Our top three criteria are team, team, and team. We are looking for founders who are ambitious, resourceful, and resilient. Of course, we will also look at the market, the problem you are solving, and the opportunity you're after. The market is important because we want to make sure that if you succeed, you end up building an influential company. We examine the respective model or approach itself and usually develop our own thesis on the business model or industry.

We know how distracting a fundraising process can be at an early stage. That’s why we’re fast and decisive.

What is truly important to us is building a relationship with the founding team. We start with an initial meeting or call. We pass on most companies after this point. But, if not, there is usually a second or third meeting or call with different members of our investment team. It is almost certain that you will have met or spoken with a large part of the investment team once we make the final investment decision. All investment partners meet the founding team along the process.

We are the most entrepreneur-focused venture firm in Europe. As a team, we are startup founders, tech operators, and industry specialists and our pre-VC experiences make it a sure thing we deliver on that promise. In our limited partner base and broader network, we have Europe’s top entrepreneurs who have successfully run companies across all stages or are experienced investors themselves, representing companies like Supercell, Zalando, and Wolt to name just a few.

As a Cherry founder, you’ll have access to these experts in all industries and across all major parts of the value chain. So, whether it’s meeting with a customer service expert, seeking legal advice regarding your operations setup, or preparing your growth round in the US, we have your back.

Honestly, ask the founders of our portfolio companies. We believe you, a founder, should be running the show.

However, our entire team and network can help you when you need an extra lift or, more simply, a sounding board. We want to be as resourceful as possible and we make ourselves available to our founders whenever we can. Since building a team is probably the most important success factor for a startup, we have HR experts on our team who bring a wealth of experience with direct search, tech, and executive hiring. Knowing many early-stage companies don’t have press teams in place, we also advise companies on media and branding strategies ranging from their funding announcements to larger rollouts and specific communication targets. We also team up with international companies to provide preferential treatment such as key account management or price advantages. A glimpse into our current partnerships includes Amazon Web Services, Google, HubSpot, Notion, Stripe, and many more.

The program, titled Copilot, comprises three core components: 1) it’s strongly encouraged, 2) it’s fully financially supported, and 3) it’s a time-based commitment.

All new founders who we team up with are offered coaching. Founders have the option to choose from a curated network of more than a dozen coaches who have worked with the Cherry team and portfolio as their dedicated coach. The costs are covered as aligned in the term sheet, ensuring that founders do not have to sacrifice quality for affordability. Lastly, all founders will be required to partake in these sessions for at least 12 months, ensuring a foundational underpinning for their long-term leadership development. Sessions are, make no mistake, 100% confidential.

We’ve created this program because we view our relationship with founders as a true partnership, where we invest not only in their businesses but also in their personal and professional growth. By providing a coaching budget as a part of our agreement, we strengthen the bond between Cherry and our portfolio companies.