Luxembourg is currently going through a fantastic growth phase for startups. The country’s startup scene saw an increase in 2023 and jumped 6 spots from the previous year, outranking Czechia.
Similarly, Luxembourg is known as the financial capital of the EU and has a super strong economy. It can be a dream spot for many entrepreneurs to start their new businesses, but, what about angel investors?
Are there investors who will listen to your idea and provide the funding for your startup?
Yes! Luxembourg is also home to hundreds of angel investors that provide funding to businesses. However, to help you know some of the best and top-ranking names, we have prepared the following list of the top 10 angel investors in Luxembourg.
Top 10 Angel Investors in Luxembourg
Following are some of the top-ranked individual angel investors in Luxembourg.
Didier Valet
Didier Valet is a prominent angel investor based in Paris. He has a rich background in the financial sector, having served as the Deputy CEO and Head of Corporate and Investment Banking at Société Générale.
Valet prefers to invest in startups within the FinTech sector, but his interests are not limited to this area. During the investor meetings, Valet prefers businesses that are at the early stage and are led by experienced individuals. He does not invest in startups that have huge competition.
As for his investment range, Valet typically invests between €5K and €50K.
-
Linkedin: Didier Valet | LinkedIn
-
Preferred Industries: Payments, Data Services, Real Estate/PropTech, Consumer Health, Enterprise Applications, E-commerce, Consumer Internet, AI, and SaaS
-
Total Investments: 50
-
Notable Investments: Arrago, KillBils, and Omaj
Julien Coustaury
Julien Coustaury is a Founding Partner at Fil Rouge Capital. He has worked in more than 80 countries across five continents and participated in over €1.7bn of purchase, sale, and financing transactions.
Similarly, Julien Coustaury is an active angel investor and usually makes investments through mentorship events, startup accelerators, and fundraisers. Every year, He invests in around 3-4 startups that are related to Marketplace and Healthtech.
The investment range of Julein Coustaury is around €3M.
-
Linkedin: Julien Coustaury | LinkedIn
-
Preferred Industries: Marketplace, Industry 4.0, Logistics, Music, Adtech, Healthtech, and Mobility
-
Total Investments: 40
-
Notable Investments: Upflex, Envoy Commerce, and Eurosender
Matthias Hilpert
Matthias Hilpert is an angel investor who has spent over 20 years in telecoms and private equity, working at companies like Vodafone, Orange, and Salt worldwide. He started his career in product and progressed via sales towards general management.
Moreover, Hilpert likes to invest in startups at the seed stage and looks for businesses that can generate 3-4x ROI within the first 2 months of investment. Once a startup has secured the investment, Matthias Hilpert also provides it with much-needed guidance throughout the early phases.
The investment range of Matthias Hilpert can range up to €7M.
-
Linkedin: Matthias Hilpert | LinkedIn
-
Preferred Industries: Software, SaaS, Information Technology
-
Total Investments: 15
-
Notable Investments: Atlas Metrics, Workbounce, and Archlet
Alain Tingaud
Alain Tingaud is a seasoned angel investor and the Founder & CEO of Alain Tingaud Innovations. He has been an active investor since 1995 and prefers to invest in innovative startups at the Pre-Seed and Seed stages.
Moreover, Tingaud invests in the informational technology sector all across Europe and the US. He only invests in businesses that have strong teams and are led by individuals who have at least 5 years of industry experience.
The investment range of Alain Tingaud is around €1.5M.
-
Preferred Industries: Software, E-Commerce, Cryptocurrency
-
Total Investments: 14
-
Notable Investments: Trendex and Marketleap
Jugoslav Petkovic
Jugoslav Petkovic is an entrepreneur and angel investor based in Slovenia. He has more than 20 years of experience in the e-commerce and technology sector.
And if we talk about his investment interest, Petkovic likes to invest in startups with massive growth potential, particularly those that have experienced founders and teams. He selects startups through fundraisers or online platforms and invests in businesses that are gaining a lot of hype.
The investment range of Jugoslav Petkovic is around €200,000.
Khalid Zitouni
Khalid Zitouni is an angel investor based in Morocco. He has global experience in the tech industry, with leadership roles at Motorola Mobility for approximately 19 years.
Khalid Zitouni prefers to invest in startups that aim to have a positive impact on the community. He makes his investments through startup events, accelerators, and fundraisers to find the most deserving businesses that are based on innovative ideas.
The investment range of Khalid Zitouni lies between €100,000 to €1M.
-
Linkedin: Khalid Zitouni | LinkedIn
-
Preferred Industries: Tech
-
Total Investments: 2
-
Notable Investments: MarketLeap and Cloudfret
Guido Peters
Guido Peters is a German angel investor who has also started investing in Luxembourg-based startups. He started funding startups in 2016 and has always preferred to invest in businesses that can prove to be profitable.
Moreover, Guido Peters is an early-stage investor and usually looks for profits within the first 2 years. He invests in startups that have low competition and are having solid business models.
The investment range of Guido Peters lies between €80,000 to €120,000.
-
Preferred Industries: CRM, Music, Mobile
-
Total Investments: 2
-
Notable Investments: Moodme
John Li
John Li is an emerging individual angel investor and the Managing Partner and Chairman at KPMG. He made his first investment at the end of 2021 and is planning to make more investments in Luxembourg this year.
John Li usually prefers to invest in seed-stage startups and carefully evaluates several factors before providing the investment. Plus, Li also has a wide range of experience in the tech sector and he loves to guide the startups in which he invests.
The investment range of John Li is around €500,000.
-
Linkedin: John L. | LinkedIn
-
Preferred Industries: SaaS, Software, Real Estate
-
Total Investments: 1
-
Notable Investments: Kodehyve
Benoit Schaus
Benoit Schaus is an individual angel investor based in Luxembourg. He has over 30 years of experience in various fields such as audit, consulting, and management.
Moreover, Schaus has been an active investor since 2021. He is also an emerging individual investor and likes to invest in startups that can generate huge profits. Generally, Benoit Schaus invests in a startup that can at least 2x the investment within the first year of funding. He usually invests in startups through fundraisers or other startup events.
The investment range of Beniot Schaus lies between €150,000 to €700,000.
-
Preferred Industries: Software, SaaS, and Real Estate
-
Total Investments: 1
-
Notable Investments: Kodenyhyve
Andia Shtepani
Andia Shtepani is also an active angel investor. Like Benoit and John, she has also started her angel career quite recently and is trying to invest in startups that will help her expand her portfolio.
She has a strong interest in tech-related companies and has made her first investment through a fundraiser. However, she has also revealed on her LinkedIn that many of her future investments will be made through startup accelerators and related events. Most importantly, Andia Shtepani also has extensive experience in the startup landscape and she will also guide her portfolio companies, ensuring the most profitable outcomes.
The investment range of Andia Shtepani is around €800,000.
-
Linkedin: Andia P. Shtepani | LinkedIn
-
Preferred Industries: Social Media, Social Network, Sustainability
-
Total Investments: 1
-
Notable Investments: Greenworlder
How To Pitch To Angel Investors?
Even with a list of some of the top-ranked investors, you might have a hard time thinking about how will I pitch to these investors.
While some startup leaders are worried about the pitch deck, many are confused regarding the presentation slides and whatnot!
But, let us make it easy for you. Pitching to angel investors isn’t as hard as it sounds. Most of the angel investors are interested in hearing new ideas and they want to invest. Here are 10 tips to help you successfully pitch to angel investors.
1. Research Your Investors
2. Create an Elevator Pitch
3. Tell a Story
4. Be Realistic About Your Target Market
5. Include Data
6. Detail Your Early Successes and Milestones
7. Practice Your Pitch
8. Provide an Exit Strategy
9. Follow Up
10. Create a Pitch Deck
Pitch Deck
As for the final tip, a pitch deck needs more than just market stats and your team goals. You need to put in a reason why your startup is different compared with a hundred other options for angel investors to make it truly amazing.
Wrap-Up
So, there you have the list of the top angel investors in Luxembourg. However, before we conclude, I would like to mention some important tips.
The night before the investor meeting can be really stressful, especially if it's your first time pitching to an angel investor. Despite the challenges, have faith in your idea. Understand why your startup beats all those competitors and try practicing your presentation in front of the mirror.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between Venture Capital Firms and Individual Angel Investors?
A: Venture capital firms are organized setups that aggregate capital from various investors and deploy it into startups at a larger scale, offering expertise and guidance.
In contrast, individual angel investors are private individuals who invest personal funds directly into startups, typically at an early stage, using a more personalized approach and hands-on involvement in the startup's growth.
Q: How to make your startup investable?
A: To make a startup investible, focus on a scalable business model, a strong team, a well-defined market opportunity, and evidence of market validation.
Q: Do Angel Investors Provide Mentorship Programs?
A: Yes, many angel investors provide mentorship programs and financial support. They leverage their experience to offer strategic insights, assist in critical decision-making, and facilitate introductions to their network connections. This mentorship is pivotal for startups, aiding them in overcoming obstacles and expediting their growth trajectory.