Highlight at the Viennese private equity and venture capital specialist Venionaire Capital:
Exactly ten years ago, Managing Partner (CEO) Berthold Baurek-Karlic founded the company and thus laid the foundation for today’s success. This was duly celebrated with over 120 top-class guests.
Venionaire Capital can look back on ten extremely successful years with secure, continuous growth that persists even in the current times of crisis. But resting on what has already been achieved is not at all in the company’s DNA, and so a UK subsidiary is currently in the starting blocks, and a biotech & life science venture fund is also being registered with the FMA. The outlook looks equally promising: the declared goal is further international locations with local representatives. The venture capital specialist sees great opportunities and exciting possibilities, especially in the Arab region. With further sustainable growth, the company wants to become a global player.
Unique network and clear entrepreneurial vision
The founder and mastermind of the Venionaire Group is Berthold Baurek-Karlic (40), who, at the age of 30, gave up a well-paid managing director position at a Viennese securities firm to take the step into self-employment. What started as an investment boutique has grown over the past decade into a European player in the private equity and venture capital space. Venionaire Capital’s headquarters are in Vienna, and the group is now active far beyond the borders of Austria and Europe: The Venionaire Group consists of Venionaire Capital with a stake in Linde Digital in Vienna, Venionaire Investment GmbH (AT), Venionaire Ventures S.à r.l. (LUX), Venionaire Capital Advisory Services Ltd. (UK), as well as the office partnerships in New York, San Francisco (USA) and Riyadh (SAU). “I have a clear vision for Venionaire. In another ten years, I see us as a global player who, based in Austria, is involved in all major future issues around the world. Our excellent international venture and associate partners as well as our global network, together with our team in Vienna, will provide a secure basis and set the right course together,” says Berthold Baurek-Karlic, Managing Partner (CEO) and founder of Venionaire Capital.
Initiator of the European Super Angels Club
Probably the most important success factor of Venionaire is its interdisciplinary team, consisting of a heterogeneous team of experts at the headquarters in Vienna, two venture partners, eight associate partners and a network of 250 international experts from a wide variety of industries and disciplines. The large network of experts is a unique selling point of the company and opens Venionaire Capital the pioneering role in many innovative business areas. Own investments are made via the European Business Angels Club initiated by Venionaire, to which a Luxembourg-domiciled venture capital fund (AIF) is assigned. Financially strong private and institutional investors are part of this exclusive circle and invest and benefit from their commitment together. Ongoing networking activities consolidate and expand Venionaire’s sphere of activity, including the Business Angel Summit initiated by Venionaire, Venture Week and the World Venture Forum in Kitzbühel, which will be held for the first time next year.
Venionaire Capital is also the founder of the Business Angel Institute, which offers the world’s first ISO certification for angel investors (ISO 17024). “We believe in strong partnerships and long-term relationships. With this backing, we are the driving force in the European innovation ecosystem – which I think is more important than ever. Because who, if not venture investors, should enable the innovation and value creation that Europe so urgently needs? For Austria, too, this is an almost existential question of location,” says Berthold Baurek-Karlic, analyzing the current challenges. The company is also considered a pioneer in the field of female empowerment. With a 50/50 gender diversification in the management team, Venionaire Capital leaves a clear footprint in the male-dominated finance and investment industry. As a consultant, Venionaire Capital supports institutional, public bodies or SMEs in setting up funds, structuring secondary transactions or in asset and liquidity management.
Multiple reasons to celebrate
Baurek-Karlic does not come from a traditional family of entrepreneurs, has built up his own global network from an early age and, true to the motto “Walk the extra mile”, has achieved success from his very own drive. On September 30, the father of three children celebrated not only the tenth anniversary of his company with more than 120 guests at the Weingut am Wiener Reisenberg, but also celebrated his fortieth birthday with his family, many friends and companions. “Anyone who knows me knows that I don’t rest on my laurels. Nevertheless, I am proud of what we have achieved in the past ten years. Our anniversary is a fitting opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you to all our partners, companions and friends, my team and also my family. We still have ambitious plans for Venionaire Capital and are looking to the next ten years with great optimism,” concludes Berthold Baurek-Karlic.
During the celebration, Baurek-Karlic also took the opportunity to thank some of his companions and friends for their support in the course of a very personal tribute:
On the photo: Bernhard Fichtenthal (Executive Director Venionaire), Business Angel Markus Ertler, Tomas Gatek (Associate Partner Venionaire), Johann Steszgal (Associate Partner Venionaire), Berthold Baurek-Karlic (Managing Partner CEO Venionaire), the Business Angels Gert Weidinger & Niki Futter and Andreas Tomek (Vice President European Super Angels Club)
About Venionaire:
Venionaire Capital specializes in venture capital and private equity. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Vienna, the company and its experts continuously support corporations, medium-sized companies and family offices in complex financing issues. The company has particular expertise in the areas of innovation, high-tech and growth companies (start-ups). In the venture capital and private equity niche, services range from due diligence, company valuation, deal structuring, fund management to classic transaction support (M&A). The company’s partners invest regularly through the European Super Angels Club, which was founded around 3 years ago together with partners from KPMG Austria.
