Robin Haak

Robin Haak is a prominent figure in the European venture capital landscape, known for his transition from a successful operational career into early-stage investing. Born in Hanover, Germany, and educated in political science, law, and economics, Haak's career initially spanned significant roles in corporate development and human resources. Notably, he served as Head of HR & New Ventures at Axel Springer SE, a leading European media and technology company, where he gained deep insights into scaling businesses and identifying emerging market opportunities. This operational background, including co-founding the successful Jobandtalent, provides him with a unique perspective as an investor, enabling him to offer more than just capital to his portfolio companies.

Currently, Robin Haak is a Co-founder and General Partner at Shio Capital, a Berlin-based venture capital firm he established to focus on the pre-seed and seed stages of promising European startups. Shio Capital's investment thesis is sharply defined, targeting companies within B2B SaaS, Artificial Intelligence, and the Future of Work sectors. The firm specifically looks for innovative solutions that address critical business needs and demonstrate strong potential for scalability. Their geographic focus is primarily Europe, with a particular emphasis on the vibrant German startup ecosystem.

Shio Capital typically deploys initial checks ranging from €250,000 to €1.5 million, providing crucial early funding to help founders build and validate their products. Robin Haak's personal investment track record is extensive, with over 100 investments made across various companies, demonstrating his commitment to fostering innovation. His approach emphasizes active support, leveraging his vast network and operational expertise to guide portfolio companies through their initial growth phases. He is known for backing founders with strong vision and execution capabilities, seeking to build long-term partnerships rather than just transactional investments.

Haak's influence extends beyond direct investments; he is also a frequent speaker and mentor within the startup community, sharing his insights on market trends and entrepreneurial challenges. His strategic guidance and hands-on involvement are highly valued by the startups he supports, reflecting his belief that successful venture capital is about building robust ecosystems and empowering the next generation of industry leaders. This comprehensive support model, combined with targeted sector focus, positions Robin Haak and Shio Capital as key players in the European early-stage funding landscape.