The ECVA has recently made changes to its structure and governance, giving greater power to its Venture Capital, Mid Market, Large Buyout, and Limited Partner groups. The new structure takes into account the increasingly diverse nature of the industry and gives venture capital members much more control over their specific priorities and resources, and provides a direct line of communication to the Venture Council.
Hendrik Brandis said that it would be important to deliver the advantages of the newly-empowered Venture group, enhancing venture-specific services, communicating with and listening to venture members, and thus increasing the benefits and value of EVCA membership for Europe’s venture capital firms.
He added, “The second major priority for 2010 will be to address the lack of funds available for European venture capital.” The strategy to address this includes ramping up a direct global LP outreach programme, presenting a whitepaper to EU institutions on how the public sector can help address the lack of venture-minded private investors in Europe, continuing to make the ‘Case for European Venture’, and executing a broad programme to support VC exits.
Brandis was a board member of element5 AG, where he successfully participated in its sale to Digital River, dooyoo.de AG of Berlin, which was sold to leguide.com SA and Dianoema SpA., which listed on the Borsa Italiana. He currently serves on the boards of Earlybird portfolio companies conject AG, Mikini Media GmbH and nfon, which are all based in Munich, and Music Networx GmbH of Cologne.
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