Robert Gallenberger

Partner

Robert Gallenberger joined btov in March 2016 initially as Venture Partner and today he is one of the partners responsible for the btov Industrial Technologies Fund. His focus lies on hardware & software investments in the fields of Industry 4.0 & Industrial IoT, Additive Manufacturing, Industrial Process Optimisation and Automation.

Prior to btov he spent 6 years in Venture and Growth Capital at Belgium investment firm Gimv where he was responsible for several investments across Europe. Before that he worked for the Boston Consulting Group in London, gathered first VC experience at DFJ Esprit and 3i and started his career at the BMW Group in Munich. Robert graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Technical University Munich, holds a Master of Science from Ecole Centrale Paris and earned an MBA from London Business School.

I am indeed deeply convinced that the world is getting better and better. But that sounds a bit too much like standard VC bullshit to me, because my investments have little to do with this – for now!

  • With btov since: March 2016

  • Expertise in / interest in the following areas: Industry 4.0, Additive Manufacturing, Industrial IoT, Industrial Process Optimisation, Robotics, Automotive, Resource efficiency

  • Favourite quote: “For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled.“ (Richard Feynman)

  • Your favourite futuristic technology: Hoverboard

Q -Which values are important to you and drive you?
RG -- See change as an opportunity
- Assume responsibility
- Respect others
Q - Which SciFi "technology" are you missing in the real world?
RG -Loss-free generation and storage of hydrogen.
Q -Which technology or which trend inspires you the most?
RG -That as Hans Rosling has shown, the most important statistics in the world (hunger, infant mortality, illiteracy, ...) have improved dramatically while the daily news suggest otherwise. I am indeed deeply convinced that the world is getting better and better. But that sounds a bit too much like standard VC bullshit to me, because my investments have little to do with this - for now!
Q -What do you like most about your job?
RG -The daily contact with founders, managers and employees who act out of their own motivation and give their best.
Q -What has been your greatest success so far?
RG -As an investor, having initiated an M&A project that enabled an earlier portfolio company to go public years later.
Q -What surprised you when you started working in venture capital?
RG -How difficult it is to have an opinion on so many things in such a short time... and how often you are wrong.
Q -Do you have a passion that you pursue besides work?
RG -Skiing... if possible in deep snow!
Q -What did you want to become when you were little?
RG -A rescue helicopter pilot in the mountains.
Q -What are you particularly good at, what is your "superpower"?
RG -Orientation of a homing pigeon - if I've been somewhere I can find my way back and forth, even without Google Maps.
Q -What are your sources of information on the net?
RG -B5 aktuell, Handelsblatt, Tagesthemen - as digital versions of fairly analog journalism.
Q -What are your top 3 favorite podcasts/books?
RG -Podcasts: Current research by Deutschlandfunk, Deutsche Welle Wirtschaft and B5 Wirtschaft Kompakt
And if I then still had time a book by Philippe Djian - although since my kids were born that has become a very rare thing.
Q -What are you currently studying, what are you learning new things?
RG -When I'm not working or busy with my kids, I listen to the basics of MIT OpenCourseWare (Signals & Systems, AI, Society of Mind) as a video podcast - mostly in the gym during cardio training.
Q -What are the most important things you have learned from founders so far?
RG -Not to give up.
Q -Which startup inspires you the most?
RG -SpaceX - as far as you can still call it a startup.
Q -Which founders do you find most inspiring?
RG -Those who put their team above themselves.
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