A trio of German entrepreneurs and investors have launched a new venture studio in Berlin, MVP Founders, with plans to build two to three companies annually across various industries.
Meet the Founders
MVP Founders is spearheaded by:
- Tobias Schüle – Cofounder of Foodspring, a nutrition startup acquired by Mars in 2019.
- Tim Tepass – Founder of recruitment startup Hytch and an active angel investor.
- Fabian Wittleben – A venture builder who has co-founded five companies, including Pactos.ai, an AI-driven workforce management platform, and new:soul, a massage chain.
How MVP Founders Supports Startups
Unlike traditional VCs, MVP Founders takes a hands-on approach, working closely with entrepreneurs to refine business ideas, develop strategic roadmaps, and secure funding.
The studio’s founders commit up to €1 million in initial funding for each venture, often supplemented by angel investors and family offices. Notable investors involved include:
- Oliver Merkel (Flink cofounder)
- Philipp Schrempp (Foodspring cofounder)
- Alexander Artope (Smava founder)
- DLF Venture, a Luxembourg-based family office
Combined, the studio and its external investors typically take 30% equity in a startup’s initial funding round. Venture studios generally acquire higher equity stakes than traditional VCs—sometimes up to 80%, per Harvard Business Review—due to their active role in company development.
MVP Founders differentiates itself by prioritizing strategic and sustainable growth rather than rapid, venture-backed scaling. “We consciously decided against building an incubator that mass-produces startups,” says Wittleben. Instead, the studio maintains a small, hands-on team dedicated to helping founders with key business operations, including hiring, go-to-market strategies, and fundraising.
Unlike many venture studios seeking the next unicorn, MVP Founders is not solely focused on high-growth, VC-dependent startups. Instead, the team supports companies that emphasize strong revenue generation and solid unit economics—even if they never pursue venture capital.
Challenging the VC Growth Model
Many startups assume VC funding is essential for scaling. However, MVP Founders challenges that mindset, arguing that not all business models align with traditional VC expectations. “Some founders raise too much money, too quickly, and end up overly diluted,” says Wittleben.
The studio is open to various business models, including those that don’t fit the typical VC mold. For instance, brick-and-mortar businesses—such as hotel chains—can generate revenue and prove traction early on without requiring extensive venture funding.
MVP Founders has already begun building its first two startups:
- Mitte – A boutique club focused on padel, a sport that blends squash and tennis.
- A stealth-mode startup operating in e-commerce and gaming.
As the studio gains traction, it will continue shaping startups that prioritize long-term sustainability over aggressive scaling, positioning itself as a unique player in Berlin’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
