Founders League

What Founders League does

Founders League GmbH is a German private company (registered in Fulda, HRB 8388; operating from Mannheim) that operates an interactive live-event and network platform connecting early-stage startups with investors across the DACH region. The company runs three flagship programs: a 12-week Academy for founder education, recurring Live Show pitching events in cities such as Berlin, Munich, and Mannheim (with flagship editions hosted at the Palazzo Mannheim venue), and a 10-week non-dilutive Residency program in Berlin providing office space at Delta Campus alongside 30+ mentors. Co-founded by Marcus Diekmann, Johannes Kliesch (CEO of Snocks), Benjamin Diedering, and Julian Rauch, the company leverages the founders' personal networks and high-profile athlete-investors (including Bundesliga professionals) to source deal flow.

Beyond events, Founders League operates two marketplace platforms: an Investor Platform (Investoren-Plattform) that maintains a database of business angels and investors, and an Agency Platform (Agentur-Plattform) that connects portfolio startups with 40+ service providers across Shopify, performance marketing, SEO, PR, and other disciplines. The company also monetizes a multi-camera podcast studio located at the Mannheim office. Reported scale metrics include 60 startups served via the Residency program, 100+ investors present at flagship events, 3,000+ cumulative event attendees, and a 25% conversion rate from show participants to funded deals.

Revenue is generated through three streams: a 3.5% commission on all investor contributions from founders introduced through the platform (with a 24-month tail covering follow-on and related third-party investments), tiered event ticket sales (Classic €79.90, Premium €99.90, VIP €699.90), and podcast studio rentals. The customer base is bilateral — early-stage startups seeking visibility and capital on one side, and angels/athletes/VCs seeking curated deal flow on the other — with featured portfolio names including Simpleclub, ARMEDANGELS, Sallys Welt, Westwing, and Purelei. The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, amplified through podcast content, WhatsApp newsletters, and a partner ecosystem.

Name

Founders League

Legal name

Founders League GmbH

Website

https://foundersleague.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Founders League is a German live-event and network platform connecting early-stage startups with investors across the DACH region through flagship pitch events, a non-dilutive Berlin Residency program, a 12-week Academy, and dedicated investor and agency marketplaces, monetizing via a 3.5% commission, event tickets, and studio rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Ecosystem and Investor Matching

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB), Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)

Keywords

• Startup investor matching
• Live pitch events
• Founder mentorship programs
• Agency marketplace platform
• Business angel network

Headquarters

HQ city

Fulda

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Commission on Investor Matchings: Founders League receives 3.5% commission on all investor contributions when a startup introduced through the platform secures investment. This includes third-party investments connected to the introduced investor within 24 months of the first contribution. Startups must notify Founders League of any agreements with introduced investors within 14 days of signing.
2. Commission Extension Period: Commission claims extend to all further investor participations within 24 months after the first investment payment is received, covering follow-on investments from the same introduced investor.
3. Event Tickets: Revenue generated from ticket sales for the annual flagship event featuring conferences, live shows, masterclasses, and networking opportunities. Tiers include Classic Conference tickets, Premium Conference + Show tickets, and Limited VIP tickets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Founders League operates an interactive live-show startup ecosystem that connects founders with investors, mentors, and specialized agencies through live pitch events, a 12-week Academy program, a 10-week non-dilutive Berlin Residency, and online investor/agency matchmaking platforms. The company monetizes primarily through a 3.5% commission on successful investor introductions (extending 24 months) and through tiered ticket sales for its flagship conferences.

Product overview

Founders League is a German startup network and accelerator platform operating a multi-product ecosystem centered around live events, education, and community networking. The core offerings include the Academy (12-week educational program), Live Shows (interactive pitching events with investors), and the Residency Program (10-week Berlin residency, non-dilutive and free). Additional services include a Podcast Studio for rental, an Agency Platform connecting startups with specialized service providers, and an Investor Platform for funding connections. The platform serves startups in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland through events, masterclasses, and mentorship programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Founders League Academy: 12-week program offering mentorship and startup growth guidance.
• Founders League Residency
• Founders League Live-Show

Products and services

• Founders League Academy A 12-week educational program for startup founders providing mentorship, practical growth guidance, and access to the Founders League network of investors and entrepreneurs.
• Founders League Flagship Events and Live Shows Ticketed live conferences and live-show pitch events where selected startups present to a panel of investors, with masterclasses, networking, and after-show access for attendees. Sold via three ticket tiers (Classic Conference, Premium Conference + Show, Limited VIP).
• Founders League Residency Program A 10-week, application-based, non-dilutive, free residency in Berlin providing office space at Delta Campus, access to 30+ mentors, and structured support designed to help participating startups close investment.
• Podcast Studio Rental Rental of a professional podcast and video studio equipped with up to 4 microphones, multiple camera perspectives (including vertical), and full production equipment for founders, creators, and partners to record high-quality audio/video podcasts.
• Agency Platform (Agentur-Plattform) A marketplace platform that matches startups with vetted specialized agencies across e-commerce, marketing, finance, PR, and technology service categories, giving founders a curated route to outsourced support.
• Investor Platform (Investoren-Plattform) A database and networking platform that connects startups with business angels and venture investors; the company charges a 3.5% commission on investor contributions secured via platform introductions (extending 24 months after first investment).

Quantifiable outcome

• 25% of all show startups receive investment
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CAUSEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing partner listed on the Founders League website partners section, contributing to the ecosystem of support for startups.
• pixlipminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing partner contributing to the Founders League partner ecosystem for startup support.
• Alibaba.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational partner providing potential resources and visibility for e-commerce focused startups in the Founders League network.
• StylinkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in the Founders League ecosystem supporting startup visibility and connections.
• AXPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in the Founders League partner ecosystem providing additional support resources.
• SnockscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founding partner organization. Johannes Kliesch, CEO of Snocks, is co-founder of Founders League. Shared podcast studio and collaborative events strengthen the partnership. Snocks hosts Founders League at its Mannheim location.
• SnocksultingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated consulting firm co-founded by Johannes Kliesch and Romy Riffel. Collaborates on podcast studio operations and provides consulting services to startups in the network.
• Palazzo MannheimcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for flagship Founders League events. Located in Mannheim, described as Germany's E-commerce capital. Hosted over 1,000 investors, C-level executives, and founders at sold-out events.
• Various Agency PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 40 agencies listed on the platform covering services including Shopify development, performance marketing, branding, web development, influencer marketing, PR, SEO, email marketing, and finance/controlling for startups.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Antler: Global pre-seed investor and residency program that combines founder residencies with a curated investor network — the closest direct analog to Founders League's Academy + Residency + Live Show model.
• High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF): Germany's leading seed-stage venture fund supporting tech startups from pre-seed through Series A with a national network. Directly comparable DACH-focused early-stage investor with a similar target customer base.
• Seedcamp: European seed fund that combines early-stage investment with a network-driven model in Europe. Comparable in serving pre-seed/seed startups with European investor access and similar community-led GTM motion.
• Station F: Paris-based world's largest startup campus offering residencies, events, and partner programming. Comparable multi-product platform model and non-equity-as-default posture for early-stage founders.
• Startupbootcamp: Global accelerator network running vertical programs with mentor and investor networks. Comparable European DACH-adjacent presence, sector-agnostic accelerator format, and investor demo day mechanics.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Global accelerator network with mentor-driven programs and investor matching at scale. Operates a similar startup-to-investor pipeline but with larger cohorts, equity dilution, and broader geographic footprint than Founders League.
• Plug and Play: Global innovation platform with corporate accelerator programs, startup-investor matchmaking, and event-style demo days. Comparable in mixing events, corporate partnerships, and structured investor introductions.
• Wayra (Telefónica): Corporate-backed global accelerator network providing investment, mentorship and events. Comparable in structuring startup-corporate-investor introductions through formal program cycles.
• 500 Global (500 Startups): Global venture firm and accelerator with early-stage programs and a large investor network. Comparable in coupling founder education, accelerator cohorts, and investor-introduction platforms at scale.
• Y Combinator: Largest global startup accelerator with biannual demo days where 100+ investors evaluate hundreds of startups. The benchmark reference for the Founders League Live Show demo format, although much larger and global in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/results?search_query=founders+league
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/founders-league

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Founders League