Fundraising Fox

Kai Buehler

Investor

Investor at World Fund

Cologne

Writes $50K – $500K checks · typically $100K

About

Kai Buehler is co-founder of ZALUD, a citrus sake aperitivo produced with organic Spanish rice and Mallorca botanicals, and holds WSET Level 3 Award in Sake and Certified Sake Professional credentials. He is an active early-stage investor in technology, health-focused, and climate startups with over 30 investments, including Honey (acquired by PayPal for $4 billion in 2020). Buehler previously co-founded plan_b media, which was acquired by a T-Mobile Venture in 2005, and founded Watchpoints, sold to Viggle in 2011, among other ventures; he also served as a professor of digital entrepreneurship at RFH University of Applied Sciences in Cologne from 2016 to 2024 and holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Paderborn and University of Hong Kong.

Experience

  1. ZALUDCo-Foundercurrent2025 — presentSpain
  2. World FundFounding Investor & Advisorcurrent2021 — presentCologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
  3. KB VenturesBusiness Angel & Seed Investorcurrent2011 — presentLos Angeles, Germany, Mallorca
  4. Rheinische Fachhochschule KölnProfessor of Digital Entrepreneurship & Startup Management2016 — 2024Cologne Bonn Region
  5. KARMAKARMAFounder & CEO2012 — 2024Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
  6. NRW.INVESTRepresentative of the German State of NRW in California2019 — 2021Los Angeles, California, United States
  7. Honey (joinhoney.com, acquired by PayPal)First Outside Investor&Advisor2013 — 2021Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
  8. Quake Capital PartnersCo-Founder 5G Accelerator & Venture Partner2019 — 2020Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
  9. Viggle Inc. (acquired by perk)SVP and GM2011 — 2012Los Angeles, New York
  10. mms - mobile messaging solutions (acquired by Viggle)CEO2010 — 2011Los Angeles, Boston
  11. MindMatics (merged with mms)CEO North America2006 — 2010Los Angeles, New York
  12. plan_b media (acquired by mopay, now boku)CEO and Co-founder2000 — 2006Cologne Bonn Region
  13. Droege GroupSenior Management Consultant1999 — 2000Greater Dusseldorf Area
  14. Siemens TaiwanBusiness Manager1998 — 1999Taipei City, Taipei City, Taiwan

Education

  1. University of CologneLaw
  2. Paderborn UniversityMBA/PH.D., Business Adminstration1991 — 1998
  3. The University of Hong KongInternational Business
  4. Université Robert Schuman (Strasbourg III)

Skills & more

SakéEntrepreneurship99Start-ups64Venture Capital25Mobile Devices94Mobile Applications74Mobile Marketing47Digital Media33Social Media Marketing25Digital Marketing23Digital Strategy15Online Advertising15
+12 moreMobile TechnologyProduct ManagementOnline MarketingE-commerceMobile AdvertisingTelevisionStrategySocial MediaLeadershipInvestmentsClimate ChangeStrategic Partnerships
  • Certified Sake Professional — Sake Education Council
  • WSET Level 3 Award in Sake (Distinction) — WSET School

From Kai's professional profile.

Colleagues at World Fund

Alexis Caporale
Associate at World Fund
Andreas Slettvoll
Venture Partner at World Fund
Cara Reuner
Investment Associate at World Fund
Chloe Le
Junior Fund Controller at World Fund
Christian Kroll
Venture Partner at World Fund
Craig Douglas
Partner at World Fund
Daniel Valenzuela
Venture Partner at World Fund
Danijel Viševic
General Partner at World Fund

Network3

Craig DouglasScout
Partner at World Fund
Danijel ViševićScout
Managing Partner at World Fund
Daria SaharovaScout
Managing Partner at World Fund

Investors connected to Kai in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.

Frequently asked questions

Where does Kai Buehler work?
Kai Buehler is Investor at World Fund.
What check size does Kai Buehler write?
Kai Buehler typically writes checks of $50K – $500K.

Same school

Also attended University of Cologne49

Andrea GazviniAssociate at NorthzoneJohann FriederichAssociate at Notion CapitalNicolas El BazeSenior Advisor at Partech VenturesMarkus MerzInvestment Manager at CapnamicDavid KuczekInvestor at HV CapitalAdrian FriederichPrincipal, Investment at FoodLabs

+ 43 more

Also attended Paderborn University4

Elena Harumi StarkVP of Platform and Impact at AENUJoão Verol MarquesHead of Growth & Private Equity at Apex CapitalAlexis TouzéFinance Department at Yotta Capital PartnersHolger SprengelInvestor at World Fund

Also attended The University of Hong Kong101

Roni HiranandInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Anshul RuparellVenture Partner at FJ LabsJohan AkessonAssociate at Marlin Equity PartnersFan WenPrincipal & Director of AI at Fin CapitalJenny XiaoPartner at Leonis CapitalGéraldine FilletSenior Associate at Educapital

+ 95 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Honey (joinhoney.com, acquired by PayPal)13

Joanne BradfordObvious Champion at Obvious VenturesJimmy ZhuSenior Principal at Blumberg CapitalJonathon TriestFounder and Managing Partner at Ludlow VenturesGeorge RuanCo-Founder and Managing Partner at ProtagonistQuincey KleinOperations Analyst at Montage CapitalHenry ShiVenture Partner at Bold Capital Partners

+ 7 more

Also worked at Quake Capital Partners13

Jason FernandezGeneral Partner at Creci VenturesIan HerringtonAnalyst at Creci VenturesTara JordanInvestor Relations at Creci VenturesKathryne CooperPartner at Jumpstart NovaAdam CraggPartner at Osney CapitalGlenn ArgenbrightFounder & General Partner at Quake Capital

+ 7 more

Also worked at Siemens Taiwan196

Karim FarisInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)OttoInvestor at InvestinorCeline XiaoInvestor at DN CapitalBala SathiamurthyInvestor at IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)GiselaInvestor at Eudemian VenturesThomas MeierPartner, Head of Resilience in Energy & Resources Investments at Verve Ventures

+ 190 more