I`m the CEO of D11Z. Ventures, the venture arm of Dieter Schwarz’s Family Office and a European early-stage investor focused on AI, B2B software and digital innovation. D11Z operates as a single-LP evergreen fund and manages a mid-three-digit million euro investment platform, enabling long-term partnerships and follow-on support for founders. Originally founded in 2005 as Zukunftsfonds Heilbronn, D11Z has grown into a platform with 68+ portfolio investments and a proven track record across multiple cycles. D11Z has realized multiple successful exits, including Inspekto (acquired by Siemens), Xenios (acquired by Fresenius Medical Care), seleon (acquired by aesco solutions) and Echobot (acquired by Great Hill Partners, Boston (USA)). Dieter Schwarz is owner of the Schwarz Group (Lidl, Kaufland, PreZero, Schwarz Digits), Europe’s largest retailer and one of the world’s leading retail groups, with €175bn revenue. At D11Z, we support founders from first institutional rounds through scaling, leveraging strong ties to industrial champions and global market leaders. We partner early – often in a company’s first institutional round – and stay engaged through multiple stages. I enjoy working with teams that combine technical excellence with commercial clarity, and that build products with measurable impact for real customers. What we focus on: – AI-native B2B software (agentic workflows, vertical AI, enterprise infrastructure) – Cybersecurity & data infrastructure – Industrial and operational software that modernizes core processes – Selectively: deep tech with a clear path to adoption How I work: I’m hands-on where it matters, helping with fundraising strategy, go-to-market sparring, hiring, and building partnerships. I care deeply about founder-first decision-making and long-term value creation.