STS Ventures GmbH
Venture capitalCologne · Pre-Seed–Seed · 8 people tracked
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Investment thesis
STS Ventures positions itself between business angels and traditional VC firms, combining an angel's mindset with the capital of a VC. Founded by Stephan Schubert, a serial German internet entrepreneur behind companies such as OnVista, the firm typically backs pre-seed and seed stage technology startups. It emphasizes hands-on, partner-at-eye-level support drawing on decades of operating experience and a broad network of decision-makers, talent, and investors. STS favors numbers-driven founders who prioritize sustainable, steady growth and cost discipline over rapid cash burn, aiming to help build durable companies.
Source: firm website, verified Sep 27, 2026.
Team · 8 people
from the firm's website & public directoriesWhat they invest in
from 46 of 59 portfolio companiesSaaS ×17Consumer ×10E-commerce ×8Fintech ×8Marketplaces ×8Enterprise Software ×7B2B Marketplaces ×5Retail Tech ×5
HQs:Germany×29United States×5Switzerland×1
Who they back
founder profiles across 15 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×32 founders×73 founders×34+ founders×2
Where their founders studiedfrom 21 founders with education data
WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management ×3Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz ×2Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München ×2Massachusetts Institute of Technology ×2
What their founders studiedfrom 24 founders with field-of-study data
Business & Management ×8Computer Science ×6Design & Architecture ×4Economics ×3
Where their founders worked beforefrom 25 founders with career history
McKinsey & Company ×3Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research ×2
5 founders hold a PhD · 1 hold an MBA (of 25 with degree data)
Investments · 59 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2024 · 12022 · 22020 · 12019 · 22016 · 12008 · 12007 · 19 dated
Airbnb is an online marketplace that enables people to book and list accommodations for short-term rentals, experiences, and services around the world.
ConsumerMarketplacesTravel & HospitalitySan Francisco, US
Brian Chesky(CEO)inNathan Blecharczyk(CTO)inJoe Gebbia(CPO)inBelinda Johnson(Executive Officer)inLaurence Tosi(Chief Financial Officer)inAndrew Swain(Executive Officer)in
Co-investors137 VenturesA.Capital VenturesA*ACME CapitalAglae VenturesAlign Ventures+78 more
AbeBooks is an online marketplace where independent booksellers offer new, used, rare, and antiquarian books as well as art objects and collectibles.
E-commerceMarketplaces
Co-investorsActon Capital
Acorns provides automated investment services that allow users to invest in diversified portfolios of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) composed of stocks and bonds, with options including Bitcoin-linked ETFs.
FintechIrvine, US
Jeff Cruttenden(Founder)inWalter Cruttenden(Founder)inMark Dru(Founder)inMichael Bloch(Founder)
BoardJim Caccavo(Director)Jay Fishman(Director)
Co-investorsA-Rod CorpAnsa CapitalBain Capital VenturesBlack Jays VenturesComcast VenturesConnetic Ventures+18 more
ampido operates an online platform for finding, reserving, and paying for parking spaces up to 90 days in advance, with in-app navigation to the spot.
MarketplacesMobility & TransportationBerlin, DE
Co-investorsHOWZAT Partners
Audibene sells hearing aids and related digital solutions for people with hearing loss through Germany's largest network of partnered acousticians.
Digital HealthHealthtechMedical DevicesBerlin, DE
Co-investorsActon CapitalHeartcore CapitalSunstone Capital
B2X provides a platform and operational orchestration services for managing the complete lifecycle of electronic hardware—from inbound warehousing through deployment, maintenance, repair, returns, and refurbishment—for technology brands and operators across consumer electronics, retail automation, enterprise, and mission-critical sectors.
Enterprise SoftwareLogistics & Supply ChainSaaSMunich, DE
Co-investorsBarkawi GroupCipio PartnersEarlybird Venture CapitalGrazia Equity GmbH
Carsale24 is an online marketplace where private sellers can list and sell their vehicles to verified dealers across Germany for free.
B2B Marketplaces
Co-investorsHV Capital
Deutsche Fensterbau supplies and installs windows and doors for residential customers, handling consultation, project management, and installation through a network of local craftspeople.
Construction TechConsumer
Emma sells mattresses and sleep products directly to consumers, offering a 100-night home trial, a 10-year warranty, and installment payments via Klarna.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerce
Dennis Schmoltzi(Founder)in
Co-investorsFranz Haniel & Cie. GmbH
Erste Hausverwaltung acquires and integrates regional property management companies across Germany and digitizes their operations through an online platform.
Enterprise SoftwarePropTechSaaS
Co-investorsVENPACERound Hill Ventures
Finanzen100 operates a platform that connects retail investors with professional financial analysts and investment experts who share their analyses, watchlists, and investment recommendations.
FintechMarketing Tech
Handshake is a three-sided job marketplace connecting 25 million knowledge workers, 1,600+ educational institutions, and 1 million employers.
AI & Machine LearningE-commerceEdTechFuture of WorkHR TechMarketplacesRetail TechSaaSSan Francisco, US
Garrett Lord(Founder)inBen Christensen(Founder)inScott Ringwelski(Founder)inJoseph Poon(Founder)
Co-investorsCoatue ManagementGSV VenturesKleiner PerkinsLightspeed Venture PartnersNotable CapitalSozo Ventures+18 more
A platform that helps property owners and investors obtain commercial real estate financing through an online brokerage interface.
FintechPropTechBerlin, DE
Yann Basly(Founder)inMarcus Joachim(Executive Officer, Director)Marton Matura(Head of Sales)Martin Simonis(Director People \u0026 Culture)
Co-investorsCaesar Business AngelsY CombinatorAtlantic LabsAxel Springer Digital VenturesPeak State VenturesVentureSouq
JoinMyTrip is an online travel platform where users can find and join group trips organized by "TripLeaders" to destinations across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania.
MarketplacesTravel & Hospitality
JustWatch is a streaming guide platform that aggregates availability information for movies, TV shows, and sports across multiple streaming services.
MarketplacesMedia & Entertainment
David Croyé(Founder)inMichael Wilken(Founder)in
Klimametrix provides a cloud-based ESG and sustainability compliance software platform for banks and corporations to manage climate risks, calculate emissions, assess biodiversity impacts, and meet regulatory requirements including EU taxonomy, CSRD, and GAR disclosure standards.
Climate TechEnterprise SoftwareFintech
Outbrain, operating as Outbrain Direct Response, runs a performance marketing and advertising platform for the Open Internet, helping advertisers achieve measurable outcomes at scale.
AdTechMarketing Tech
Yaron Galai(Founder)inOri Lahav(Founder)
Co-investorsFelicis VenturesGapMinderIndex VenturesLightspeed Venture PartnersRhodiumSmartGateVC+4 more
Lingoda is an online language learning platform offering live classes led by certified teachers, available 24/7 in small group or private formats.
EdTechSaaSBerlin, DE
Felix WunderlichinFabian Wunderlichin
Co-investorsConny & Co.German Startups GroupGrazia Equity GmbHHOWZAT PartnersKreos Capitalpd ventures+2 more
Mogenius offers a tunneling solution that provides secure access to databases, internal tools, and APIs running in Kubernetes clusters without exposing them publicly or requiring VPN management.
AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingCybersecurityDeveloper ToolsEnterprise Software
Gerrit Schumann(Co-founder & CEO)inBehrang Alavi(Co-founder & Co-CTO)inBenedikt Iltisberger(Co-founder & Co-CTO)inJan Lepsky(Co-founder & CPO)inHerbert Möckel(Co-Founder & CXO)in
Co-investorsD11ZInovexusSeed+SpeedSIVentures (prev. Smart Infrastructure Ventures)
Momentum Transfer provides mail-in access to synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction and scattering measurements, offering higher signal-to-noise and resolution than lab XRD with results in 2-4 weeks.
Deep TechNew MaterialsSaaS
Bernd Hinrichsen(Founder)in
Co-investorsGF BRYCK VenturesVenture Stars
Movinga is a digital platform that connects customers with vetted local moving companies across Germany, offering end-to-end moving services including packing, transportation, and optional add-ons.
B2B MarketplacesConsumerLogistics & Supply ChainCologne, DE
Co-investorsEarlybird Venture CapitalETF PartnersGlobal Founders CapitalIndex VenturesRocket Internet SE
November is a German provider of funeral pre-planning and funeral services (Bestattungsvorsorge und Bestattungen), offering advance-provision insurance products and organizing funerals nationwide across Germany.
ConsumerFintechInsurTech
Robin Klemm(Gründer und Geschäftsführer (Founder & Managing Director))inLaurent Lukas(CCO)in
Co-investorsSalvia
onvista is a financial information platform providing stock quotes, market data, analysis tools, and educational content for retail investors in the German-speaking market.
Fintech
Co-investorsActon Capital
Ottonova offers private health insurance for employees, self-employed individuals, students, and government employees in Germany, as well as supplementary insurance for those enrolled in statutory health insurance.
Digital HealthInsurTechBerlin, DE
Dr. Roman Rittweger(Gründer)inSebastian Scheerer(Founder)inFrank Birzle(Founder)inDr. Bernhard Brühl(Vorstandsvorsitzender)Roman Rittweger(Founder)
Co-investorsEarlybird Venture CapitalVorwerk VenturesHV CapitalIschyros New YorkTengelmann Ventures
Pixsy is an online platform that detects unauthorized use of images online and provides case resolution services to enforce copyright, connecting users to a network of specialist law firms.
Creator EconomyLegalTechSaaSCovina, US
Daniel Foster(Founder)inTorsten Rüter(Head of Development)inKain Jones(Chief Executive Officer (CEO))in
ArtNight organizes guided painting events where participants create their own artwork with provided materials such as canvas, paints, brushes and aprons, led by artists.
ConsumerCreator EconomyMarketplaces
Aimie(Founder)
Co-investorsActon Capital
Rebike sells premium refurbished and used e-bikes and bicycles, sourced mainly from leasing returns and reconditioned through a TÜV Rheinland-certified multi-step process.
Circular EconomyE-commerceMobility & Transportation
Co-investorsFJ LabsGerman VenturesVorwerk Ventures
Retail.me provides operational digitalization software for consumer packaged goods manufacturers and grocery retailers in the food and beverage sector.
E-commerceRetail TechSaaS
Co-investorsGateway Trustee GmbHAlign VenturesNimble Partners
Shoeboxed provides receipt scanning, expense tracking, and GPS mileage logging for self-employed Schedule C filers, freelancers, and small business owners, turning mailed-in paper receipts and app-captured expenses into audit-ready, categorized tax records.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechSaaSSales TechDurham, US
Taylor Mingos(Co-founder)inTobias Walter(Co-founder)inDoug Breaker(Owner & CEO)in
Co-investorsNovak Biddle Venture Partners
SUSHI Bikes makes lightweight, affordable city e-bikes with a removable battery and around 75 km of range, aimed at commuters, students, and first-time e-bike riders.
Direct to ConsumerHardwareMobility & TransportationMunich, DE
Swaarm is a digital marketing and advertising platform that provides performance tracking tools and analytics to help businesses manage and optimize their digital advertising campaigns.
AdTechMarketing TechSaaS
Yogeeta Chainani(Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer)inAlexandru Dumitru(Co-founder & Chief Technology Officer)in
talent360 offers talent.Flow, a recruiting software and digital operating system that automates the application and hiring process for staffing agencies and personnel service providers.
Future of WorkHR TechSaaS
Marc Schach(Co-founder, CEO & Geschäftsführer)inDenny Riedl(Co-founder & CTO)in
Handshake provides an end-to-end career fair management platform for universities and careers services to host in-person, virtual, and hybrid career fairs.
B2B MarketplacesEdTechHR Tech
Co-investorsPlug and Play Ventures468 Capital
This is an affiliate/review website about online "Plinko" casino games, presenting rankings and reviews of gambling operators where users can play Plinko for real money or crypto.
ConsumerMedia & Entertainment
UpsellGuru provides an automated upselling platform for hotels that delivers personalized upgrade offers to guests across multiple channels (email, SMS, WhatsApp) before, during, and after their stay.
Marketing TechRetail TechSaaSSales TechTravel & Hospitality
Karl SchmidtnerinMatteo GalliinHans Schmidtnerin
Weissmaler is a German-language blog covering home renovation, interior design, gardening, sustainability, smart home technology, and living trends.
ConsumerMedia & Entertainment
X-BIONIC designs and manufactures the TerraSkin X00/C, a technical trail running shoe featuring proprietary SpeedFrame suspension, carbon plate insert, and integrated sock system for off-road running on technical terrain.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerHardwareSports TechSwitzerland, CH
zooplus is an online retailer of pet food and supplies for dogs, cats, birds, rodents, horses, and fish.
ConsumerE-commerce
Co-investorsActon CapitalHellman & FriedmanEQT
Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
freshnailsInteractivedataLocartaMansionetmomsPicture Framing GmbH (Mozaik)PurefoodReputamiSnapbussovityTCG VaultTiltaVantik
Exits · 3
2 IPOs · 1 acquisitions · showing 1AirbnbNASDAQ: ABNB
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
Airbnb · news.airbnb.com · Sep 14, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has STS Ventures GmbH made?
- STS Ventures GmbH has 59 tracked investments, 3 of which have exited.
- What stage does STS Ventures GmbH invest at?
- STS Ventures GmbH invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What is STS Ventures GmbH's typical check size?
- STS Ventures GmbH typically writes checks of $220K – $1.1M.
- What sectors does STS Ventures GmbH focus on?
- STS Ventures GmbH focuses on Consumer, Enterprise Software, Hardware, Healthtech, Retail Tech, SaaS, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is STS Ventures GmbH located?
- STS Ventures GmbH is headquartered in Cologne, DE.
- Does STS Ventures GmbH lead rounds?
- Yes, STS Ventures GmbH leads investment rounds.
- Who does STS Ventures GmbH co-invest with?
- STS Ventures GmbH most often shares deals with Acton Capital, Earlybird Venture Capital, FJ Labs, among 48 tracked co-investors.
Co-investors · 4
Earlybird Venture Capital is a European venture capital investor that backs early-stage technology founders with capital, strategic support, and access to an international network.
468 Capital is a technology investment firm with offices in Berlin and San Francisco that invests across multiple stages in software, AI, and internet companies. The firm focuses on thesis-driven investments in businesses with experienced founding teams.
Cusp Capital is a European technology-focused venture capital firm that invests in startups across selected theses including industry-specific software, digitization and sustainability (ESG), digital products for lower-income consumers, and European digital infrastructure.
Firms observed investing alongside STS Ventures GmbH, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with STS Ventures GmbH's recorded portfolio.
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