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Carsten Thoma is an investor and Partner at General Catalyst, as well as the President of Celonis, based in Munich, Germany. He previously co-founded the enterprise e-commerce platform Hybris in 1997, scaling the business until its reported $1.5 billion acquisition by SAP in 2013. Following the transaction, Thoma served as the Global President of SAP Hybris until 2018, overseeing the integration and expansion of the software suite. As an active angel investor and venture capitalist, he has backed numerous European technology startups, including participating in a $73 million Series B funding round for cybersecurity firm SoSafe. Earlier in his career, he worked at Hewlett Packard and earned degrees from the Graduate School of Business Administration Zurich and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. Thoma currently focuses his efforts on advising and funding early-stage enterprise software, B2B SaaS, and deep tech companies.
Carsten Thoma stands out as a highly influential figure in the European technology and venture capital landscape. As a Founding Partner at La Famiglia, a leading European venture capital firm, he brings a unique blend of entrepreneurial success and deep operational expertise to his role as an investor. La Famiglia is known for its founder-centric approach and its commitment to building category-leading companies, particularly within the B2B software ecosystem, a domain where Thoma's insights are invaluable.
Thoma's investment focus at La Famiglia is primarily centered on B2B software, enterprise technology, and digital transformation solutions. He actively seeks out innovative startups that are addressing critical business needs with scalable and impactful software products. His keen understanding of market dynamics and technology trends allows him to identify companies with strong potential for disruption and growth, often supporting them from early stages through significant scaling.
Before co-founding La Famiglia, Carsten Thoma built an impressive career marked by significant entrepreneurial achievements. He is best known as the co-founder and CEO of Hybris, a pioneering e-commerce software company. Under his leadership, Hybris grew into a global leader in customer experience and commerce platforms, ultimately leading to its acquisition by SAP in 2013 for over a billion dollars. Following the acquisition, Thoma joined the Executive Board of SAP, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the company's cloud strategy and leading its Customer Experience division (SAP Hybris). His tenure at SAP further solidified his reputation as a visionary leader capable of driving large-scale technological transformation.
His extensive background as an operator, having built and scaled a successful software company and then integrated it into a global enterprise giant, provides him with a profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by founders. This experience informs his investment decisions and enables him to offer strategic guidance that goes far beyond capital. While specific individual investments are often part of La Famiglia's broader portfolio, Thoma's influence is evident in the firm's strong track record in backing companies that are redefining enterprise software and B2B solutions across Europe and globally. He is a strong advocate for European tech talent and is dedicated to fostering an environment where ambitious founders can thrive and build world-class businesses.
Carsten Thoma is a prominent investor and Founding Partner at La Famiglia, a leading European venture capital firm. He is also known for co-founding Hybris, an e-commerce software company acquired by SAP, and for his executive role at SAP.
Carsten Thoma primarily invests in B2B software, enterprise technology, and digital transformation solutions. He focuses on backing innovative startups with strong potential for growth and disruption in these sectors.
Carsten Thoma works as a Founding Partner at La Famiglia, a European venture capital firm. He plays a key role in identifying and supporting promising B2B tech companies.
