Klaus Hommels is a prominent European investor and the founder of Lakestar, a venture capital firm specializing in early- and growth-stage investments in digital businesses. Hommels is known for his ability to identify up-and-coming tech superstars, and has an impressive portfolio of early investments that includes Facebook, Skype, Spotify, Airbnb, Klarna, and Revolut.

Location

A German citizen based in Zurich, Switzerland, Klaus graduated from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, where he obtained a Master’s in Business Administration, and started his career at Bertelsmann. 

In 1995, he moved to AOL in Germany, serving as a board member and began privately investing in technology startups during the height of the dot-com bubble burst. In 2006, Hommels joined Benchmark Capital Europe (now known as Balderton Capital) as a venture partner based in London. 

Remarkable Investments

Following his early success, Hommels was able to launch his own Venture Capital firm called Lakestar. Since 2012, Lakestar has established itself as one of the top European venture capital firms and became known for its high returns on investment.

In July 2021, Lakestar became the first venture fund in Europe to launch a SPAC on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. This was achieved when Lakestar merged with travel startup HomeToGo. The deal was worth $1.4 billion. Under Hommels’ direction, Lakestar continues to invest successfully in European tech companies, with more than 140 companies backed, and managing more than $2 billion in assets. 

In total, Klaus Hommels has made more than ten personal investments. Among them, a notable €1 million investment in the venture round of a Berlin factory in 2015.

Achievements

Klaus Hommels is influential in the European tech ecosystems, which he supports passionately through various initiatives such as ‘The Internet Foundation.’

Some of Hommels more notable achievements in the industry include:

• Forbes recognized him as being third on its 2017 Midas Touch List.
• In 2019, Forbes also named Hommels 5th on the European Midas Touch List and 46th on the Global Midas Touch List. 
• Lakestar became the first European venture fund in 2021 to launch a special purpose vehicle that totaled $332 million.
• In 2023, Forbes ranked Hommels #68 in The Midas List: Top Tech Investors
• In 2024, Forbes ranked Hommels #17 in The Midas List Europe: Top Tech Investors

Klaus Hommels in the News

Hommels and Lakestar have consistently been recognized among the most prominent and influential players in the global VC industry. In 2006, Hommels was named Europe’s most successful entrepreneurial private investor by leading European business schools IESE, INSEAD, and the University of St. Gallen. He has appeared multiple times on the Forbes Midas List, which ranks the highest-performing VC investors in the world.

In a February 17 2021 CNBC article, Hommels launched a $332 million SPAC in Europe to help European tech companies compete with the US. In a January 21 2022 Sifted article, he said, “It’s become evident that Europe is missing out in financing some of the most successful and forward-thinking startups.”

In 2024, Lakestar announced it had raised $600 million across two new funds, bringing its total assets under management to more than $2 billion.

Following the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Hommels publicly pledged to invest a “nine-digit sum” from his personal wealth to help strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities, reinforcing his belief in Europe’s strategic independence and technological sovereignt