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Nenad Marovac

Founder & Managing Partner

DN Capital

London, UK

Nenad Marovac

Maria Lina Marcucci

Elisa Massimino

Human Rights Institute | Georgetown University Law Center

Nenad Marovac’s Biography

Nenad Marovac is a prominent figure in the venture capital industry, renowned for his role as the Founder and Managing Partner of DN Capital. His expertise and strategic investments have earned him a spot on the prestigious Forbes Midas Europe List in 2021 and 2022, recognising his contributions to the tech and startup ecosystems. Nenad was named Investor of the Year at the Investor Allstars Awards in 2016.

Marovac was born in Croatia and grew up in San Diego, California. Following a stint on Wall Street working for Bankers Trust, Nenad headed to Berlin in 1991 where he swiftly garnered a reputation as a shrewd dealmaker, working with the Treuhand to help integrate the economies of East and West Germany.

Returning to the US, Nenad attended Harvard Business School where he met his future partner at DN Capital, Steve Schlenker. After graduating he moved back to Europe, joining private equity giant Advent International in London and transitioning into the venture capital arena. He spent five years at Advent, gaining valuable experience as an investor in the TMT sector, and making Partner... Nenad Marovac is a prominent figure in the venture capital industry, renowned for his role as the Founder and Managing Partner of DN Capital. His expertise and strategic investments have earned him a spot on the prestigious Forbes Midas Europe List in 2021 and 2022, recognising his contributions to the tech and startup ecosystems. Nenad was named Investor of the Year at the Investor Allstars Awards in 2016.

Marovac was born in Croatia and grew up in San Diego, California. Following a stint on Wall Street working for Bankers Trust, Nenad headed to Berlin in 1991 where he swiftly garnered a reputation as a shrewd dealmaker, working with the Treuhand to help integrate the economies of East and West Germany.

Returning to the US, Nenad attended Harvard Business School where he met his future partner at DN Capital, Steve Schlenker. After graduating he moved back to Europe, joining private equity giant Advent International in London and transitioning into the venture capital arena. He spent five years at Advent, gaining valuable experience as an investor in the TMT sector, and making Partner at the age of just 32.

Nenad founded DN Capital in June 2000, joined later that year by his Harvard classmate, Steve Schlenker. Nenad recognised the potential of European tech startups when most investors were focused on Silicon Valley. Concentrating on investments in digital marketplaces, consumer internet, SaaS and fintech companies, DN’s European success stories include Shazam, Hometogo, Endeca, Mister Spex and Auto1 Group, all of which have gone on to achieve significant market impact and high-value exits.

Nenad plays an active role as a board member at several of DN’s portfolio companies. He is a past Chair of Invest Europe, the association representing Europe’s private equity and venture capital sectors, and served as Chair of the association's Venture Council from 2015 to 2018.

Nenad is also co-founder of the DN Foundation, alongside Steve Schlenker. more less

Nenad Marovac’s Newsfeed

Forbes

This Low-Profile London VC Is Winning Big By Betting On Germany's Startup Scene

One of Europe’s largest IPOs in 2021 helped make venture capital veteran Nenad Marovac of DN Capital one of the continent’s leading venture capitalists.

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Private Equity Wire

DN Capital opens Berlin office

DN Capital was founded by venture capital industry veterans Nenad Marovac and Steve Schlenker in 2000 and has been one of the most active investors in the DACH region over the last two decades.

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Nenad Marovac’s Background

DN Capital

Founder & Managing Partner

2000 - Present

London, UK

DN Capital is a leading venture capital firm with a global presence and offices in London, Berlin, and San Francisco. It specialises in early-stage investments, focusing on software, fintech, marketplaces, and consumer internet sectors. The firm is known for its commitment to building successful companies and its extensive global network.

Advent International

Partner

Jun 1995 - Jun 2000

London, UK

Advent International is a private equity firm focusing on company buyouts primarily in Western and Central Europe, North America, Latin America, and Asia. Founded in 1984, it has invested $56 billion in over 375 transactions across 42 countries. Headquartered in Boston, Advent operates from 14 offices in 11 countries and employs over 240 investment professionals.

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Nenad Marovac’s Gallery

Other Business Interests

Invest Europe

Chair

2018 - 2019

London, UK

Invest Europe, formerly known as the European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (EVCA), represents Europe's private equity, venture capital, and infrastructure sectors, promoting industry standards and research.

Invest Europe

Chair of Venture Council

2015 - 2018

London, UK

Current Board Positions

numa

Investor & Board Member

Feb 2022 - Present

Berlin, DE

Numa provides individuals with everything they need to live like a local, enjoy a weekend getaway or experience an elevated business trip, without the hassle of unpredictable complications.

GoStudent

Investor & Board Member

May 2020 - Present

Vienna, AT

GoStudent is a global leader in tutoring services, offering a platform and services for a hybrid education format. It provides students with an Education Advisor that helps them build a customized lesson package tailored to their long-term learning needs.

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Previous Board Positions

Auto1 Group

Investor & Board Member

2013 - Jun 2020

Berlin, DE

Auto1 Group is Europe’s leading digital automotive platform for the sale and purchase of used cars. In 2021 Auto1 went public on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange at a valuation of $12 billion, a 25x return on DN Capital's investment.

HomeToGo

Investor & Non-Executive Director

Feb 2016 - May 2020

Berlin, DE

HomeToGo is an online marketplace with the world's largest selection of vacation homes. Its platform uses a range of data to help individuals find the perfect accommodation for any type of getaway. In 2021 HomeToGo announced a $1.4 billion merger with Lakestar and went public on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in September that year.

Mister Spex

Investor & Supervisory Board Member

2010 - 2020

Berlin, DE

The leading digitally-driven optical brand in Europe, Mister Spex provides customers with access to a vast selection of over 100 premium and luxury brands, independent labels and private labels. Mister Spex went public on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in July 2021.

Shazam

Investor & Non-Executive Director

2004 - Sep 2018

London, UK

Shazam gives users the opportunity to discover the music they hear around them. Its recognition technology can provide users with song titles, bands/artists and more. DN Capital was an early investor in the company which was sold to Apple Inc for $400 million in 2017.

Quandoo

Investor & Supervisory Board Member

2014 - 2015

Berlin, DE

With a goal to transform dining experiences, Quandoo provides an open marketplace that users can use to make restaurant reservations across the globe. Quandoo was acquired by Japan's Recruit Holdings in 2015 for approximately $219 million.

Purplebricks

Investor & Non-Executive Director

2013 - 2015

London, UK

Purplebricks was an estate agency that offered people an easy-to-navigate online platform combined with the real estate knowledge of local property agents. Purplebricks went public on the London Stock Exchange in December 2015.

OLX Group

Investor & Non-Executive Director

2006 - 2011

OLX Group is a global online marketplace network, facilitating the buying and selling of goods and services, from electronics to real estate. In 2011 OLX was sold to South African media group, Naspers.

Datanomic

Investor & Non-Executive Director

2006 - 2011

Cambridge, UK

Datanomic offers data integration and management software solutions, specialising in data quality, risk compliance screening, and customer data management for businesses seeking efficient and accurate data handling. The company was sold to Oracle in 2011.

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Philanthropy

DN Foundation

Co-Founder

2023 - Present

London, UK

Nenad is the co-founder of the DN Foundation, a charity that provides grants to organisations that help educate economically disadvantaged young people. It also funds charities that support the mental well-being of children and young adults.

Media

Launch Stories: The Global Startup Podcast

Podcast

Apr 2022

In this episode of Launch Stories, Nenad talks to Zoltan Vardy about the one key skill that leads founders from idea to IPO.

"What does it take to build a really big company?"

Video

Sep 2017

Berlin, DE

As part of Startupnight 2017, Nenad Marovac took part in a panel discussion of what it takes to build a really big company. Click on the link to see video footage of the event.

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Interviews

FinSMEs: Interview With DN Capital Founder, Nenad Marovac

Interviewee

Dec 2016

Nenad spoke to FinSMEs about DN Capital and its strategy, as well as trends in the tech world.

Memberships

YPO (Young Presidents' Organization)

Member

Nenad is an active member of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO), a global network of young chief executives, fostering leadership through peer learning and the exchange of ideas.

Awards & Recognition

Forbes: The Midas List Europe 2022

Top Tech Investor, #25

2022

Forbes: The Midas List Europe 2021

#21

2021

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Press Releases

Insights & Updates

Click on the DN Capital logo to access the company's news and insights.

Portfolio News

Click on the DN Capital logo to access the latest news relating to DN's portfolio companies.

Nenad Marovac’s Education

Harvard Business School

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

1993 - 1995

San Diego State University

BSc. in Business Administration with Distinction in Finance