GENIUS Venture Capital

GENIUS Venture Capital GmbH is a regional risk-capital provider for technology companies in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. The state government set it up in 1998 as a subsidiary of the Schwerin and Wismar technology and business centre, and it manages funds on behalf of the state economics ministry.

What GENIUS Venture Capital does

• Equity stakes: The firm takes open shareholdings, which can be combined with silent partnerships or convertible loans.
• Co-investment: The firm usually invests together with independent private investors, whose participation it normally requires.
• Follow-on funding: The firm can also finance the next round within the same overall ceiling.
• Management support and network: The team advises on strategy, helps build the company and opens its contacts.

Clients

The firm targets young, technology-driven small and micro businesses in the seed, start-up and first expansion stages. The company must be headquartered in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern or have its main operations there. Ideas need visible customer benefit and strong potential to scale, and the founding team's quality is decisive.

Key facts

• Based in: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
• Founded: 1998
• Fund backer: State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, using EU regional development money
• Current fund launched: December 2015