In more than 15 years of professional experience, Kai Panitzki has accumulated a wealth of experience and know-how as an entrepreneur and expert, above all in the technology and finance sector.

After a classic training as a banker and lawyer Kai began his career as an editor at Germany’s largest investor magazine “Der Aktionär”, where he gained valuable insight into the financial markets. In addition, he made intensive contacts with the venture capital scene.

In 1999 he moved to Bonn as a project manager for the BBDO subsidiary “Sponsor Partners”. Just one year later, he founded his own communications agency, from which “Scholz & Friends Düsseldorf” emerged in 2007, which Kai ran until January 2013. In parallel, 2007 he founded a company for press and social media monitoring, the “X-Ray PMD GmbH” and sold it in full to Scholz & Friends in 2009. In 2013, Kai became CEO of Börsenmedien AG, publisher of the investor magazine “Der Aktionär”. Kai took on various supervisory board and advisory mandates within the framework of his activities on the Management Board, some of which he still leads today. In 2015 he became CEO of the listed Finlab AG. When Kai is not negotiating exciting deals, he is passionate about family, water sports, and reading many books.

Prior Stations: Börsenmedien AG, BBDO, Scholz and Friends / WPP, Finlab AG

Education: Banker (Sparkasse Köln / Bonn), lawyer (University of Bonn)

With a deep-rooted flair for innovative business models, Manfred looks for attractive investments as BitStone’s founding partner and supports the portfolio companies in the subsequent company building.
After his financial education, he experienced the visionary way of working of global early-stage investors and their success criteria at a fund of funds of Deutsche Bank Private Equity. Immediately thereafter, he was able to apply this valuable experience in building ADC, an investment company focused on infrastructure and financial investments, catalyzing the business through technological add-on acquisitions. Subsequently, Manfred was instrumental in not only placing this company on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, but ultimately selling it to Atlas Mara, a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC). His next stop took him back to his roots, the search for spectacular business models. Together with the company builder crossbuilders, he implemented several real estate start-up ideas and developed, among other things, the basis for today’s “Commerzbank Baufi-App”.
A Cologne native at heart, he would never deny his Eifel origins. There and in other breathtaking places around the world, you can meet him on adventurous trails to recharge his batteries.

Prior Stations: Deutsche Bank Private Equity, ADC African Development Corporation, crossbuilders

Education: Banker (Kreissparkasse Euskirchen), Dipl. Kfm. Banking & Finance (TH Cologne), M.Sc. Finance (Frankfurt School), Project & Infrastructure Finance Program (London Business School)

We mourn the loss of our partner, source of inspiration and friend.

You inspired and inspired us with your innovative and clear thoughts. Your clever, sometimes uncomfortable questions challenged and guided us. Turned towards people and the future, you left your mark on our industry with your experience and personality.

You left much too early and will be missed. We are very grateful for the time we were able to spend with you.

Our thoughts are with your family

As a member of the Management Board of Lycos Europe and of Adlink Media AG, which belongs to United Internet AG, Marc gained valuable experience in the internationalization of digital advertising models and in the development of agile product development processes. In 2009 he took over the role of CEO at Immobilienscout-24 and developed the platform into the leading marketplace for real estate. Marc has been a member of the Supervisory Board since 2015 and develops digitization strategies for established companies. As an active business angel with a focus on PropTech, he invested in VRNow, Ogulo, Zinsbaustein and vermietet.de and initiated the industry accelerator.

Prior to joining BitStone Capital, Lukas completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance/Controlling in the Netherlands. Now he combines his daily work at BitStone with a master’s degree in Digital Business Management and can project the knowledge he has gained on parallel projects.

Digital processes impressed him early on, so he quickly knew which direction to take. During his bachelor’s studies, Lukas made important career moves at the TecDax company Telefónica, the Bertelsmann subsidiary Arvato and the auditing and consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. Within these, he dealt with the technologization of financial areas, implementation of new systems as well as fast-growing markets such as Connected Cars, Blockchain, Smart City and new digital and disruptive business models trying to change markets.

Stations: PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH WPG, Arvato SCM Solutions, Telefónica Germany

Education: B. Sc. Finance & Controlling (Fontys University, Netherlands and Universidad de Monterrey, Mexico), M.A. Digital Business Management (Rheinische Fachhochschule, Cologne)

As marketing assistant Pia supports the team actively in all matters. She completed her training as an office management assistant at the Episcopal General Vicariate in Münster. Afterwards she gained valuable experience as an assistant in the press office and her enthusiasm for administration and communication awakened.To become a professional in this area, Pia is also studying “Marketing and Digital Media” at the FOM in Cologne. She combines her commercial skills with the knowledge acquired during her studies and takes on both commercial/administrative tasks as well as tasks in corporate communications. 

Stations: Bischöfliches Generalvikariat/Episcopal Vicariate General
Education: Management Assistant for Office Management, BA Marketing and Digital Media (FOM Münster and Cologne)

We mourn the loss of our partner, source of inspiration and friend.

You inspired and inspired us with your innovative and clear thoughts. Your clever, sometimes uncomfortable questions challenged and guided us. Turned towards people and the future, you left your mark on our industry with your experience and personality.

You left much too early and will be missed. We are very grateful for the time we were able to spend with you.

Our thoughts are with your family