We are entrepreneurs who speak corporate

Federica brings an in-depth experience with both new ventures and corporate innovation. After having executed market validation and market entry for one of our portfolio company gaining customers in 15 countries around the world, today she is program manager and coach in intrapreneurship programs and Corporate-Startup collaborations, supporting the identification, validation and implementation of various business ideas and the development of innovation strategies.

Knut combines hands-on startup experience with deep sustainability knowledge, specializing in transforming innovative concepts into profitable, sustainable businesses. Having completed a Master´s degree in strategy & entrepreneurship and leading a supply chain sustainability startup lead to a strong focus on developing customer-centric solution.

David's passion for creative work, design, and innovation began in childhood and deepened throughout his academic and professional journey. Originally from Italy, he graduated from WU Vienna with a specialization in Entrepreneurship & Innovation, building an initial foundation in creative and analytical thinking as well as various innovation methodologies. His first practical experiences in startup and consulting projects further sharpened his skills in the field. Through his international exposure, David has cultivated an open-minded and collaborative approach and is dedicated to supporting clients in their entrepreneurial endeavors.

Emil completed his BSc in Business and Economics in Vienna, focusing his thesis on corporate venturing among Austria's Hidden Champions. His professional experiences in corporate banking and digital transformation consulting, have equipped him with a solid understanding of both the financial and strategic aspects of developing businesses. He enjoys working in interdisciplinary teams where different perspectives lead to out-of-the-box solutions.

With eight years of professional and academic experience in the hospitality industry, spanning seven countries, Alex discovered a passion for business model design and innovation. Armed with a double MSc in Innovation & Entrepreneurship and a CEMS certification, he transitioned into the startup world as a Founder’s Associate and Chief of Staff at two early-stage ventures, where he drove a wide range of business initiatives. Drawing from his background in the luxury service industry, Alex blends creativity, analytical thinking, and a solution-oriented mindset with a people-first, service-driven approach. He thrives in collaborative environments and brings energy as a natural connector and social butterfly.

Cristina likes to consider herself an allrounder. She brings experience in talent acquisition and management from her previous roles, as well as a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Vienna and multilingual skills in German, English, French, and Romanian. She has a bubbly personality and likes to helps people and put a smile on their face as often as she can.

After seven years of experience with a tax consultant, Thomas has an excellent understanding of numbers and brings a lot of know-how to the team. He manages the accounting of whataventure and its venture building projects to keep finances up-to-date. In addition to accounting, he is also responsible for controlling and IT for all companies to ensure that all processes run smoothly and without obstacles.

Her primary role is to set up and execute growth marketing strategies and experiments for our ventures. She is an expert in effectively using the broad marketing spectrum to foster the value ventures create for their customers. What she enjoys the most in marketing is setting up processes for newly established teams and seeing a venture she worked on become a known brand.

Andy is our go-to guy when it comes to telling visual stories and bringing pictures to life. Having an academic background in marketing and sales the self-taught video creator combines his knowledge about customer needs with his passion for the camera and lets his work speak for him.

Friedemann creates magnetic brands and impactful campaigns. He leverages his experience in communications strategy, brand management and digital campaigns to increase marketing's contribution to whataventure's growth. Friedemann combines a systemic approach with know-how gained from over ten years of working with clients ranging from tech start-ups to global players.

Yannick discovered his curiosity for innovative business models during his economics studies in Lyon and Vienna. Drawing on his creative thinking and hands-on mindset, he co-founded an urban mobility start-up while graduating from university. Due to his international background and open-mindedness, Yannick easily navigates dynamic environments and quickly makes an impact on any project.

Marc combines experience in corporate innovation, management consulting, and early-stage startups with a global perspective. He is passionate about developing innovative, investable business models that drive business growth and contribute positively to society.

Elisa makes growth happen - with her experience in all fields of marketing and the in-depth knowledge in digital and performance marketing she gained working in hotel tech and omnichannel e-commerce, she finds the most efficient marketing mix to grow. Developing customer centric strategies in paid advertisements are the key for her, while always having an eye to numbers and performance.

With experience in coaching and facilitation, finance, and project management, Caroline brings different perspectives to designing new processes. Sustainability and diversity are topics that drive her to build innovative solutions with corporates for lasting change.

Having lived and studied in Austria, the USA, Spain, and India, Gunther unites an innovative and creative mindset with a strong analytical foundation. Through previous experiences within startups, consulting, and non-profit organizations, Gunther built his passion for developing new ideas and building systems for long-term sustainable growth.

Timon embarked on his entrepreneurial journey by assisting the inception of an accelerator program in Northern Europe, marking the onset of his passion for innovation and startups. His path led him to Berlin, where he became an integral member of a Venture Builder, actively participating in the development and growth of startups. Driven by his commitment to company building and his passion for innovation, Timon subsequently brought his experience and expertise to Vienna, where he joined the whataventure team.

Hannah discovered her passion for Innovation through her background in Management and Entrepreneurship. Her earlier roles in Marketing, Advertising, and Project Management have given her the opportunity to collaborate with companies across various industries, execute successful campaigns, and lead impactful workshops and events. Now, her passion for fostering innovation and driving forward-thinking initiatives shapes her work in the startup and venture capital ecosystem. Committed to making a positive impact for businesses and the environment, Hannah thrives in dynamic environments, working with inspiring teams and cultivating meaningful connections.

With her broad knowledge in curating and executing impactful innovation programs at Austrian Startups, Ipek now sparks and drives innovation within corporates. Being deeply invested in successful project management and putting an emphasis on building strong relationships with stakeholders, she successfully led and coached a founder's program, ensuring that 20+ early-stage ventures have the tools and knowledge they need to become successful. Ipek has lived and studied in the MENA, Europe and the US, making her fluent in four different languages. Knowing the startup environment, Ipek thrives in rapidly changing and international environments.

Having built digital products both as Product Manager and Software Engineer, Daniel gained a wide range of experience from early-stage and scaling startups, to enterprise companies. Originally from Germany and having lived in Italy, Luxembourg, and now Austria, Daniel seamlessly blends entrepreneurial ingenuity with agile methodologies, all while maintaining commitment to a customer-centric approach.

Rebecca brings experience in venture clienting, marketing & communication, and partnership management. She is deeply curious about what drives successful innovation and aims to multiply that success in the DACH market through hands-on support of high-potential ventures.

Lukas' professional passion can be found at the intersection of innovation, (digital) technologies and new ways of working. He thrives in dynamic teams which are ready to improve every day, bit by bit. With a background in digital transformation, innovation and agile he is well-equipped to apply modern approaches, making our partner's endeavours successful. At the same time, several years at a corporate taught him the needs, challenges and dynamics of larger organizations first-hand - ready to apply it.