Matthias Brix

Matthias Brix studied law at the University of Hamburg. An IT entrepreneur since his teens, in 1991 he founded an import and wholesale business for computer components sourced from Taiwan and China, which he sold successfully around 1995. He was then commissioned by the board of Axel Springer Verlag to develop a computer magazine for PC beginners — the project became *ComputerBILD*, which grew into what sources describe as the world's second-largest computer magazine, selling more than a million copies per issue.

From 1996 Brix worked as a technical advisor to DVCG, a venture-capital subsidiary of Deutsche Bank and WGZ-Bank, marking his entry into the VC industry. In mid-2000 he joined Neuhaus Partners GmbH, a Hamburg-based venture firm (founded 1998 out of Dr. Neuhaus Techno Nord) that invests in early-stage high-technology companies. As Investment Manager there he screened new deals — by his own account reviewing as many as 200–300 business plans a year — negotiated deal terms, and managed a range of portfolio investments over multiple-year holding periods.

Today Brix is the founder and principal of Brix Venture GmbH, a consultancy for high-tech companies offering startup-financing support, M&A advisory, post-merger integration, business planning, and resolution of management/shareholder disputes. He also serves as a mentor at NCA VC (Next Commerce Accelerator), where his listed areas of expertise are venture capital, corporate development & finance, business modeling, and deal sourcing.

• Invests in early-stage high-technology companies across IT/software, internet, telecom, photonics/laser, micro-systems, and multimedia — with capital paired with hands-on coaching, contacts, and network access.
• Strongly favors founding teams over solo founders, citing complementary skills and stronger team dynamics.
• Demands market knowledge and a realistic revenue model: "The first six pages must show the technical solution and, crucially, how it will ultimately make money and why customers will pay for it."
• Values founders who are coachable — willing to accept VC guidance without defensiveness.
• Blunt about return expectations: VCs aim to "verzehnfachen" (10x) their investment within roughly 4–5 years — "wir sind keine Philanthropen" ("we are not philanthropists").
• Screens hard: rejects ~80% of plans quickly, noting "viele Businesspläne sind zu dünn und wirken zusammengeschustert" ("many business plans are too thin and look cobbled together").