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Key people at Founderslane.
Founderslane is a Berlin, Germany-based corporate venture builder that partners with large enterprises to create, launch, and scale digital businesses primarily within the climate and health sectors. The firm utilizes a co-creation business model to share entrepreneurial risk, developing independent ventures using advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and machine learning. Operating with a network of over 100 experts and generating an estimated $1.7 million in annual revenue, the organization has built digital solutions and new ventures for major corporate clients including Trumpf, Vattenfall, Henkel, and Allianz. Prior to its July 2022 acquisition by Creative Dock Group, the company expanded its operations into the Middle East and North Africa region with a new headquarters in Riyadh. Founderslane was established in 2016 by co-founders Felix Staeritz, Andreas von Oettingen, and Michael Stephanblome.
Key people at Founderslane.
FoundersLane is a Berlin-based corporate venture builder that partners with corporations to design, launch, and scale digital ventures, primarily in health, climate, sustainability, logistics, agriculture, and related sectors.[1][2][3][6] Operating across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and Asia, it leverages a team of over 100 entrepreneurs, founders, and tech experts who have built, scaled, and exited more than 250 tech companies.[1][2][5] Its mission centers on co-creating profitable ventures with positive societal impact, such as Ally.de (a medical app for osteoarthritis) and Solytic (solar panel optimization with Vattenfall), while supporting clients like Allianz, Henkel, and Saptco.[2][3]
Acquired by Creative Dock Group (CDG) in 2022, FoundersLane now forms part of the world's largest independent corporate venture builder, enhancing capabilities in venture execution, international scaling, and industry expertise.[2][4] The firm's investment philosophy emphasizes entrepreneurial DNA, rapid execution, and cross-sector innovation to transform traditional industries, with a goal of reaching 1 billion users through client ventures in five years.[2][4]
Founded in 2016 in Berlin, FoundersLane emerged as a hub for serial entrepreneurs to collaborate with corporations on venture building, quickly establishing itself through high-profile projects in healthcare and sustainability.[2][6] Key figures include its team of over 100 experts with proven track records, and post-acquisition leaders like Martin Pejsa (CDG Founder & CEO), who highlighted its "unique entrepreneurial founder’s DNA," and Asim Al-Rajhi (FoundersLane MENA Managing Director).[2][4]
The firm's evolution accelerated with its 2022 acquisition by CDG, following prior partnerships and expansions like MENA offices in Riyadh to align with Saudi Vision 2030 and regional innovation goals.[2][4] Early traction came from ventures like Ally.de and Solytic, solidifying its reputation and leading to a client list spanning Allianz to Vattenfall, while ambitious targets included creating €1 billion in health and climate startups by end-2022.[2][6]
FoundersLane rides the corporate venture building wave, bridging traditional industries with digital innovation amid rising demand for sustainability and health tech post-COVID.[2][6] Its timing aligns with MENA's entrepreneurship boom—via Riyadh expansion supporting Saudi Vision 2030—and Europe's green/climate transitions, where corporates seek de-risked startup creation over pure VC bets.[2][4]
Market forces like regulatory pushes for net-zero emissions and aging populations favor its climate (e.g., solar optimization) and health portfolios, while CDG integration positions it as a market reshaper, shifting venture building from niche to corporate core.[2][4] It influences the ecosystem by upskilling entrepreneurs, scaling ventures globally, and proving ROI for corporates, fostering a hybrid model that accelerates tech adoption in underserved regions like MENA.[1][4]
Post-acquisition, FoundersLane will likely deepen MENA expansion and high-impact sectors like climate tech, leveraging CDG's resources to hit ambitious user and valuation goals amid AI-driven venture tools and sustainability mandates.[2][4][6] Trends such as corporate ESG investing and regional hubs (e.g., Saudi's powerhouse ambitions) will propel growth, potentially evolving its influence toward leading global venture platforms with 1B+ user impact.
This positions FoundersLane not just as a builder, but a catalyst turning corporate inertia into scalable tech powerhouses.
