Romy Schnelle

Romy Schnelle is the Managing Director of High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) in Germany, where she oversees early-stage venture capital investments across the industrial, climate, and deep tech sectors. She brings over 20 years of technology innovation experience, having previously co-founded the Fraunhofer-Institut spin-off IOSONO, which was later acquired by Barco Audio Technologies, alongside Professor Karlheinz Brandenburg in 2004. Since initially joining HTGF as an investment manager in 2008, Schnelle has managed and exited numerous portfolio investments, particularly focusing on digital health and software-as-a-service companies. Beyond her primary fund responsibilities, the Technische Universität Ilmenau graduate previously chaired the Investment Committee at the Swiss media company TX Group and currently advises the DLR Quantum Computing Initiative. Her current focus centers on funding early-stage European deep tech startups and guiding strategic venture capital initiatives across complex industrial technology markets.