Dr. Jörg Kukies answered questions at the VC Roundtable Düsseldorf

VC-STAMMTISCH
On August 31, 2021, we welcomed Dr. Jörg Kukies, a top-class guest from Berlin, to our monthly VC Roundtable.

The State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance answered all questions of the moderator Dr. Paul-Josef Patt, Managing Partner eCAPITAL on the topic of the equity fund for technologies of the future (“Future Fund”). We say thank you for this highly exciting Q&A session!

During the VC Roundtable, Dr. Jörg Kukies not only explained how the German Future Fund is structured and which goals it pursues, but also gave interesting insights into topics such as: How is the Future Fund financed and who really benefits from it? How does it relate to the EUR 2 billion coronavirus package measures for start-ups as an extension of the actual Future Fund? What kind of mechanisms will be used to bring the money from the EUR 10 billion Future Fund to startups and VCs? He also stressed how important it is to convince German insurers, pension funds and other institutional investors to invest more in VC. Moreover, Dr. Jörg Kukies remarked that, in his opinion, the concept of venture debt is still underused in Germany, especially in contrast to other nations.

Afterwards, Dr. Jörg Kukies answered direct questions from the audience and explained, for example, why the success story of the Danish model for the Future Fund cannot simply be imitated and to what extent this is related to the German institutional investor landscape. Dr. Jörg Kukies also pointed out that, in anticipation of the Future Fund, the German government has most recently supported the German VC ecosystem in particular via the EUR 2 billion coronavirus package of measures for start-ups, and that the first commitments from the Future Fund now build seamlessly on this. During the Q&A, he also commented on whether there are already plans for a “Future Fund 2.0”.

Dr. Jörg Kukies concluded the event with a brief summary of the measures implemented to date to improve the VC culture in Germany and outlined the areas in which he sees even greater potential.

More information on the Future Fund can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Finance: https://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de/Content/DE/Standardartikel/Themen/Internationales_Finanzmarkt/zukunftsfonds.html.

If you were not able to attend the current VC Roundtable, watch it online now (only in German).

We hope you enjoy it!

About eCAPITAL
eCAPITAL is a venture capital firm that provides early to growth stage funding to technology companies in the fields of software & information technology, cybersecurity, industry 4.0, new materials and cleantech. Founded in 1999, eCAPITAL has a history of supporting entrepreneurs determined to build companies with lasting significance. Partnering with eCAPITAL means joining an international network of business leaders, entrepreneurs, technologists and potential partners. eCAPITAL is located in Germany, currently manages funds with over EUR 280 million under management and was lead investor of some very successful German exits like sonnen, Novaled or Jedox.

Contact
eCAPITAL ENTREPRENEURIAL PARTNERS AG
Bettina Schäfer
Hafenweg 24
48155 Münster, Germany
Tel.: +49 251 70 37 67 0
eMail: info@ecapital.vc
www.ecapital.vc