Duc Quyen “Kim” Tran is a new associate partner at Dieter von Holtzbrinck Ventures. As an early employee, Kim has been a key contributor to the development and success of DvH Ventures. We owe some of our most successful investments to his clear analysis and instinctive feel for trends. Letting him participate in the success of DvH Ventures is the logical consequence for us.

When we founded Dieter von Holtzbrinck Ventures back in 2014, Kim was our first employee. In addition to his work as an investment manager, he was one of the driving forces that gave the young company structures and processes.

In 2015, Kim discovered Studydrive, Europe's leading online platform for students today, which he accompanied until its successful exit to Axel Springer SE in early 2019. In 2017, it was Kim who spotted NECT, the startup that finally made online identifications completely automated thanks to artificial intelligence. In 2018 after a pitch at the Idea Lab at WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management, Kim virtually signed up LiveEO on the spot, whose DeepTech algorithm now monitors the infrastructure networks not only of Deutsche Bahn but several other international power grid operators. In the midst of the 2020 Covid 19 pandemic, Kim led the investment in StudySmarter to completion, securing us shares in the best learning app for students, pupils and lifelong learning.

As associate partner, Kim oversees StudySmarter, LiveEO, SMACC, Hypatos, Masterplan.com, NECT, moneymeets, and entrafin in our portfolio.

He is an investor who is very well networked across borders, who repeatedly demonstrates his unique flair for outstanding talent and always keeps a low profile himself. An impressive character who quickly wins the trust of the founders and passes on his knowledge and many years of experience to them, thus making a significant contribution to the success of the startups.

And so today we would like to thank him most heartily for his trust, his strength and the perseverance he puts into DvH Ventures every day anew. Thank you for your efforts, Kim.

Here's to the future!