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Filip Dames is a Founding Partner at Cherry Ventures, based in Berlin, Germany. Before transitioning to venture capital, he was a founding team member and Vice President at Zalando, where he led international expansion and served as CEO of Zalando Lounge prior to the company's $6.7 billion initial public offering in 2014. He previously worked as a strategy consultant at McKinsey & Company after graduating from the WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management. At Cherry Ventures, Dames manages approximately $700 million in total assets, recently securing a $500 million fund to lead pre-seed and seed rounds ranging from €300,000 to €3 million. His venture investment track record includes backing prominent European technology companies including AUTO1 Group, FlixBus, and Mistral. Dames currently focuses on funding early-stage European founders building deep tech, artificial intelligence, and fintech enterprises.
Filip Dames stands as a pivotal figure in the European startup ecosystem, renowned for his dual role as a successful entrepreneur and a discerning venture capitalist. As a founding Partner at Cherry Ventures, a prominent early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Berlin, Dames plays a crucial role in shaping the future of European technology. His expertise and strategic vision are instrumental in identifying and nurturing the next generation of market leaders across the continent.
At Cherry Ventures, Filip Dames is deeply involved in the firm's investment strategy, focusing on seed-stage opportunities across a diverse range of sectors. His investment focus areas typically include B2B SaaS, fintech, e-commerce, consumer internet, marketplaces, and deep tech. He is known for backing ambitious founders with innovative ideas that have the potential to disrupt established industries or create entirely new markets. Dames' approach is characterized by a hands-on philosophy, offering not just capital but also invaluable mentorship and operational guidance to portfolio companies, helping them navigate the complexities of rapid growth.
Dames' career background is exceptionally strong, providing him with a unique perspective as an investor. Prior to co-founding Cherry Ventures, he was a co-founder of Zalando, one of Europe's most successful e-commerce companies. This firsthand experience of scaling a startup from inception to a multi-billion-euro public company gives him unparalleled insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by entrepreneurs. His time at Rocket Internet further honed his operational acumen and understanding of rapid business expansion. This entrepreneurial journey underpins his ability to empathize with founders and provide relevant, actionable advice that goes beyond mere financial backing.
While specific individual investments by Filip Dames are often part of Cherry Ventures' collective portfolio, the firm has an impressive track record. Cherry Ventures has notably invested in companies such as Auto1 Group, FlixBus, Forto, Spryker, sennder, and Flink, among many others. As a founding partner, Dames has been integral to the strategic direction and success of these and numerous other investments, contributing significantly to the firm's reputation as a top-tier early-stage investor in Europe. His commitment to fostering innovation and supporting entrepreneurial talent continues to make a substantial impact on the European tech landscape, driving economic growth and technological advancement.
Filip Dames is a founding Partner at Cherry Ventures, a leading early-stage venture capital firm based in Berlin, and a co-founder of Zalando, one of Europe's most successful e-commerce companies.
Filip Dames, through Cherry Ventures, primarily invests in early-stage European tech companies. His focus areas include B2B SaaS, fintech, e-commerce, consumer internet, marketplaces, and deep tech.
Filip Dames works as a founding Partner at Cherry Ventures, a venture capital firm headquartered in Berlin, Germany.
