Private Equity

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Global Founders Capital

Founders drive incredible opportunity in the world, and GFC are their greatest advocates. Over the past two decades, GFC have backed over five hundred...

Global Founders Capital logo

Global Founders Capital

Founders drive incredible opportunity in the world, and GFC are their greatest advocates. Over the past two decades, GFC have backed over five hundred entrepreneurs worldwide, e.g. Facebook, LinkedIn, Slack, and Away Travel.

General information

Firm type

Private Equity

Year founded

2013

Location

Region

Europe

Country

Germany

City

Berlin

Corporate office

Berlin, Germany

Principals

Oliver Samwer

Founder

Cedric Asselman

Investment Partner

David Sainteff

Investment Partner

Fabricio Pettena

Investment Partner

Sector focus

Enterprise SoftwareMedia & EntertainmentMobility & TransportationeCommerce

Frequently asked questions

Who runs investment decisions at Global Founders Capital?

Oliver Samwer founded the firm, and day-to-day investing is led by Investment Partners Cedric Asselman, David Sainteff, and Fabricio Pettena. The four names are the only principals disclosed on the firm's own website.

How is Global Founders Capital related to Rocket Internet?

GFC is explicitly described as the global venture capital platform of Rocket Internet. It invests the group's capital, which means it operates with a corporate balance sheet rather than third-party limited-partner commitments.

Is Global Founders Capital structured as a traditional venture fund?

No. It is the venture arm of a publicly traded company-builder. This gives it a permanent-capital structure without standard fund-life constraints, allowing it to hold positions indefinitely and recycle returns internally.

Does Global Founders Capital participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

Publicly available information shows only direct equity investments into operating companies. There is no disclosure of fund-of-funds commitments or LP stakes in external managers.

What investment stages does Global Founders Capital target?

The firm states it invests from seed through growth. Portfolio evidence confirms checks at multiple stages, from early rounds in companies like Away Travel to later-stage positions in Slack and Facebook.

Profile maintained by using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.

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