In the first podcast episode of 2025, we are excited to welcome Nico Zeifang, Co-Founder and Partner at Penguin Capital.

Penguin Capital is an investment firm with a competitive edge in the Lower-Mid Market. Backed by 50 entrepreneurial families, we combine data-driven expertise with firsthand entrepreneurial experience, offering our investors unique access to top-tier, oversubscribed Private Equity funds and Co-Investments across North America, Europe, and select global markets.

This podcast episode discusses key topics in private equity and investment strategies. The conversation explores the challenges and opportunities of IPOs, the role of data analysis in investment decisions, and the growing influence of AI on the business landscape. Nico also shares insights into portfolio diversification, the importance of human intuition in technology, and success factors for funds and co-investments, offering a comprehensive view of the evolving investment world.

In this week's podcast episode, we are excited to welcome Richard Kunzer, Founding Partner at Integrum.

Integrum is a mission-driven, technology-focused investment firm founded by experienced leaders with diverse backgrounds. The firm invests in sectors like Insurance Services, Payments, Business & Professional Services, and Capital-Light Financial Services across North America. Integrum seeks scalable, profitable companies with strong client relationships and innovation potential. Their value creation approach focuses on strategic partnerships, accelerating growth, attracting top talent, and implementing best practices.

In this podcast episode, the current economic situation in the U.S. is highlighted, along with insights into the impact of AI on the economy. The founding and vision of Integrum are explored, along with discussions on investment strategies and the importance of strong management teams. Key success factors for companies and investments are examined, as well as growth strategies focused on mid-sized businesses. Market opportunities and geographical focus areas are identified, and exit strategies and investor relations are discussed. The episode concludes with market forecasts and predictions for future developments.

In this week's podcast episode, we are excited to welcome Richard Clarke, Managing Director of Private Equity & Venture Capital at ODDO BHF.

ODDO BHF is a European financial group with over 180 years of history, managing €142 billion in assets across Private Wealth Management, Asset Management, and Corporate & Investment Banking. Serving 60,000 clients, the group emphasizes an entrepreneurial spirit, aligning employee and client interests by offering staff the chance to become shareholders alongside the ODDO family, who own 90% of the group. With a focus on talent development, ODDO BHF delivers tailored financial solutions, aiming to create a world where every day brings new opportunities.

This episode explores the key differences between institutional and private investors, offering insights into the evolving landscape of venture capital. It analyzes current market trends and examines the impact of artificial intelligence on investment strategies. A detailed overview of ODDO BHF and its unique approaches is provided, along with a focus on technology investments and portfolio allocation. Investment strategies across different sectors are discussed, as well as opportunities in secondary markets. The episode also delves into the evaluation and due diligence processes, the democratization of private equity and venture capital, and the future of technology ventures and liquidity trends.

In this week's podcast episode, we are excited to welcome Julien Marencic, Partner and Founder at Jera Capital.

Jera Capital specializes in providing selective exposure to unlisted companies through secondary transactions in partnership with leading private equity managers in North America and Western Europe. The firm focuses on acquiring stakes in well-established companies with strong potential for value creation and sustainability. Founded by private equity veterans from a large Nordic asset manager, Jera Capital offers investors instant and flexible access to private equity, along with improved liquidity. Headquartered in Copenhagen with operations in Luxembourg, Jera Capital is supported by recognized institutional and private investors and collaborates with top industry partners.

This podcast episode explores the significance of Private Equity Secondaries and their role in today's market, highlighting how Jera Capital strategically selects high-quality companies and managers. It delves into the impact of current market developments on private equity, emphasizing the importance of diversification and geographic focus. The episode also covers the challenges and opportunities in democratizing private markets, including the role of artificial intelligence in the private ecosystem and the complexities of finding high-quality assets through secondary sales.

In der dieswöchigen Podcast-Episode freuen wir uns, David Riemer, Co-Founder von arttrade, zu begrüßen.

arttrade bietet Zugang zu Blue Chip Kunst von renommierten Künstlern aus der ganzen Welt und ermöglicht außergewöhnliche Renditen sowie Unabhängigkeit von traditionellen Finanzmärkten. Durch Tokenisierung ermöglicht das Unternehmen anteilige Investitionen in einzelne Kunstwerke und diversifizierte Portfolios, ähnlich einem Fonds, und gewährleistet so maximale Diversifikation bei minimalen Kosten. Die Investitionen von Arttrade sind durch vollständig regulierte Wertpapiere nach dem elektronischen Wertpapiergesetz (eWpG) mit ISINs abgesichert, was einen transparenten, kosteneffizienten und vollständig digitalen Prozess sicherstellt. Durch die Demokratisierung von hochwertigen Kunst Investitionen hat sich Arttrade als führender Anbieter moderner und sicherer Kunstinvestmentlösungen etabliert.

Diese Podcast-Episode untersucht das Potenzial und die Zugänglichkeit von Investitionen in Blue Chip Kunst und analysiert die Auswirkungen globaler Ereignisse wie geopolitischer Krisen auf dem Kunstmarkt. Es wird die strategische Zusammensetzung der Arttrade-Portfolios behandelt und auf attraktive Investitionsmöglichkeiten hingewiesen. Die Episode beschreibt den Prozess des Verkaufs von Kunstwerken über Arttrade, Maßnahmen zur Echtheitsprüfung und optimale Vertriebskanäle. Zudem werden die Beweggründe für Investitionen in Kunst, die Integration von Kunst in Anlageportfolios sowie deren Verbesserung und Zukunftsprognosen für das Wachstum des Kunstmarktes erörtert.

In der dieswöchigen Podcast-Episode freuen wir uns, Volker Braunberger, Gründer von fundsonchain und Geschäftsführer bei intas.tech, zu begrüßen.

Gegründet im Jahr 2021 von Volker Braunberger und Johann Hainzinger, ist fundsonchain eine führende Plattform für die rechtlich konforme Handhabung von tokenisierten und digitalen Vermögenswerten. Mit über zwei Jahrzehnten Branchenerfahrung entspricht die Lösung den rechtlichen Vorgaben der EU. Durch die Integration der Tokenisierung in einen umfassenden Workflow hilft fundsonchain Vermögensverwaltern, ihre Geschäfte zu digitalisieren und zukunftssicher zu machen, indem sie Blockchain-Technologie nutzen. Das Ziel ist es, digitale Vermögenswerte, insbesondere Investmentfonds, sowohl für Privatanleger als auch für institutionelle Investoren äußerst attraktiv zu machen.

In dieser Podcast-Episode wird die Bedeutung der Tokenisierung im Asset Management beleuchtet. Es geht um die effiziente Umsetzung von Fonds durch Tokenisierung, die Herausforderungen und Chancen der Tokenisierung von Eigenkapital sowie den aktuellen Stand der Tokenisierung in der Finanzbranche. Auch der langsame Fortschritt und die Bedeutung von Bildung und Bewusstsein für die Akzeptanz werden thematisiert. Ein weiterer Schwerpunkt liegt auf dem Europäischen Langfristigen Investmentfonds (LTFs), der neue Möglichkeiten für Privatanleger bietet, aber auch Risiken und hohe Mindestanlagevolumen mit sich bringt. Abschließend wird erläutert, wie Blockchain-Technologie Effizienz und Kosteneinsparungen im LTIV ermöglicht und die Digitalisierung von Vertriebskanälen und Partnerschaften unterstützt.

In this week's podcast episode, we are excited to welcome Tim van Delden, Founder and Managing Partner of HPE Growth.

Established in 2010, HPE Growth is a leading pan-European private equity firm specialising in early to mid-growth capital investments in technology companies, with over EUR 600 million in assets under management. HPE focuses on high-growth software and internet-enabled businesses that have outgrown early-stage risks and are poised for market leadership. By investing EUR 10 to 40 million per transaction, HPE provides equity and active support to drive expansion. Notable investments include PPRO, Tiqets, eGym, Uberall, and WeTransfer.

In this episode, the intricacies of structuring a successful private equity portfolio are explored, highlighting the pivotal role of artificial intelligence and data analysis in the investment process. The discussion covers the importance of maintaining strong relationships with the management team and stakeholders, and how integrating experience and values can drive company success. Additionally, the episode highlights the importance of secondary transactions and the significance of investments from institutional investors. Listeners can tune in for expert insights and practical advice on navigating the dynamic landscape of private equity.

In der dieswöchigen Podcast-Episode freuen wir uns, Paul Kucerin, Managing Director bei Armen, begrüßen zu dürfen.

Armen ist ein führender europäischer Pionier in GP Stakes-Transaktionen und konzentriert sich darauf, Anteile an Managementgesellschaften in der alternativen Industrie zu erwerben, um deren Wachstum zu unterstützen. Mit Büros in Paris, London und Hamburg kombiniert Armen lokale Expertise mit einer globalen Strategie, um die Investorenbasis der General Partners über Europa hinaus zu erweitern und ihr strategisches Wachstum in Nordamerika zu fördern. Das Team von Armen, bestehend aus 19 Experten in Europa und den USA, nutzt umfassende Erfahrung in den Bereichen Investition, Geschäftsentwicklung und Führungsmanagement, um GPs dabei zu helfen, langfristige Ziele zu erreichen.

Diese Podcast-Episode bietet Einblicke in die neuesten Trends und Entwicklungen auf der SuperReturn Konferenz. Es werden Themen wie Exit-Vorbereitungen und Unternehmensberatung sowie die Rolle von GP Stakes in Europa behandelt. Zudem wird erläutert, wie Portfolios effektiv strukturiert und diversifiziert werden können, und die Bedeutung von ESG-Faktoren im Selektionsprozess beleuchtet. Die Wichtigkeit gründlicher Due Diligence bei GP Stakes und Armens Exit-Strategien werden ebenfalls thematisiert. Abschließend werden die Vorteile von Investitionen in GP-Stakes-Fonds und die zunehmende Zugänglichkeit privater Märkte erörtert.

In this week's podcast episode, we are excited to welcome Dr. Terhi Vapola, Managing Partner and Founder at Greencode Ventures and Investor and Board Observer at LiveEO. 

Green Code Ventures is a digital-first venture capital firm focused on the green transition by supporting startups that generate positive environmental and social impacts while building scalable, profitable businesses. Committed to sustainable investments as outlined in Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 on sustainability-related disclosures in the financial sector (SFDR), the firm invests in companies whose products or services inherently contribute to sustainable investment objectives. By fostering these innovative enterprises, Green Code Ventures aims to drive significant environmental and social change. 

In this episode, insights into the fascinating beginnings at Nokia and Wacom are revealed, highlighting the importance of AI's transformative power in the green transition. The intersection of AI and venture capital is explored, along with the founding of Green Code Ventures and their approach to team management. Gain knowledge about portfolio structure and the critical role of trust in investments, and examine the relationship between impact and return, as well as the competition and future prospects in the investment sector.

In this week's podcast episode, we are excited to welcome Blair Jacobson, Partner and Co-Head of European Credit in the Ares Credit Group.

Ares Management Corporation is a prominent global alternative investment manager that offers a range of primary and secondary investment solutions across credit, private equity, real estate, and infrastructure asset classes. The company aims to provide flexible capital to support businesses and generate value for stakeholders and communities. Through collaboration across its investment groups, Ares seeks to achieve consistent and attractive returns throughout market cycles.

In this episode, we delve into the development of the credit market in Europe, exploring current trends and future prospects. Blair Jacobson discusses Ares Credit Group strategic investment focus. Learning about Ares' approach to private debt, emphasising the importance of selectivity and diversification for building robust and resilient investment portfolios. Finally, we look ahead to the future of the private debt market, uncovering the opportunities for growth and innovation that are shaping its evolution. 

Join us for an insightful discussion on the dynamics of the credit market and the strategic perspectives of Ares Management.