VC | E391 | 10x Founders' Nico Schoenenberger on community-driven funds & mastering follow-on investments

In today’s episode, Andreas talks with Nico Schoenenberger, part of the Investment Team at 10x Founders, a Munich-based fund with €160M AUM in Fund I. 10x Founders focuses on early-stage investments (Pre-Seed/Seed) across Europe and the US, with a portfolio spanning sectors like B2B SaaS and Fintech. Notable investments include Ixana, magic, Ivy, Fernride, and cylib.

Nico dives into the dynamics of entrepreneurial communities that form funds, sharing insights on decision-making for entrepreneurs, the strategic use of follow-on reserves, and the advantages of round pre-emption. Drawing from his experience, Nico provides actionable advice for founders navigating early-stage funding and growth.

Together, we explore:

• The story behind 10x Founders and its entrepreneurial community-driven approach.
• Entrepreneurial decision-making and what it takes to succeed at the early stage.
• How to structure follow-on reserves and why round pre-emption matters.
• Lessons from Nico’s journey and the success stories from 10x Founders’ portfolio.