Balderton Appoints New Partner and Expands Berlin Presence

A significant development has occurred at one of the United Kingdom’s leading venture capital firms. Colin Hanna, previously a Principal at Balderton, has been promoted to the position of Partner. This appointment introduces a new dimension to the firm’s operational structure.

Berlin as a Strategic Hub

Notably, Hanna will be officially stationed in Berlin, where he has resided since 2019. This strategic move is intended to amplify Balderton’s reach, supplementing its existing base in London. It signifies a commitment to a broader European presence.

Hanna expressed his enthusiasm, stating: “After five years with Balderton, I am honored to now consider my mentors as partners. I am eager to enhance Balderton’s distinctive methodology from Berlin, fostering opportunities for European founders with global aspirations.”

Firm Leadership Comments on the Promotion

Bernard Liautaud, Managing Partner at Balderton, remarked: “We are pleased to announce Colin’s well-deserved promotion to Partner. Since joining Balderton in 2016, Colin has made a substantial contribution to both the firm and its portfolio companies.

He continued, “Colin has reinforced our standing in the DACH region by establishing a permanent presence in Berlin and welcoming Shikha Ahluwalia to the team. Furthermore, he played a key role in defining Balderton’s Sustainable Future Goals. We are confident in Colin’s future success in this new capacity.”

New Associate Joins the Team

Accompanying Hanna will be Shikha Ahluwalia, a technology entrepreneur and founder, who joins Balderton as an Associate focusing on the DACH region. Ahluwalia previously co-founded SBL, a direct-to-consumer women’s fashion e-commerce company in India.

Prior to this, she operated a technology advisory firm and held a position within JP Morgan’s Investment Banking Division in London.

Balderton’s Investment Portfolio in DACH

Balderton currently maintains investments in 10 companies across the DACH region, including Contentful, Infarm, SOPHiA Genetics, McMakler, Demodesk, and vivenu.

Ahluwalia’s Perspective on the DACH Ecosystem

Ahluwalia shared her insights, stating: “The DACH startup ecosystem has undergone rapid evolution in recent years. We at Balderton believe that the next European technology giant will emerge from this region, and the DACH ecosystem is crucial in cultivating category-defining technology companies.

As a founder myself, I understand the unique challenges faced by young businesses. I am excited to contribute to and support founders on their journeys as part of Balderton Capital.”

Hanna Discusses Commitment to the DACH Region

In an interview, Hanna emphasized: “Shikha’s appointment strengthens our dedication to the Berlin ecosystem and the DACH region as a whole. We have been actively supporting founders in Germany for over a decade.”

Hanna’s Background and Investment Focus

Hanna’s career in venture investing began after earning a degree in Political Economy, following a childhood spent in Jakarta and Hong Kong. He joined Balderton on July 4, 2016, focusing on the growth of urban living, open-source technologies, cryptocurrency, and the political implications of technology.

Board Memberships and Investment History

He currently serves on the boards of companies such as VanMoof (e-bikes), Finoa (crypto custodian), and Rahko (quantum computing drug discovery). He also played a key role in investments in Traefik, Luno, and vivenu.

Focus on Purpose-Driven Companies

A common thread among these investments is a leaning towards “purpose-driven” ventures.

Hanna explained: “I believe the next generation of founders, particularly in Europe, prioritize impact alongside financial returns and are willing to advocate for the changes they want to see in the world. Measuring this impact is complex, and we are addressing it through our SFGs at Balderton, which I helped develop. I contend that companies like Coinbase, by adopting a neutral stance, reinforce the existing power structures rather than driving deliberate change.”

The Importance of Employee Values

“My perspective on purpose-driven companies is that when employees value a company’s principles and are discouraged from expressing those values, it can be perceived as a political issue. I don’t believe we should silence our employees.”

Views on “Depoliticization” of Businesses

When asked about the decisions of companies like Coinbase and Basecamp/37 Signals to “depoliticize” their businesses, Hanna responded:

“Each CEO has the autonomy to manage their company as they see fit. However, I believe this approach can create challenges in attracting talent. As an American, I understand the intensity and divisiveness of the political climate and can empathize with the choices made to avoid toxicity. I hope these steps do not stifle constructive dialogue about creating positive change, both individually and through our work.”

Remote Work and Due Diligence

Hanna also noted that VCs should be cautious about the increased ease of investing in a wider range of locations due to the shift to remote work. “More thorough background checks on founders are now necessary. The question is whether this makes investing ‘a little bit’ more dangerous or ‘50% more dangerous’ due to the lack of in-person meetings.”