We have been active with Haufe Group Ventures for a year, are now working with six inspiring teams of founders and are in the process of developing our own products in our Venture Studio - with high speed, lean processes and maximum enthusiasm for the trends and topics of tomorrow. A good time for a review and outlook with Jasper Roll, Managing Director of Haufe Group Ventures.
Jasper, fundamentally: What is the aim of Haufe Group Ventures?
Our working world is undergoing fundamental change in terms of processes, structures and work locations. Skills shortages, digitalization, new working models: companies are facing a multitude of challenges and must act to master this change. This is precisely where the Haufe Group comes in, helping to shape the working world of the future with its wide range of services for people and companies. We already cover numerous corporate service topics - but we also see a lot of potential and new opportunities. Haufe Group Ventures is our vehicle for working on completely new and forward-looking business ideas and products. On the one hand in our own Venture Studio, and on the other hand by teaming up with external start-ups as a venture capital investor.
“Haufe Group Ventures is the vehicle for working on completely new and forward-looking business ideas and products.”
A year has passed since the company was founded.Where do we currently stand?
It was definitely an intensive first year in which we established and expanded many structures and came together as a team. And we have already realized six investments, which I am personally very happy about, because the collaboration with the start-ups is valuable and inspiring for both sides. With Hivebuy, nuwo, ai-omatic, mozaik, rhome and DYNO, we currently have a portfolio that makes us extremely proud. At the same time, we are working on new business ideas in our Venture Studio and testing them with our target groups. We have developed an initial product prototype with pilot customers, which we will continue to develop and hopefully bring to market in the near future. Of course, it was and is also important to create transparency within the Haufe Group and to show what we are doing as a division. We have presented our work and our team at two internal employee events in recent months. All in all, I would say that we have brought the right people on board, set up efficient processes and our network is growing steadily - now we can really get going.
Which start-ups are of interest to Haufe Group Ventures and how do you decide who to work with?
We support innovative software start-ups with a corporate service focus in the (pre-)seed phase, i.e. very early stages of development. It is therefore important for us to have a convincing team and a clear product vision.
How do start-ups get in touch with you - and how do you get in touch with founders?
Getting in touch is actually quite simple: you can write to us using the contact form on the Haufe Group website or via LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly, as we are represented at many events. Last year, for example, we were at the Hinterland of Things conference. We also work in and around Freiburg with regional networks and partners such as the Baden Campus. We are in the process of building up an extensive network and are always happy to make new contacts and receive new pitch decks. If it's a good fit, then the discussions become more intensive and we look at what a concrete collaboration could look like.
The Haufe Group Ventures team is still quite new and yet you are already working together as quickly and intensively as possible. How do you ensure that you are successful as a team?
I am very proud of our diverse and committed team. Many competencies are bundled here and everyone knows how to build and expand businesses quickly and in a structured way - whether through their own experience in the start-up environment or other stations in business development. We do indeed work very quickly and dynamically, but also passionately and full of motivation. No two days are the same and it's impressive to see how quickly ideas can emerge - and be rejected again. Everyone wants to make a difference and drive new ideas forward. This unites us and makes us successful together.
“Everyone wants to make a difference and drive new ideas forward. This unites us and makes us successful together.”
