Simon Schmincke
When Gut Feeling Beats Good Numbers: Inside Creandum
#05 Simon Schmincke - When Gut Feeling Beats Good Numbers: Inside Creandum
· 00:46:34
In this episode of Campus To Capital, we speak with Simon Schmincke, General Partner at Creandum — one of Europe’s leading early-stage venture capital firms. Simon’s career path is marked by a rare blend of operating and investing: from launching HelloFresh in the U.S. to backing high-growth startups like Lemon Markets, Tide, and Topi.
Key Takeaways:
- Scaling HelloFresh in the U.S. market: operational complexity, logistics, and hyper-growth- Transitioning from founder to investor: lessons learned and mindset shifts- What Creandum looks for in fintech, SaaS, and consumer startups- The state of the European VC ecosystem and what needs to change- AI’s real impact on venture investing and startup performance- Thoughts on Klarna’s IPO and the broader exit environment in Europe- Advice for early-stage founders and aspiring venture capitalists
Simon shares unfiltered insights from both sides of the table—building and backing startups—and outlines what it really takes to succeed in today’s venture landscape.