Benjamin Wilkening
Advisory Board Member
Experience
Advisory Board Member
B2X
Transforming hardware lifecycle management from linear to circular with platform solutions enabling digitalization of post-sales services.
Representing Earlybird on the advisory board.
Actively supporting management with M&A processes.
Senior Advisor and Investment Committee member GGF2
Wermuth Asset Management
Green Growth Fund 2 targets best-in-class energy and resource-efficient companies in the EU with real economic and environmental impact.
Sourcing and executing new investments in solar, wind and geothermal energy; recycling technologies; and mobility solutions.
Advisory Board Member
Instamotion
Makes used car purchasing as easy as online shopping, with warranty, delivery and return like any other online purchase.
Representing Earlybird on the advisory board.
Actively supporting management with brand and communications strategy.
Advisory Board Member
Movinga
Leading platform in Europe for moving services to private households and transportation services to retailers.
Represented Earlybird on the advisory board.
Actively supported exit to Shift.
Advisory Board Member
kreatize
Pioneer in cloud manufacturing, bringing hardware products to market faster and cheaper.
Represented Earlybird on the advisory board.
Actively supported management with business development.
Partner
Earlybird Vision Lab
Earlybird Vision Lab is an incubation program and pre-seed VC fund that supports startups with founders who have recently migrated to Germany. The Vision Lab provides participants with the entrepreneurial skills needed to create new opportunities for themselves and society.
Managing the Vision Lab program:
Coordinating fundraising
Sourcing and selecting startups participating in the program
Curating the incubation program
Managing relationships with partners such as Bain & Co.
Acting as a mentor to program participants
Mentor
Founder Institute
- Mentor at the world’s premier pre-seed startup accelerator.
VP International Investor Relations
Skolkovo Foundation
Supported Russian high-tech startups with tax benefits, grants and acceleration services across IT, Industry 4.0, Energy Efficiency and Biomed & Life Sciences.
Set up and managed the “Go-To-Market” program for market entry and fundraising in Western countries, focused on EU/Germany:
International expansion strategy: selection of target markets and partners; development of market entry roadmap.
Customer development: assessment and adaptation of product/market fit in target markets.
Business development: door opening, matchmaking and contract negotiation support.
Country entry: channel partner selection and support with legal structuring and office set-up.
Fundraising: preparation of pitch material, orchestration of investor communication, deal negotiations and closing support.
Track record of Go-To-Market projects:
Anisoprint: Developed strategy and drove implementation of full transfer of operational business to Germany; drove direct sales to EU industrial partners such as Airbus and BMW; identified distributors and negotiated terms; supported sourcing setup; recruited German co-CEO. Advised on €4m equity investment: prepared pitch deck; sourced investors; drafted and negotiated term sheet; supported due diligence and legal drafting.
Managing Director
Nordic Yards Group - Real Estate Companies
Responsible for real estate companies holding shipyard assets in Stralsund, Warnemünde and Wismar.
Managed deal execution of real estate asset sale and transfer from legal, tax and compliance points of view.
Founder and Managing Director
Lankensee Capital
100% owned investment and strategy consulting boutique advising startups and VC funds on strategy, go-to-market, international expansion, fundraising, M&A and corporate partnerships.
Advising Earlybird VC funds and portfolio companies:
Earlybird Vision Lab: Advised on fundraising; sourced startups.
MyDataModels: Drove recruitment of C-level key staff; developed strategy; sourced and drove corporate partnerships; supported fundraising.
OneFootball: Developed storyline and presentation for C-Round fundraising (> €100m).
InstaMotion: Advised on brand relaunch and marketing campaign.
Advised Castella Nova on execution of buy-and-build strategy:
Sourced deals from succession-driven sellers.
Conducted negotiations with sellers.
Structured and executed deals.
Until 2020 advised Russian high-tech startups on transition to Western markets and fundraising (legal restructuring with transfer of IP, team to EU), including Anisoprint, Radiogigabit and Neurolight.
Managing Partner
ZI Ventures
Invests seed capital in early stage ventures in the Berlin area, focusing on real technologies, products and services for B2B and B2C.
First external investor in two startups:
Sumolight: Financed and supported launch of game-changing spacelight; recruited professional CEO.
testXchange: Financed and supported launch of MVP; recruited team of co-founders with track record of building and exiting B2B platforms.
Investment Advisor
Elbrus Capital
Acted as investment advisor to a Russia and CIS-focused private equity business with AUM > $1 billion.
Sourced and executed buy-and-build deal in consumer-related sectors, focusing on FMCG. Presented two deals to the investment committee; one approved, one canceled.
Developed buy-and-build strategy for FMCG sector.
Sourced proprietary deals through personal network among entrepreneurs and industrial majors.
Performed valuation of targets and negotiated deal terms and structure.
Recruited management buy-in team; structured co-investment and equity compensation schemes.
Senior Fund Partner, Green Gateway Fund
Wermuth Asset Management
Senior Partner of Green Gateway Fund investing €5-30m growth capital in energy and resource efficiency companies in Western Europe, accessing Russia/CIS via Tatarstan.
Co-led fundraising for a €250m target: developed concept; oversaw design and drafting of fund presentation; drafted substantial parts of PPM; coordinated compilation and verification of DDQ material; sourced investors and presented in person; secured €40m commitment from EIF.
Drove Russian business development for portfolio and pipeline companies, initiating pilots and tenders with Tatneft and others.
Developed and executed investment pipeline: identified themes; conducted bottom-up research; assessed commercial potential; conducted business due diligence.
CIS Business Development Advisor
10EQS
- Developed new clients for a next-gen management consultancy in Russia, including projects in private equity, internet advertising and printing.
Partner
Mint Capital
Co-managed a USD 130m Russia-based PE fund focused on growth financing for mid-sized entrepreneurial companies.
Fully managed investment cycle from deal sourcing to exit:
Proprietary deal sourcing via proactive search and personal network.
Developed and negotiated convertible and ratchet structures.
Conducted multilingual negotiations from initial interest to final contracts.
Performed deep due diligence with site visits and expert engagements.
Directed legal structuring, drafting and negotiations of SPA and SHA.
Led strategic initiatives at board level: budgeting, financial reporting, executive recruiting and compensation schemes.
Managed complete exit processes.
Lead partner on three deals: Maratex (27% IRR, nearly 2x cash multiple), Tablogix and Fruzhe.
Coached and developed junior investment staff and participated in fundraising efforts.
Independent Project Leader
Management Buy-In Projects
Orchestrated two MBI attempts of Russian FMCG companies (Rokolor and Alexandra & Sofia).
Developed strategic growth and investment plans: brand repositioning, distribution expansion, media spending.
Structured and negotiated buy-in deal terms: valuation, investment terms, earn-out schemes.
Originated funding from PE funds (Delta Private Equity Partners, Mint Capital).
Terminated projects when acceptable terms could not be reached.
Managing Director
AIG-Brunswick Capital Management
Managed a $290m portfolio (AIG-Brunswick Millennium Fund).
Board roles: North-West Telecom (improved governance and budgeting), Artelecom and Karelia Electrosvyaz (led IAS-based accounting and merger negotiations), IBS (advised on refocusing, recruitment, M&A valuations).
Sourced Russia/CIS transactions: industry analysis, valuation, deal structuring, due diligence.
Co-managed a team of nine employees.
Associate
McKinsey & Company
- Developed strategy and led reorganization for a leading Russian cellular operator.
- Developed vodka brand for a leading Russian alcoholic beverage distributor.
- Assignments in Western countries:
- Developed sales growth strategy for a German cellular operator.
- Conducted economic assessment of a US multimedia venture.
- Authored a textbook on marketing for Russian managers (published in English and Russian).
Management Intern
McCann-Erickson
- Co-managed development and production of the first full-blown Russian advertising campaign for a national lottery.
Assistant Account Manager
Young & Rubicam
- Teamed with Senior Account Executive to manage toothpaste and shampoo accounts of the agency’s second largest client.
Public Relations Intern
Hill and Knowlton
Traffic Coordinator
Young & Rubicam
- Managed print production scheduling and process flow.
TV Intern
Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF)
Advertising Intern
J. Walter Thompson
Alternate Social Service
Schülerheim Haus Andreae
- Tutored 7th-10th grade secondary students.
Summary
Senior executive with over 25 years experience in venture capital, private equity, strategy consulting and startup acceleration. 20 years experience as Board Director. Managing Director/Senior Partner in VC/PE funds with track record in fundraising and full investment cycle from deal sourcing to exit. Driving international expansion and fundraising for high-tech startups. Business angel. McKinsey alumnus. Institute of Directors (IoD) Certified Director with Distinction.
Languages
Education
The Wharton School and the Joseph H. Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies at the University of Pennsylvania
Master of Business Administration, Master of Arts in International Studies, Management in Emerging Economies · Business Administration and International Studies · Philadelphia, United States
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Bachelor of Arts, Journalism and Mass Communications, Concentration in Advertising and Public Relations · Journalism and Mass Communications · Madison, United States · 3.93 GPA
Kliment of Okhrid University
Bulgarian Language and Literature · Sofia, Bulgaria
Certifications & licenses
Certified Director with Distinction
Institute of Directors (IoD)
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