Post by Lucius Bunk

🏗️ Building from Scratch   “Been there, done that. How difficult can it be?” I thought when we started discussing an idea at - Auerbach Schifffahrt GmbH & Co. KG - in 2019 to help digitize some remarkably analogue and frustrating maritime processes. What began as a rather simple ambition—to fund and support a single start-up—quickly evolved once we started talking to founders, investors and venture builders across the Berlin ecosystem. Fortunately, we listened and decided not to do it alone.   💡Their advice helped us not only recognize that many of the instincts that serve you well in asset-heavy industries can become constraints when building technology companies but also sparked the idea to think bigger and instead of building one company, co-launch a platform - the Venture Studio Flagship Founders.   🚀 Over the years, we have had the privilege helping launch, support and grow several ventures. Last week, we celebrated the successful sale of the first one - Kaiko Systems.   While exits often become associated with a company, a product or a moment, they are really the outcome of years of collective effort. Ideas matter. Capital matters. Strategy matters. But what matters most are people.   Talented founders willing to take risks. Operators who solve impossible problems. Advisors who challenge assumptions. Investors with conviction to back ideas long before success is guaranteed. Teams that stay committed through uncertainty, setbacks and countless iterations.   Kudos to the three Fabians - Fabian Fussek, Fabian Feldhaus, Fabian Becker - who proved to be true driving forces of ambition and inspiration from day one, with Malte Cherdron soon adding his own energy and perspective to the mix. Also to Jannes Fischer & Felix Kaiser whose innovative minds, deep-rooted start-up experience, and complementary networks provided the spark that set everything in motion. And to Johannes Berg and Philipp Hartmann, trusted sparring partners, who never hesitated to challenge assumptions and sharpen ideas. 🙏Grateful to everyone who has been and continues to be part of this remarkably inspiring journey - Teams Flagship I Tilla I ZERO44 I Sealenic I Auerbach - co-shareholders and advisors. 🔭There is more to come - so stay tuned. #VentureBuilding #Startups #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #MaritimeTech