Stefan Glänzer

Stefan Glänzer is a highly experienced entrepreneur and investor based in London, widely recognized for his significant contributions to the European tech ecosystem. With a robust background in founding and scaling successful internet businesses, he brings a founder-centric perspective to his investment activities. Glänzer notably co-founded ricardo.de, an online auction platform that was sold to QXL for approximately €430 million, and was also instrumental in the early days of lastminute.com, which achieved a £100 million IPO. This extensive entrepreneurial journey laid the groundwork for his transition into venture capital.

As a founding partner at Passion Capital, a leading seed-stage venture capital firm based in London, Stefan Glänzer primarily focuses on early-stage technology companies. Passion Capital is known for being one of the first institutional investors in promising startups, often leading seed rounds. The firm targets disruptive businesses across various sectors, including fintech, SaaS, marketplaces, and consumer internet, with a strong emphasis on companies poised for significant growth and market disruption. His investment philosophy is deeply influenced by his own experiences building and exiting companies, leading him to back ambitious founders with bold visions.

Passion Capital's typical initial investment ranges from approximately $300,000 to $1.2 million, positioning them firmly within the seed and pre-seed investment landscape. While this is their usual first cheque, they have the capacity to deploy up to $2.5 million or more in subsequent rounds for high-performing portfolio companies. Glänzer and Passion Capital are actively involved with their portfolio companies, offering strategic guidance and leveraging their extensive network to support growth. Their portfolio includes notable successes such as GoCardless, Monzo, and Lendable, underscoring their ability to identify and nurture high-potential ventures.