xDeck
from founders

from founders

For founders.

from founders

our motivation

The idea for xdeck grew when we started to build THE SHIP, FOND OF’s new home. We are driven by the desire to create real impact and give back to the community. By helping other founders and by educating young people. At the same time, we believe there are positive spillover effects from having startup founders and new ideas around. We want to give team players at FOND OF and all xdeck partners the opportunity to engage with startups, to be inspired by entrepreneurs and to commit their time and ideas in working with founders.

Founding xdeck was not driven by investment or profit-generating rationales. We do not require equity from founders to join our accelerator. We are open for pilot projects if they add value to your business. The mission that unites us and all of our partners: Support the next generation of successful founders! Build Europe's future.

Our vision

On xdeck, we provide new fuel for entrepreneurship. We are a platform for revolutionary ideas from across Europe. We work with founders to create lasting businesses. We work with universities to foster positive innovation. And we will work with school kids to educate them about entrepreneurship and tackling the challenges of tomorrow. We want to make a difference.

impact

We want to create impact and enable other founders to grow their own successful ventures. And thereby build a better tomorrow. This is what we pursue with our accelerator.

contribution

We want to contribute to the community and educate kids and teenagers about the economy and entrepreneurship. We believe that in Germany and Europe, it is key to our future to develop entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs can help us cope with the challenges of tomorrow. This is why we want to go to schools.

opportunity

We want to give everybody supporting xdeck - especially our partners, their people and our team players at FOND OF - the opportunity of engaging with startups, of being inspired by entrepreneurs, of committing their time and ideas in working with founders and young people.

motivation

We are not driven by investment or profit-generating rationales. We do not take equity from founders in our accelerator. It is possible that FOND OF's founders Flo, Oli, Sven later invest in a selected startup from xdeck, but this is not obligatory. We believe in the impact for the community and in a positive impact for all partners making xdeck possible.

meet the team

Slide 1 of 11

  • Oliver Steinki,Founding Partner

    Co-founder FOND OF and developer & owner of THE SHIP. Oli is passionate about finance, operations and real estate development. He used to be a banker and has a Ph.D. in Financial Mathematics.

    Oli
    Founding Partner

  • Sven-Oliver Pink,Founding Partner

    Co-founder FOND OF and owner of THE SHIP. Sven is passionate about building new brands from scratch, organizational development and visionary ideas. He used to be a consultant and holds a degree in business.

    Sven
    Founding Partner

  • Florian Michajlezko,Founding Partner

    Co-founder FOND OF and owner of THE SHIP. Flo is passionate about product development, distribution and teamwork. He used to be a financial consultant and holds a degree in business.

    Flo
    Founding Partner

  • Nils Eiteneyer,Co-Founder

    Nils is passionate about building new businesses and impact in the team. He used to be managing director of a retail startup invested in by FOND OF, head of RWTH's startup center and a consultant at McKinsey. He holds a Ph.D. in Entrepreneurial Finance and Innovation.

    Nils
    Co-Founder

  • Dr. Markus Gick,Co-Managing Director

    Markus is passionate about people, partnerships and personal progress. He used to be consultant at BCG, project manager at Bertelsmann Stiftung and co-founded the startup Skill4School as well as NRWalley. He holds a Ph. D. in International Law and Empirical Legal Studies.

    Markus
    Co-Managing Director

  • Christina Bergmann,Marketing Associate

    Christina is passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation. She has previously worked as a marketing specialist in various industries, including a startup healthcare company. She holds a master's degree in communications.

    Christina
    Marketing Associate

  • Nik Tavakoli,Ventures Associate

    Consultant at McKinsey Digital currently on leave for xdeck. Nik is passionate about digital business models and finance. He used to be a self-employed tech consultant and a product team member at company builder Finleap. He holds a master's degree in Finance.

    Nik
    Ventures Associate

  • Malte Geisen,Junior Analyst

    Malte is passionate about new business models and university startups. He is also chairman of the Entrepreneurs Club Cologne e.V. & co-founder of RHIVE. He is just about to complete his degree at the University of Cologne.

    Malte
    Junior Analyst

  • Nadja Riedel,Marketing Associate

    Nadja is passionate about innovative businesses. She used to work as an e-commerce specialist for a retail startup and has already launched an own early-stage business. She holds a bachelor's degree in social sciences and media science.

    Nadja
    Marketing Associate

  • Dennis Zeiler,Ventures Associate

    Dennis is passionate about supporting founders in building and scaling their ventures. He used to be head of the incubator at WHU, the business school that’s so famous for its many startups and founders. He is about to complete his Ph.D. on the topic of entrepreneurial passion.

    Dennis
    Ventures Associate

  • Elias Gehrke,Junior Analyst

    Elias is passionate about discovering innovative startups and supporting their founders. He used to be a finance analyst at Rocket Internet. He holds a bachelor's degree in business adminstration.

    Elias
    Junior Analyst
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meet the team

Slide 1 of 11

  • Oliver Steinki,Founding Partner

    Co-founder FOND OF and developer & owner of THE SHIP. Oli is passionate about finance, operations and real estate development. He used to be a banker and has a Ph.D. in Financial Mathematics.

    Oli
    Founding Partner

  • Sven-Oliver Pink,Founding Partner

    Co-founder FOND OF and owner of THE SHIP. Sven is passionate about building new brands from scratch, organizational development and visionary ideas. He used to be a consultant and holds a degree in business.

    Sven
    Founding Partner

  • Florian Michajlezko,Founding Partner

    Co-founder FOND OF and owner of THE SHIP. Flo is passionate about product development, distribution and teamwork. He used to be a financial consultant and holds a degree in business.

    Flo
    Founding Partner

  • Nils Eiteneyer,Co-Founder

    Nils is passionate about building new businesses and impact in the team. He used to be managing director of a retail startup invested in by FOND OF, head of RWTH's startup center and a consultant at McKinsey. He holds a Ph.D. in Entrepreneurial Finance and Innovation.

    Nils
    Co-Founder

  • Dr. Markus Gick,Co-Managing Director

    Markus is passionate about people, partnerships and personal progress. He used to be consultant at BCG, project manager at Bertelsmann Stiftung and co-founded the startup Skill4School as well as NRWalley. He holds a Ph. D. in International Law and Empirical Legal Studies.

    Markus
    Co-Managing Director

  • Christina Bergmann,Marketing Associate

    Christina is passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation. She has previously worked as a marketing specialist in various industries, including a startup healthcare company. She holds a master's degree in communications.

    Christina
    Marketing Associate

  • Nik Tavakoli,Ventures Associate

    Consultant at McKinsey Digital currently on leave for xdeck. Nik is passionate about digital business models and finance. He used to be a self-employed tech consultant and a product team member at company builder Finleap. He holds a master's degree in Finance.

    Nik
    Ventures Associate

  • Malte Geisen,Junior Analyst

    Malte is passionate about new business models and university startups. He is also chairman of the Entrepreneurs Club Cologne e.V. & co-founder of RHIVE. He is just about to complete his degree at the University of Cologne.

    Malte
    Junior Analyst

  • Nadja Riedel,Marketing Associate

    Nadja is passionate about innovative businesses. She used to work as an e-commerce specialist for a retail startup and has already launched an own early-stage business. She holds a bachelor's degree in social sciences and media science.

    Nadja
    Marketing Associate

  • Dennis Zeiler,Ventures Associate

    Dennis is passionate about supporting founders in building and scaling their ventures. He used to be head of the incubator at WHU, the business school that’s so famous for its many startups and founders. He is about to complete his Ph.D. on the topic of entrepreneurial passion.

    Dennis
    Ventures Associate

  • Elias Gehrke,Junior Analyst

    Elias is passionate about discovering innovative startups and supporting their founders. He used to be a finance analyst at Rocket Internet. He holds a bachelor's degree in business adminstration.

    Elias
    Junior Analyst
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true entrepreneurs by your side

During your time on xdeck, you have a dedicated mentor by your side who himself/herself is an experienced entrepreneur. They support you in those situations that only true entrepreneurs know by heart.

your mentors

Slide 1 of 18

  • Alexander Luik,

    Alex
    Co-Founder Otto Wilde and serial entrepreneur

    Alex

  • Sven-Oliver Pink,

    Sven
    Co-Founder FOND OF and serial entrepreneur

    Sven

  • Tobias Weiper,

    Tobi
    Co-Founder evopark and serial entrepreneur

    Tobi

  • Florian Michajlezko,

    Flo
    Co-Founder FOND OF and serial entrepreneur

    Flo

  • Mario Konrad,

    Mario
    Co-Founder Ryzon

    Mario

  • Oliver Steinki,

    Oli
    Co-Founder FOND OF and serial entrepreneur

    Oli

  • Till Ohrmann,

    Till
    Co-Founder PIRATE.global

    Till

  • Nils Eiteneyer,

    Nils
    Founding MD xdeck

    Nils

  • Anna Yona,

    Anna
    Co-Founder Wildling Shoes

    Anna

  • Johannes Emigholz,

    Johannes
    Co-Founder Silexica

    Johannes

  • Katharina Middelhoff,

    Katharina
    Founder & MF of kaëll

    Katharina

  • Manuel Koelman ,

    Manuel
    Co-founder pirate.global

    Manuel

  • Khaleeq Aziz,

    Khaleeq
    CEO and Co-Founder Dailight
    CEO and Founder Symanto Research

    Khaleeq

  • Konrad Lange,

    Konrad
    CCO Lendis GmbH

    Konrad

  • Oliver Mickler ,

    Oliver
    Co-Founder and MD Tillhub GmbH

    Oliver

  • Moritz Blees,

    Moritz
    Co-Founder of KERBHOLZ & erlich Textil and Digital Marketing Strategy Advisor

    Moritz

  • Dustin Figge,

    Dustin
    Co-founder & CEO at Homelike

    Dustin

  • Christian Blume,

    Co-Founder cleverbridge AG

    Christian
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your mentors

Slide 1 of 18

  • Alexander Luik,

    Alex
    Co-Founder Otto Wilde and serial entrepreneur

    Alex

  • Sven-Oliver Pink,

    Sven
    Co-Founder FOND OF and serial entrepreneur

    Sven

  • Tobias Weiper,

    Tobi
    Co-Founder evopark and serial entrepreneur

    Tobi

  • Florian Michajlezko,

    Flo
    Co-Founder FOND OF and serial entrepreneur

    Flo

  • Mario Konrad,

    Mario
    Co-Founder Ryzon

    Mario

  • Oliver Steinki,

    Oli
    Co-Founder FOND OF and serial entrepreneur

    Oli

  • Till Ohrmann,

    Till
    Co-Founder PIRATE.global

    Till

  • Nils Eiteneyer,

    Nils
    Founding MD xdeck

    Nils

  • Anna Yona,

    Anna
    Co-Founder Wildling Shoes

    Anna

  • Johannes Emigholz,

    Johannes
    Co-Founder Silexica

    Johannes

  • Katharina Middelhoff,

    Katharina
    Founder & MF of kaëll

    Katharina

  • Manuel Koelman ,

    Manuel
    Co-founder pirate.global

    Manuel

  • Khaleeq Aziz,

    Khaleeq
    CEO and Co-Founder Dailight
    CEO and Founder Symanto Research

    Khaleeq

  • Konrad Lange,

    Konrad
    CCO Lendis GmbH

    Konrad

  • Oliver Mickler ,

    Oliver
    Co-Founder and MD Tillhub GmbH

    Oliver

  • Moritz Blees,

    Moritz
    Co-Founder of KERBHOLZ & erlich Textil and Digital Marketing Strategy Advisor

    Moritz

  • Dustin Figge,

    Dustin
    Co-founder & CEO at Homelike

    Dustin

  • Christian Blume,

    Co-Founder cleverbridge AG

    Christian
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become a mentor

If you have successfully founded a company and want to help others on their way, get in contact with us at partners@xdeck.de.