Chris Hitchen is the Germany-based, Australian-born Founder and Managing Partner of Inventures. Inventures invests €100k - €500k globally in early stage tech companies and actively helps founders reach their first institutional VC Round. Chris started out as an entrepreneur; he built and sold price comparison business Getprice to News Corp, eCommerce marketplace Next Commerce to Future PLC and programmatic ad marketplace Hynt to Zalando. He has invested in more than 60 startups. Prior to establishing Inventures, he was an angel investor and worked as Venture Partner with VC funds EQT Ventures, Project A and SquarePeg Capital.
In this chat with Phaedon, Chris talks about:
His investment thesis and the structure of his portfolio
What he looks for in a founder
Why he doesn’t join boards anymore
The backchannels he uses to conduct due diligence
The LPs that make up his fund
Recommendations from Chris:Books - Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Evans, The Road to Character by David BrooksPodcast - The Twenty Minute VC, Notion Capital, Where Should We Begin with Esther PerelNews Source - TwitterHoliday Destination - South Tyrol, Italy Favorite Founders - Bill Gates, Mike Cannon-BrookesProductivity Tool - QatalogTed Talk Topic - "How We Turn Off & Disengage"

<div>Chris Hitchen is the Germany-based, Australian-born Founder and Managing Partner of Inventures. Inventures invests €100k - €500k globally in early stage tech companies and actively helps founders reach their first institutional VC Round. Chris started out as an entrepreneur; he built and sold price comparison business Getprice to News Corp, eCommerce marketplace Next Commerce to Future PLC and programmatic ad marketplace Hynt to Zalando. He has invested in more than 60 startups. Prior to establishing Inventures, he was an angel investor and worked as Venture Partner with VC funds EQT Ventures, Project A and SquarePeg Capital.</div><div><br></div><div>In this chat with Phaedon, Chris talks about:</div><ul><li>His investment thesis and the structure of his portfolio</li><li>What he looks for in a founder</li><li>Why he doesn’t join boards anymore</li><li>The backchannels he uses to conduct due diligence</li><li>The LPs that make up his fund</li></ul><div><br></div><div>Recommendations from Chris:</div><div>Books - <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Where-Crawdads-Sing-Delia-Owens/dp/0735219095" target="_blank">Where the Crawdads Sing</a> by Delia Evans, <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Road-Character-David-Brooks/dp/081299325X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=4QERJM5AHVFN&amp;dchild=1&amp;keywords=the+road+to+character&amp;qid=1602818361&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=the+road+to+chara%252Cstripbooks%252C316&amp;sr=1-1" target="_blank">The Road to Character</a> by David Brooks</div><div>Podcast - <a href="https://thetwentyminutevc.com/" target="_blank">The Twenty Minute VC</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/notion-capital-enterprise-tech-startups/id1089580380" target="_blank">Notion Capital</a>, <a href="https://whereshouldwebegin.estherperel.com/" target="_blank">Where Should We Begin with Esther Perel</a></div><div>News Source - Twitter</div><div>Holiday Destination - South Tyrol, Italy </div><div>Favorite Founders - Bill Gates, Mike Cannon-Brookes</div><div>Productivity Tool - Qatalog</div><div>Ted Talk Topic - "How We Turn Off &amp; Disengage"</div>

There is a lot of activity in the Australian startup ecosystem. Ideas, talent, and money are all flowing into this sector at an unprecedented rate. 

This weekly podcast brings in-depth interviews with the best people making the biggest difference.

It's brought to you by Ian Gardiner and Phaedon Stough, technology entrepreneurs helping to grow the startup sector in Australia and New Zealand. Ian and Phaedon co-founded Innovation Bay with a clear mission to help technology entrepreneurs succeed.

A weekly deep dive into Australia's tech and startup ecosystem. Brought to you by Innovation Bay

Open the Pod Bay Doors

The Australian and New Zealand startup ecosystem is burgeoning, exciting and filled with some of the most fascinating minds on the planet, all driven by a passion to make a positive and lasting impact. Open The Pod Bay Doors invites some of the brightest minds in the industry for deep conversations and awe-inspiring insights from their captivating journeys. Lend us your ears to gain some fresh knowledge and broaden your insights. Brought to you weekly by Innovation Bay. 

<p>The Australian and New Zealand startup ecosystem is burgeoning, exciting and filled with some of the most fascinating minds on the planet, all driven by a passion to make a positive and lasting impact. Open The Pod Bay Doors invites some of the brightest minds in the industry for deep conversations and awe-inspiring insights from their captivating journeys. Lend us your ears to gain some fresh knowledge and broaden your insights. Brought to you weekly by Innovation Bay. </p>

Chris Hitchen is the Germany-based, Australian-born Founder and Managing Partner of Inventures. Inventures invests €100k - €500...

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