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, Russian Federation
- 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
Education
- The Wharton SchoolMBA, Management in Emerging Markets1991 — 1993
- University of PennsylvaniaMA, The Joseph H. Lauder Institute of International Studies1991 — 1993
- University of Wisconsin-MadisonBA, Advertising1988 — 1989
Skills & more
Strategy33Management8Private Equity50Venture Capital8Entrepreneurship21Mergers & Acquisitions19Management Consulting44Corporate Finance13Business Strategy18Valuation17Business Development30Finance5
+12 more
InvestmentsDue DiligenceRenewable EnergyEmerging MarketsAsset ManagementFinancial ModelingEnergyMergersMutual FundsCleantechInvestment BankingEquitiesLanguages Bulgarian · English · French · German · Russian
From Ben's professional profile.
Same school
Also attended The Wharton School1,484
Fred WilsonCo-founder & Partner at Union Square VenturesSarah GuoFounder & General Partner of ConvictionJosh KopelmanFounder and Partner at First Round CapitalAydin SenkutFounder & Managing Partner at FelicisKatie RiesterPartner, Head of Investor Relations at Felicis VenturesTrevor OelschigInvestment Team at General Catalyst
+ 1,478 more
Also attended University of Pennsylvania762
Dasha 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 PartnersAkshat GoenkaInvestor at Moonfire VenturesJames KuklinskiInvestor at Spark Capital
+ 756 more
Also attended University of Wisconsin-Madison242
Zhenyu TangInvestment Director at Intel CapitalDougAdvisor at Clear VenturesDan RuchPartner at Rho VenturesGeorge RobertsInvestor at OpenView Venture PartnersKevin WenzelAssociate at Marlin Equity PartnersHelen LiangFounder & General Partner at FoundersX Ventures
+ 236 more
Shared employers
Also worked at A111
Also worked at Movinga4
Also worked at Mint Capital1
Colleagues at Earlybird Venture Capital
Akash Bajwa
Principal at Earlybird Venture Capital
Andre
Investor at Earlybird Venture Capital
Andre Retterath
General Partner at Earlybird Venture Capital
Benedetta Montani
Fund Management at Earlybird Venture Capital
Christian Nagel
Investor at Earlybird Venture Capital
Dan Lupu
Investor at Earlybird Venture Capital
David Kozisek
IT Officer at Earlybird Venture Capital
Denis Jesske
Accountant at Earlybird Venture Capital
Frequently asked questions
- Where does Ben Wilkening work?
- Ben Wilkening is Vision Lab Partner at Earlybird Venture Capital.




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