The next
generation of
startup investing.
Investing in Europe and the fastest growing emerging markets.
What drives us
We are convinced that the digital revolution is only just beginning. While this buzzword has been around for decades, most politicians, managers, investors and entrepreneurs are still unaware of the seismic shifts yet to come.
Beyond the digitalisation of businesses, we will see trends such as the instant availability of data, shifting of privacy boundaries, necessity of internationalisation and a speed of doing business unimaginable to previous generations.
With the right mindset, this presents unequalled opportunities and makes today the most exciting, promising time to invest in the companies of the future.
The idea behind Conny & Co.
We are an international investment company with the mission of backing promising startup
companies in the most exciting
high-growth markets to build the unicorns of tomorrow.
See our values
Support
We provide three support layers to startups: our team, our shareholders and our global network.
Patience
Growing a business can take time. We know.
Commitment
We strive to always make a direct contribution to the growth of our companies.
Trust
We only work with startups or investors whom we personally trust.
Sharing
Our investors all have co-investment rights for our transactions.
Transparency
Our investment process is not a black box – we provide involve investors & provide updates.
Fun
We enjoy the process and hope our startups and investors do as well!
Support
We provide three support layers to startups: our team, our shareholders and our global network.
Patience
Growing a business can take time. We know.
Commitment
We strive to always make a direct contribution to the growth of our companies.
Trust
We only work with startups or investors whom we personally trust.
Sharing
Our investors all have co-investment rights for our transactions.
Transparency
Our investment process is not a black box – we provide involve investors & provide updates.
Fun
We enjoy the process and hope our startups and investors do as well!
Support
We provide three support layers to startups: our team, our shareholders and our global network.
Patience
Growing a business can take time. We know.
Commitment
We strive to always make a direct contribution to the growth of our companies.
Trust
We only work with startups or investors whom we personally trust.
Sharing
Our investors all have co-investment rights for our transactions.
Transparency
Our investment process is not a black box – we provide involve investors & provide updates.
Fun
We enjoy the process and hope our startups and investors do as well!
Support
We provide three support layers to startups: our team, our shareholders and our global network.
Patience
Growing a business can take time. We know.
Commitment
We strive to always make a direct contribution to the growth of our companies.
Trust
We only work with startups or investors whom we personally trust.
Sharing
Our investors all have co-investment rights for our transactions.
Transparency
Our investment process is not a black box – we provide involve investors & provide updates.
Fun
We enjoy the process and hope our startups and investors do as well!
Support
We provide three support layers to startups: our team, our shareholders and our global network.
Patience
Growing a business can take time. We know.
Commitment
We strive to always make a direct contribution to the growth of our companies.
Trust
We only work with startups or investors whom we personally trust.
Sharing
Our investors all have co-investment rights for our transactions.
Transparency
Our investment process is not a black box – we provide involve investors & provide updates.
Fun
We enjoy the process and hope our startups and investors do as well!
Support
We provide three support layers to startups: our team, our shareholders and our global network.
Patience
Growing a business can take time. We know.
Commitment
We strive to always make a direct contribution to the growth of our companies.
Trust
We only work with startups or investors whom we personally trust.
Sharing
Our investors all have co-investment rights for our transactions.
Transparency
Our investment process is not a black box – we provide involve investors & provide updates.
Fun
We enjoy the process and hope our startups and investors do as well!
Support
We provide three support layers to startups: our team, our shareholders and our global network.
Patience
Growing a business can take time. We know.
Commitment
We strive to always make a direct contribution to the growth of our companies.
Trust
We only work with startups or investors whom we personally trust.
Sharing
Our investors all have co-investment rights for our transactions.
Transparency
Our investment process is not a black box – we involve investors & provide updates.
Fun
We enjoy the process and hope our startups and investors do as well!
Support
We provide three support layers to startups: our team, our shareholders and our global network.
Patience
Growing a business can take time. We know.
Commitment
We strive to always make a direct contribution to the growth of our companies.
Trust
We only work with startups or investors whom we personally trust.
Sharing
Our investors all have co-investment rights for our transactions.
Transparency
Our investment process is not a black box – we involve investors & provide updates.
Fun
We enjoy the process and hope our startups and investors do as well!
Support
We provide three support layers to startups: our team, our shareholders and our global network.
Patience
Growing a business can take time. We know.
Commitment
We strive to always make a direct contribution to the growth of our companies.
Trust
We only work with startups or investors whom we personally trust.
Sharing
Our investors all have co-investment rights for our transactions.
Transparency
Our investment process is not a black box – we involve investors & provide updates.
Fun
We enjoy the process and hope our startups and investors do as well!
Support
We provide three support layers to startups: our team, our shareholders and our global network.
Patience
Growing a business can take time. We know.
Commitment
We strive to always make a direct contribution to the growth of our companies.
Trust
We only work with startups or investors whom we personally trust.
Sharing
Our investors all have co-investment rights for our transactions.
Transparency
Our investment process is not a black box – we involve investors & provide updates.
Fun
We enjoy the process and hope our startups and investors do as well!
Support
We provide three support layers to startups: our team, our shareholders and our global network.
Patience
Growing a business can take time. We know.
Commitment
We strive to always make a direct contribution to the growth of our companies.
Trust
We only work with startups or investors whom we personally trust.
Sharing
Our investors all have co-investment rights for our transactions.
Transparency
Our investment process is not a black box – we involve investors & provide updates.
Fun
We enjoy the process and hope our startups and investors do as well!
Support
We provide three support layers to startups: our team, our shareholders and our global network.
Patience
Growing a business can take time. We know.
Commitment
We strive to always make a direct contribution to the growth of our companies.
Trust
We only work with startups or investors whom we personally trust.
Sharing
Our investors all have co-investment rights for our transactions.
Transparency
Our investment process is not a black box – we involve investors & provide updates.
Fun
We enjoy the process and hope our startups and investors do as well!
Experience & People
Conny & Co. AG co-invests together with Dr. Cornelius (Conny) Boersch, the most experienced European Angel investor and a European Investment Fund-accredited Super Angel. In over 25 years of startup investing, Conny has made 350+ investments, was involved in 70+ trade sales and 15+ IPOs.
We are an international team supported by a well-renowned group of founding investors bringing entrepreneurial, investment and managerial expertise from a range of different technology-relevant industries. We strongly trust and rely on the judgment of our experienced shareholders, many of whom have a long track-record of investing together with us. We therefore see every shareholder as part of the family and will always take into account their advice and expertise.
Dr. Cornelius Boersch
Dr. Cornelius Boersch (“Conny”) is the founder of Mountain Partners AG and has been a passionate entrepreneur, investor and founder of numerous technology companies for the past 25 years. Cornelius Boersch founded his first company during his studies, has developed it into the smart card broker and RFID-producer ACG AG and successfully floated it on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in 1999. Subsequently, Conny Boersch initiated the development of further RFID-based companies, such as Smartrac (IPO’d in 2006),
Identiv (NASDAQ-listed since 2006) and recently the cashless payment systems providers Sandpiper Digital Payments. With the founding of MP, Conny dedicated himself to the development of internet and technology companies. Conny is the “European Business Angel of the Year 2009” and currently one of the most active and well-recognized Business Angels in Europe, whose investments are co-financed by the European Investment Fund. He studied at the European Business School in Oestrich-Winkel and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Duisburg in Essen.
Dr. Felix Exner
Dr. Felix Exner joined Conny&Co in 2021 and focuses on analyzing and selecting investment opportunities, as well as supporting and managing our portfolio companies. Felix studied law and business in Wiesbaden, Germany, and Madrid, Spain. After graduating with distinction from EBS University, Germany, Felix obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Münster, Germany, where he researched the implications of blockchain-based smart contracts for consumers.
Felix worked at international corporate law firms
Linklaters and Skadden in private equity and tax law, before joining
blockchain startup iov42 in November 2019.
Felix holds a Bachelor of Laws, a J.D. (First State Examination in Law),
and a Master of Arts in Business from EBS University (Wiesbaden, Germany)
as well as a Ph.D. in law from University of Münster, Germany.
Alexander Hornung
Alexander Hornung co-founded Conny & Co. in 2019. He developed his passion for entrepreneurship at (the EBS) Law School when he founded his own startup. Prior to joining Mountain Partners 2018, Alex gained experience in international Capital Markets Law with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (Frankfurt am Main, Germany) and large-scale cross border investing at Silk Road Finance Corporation (Hong Kong, S.A.R.) and Chinastone (Beijing, China).
At Conny & Co. AG, Alex focuses on investments mainly in the Americas and Greater China as well as on the internationalization of portfolio companies into these markets through strategic partnerships. Alex holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Arts in Business for Legal Professionals from European Business School (OestrichWinkel, Germany) as well as a Master in Management and Economics (China Studies) from the Yenching Academy of Peking University (Beijing, China).
Jorge Perez
Jorge Perez spent over 13 years working for three Fortune 500 companies, building cross-functional teams to achieve maximum operational impact. In his latest role as Commercial Excellence & Execution Director Europe for Novartis, Jorge had the opportunity to work closely with some Biotech companies, which sparked his interest in helping start-ups to reach their true potential.
Jorge joined Conny & Co. in June 2019 and he focuses on selecting, structuring and negotiating investment opportunities, mainly in LATAM and Southern Europe, as well as ensuring the adequate follow-up with investors and founders. Jorge graduated an executive programme in Venture Finance with University of Oxford, holds an Executive MBA from the University of Barcelona and has attended a number of programs in the areas of finance, coaching and marketing excellence.
Philip Behrends
Philip Behrends co-founded Conny & Co. in early 2019 and focuses on investment management, investment structuring, portfolio management and legal responsibilities. He first joined Mountain Partners in 2013, initially working in International Business Development with a focus on South East Asia. Since 2015, he oversees and manages all investment projects initiated by Dr. Cornelius Boersch and is involved in international fundraising efforts.
At Mountain partners Philip has further been involved in the founding and structuring of several fund projects and investment vehicles as well as the setup of the Mountain Partners office in Japan. He was further involved in the internationalisation of portfolio companies into new markets. Philip holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Kent in Canterbury, UK.
Christine Schmitz-Riol
Christine Schmitz-Riol is responsible for compliance, administrative management, internal organization and real estate management of Conny & Co. as well as Mountain Partners AG. Before Christine joined Mountain Partners
she was employed with ACG AG as the assistant to the board and TellSell Consulting, as the assistant to the executive management in Frankfurt.
Codrut Pascu
Codrut has over 20 years of experience in strategy consulting and investment banking, with Roland Berger and Morgan Stanley. He has advised extensively clients in the Tech Media and Telecoms segment across many countries in Europe, and has gained strong exposure to Financial Services and Consumer Goods. Geographically, Codrut has lived and worked in Bucharest, London, Paris, Vienna, Warsaw and has been in Zurich for the last 7 years. During his tenure at Roland Berger, Codrut has managed different office teams (Poland, Romania, Turkey) and sector teams (TMT) and has co-led the entire operations in Central and Eastern Europe (over 300 professionals).
Also at Roland Berger, Codrut has taken an active role in developing the digital
eco-system supporting the digital strategy and transformation offerings for the
corporate clients. He was thus involved in making partnerships with numerous digital
service providers and thereafter deploying their services integrated on the Roland
Berger platform.
Over the last years, Codrut has become involved in advising VC firms and startups active
in B2B tech verticals on topics related to Strategy, Go-To-Market, product roadmap and
cross-border business development.
He joined Conny & Co as a Partner and will be involved in structuring the investment
activities of the team.
Codrut studied Economics and Law in university and has an MBA from INSEAD.
Maurits J. de Knecht
Maurits joined Conny & Co. in 2022 and focuses on the assessment and selection of investment
opportunities. Next to his activities in the investment team, Maurits assists Dr Cornelius
Boersch with strategic projects and his investment activities. In his role at Conny & Co.,
Maurits has been involved in various investment decisions and the set-up of the Luxembourg
fund. He was further involved in the strategic support of a fast-growing Indian portfolio
company.
Maurits gained experience in private markets during various roles in venture capital at G
Squared,
investment banking at Oddo BHF and when he founded a B2B2C e-commerce startup specialised on wine and gourmet products. Before joining the Conny & Co. team, Maurits supported HNWI with consulting regarding the digitalisation of business operations and contemporary art investments. Maurits holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in International Business and Administration at Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), Erasmus University. During his studies at RSM, Maurits was selected to participate in the exclusive two-year Honours Programme of RSM.
Francesco Lanotte
Francesco Lanotte joined the investment team of Conny & Co. in 2022. He developed his passion for venture capital investments and entrepreneurship during his past work experiences in Europe and business studies in Italy and in the USA. Prior to joining Mountain Partners, Francesco gained experience in investments in different industries and investment funds’ structures at Partners Group (Zug, Switzerland), before joining Morgan Stanley as an Analyst where he focused on global large-scale investments, macro and risks.
At Conny & Co., Francesco is focusing on analyzing and selecting venture capital investment opportunities, alongside with portfolio management of investments and portfolio companies. Francesco holds a BSc in Finance from University of Padova, with an exchange term at University of Michigan (United States of America) and a MSc in Finance, Business Administration from Bocconi University, Milan, Italy.