Nina Weidenauer
'No map can guide you where only resilience will take you.'
My Backstory
Where were you born?
I grew up in Essen, the industrial heart of Germany, where people are known for being hard workers, straight shooters, down to earth, and easy to grab a beer with. My parents taught me the value of dreaming big and working hard. My mother founded a successful biomedical startup in the 1990s, growing it for 15 years before selling to a large firm. She taught me about perseverance, breaking through barriers, and doing simple things better than overconfident incumbents. My father started as a car mechanic before founding his own dealership in the 1970s. He saw success come and go with industry changes, but his amazing relationship skills allowed him to relate to anyone.
Starting at age 8, my parents had me help out on a small farm, which helped me appreciate physical labor. In my teens, I worked admin roles at my mom's startup, learning efficiency and attention to detail. At 16, I took a monotonous job besides high school at a bank’s account statement printing department that taught me patience - which is valuable as an early-stage investor. I studied energy management and finance, doing my undergrad in Germany before a Master's at Purdue and Tsinghua.
After university, I started in corporate finance and M&A, focusing on renewable energy deals. I then joined a large utility amid industry transformation during and after Fukushima. My role changed to business development in batteries, grid storage, and distributed energy. I also supported early tech investments at the intersection of energy and power retail tech. Later, I helped a global engineering firm leverage its vast hardware expertise to partner with early-stage hard tech founders - right before embarking on my own journey as a founder (unsuccessfully).
Where were you born, and where were you raised?
In the south of Germany (Hockenheim).
What is the area you are from famous for?
SAP, the famous Formula 1 circuit and “Dubbegläser.”
What did/do your parents do?
My father supplies grocery stores with fruit, vegetables and plants, and my mother works for a general practitioner.
Any siblings when you grew up?
Nope, a happy only child.
What are the two things (outside of school) that you spent the most time on as a kid or teenager?
Climbing trees and sleepovers.
What do you miss from your younger years?
The indestructible body of a kid.
Did you have a side job during school?
No.
What did you study, and where?
I studied political science at the University of Mannheim.
Summarize your work after university and before Foundamental.
Before Foundamental, I got a broad overview of the European startup scene at Startup Insider. I was the fifth employee when we started, and when I left Startup Insider, it had become the largest media platform and podcast network covering the German startup ecosystem.
What is your story of getting into Foundamental?
I got to know Patric through the Startup Insider Construction Tech Podcast. It was a match.
I Am On The Lookout For
What are the things in a business that excite you?
Simplicity. Businesses that embrace simplicity in solving complex problems - especially when a startup can transform a traditional 10-step process into 3 simple steps.
What are values that are ultra important to you in other people in business life?
Communication & understanding - because a clear 'we messed up' message beats a perfect excuse any day, and sometimes the best strategy session is just listening rather than creating another Slide.
What are you chasing in your life?
Moments of true freedom - whether that's hiking through pristine nature, or having the flexibility to spend quality time with people I care about. To me, health and strong relationships are the foundation that makes everything else meaningful.
What intrigues you? As in, when you see or hear something like this, you stop whatever you're doing.
The moment when you realize how beautiful the earth is—you stop moving and try to soak up the feeling.
Think of VC as an artisan craft, where every craftsman has their unique method and finesse. How would you describe your unique ‘craft’ in VC?
Creative storytelling - seeing and shaping the unique narratives where technology, market opportunity, and human impact intersect. I believe great venture communication goes beyond the ways of how PR is practiced traditionally. Instead, finding compelling ways to showcase not just what our founders do, but why they matter. For me, it's about connecting the dots between complex innovations and real-world impact, making the future tangible for stakeholders, founders, and the broader ecosystem.
What is your favorite quote or mantra that can be applied in a business context?
Do it with passion or not at all.
Cool. Now give a second quote or mantra you like in a business context.
Don’t work with assholes.
What is your secret ninja skill?
I am a super recogniser (I am able to memorise and recall thousands of faces, often having seen them only once) and I can touch my nose with my tongue.
If you were a superhero, what would your superhero name be?
Ninja, of course. ;)
Who is one person in the world you would like to have dinner with?
Ada Blackjack—I would love to hear her story firsthand.
What can you nerd out over for hours with the right discussion partner?
Pop music and fitness trackers. I can tell you right away which is currently the best on the market and what it is good for.
If someone who knows you well in your business life were to describe you, what adjectives would they use?
Interested, creative & unserious (in a good way).
Is there something you would never mind spending a lot of money on?
Vacation, food & fitness trackers.