Ben Wilkening
InvestorVision Lab Partner at Earlybird Venture Capital · Vision Lab Partner at Earlybird DWES Management GmbH & Co. KG
Berlin
Find your path to Ben
3,547 people in our graph share verified history with Ben — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Aydin SenkutunlockedBen: together at The Wharton School
×3Ben: together at University of Pennsylvania
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Ben: together at University of Wisconsin-Madison
About
Ben Wilkening is a Vision Lab Partner at Earlybird Venture Capital with over 25 years of experience across venture capital, private equity, strategy consulting, and startup acceleration. He has served as a Board Director for 20 years and held Managing Director and Senior Partner roles in VC and PE funds, covering fundraising and the full investment cycle from deal sourcing to exit. A McKinsey alumnus, university lecturer, and Institute of Directors Certified Director with Distinction, he is fluent in German, English, Bulgarian, and Russian.
Experience
- Earlybird Venture CapitalVision Lab Partnercurrent2020 — presentBerlin, Germany
- A11Executive Advisorcurrent2026 — presentBerlin, Germany
- Gisma University of Applied SciencesLecturercurrent2026 — presentBerlin Metropolitan Area
- B2X Care SolutionsAdvisory Board Membercurrent2023 — presentMunich, Bavaria, Germany
- Wermuth Asset Management GmbHSenior Advisor and Investment Committee membercurrent2022 — presentBerlin, Germany
- 2heartsMentorcurrent2023 — presentBerlin, Germany
- Founder Institute BerlinMentorcurrent2020 — presentBerlin, Germany
- KREATIZE GmbHAdvisory Board Member2022 — 2023Berlin, Germany
- InstaMotion Retail GmbHAdvisory Board Member2023Munich, Bavaria, Germany
- MovingaAdvisory Board Member2022Berlin, Germany
- MyDataModelsSenior Advisor2020 — 2021Berlin, Germany
- OneFootballSenior Advisor2021Berlin, Germany
- Skolkovo FoundationVice President International Investor Relations2017 — 2020Moscow, Moscow City, Russia
- ZI VenturesManaging Partner (Geschäftsführer)2015 — 2017Zossen, Berlin Area, Germany
- Nordic YardsManaging Director (Geschäftsführer), Real Estate Companies2016Zossen, Berlin Area
- Elbrus CapitalInvestment Advisor2014 — 2015Moscow
- Wermuth Asset ManagementSenior Partner, Green Gateway Fund2012 — 2013Moscow and Kazan, Russia; Mainz, Germany
- 10EQSCIS Business Development Advisor2012Moscow and Berlin
- Mint CapitalPartner2005 — 2012
- Self-EmployedIndependent Investment Consultant2003 — 2005
Skills & more
Strategy33Management8Private Equity50Venture Capital8Entrepreneurship21Mergers & Acquisitions19Management Consulting44Corporate Finance13Business Strategy18Valuation17Business Development30Finance5
+10 more
InvestmentsDue DiligenceRenewable EnergyEmerging MarketsAsset ManagementFinancial ModelingEnergyMergersMutual FundsCleantechLanguages Bulgarian · English · French · German · Russian
From Ben's professional profile.
Colleagues at Earlybird Venture Capital
Akash Bajwa
Principal at Earlybird DWES Management GmbH & Co. KG
Andre Retterath
General Partner at Earlybird Venture Capital
Anna Andersson
Head of Community & Events at Earlybird DWES Management GmbH & Co. KG
Benedetta Montani
Fund Management at Earlybird Venture Capital
Bianca Martin
Backoffice Managerin at ALPS Family Office AG
Charlotte Zietlow
Office Manager & Team Assistant at Earlybird DWES Management GmbH & Co. KG
Christian Nagel
Investor at Earlybird Venture Capital
Dan Lupu
Investor at Earlybird Venture Capital
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Ben Wilkening?
- Ben Wilkening is a Vision Lab Partner at Earlybird Venture Capital with over 25 years of experience across venture capital, private equity, strategy consulting, and startup acceleration. He has served as a Board Director for 20 years and held Managing Director and Senior Partner roles in VC and PE funds, covering fundraising and the full investment cycle from deal sourcing to exit. A McKinsey alumnus, university lecturer, and Institute of Directors Certified Director with Distinction, he is fluent in German, English, Bulgarian, and Russian.
- Where does Ben Wilkening work?
- Ben Wilkening is Vision Lab Partner at Earlybird Venture Capital.
- Where did Ben Wilkening go to school?
- Ben Wilkening studied at The Wharton School (MBA, Management in Emerging Markets); University of Pennsylvania (MA, The Joseph H. Lauder Institute of International Studies); University of Wisconsin-Madison (BA, Advertising).
Same school
Also attended The Wharton School2,000
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Also attended University of Pennsylvania1,209
Brian ActonCo-founder of WhatsApp; co-founder of Signal FoundationKunal BahlCo-founder of Snapdeal; co-founder of Titan CapitalDasha MaggioPartner at Felicis Ventures, writer on venture capital and founder psychologyNancy WangInvestor at Felicis VenturesLeah von SiemensPartner at Manta Ray VenturesEghosa OmoiguiFounder and Managing General Partner at EchoVC Partners
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Also attended University of Wisconsin-Madison446
Zhenyu TangInvestment Director at Intel CapitalDougAdvisor at Clear VenturesDan RuchPartner at Rho VenturesJoe HayesInvestor at LightbankGeorge RobertsInvestor at OpenView Venture PartnersBret L. BostwickMD, FAAP, FACMG, Venture Advisor at Breyer Capital
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