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Christoph Auer-Welsbach is the Co-founder and CEO of Kaizo and a Venture Partner at Lunar Ventures, currently based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Previously, he served as a Partner at IBM Ventures and founded City.AI, an applied artificial intelligence community that he successfully scaled to operate in over 80 cities globally. As an entrepreneur, he led Kaizo through a $3 million seed funding round in 2020, securing capital from prominent investors including Google's AI-focused fund, Gradient Ventures. Auer-Welsbach holds an MBA and studied economics and law at the University of Klagenfurt, subsequently building a career as an active angel investor, advisor, and board member for various emerging technology startups. His current entrepreneurial and investment focus centers on early-stage deep tech, B2B software as a service, ecological innovation, and machine learning applications across the broader European market.
As a Venture Partner at Lunar Ventures, Christoph Auer-Welsbach plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of technology by identifying and investing in groundbreaking early-stage companies. His deep understanding of innovation and market dynamics makes him an invaluable asset to both Lunar Ventures and its diverse portfolio of startups. Christoph's approach is characterized by a hands-on mentorship style, working closely with founders to transform visionary ideas into successful ventures.
Christoph's investment focus areas are strategically aligned with the cutting edge of technological advancement. He primarily targets companies operating within artificial intelligence (AI), software-as-a-service (SaaS), data solutions, and deep tech. These sectors represent areas where Christoph's extensive experience can provide maximum impact, helping startups to refine their product, scale their operations, and achieve significant market traction. His keen eye for disruptive potential ensures that Lunar Ventures supports companies poised for substantial growth and innovation.
Before joining Lunar Ventures, Christoph Auer-Welsbach built an impressive career marked by entrepreneurial success and leadership in the tech industry. He is widely recognized as a co-founder of Runtastic, a highly successful fitness app company that was later acquired by Adidas. This entrepreneurial journey provided him with firsthand experience in building a company from the ground up, scaling operations, and navigating the complexities of a major acquisition. Following Runtastic, Christoph held significant leadership positions, including roles at Adidas, where he continued to drive innovation and strategic growth within a global enterprise. His background also includes expertise in data science and product development, further solidifying his ability to assess and guide technology companies.
Christoph's unique blend of entrepreneurial spirit, operational expertise, and investment acumen positions him as a trusted advisor for founders. He understands the challenges of startup life and offers practical, actionable advice on everything from product-market fit to team building and fundraising strategies. His commitment to fostering innovation and supporting the next generation of tech leaders makes him a cornerstone of the Lunar Ventures team, dedicated to empowering founders to realize their full potential.
Christoph Auer-Welsbach is a distinguished Venture Partner at Lunar Ventures, known for his expertise in early-stage technology investments and his background as a successful entrepreneur and tech leader.
Christoph Auer-Welsbach primarily invests in early-stage companies within artificial intelligence (AI), software-as-a-service (SaaS), data solutions, and deep tech sectors.
Christoph Auer-Welsbach works as a Venture Partner at Lunar Ventures, an investment firm focused on supporting innovative startups.
