Gründerszene was at the Startup Awards 2026 – and asked Earlybird partner Andre Retterath how a founder can convince investors.
He is general partner at one of Europe’s most successful early-stage investors: Andre Retterath from Earlybird. Gründerszene met him at the Startup Awards 2026 and asked him three short questions. Between the stage and the bar, he explains what is important to him when it comes to founders – and why most of them fail at the first contact.
His most important point: founders have to go out. “Investors rarely approach you,” says Retterath. Anyone who wants money must become visible. Attend events, use networks, target investors. Direct, without detours.
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Retterath’s three concrete tips
- “Actively approaches investors. “Don’t wait until someone discovers you,” says Retterath. You have to look for the contact yourself – at events, via LinkedIn or by email.
- “Does not write standard messages“, he says. Anyone who simply sends Retterath a generic request will be lost. Better: a clear, individual pitch that immediately shows why exactly this startup is exciting.
- “Get to the point quickly.” Earlybird sees around 50,000 deals per year, in Europe alone. Nobody reads long texts. The key is to explain in just a few sentences what makes the company special.
Retterath says: “You have to show within a very short time why you stand out.” Anyone who fails to do this loses immediately.
