The Power of the Ecosystem Approach: Direct Investments vs. Fund Partnerships

When we started Hello World Investments here in Amsterdam, Nick Velten and I had a very specific vision. Having navigated the startup world ourselves as co-founders of Fangage, we knew that building something from the ground up isn't just about writing a check. It’s about the messy, exhilarating, and demanding process of moving from an idea to a scalable reality.

We decided early on that the best way to support the next generation of founders wasn't just to pick one path, but to build an ecosystem approach. We invest our time, our knowledge, and our capital. But how do we decide where that energy goes? By balancing direct investments in startups with strategic partnerships in venture funds.

The Art of the Direct Investment

For us, direct investment is personal. It’s about finding teams at the pre-seed and seed stages that are solving real problems in ways that capture our imagination. We like to get into the trenches. When we look at a company like AudioStack or Update, we aren't just looking at a spreadsheet. We’re looking at the mission, the product, and the founders' ability to execute.

Direct investments allow us to leverage our own backgrounds. Between my experience as an artist and entrepreneur under the Sam Feldt name, and Nick’s deep expertise in digital strategy through his consultancy Stimmt, we have a unique toolkit to offer. Whether it’s helping a brand like Madhappy refine its digital footprint or understanding the technical hurdles at TrackBee, we want to be there as active partners.

Our direct portfolio is diverse by design, covering everything from Instant and Apollo HQ to the massive event-tech engine that is WebSummit. Each of these companies represents a high-conviction bet on a team we believe has the grit to change their respective industry.

The Strategic Leverage of Fund Partnerships

While direct investing is about the "how" of a specific startup, our fund partnerships are about the "where" of the broader market. We know that we can't be everywhere at once. By partnering with sophisticated fund managers, we gain exposure to a wider array of innovations and founders than we could ever find on our own.

Take our involvement with Slingshot Ventures and Curiosity VC, for instance. These funds bring specialized perspectives and deep networks that complement our own. By placing capital into these selected funds, we aren't just diversifying our portfolio; we are participating in the broader movement of European and global innovation. It keeps us sharp, informed, and connected to the pulse of the market, which in turn helps us provide better guidance to the founders we work with directly.

Why Not Just Pick One?

Some investors argue that you should focus exclusively on direct deals to maintain control, or exclusively on funds to maintain a passive profile. We believe that is a false dichotomy.

In the pre-seed and seed stages, the ecosystem needs both. It needs the "boots on the ground" mentors who can jump on a call to talk about growth strategy, and it needs the institutional-level support provided by professional venture funds. By doing both, Hello World Investments acts as a bridge. We take what we learn from the big picture—the market trends spotted by the funds—and translate that into actionable advice for the founders we work with directly.

At the end of the day, our goal is simple: we want to be the kind of partners we wished we had when we were starting out in Amsterdam. We bring the capital, sure, but we prioritize the knowledge and time because we know that’s what actually moves the needle when you’re in the early stages.

Frequently Asked Questions

What stage does Hello World Investments focus on? We focus exclusively on pre-seed and seed stage startups. We believe this is the most critical juncture where our time and knowledge can have the highest impact on a founder’s journey.

Who are the founders of Hello World Investments? Hello World Investments was founded by Sam Renders (also known as Sam Feldt) and Nick Velten. Both have a background in entrepreneurship, having co-founded Fangage, and Nick brings additional expertise from his work with the digital strategy consultancy Stimmt.

Can I send you my pitch deck? We are always happy to hear from founders building at the pre-seed or seed stage. You can reach out to us at hello@helloworld.amsterdam to introduce yourself.

Where is Hello World Investments based? We are proudly based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. While we invest in startups and funds globally, we keep our home base in the heart of the Dutch startup ecosystem.

What is your investment philosophy? Our philosophy is built on three pillars: time, knowledge, and capital. We don’t just want to be silent investors; we want to be active partners who contribute to the growth of the companies and funds we support.

Does Hello World Investments participate in later-stage funding rounds? No, our mandate is strictly limited to the pre-seed and seed stages. That is where we feel we can add the most value based on our experience as founders.