Romy Schnelle

Romy Schnelle is the Geschäftsführerin (Managing Director) at the High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), a prominent venture capital firm in Germany focused on seed investments. She was appointed to this position in May 2023, succeeding as part of a leadership team alongside Dr. Alex von Frankenberg and Guido Schlitzer.12

Career Overview

• Experience: Schnelle has been involved in the startup ecosystem for over 20 years, joining HTGF in 2008 as a partner in the Digital Tech sector. She oversees approximately 30 investments, focusing on areas such as Climate Tech, Digital Health, Fintech, AI, and SaaS. Notably, she has successfully exited ten companies from her portfolio, including Stocard and Kiwigrid.12
• Previous Ventures: Before her tenure at HTGF, Schnelle co-founded the Fraunhofer spin-off IOSONO, which is now known as Barco Audio Technologies. Her career began in business development at the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology.24

Educational Background

Schnelle studied Media Science at the Technische Universität Ilmenau, which laid the foundation for her expertise in technology and innovation.2

Contributions and Vision

Romy Schnelle is recognized not only for her investment acumen but also as a role model for women in venture capital. Her leadership aims to further develop HTGF's portfolio and support emerging startups with innovative potential. She emphasizes the importance of innovation and the dynamic nature of startups in driving change.13