrop for movies – I think the old grounds are worth seeing.

And when you don’t have visitors, what are you looking forward to after work?

To my family, my dog, and in the summer, my allotment garden.

To come back to the time before closing time: What do you think will be the most worthwhile companies to invest in going forward?

These will mainly be projects that focus on sustainability. Already, many companies on our platform are more sustainable – especially from the food and packaging sectors. For us, crowdfunding means bringing companies onto our platform that don’t just need money, but have a story to tell, and bringing these companies together directly with private investors. It is this service that creates added value for both sides and I hope that this business model will continue to spread in the future – with Reliance as a pioneer.

This is why credit analysis is also valuable for your sustainable investment

As more investors turn to sustainable investing and crowdfunding, credit analysis is playing an increasingly important role in assessing the financial health of companies and investments. Companies that commit to responsible practices are likely to be better managed and have better long-term prospects than those that lack clear direction or a responsible approach. But what does credit analysis for sustainable investments actually entail?

What’s behind the credit analysis

Credit analysis for sustainable finance is a comprehensive process that goes beyond traditional metrics such as interest rates, leverage ratios, and probability of default. Rather than taking a one-dimensional view of a company’s financial condition, credit analysts use multiple indices and metrics to assess the impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors on financial performance and future sustainability.

The credit specialist:s also examine qualitative criteria such as corporate governance practices, board composition, management quality and strategic vision. They also examine how well a company manages its employees, how it treats its suppliers and customers, and how it complies with ethical standards. How credit specialists at Reliance check the potential of your crowdinvestment Unlike banks, crowdfunding does not usually require collateral in the event of default. Due to this additional risk factor, the credit specialists at Reliance check the creditworthiness of the creditors particularly carefully before they are allowed to start crowdfunding. For example, higher interest rates are calculated than with traditional banking institutions, which benefits both the creditors and the investors. However, if something seems suspicious when analyzing the business models of the respective companies, the specialists take appropriate measures or, in extreme cases, even exclude the companies from crowdfunding altogether.

How credit analysis helps you make your investment decision

The ultimate goal of credit analysis for sustainable investments is not only to provide investors with an accurate assessment of financial risk, but also to help them identify companies that are making positive progress toward becoming more environmentally and socially responsible organizations. By analyzing both quantitative and qualitative indicators, credit analysts can reassure investors that their investments will pay off over time, not only financially but also ethically.

The post Faces of invesdor: Christian Becker first appeared on Reliance - Blog.

Andreas Knopf, Head of Legal at Reliance and an experienced lawyer, was involved in the preparations for the ECSP licence from the beginning. As an in-house expert, he is familiar with the European Crowdfunding Regulation background.

*The licence has been granted to Reliance GmbH in Austria, and for the time being unlimited investment is possible through its funding rounds.

What exactly does the ECSP licence mean?

Andreas: The European Crowdfunding Service Provider Regulation (ECSP) simplifies European-level crowdfunding investments. Before the introduction of this regulation, each EU country regulated crowdfunding independently. This means that the supervisory authorities of the respective countries, such as BaFin (Federal Financial Supervisory Authority) in Germany or the FMA (Financial Market Authority) in Austria, were responsible for such matters.

With the EU regulation, uniform brokerage requirements and respective regulations exist. On the one hand, this simplifies the investment processes for investors and crowdfunded companies; on the other hand, issuers benefit from expanding the market.

What changes will the ECSP licence bring for investors?

Even before we received the ECSP licence, we tried to make the investment flow as straightforward as possible. Accordingly, Reliance investors will probably not notice a massive difference in the processes.

In terms of transparency and security, we have implemented some optimisation measures for the benefit of the investors. For example, the ECSP regulation stipulates that a key investment information sheet exists for every financial product. This means that those interested in investing can now see at a glance who their contractual partner is and what the key facts of the financial product are. It also contains details about the respective investment and provides information about any risks.

What are the benefits for investors?

The uniform structure of the key investment information sheet enables European investors to compare different financial products from different crowdfunding platforms. This makes it easy for them to determine which financial instrument might interest them.

Investors have additional security by being asked about their knowledge of financial investments. Anyone who has insufficient experience with a preferred financial product will be informed by the respective platform that this product is unsuitable for them.

How did Reliance become one of the first crowdfunding companies to get the ECSP licence?

Due to invesdor’s history and the networking in Finland, Germany and Austria, we had already expanded our business outside the respective home markets. At that time, this cross-border business was still paved with many hurdles. So we already had a relatively large amount of experience with transnational issues. 

In addition, we started to deal with the topic early, i.e. after we learned that there would be a European crowdfunding regulation in the future. Therefore, we initiated all the necessary processes for acquiring licences from the beginning. This head start helped us become among the first in Europe and the first crowdfunding platform in the DACH region with the ECSP licence.

To what extent will the ECSP licence influence the crowdinvesting market and invesdor?

Since the ECSP licence is a regulation, all crowdinvesting companies must have this licence by the end of the extended deadline in the fall of 2023. Companies that do not have the ECSP licence by then will no longer be allowed to broker securities or loans under 5 million via their platform. In this respect, the market will probably consolidate at some point, which is an advantage for invesdor.

The ECSP licence – overview

Straightforward investing
You can easily invest in crowdfunding projects throughout the EU without any hidden risks.

Standardised investment processes and transparent communication
Thanks to the key investment information sheet, Reliance investors benefit from standardised investment processes and transparent communication.

Investment opportunities comparable in your own language  
A standardised key investor information sheet is produced for each investment product and published in the local language in the countries where the product is marketed. This makes it easier to compare investments – and to find the one that is most attractive to you.

The post Investing across national borders first appeared on Reliance - Blog.