Filip Dames

Filip Dames is a prominent venture capitalist and the Founding Partner of Cherry Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund based in Berlin. Since its establishment in 2013, Cherry Ventures has focused on backing innovative startups, particularly in the pre-seed and early stages, with typical investments ranging from €300,000 to €3 million. Dames emphasizes the importance of investing in strong founding teams rather than solely on ideas, advocating for a "founders first" approach.13

Prior to his role at Cherry Ventures, Dames was a key member of the founding team at Zalando, an online fashion retailer, where he served in various capacities, including leading business development and product strategy. His experience at Zalando spanned from 2009 to 2014, during which he played a crucial role in the company's international expansion and product innovation.24

Dames has been recognized for his contributions to the tech investment landscape, being named one of the Top 25 Tech Investors by Forbes in 2022. His investment philosophy focuses on identifying founders with the stamina and skills necessary to scale businesses into successful companies, as evidenced by successful investments in firms like AUTO1 Group and FlixBus.15

In addition to his professional achievements, Dames is known for his commitment to supporting ventures that create positive societal impacts, particularly in sectors like fintech, healthcare, and sustainability.4