Paul-Josef Patt
Founding Partner
Being engaged in the VC business for more than twenty-five years, I am still thrilled about the huge technological potential coming out of Germany and about its passionate and talented entrepreneurs.
Paul was an investor in Fund I, switched sides towards management in 2001, fully re-launched the firm in 2004 and led eCAPITAL as CEO for 25 years until end of 2025. As our Founding Partner, Paul remains active in part-time, is still responsible for some of our portfolio companies and keeps on supporting the team with his invaluable experiences and extensive network.
Paul studied business administration in Tübingen, Paris and Muenster, where he also completed his PhD. He worked as Project Manager at Roland Berger. Subsequently, he was chief representative of Kaufhof Holding AG. Via an MBI, he became the executive partner of Ernsting’s family, a fast-growing retail chain. After successfully selling his shares, he began to invest in VC funds and high-tech companies. At eCAPITAL, he negotiated among many other transactions, the very successful exits of Novaled to Samsung, sonnen to Shell and Jedox to Insight Partners.
Paul is a member of the advisory board of NRW.BANK and chairman of the board of Universitätsgesellschaft Münster e.V. In addition, he holds numerous seats in other advisory and supervisory boards.
In private, he is passionate about architecture and art and enjoys driving classic cars.