The new Schleswig-Holstein Minister of Economics, Transport, Labor, Technology and Tourism Claus Ruhe Madsen visited our Impulse Evening in Kiel on September 29, 2022. According to the statutes, the minister is a „born board member“ of the association and in this capacity succeeds his minister predecessor Dr. Bernd Buchholz, who co-founded the network in 2018.
The event served the purpose of a first mutual exchange of experiences and expectations between the Schleswig-Holstein startup investors and the Minister. For this purpose, both sides faced the respective questions and wishes of the other side within the framework of a mutual round of introductions as well as a subsequent moderated discussion. We concluded the evening with informal discussions.
The Schleswig-Holstein Business Angels consider it a particular stroke of luck that with Claus Ruhe Madsen they have not only gained a politician with a high profile far beyond the borders of Schleswig-Holstein, but also another entrepreneur with start-up experience for their board of directors. Before his appointment as Minister of Schleswig-Holstein, Madsen was Lord Mayor of the Hanseatic City of Rostock and before that founding Managing Director of Mobilson GmbH and Möbel Wikinger GmbH. Between 2013 and 2019, Ruhe was president of the Rostock Chamber of Commerce and Industry. As a Danish citizen, Madsen also held the office of vice president of the German-Danish Chamber of Commerce in Copenhagen.
The Baltic Business Angels are eager to expand cooperation with colleagues in Denmark and the Scandinavian region. In terms of population, Scandinavia is one of the most active regions in Europe for start-ups, and in this respect it is also exemplary from the point of view of Schleswig-Holstein, which according to the regularly published study by the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) „Gründungsbarometer“ (Start-up Barometer) in 2021 is now, in terms of population, the most active German state in terms of start-ups.
Claus Ruhe Madsen has been Minister for Economic Affairs, Transport, Labour, Technology and Tourism since 29 June 2022. He was born in Copenhagen on 27 August 1972; he is married and has one daughter.
Claas begann seine Karriere in der Old Economy bei „AEG und Electrolux Group“, wo er seine Leidenschaft für aufstrebende Industrien entdeckte. Das ist es, was ihn bis heute antreibt. Nachdem er bei „American Heritage Management Corp.“ an der Wall Street war und in den 1990er Jahren an den ersten internetbasierten Börsengängen teilnahm, wurde seine Leidenschaft für Technik und disruptive Technologien immer stärker. Er ist Mitgründer von „New Commercial Room“, einem VC-Unternehmen mit Sitz in Hamburg, mit dem er ein Portfolio von High-Tech-Wachstumsunternehmen verwaltet, das von medizinischen Geräten über Medien bis hin zu SaaS, IT und Cybersecurity reicht. Als Angel Investor investierte er sowohl privat in Unternehmen als auch mit dem „btov Investor-Network“. Er betreut aktiv zahlreiche deutsche StartUps, Accelerator-Programme und ist Scout im Norden für den „High-Tech Gründerfonds“ (HTGF). Dadurch hat er Zugang zu erstklassigem internationalen Deal Flow und Investoren. Darüber hinaus hat Claas mehrere Aufsichtsratspositionen inne und ist Live-Musiker mit der „Soul Lounge Connection“.
As a serial entrepreneur, investor and business angel, Julian has been involved in the German start-up and venture capital scene since 2003. He focuses on helping selected early-stage start-ups and their founders to turn their ambitions into reality. Investments are typically made in early-stage B2B technology companies with an initial track record. Julian’s current focus is on Industrial IoT, data analytics, B2B platform tools, e-health and 3D. He is particularly keen on spin-offs originating from research foundations and organisations or technical universities, but is also open to other opportunities. The best way to find out more about Julian is to visit his Website and here in the Interview.
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