Nico Rosberg, Formula 1 champion raises 78 million with new fund

Central to Rosberg Ventures' approach is the creation of transformative partnerships between established European industries and technology start-ups with high growth potential. In this way, companies in Europe accelerate their digital and technological transformation and, for their part, the start-ups increase their customer base and consequently their turnover. "I'm very proud because I'm a Formula 1 driver and it wasn't necessarily possible to create something in finance. I have found a new path and we are proceeding according to the business plan,' emphasises Rosberg, who adds: 'We have focused on Germany and Italy because they are the two countries to which I am most attached. Achieving this milestone underlines the demand for a fund that connects long-standing industry leaders with cutting-edge technology.

The sample gives a couple of examples: Codium, a coding platform through AI that helps developers write, test and review code within IDEs and Git, and Watershed, a platform that supports companies in measuring and reporting sustainability data. "These are understandable and useful business models for entrepreneurs. It is immediately obvious what use can be made of them and this facilitates the emergence of partnerships with traditional industrial groups," emphasises Rosberg, who then observes: "The opportunity that AI is creating they say will be bigger than the effect of the internet. The world's total Gdp to date is $100 trillion, of which $55 trillion is produced by working people, while only $15 trillion is produced by technology. Estimates put the contribution of technology growing at 20% of the world's Gdp. This is an incredible growth opportunity'.

These potentials justify, according to Rosberg, the high valuations of AI companies: 'In the best cases it is justified because they have the potential to grow in value, which we have never seen in the history of the world. Of course there will be many start-ups that may not be successful, but those that are successful will create all the returns for venture capital funds,' observes the former pilot, who points out: 'The difference with the tech bubble of 2000 is that in this case there are fundamentals to support the growth in valuations, whereas back then there were none.

Rosberg Venture's target investments are funds globally, but with a predilection for large US venture capitalists. "Our second fund of funds received more interest than we then decided to raise. We will now see how access to other venture capital funds will continue in the coming months with a view to diversifying investments. If we see the possibility of further investment opportunities, we may consider increasing the size of the second fund of funds to $100 million,' Rosberg explains.

On the podium 23 times and 30 pole positions for Nico Rosberg in 2016, the year he won the Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship. Born in 1985, German by birth and Finnish by citizenship, Rosberg, who speaks perfect Italian, is a child of art. His father Keke Rosberg became Formula 1 world champion in 1982. 'No matter how good you are as a driver, to be successful you have to have the right car and the right team behind you,' he said, and the same philosophy carries over into finance: the team remains a key element.

Between finance and sport, however, he emphasises a fundamental difference: 'In Formula 1 there is a finish line and when you pass it first you have won. In the world of business it is not the same, because there is no clear end line, there is an evolution that is not always linear. However, there is a common need in both spheres to make decisions quickly, to take a calculated risk. I am used to it, because in sport you fail more than you win and I am not afraid of risk, because I know how to fail well and because I am quick and creative in getting back on track to recover. I always calculate the worst case and am ready to act accordingly'. A skill not to be underestimated when it comes to investing in start-ups.