Cornelius Boersch

Dr. Cornelius (“Conny”) Boersch is an entrepreneur, business angel, who founded numerous technology companies. 

Dr. Corenlius is the founder of the global company builder Mountain Partners as well as the global co-investment company Conny & Co. 

Dr. Cornelius is also the President of the Unternehmertag, the Entrepreneurs Day - one of the most exclusive conferences in Europe, at the Tegernsee.

The 2026 event will take place from 18 to 20 March, at the beautiful Althoff Seehotel Überfahrt at Lake Tegernsee, focused on “The Great Re-Shuffle. Who Holds the Cards in Tomorrow’s World?”. 

The Unternehmertag brings global leaders to a platform to analyse the challenges, develop solutions, forge alliances, and strengthen networks.

Conny also initiated and regularly holds speeches at universities or tech events all over the world.

As a business angel, Venture capitalist you have invested in more than 300 companies since 1995 and was voted “European Business Angel of the Year” in 2009. 

Cornelius Boersch is a European Investment Fund (EIF) - certified super angel, which means that, subject to certain restrictions, the EIF matches all of his startup investments 1 to 1.

As an entrepreneur, Conny previously founded the stock-listed RFID-based companies ACG, Smartrac and Identiv as well as the cashless payment systems provider Sandpiper. 

Politically, Conny acted as advisor to Dr. Guido Westerwelle, former president of the German Liberal Party, FDP, Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister of Germany from 2009 to 2012.

Conny was named “Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2000.

He studied at the European Business School in Oestrich-Winkel and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Essen with a thesis on venture capital and investing. 

He later also acted as honorary professor and held lectures at the University of Essen.

Dr. Cornelius Boersch began his professional journey as an entrepreneur and builder. After his studies in business administration at EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht (EBS University of Business and Law), he founded ACG AG in 1991. 

By 2000, he earned a PhD at University of Duisburg-Essen, focusing on venture capital and cooperative financial structures.

In 2004, Boersch founded Mountain Partners, built around a global venture development model, focusing on early-stage technology companies across different sectors and geographies. 

Across more than two decades, he has participated in 300+ startup investments, building a reputation as one of Europe’s most active and experienced venture capital figures.

Key milestones between 2005 and 2013:

• Investment involvement with Scout24 Group, one of Europe’s major digital marketplace operators.
   
• Advisory role to Guido Westerwelle, then Germany’s Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister (2009–2012), highlighting Boersch’s increasing intersection between technology, economics, and policy.
   
• Recognition as European Business Angel of the Year (2009) — a major industry acknowledgment of his impact in early-stage investing.

Alongside investing, Dr. Cornelius became a Distinguished Professor at the University of Duisburg-Essen, where he shares insights on venture capital, entrepreneurship, and innovation ecosystems.

He also launched Unternehmertag, an entrepreneurial gathering aimed at connecting founders, investors, and thinkers , reflecting his long-standing interest in building communities around innovation rather than simply deploying capital.

As Europe’s startup ecosystem matured, Boersch increasingly invested globally, especially in fast-growth platforms across insurtech, marketplaces, e-commerce, and hospitality.

Notable investments include:

- wefox Group – a leading European insurtech platform.
- KAVAK – one of Latin America’s major auto marketplace unicorns.
- GuestReady – short-term rental management across international cities.
- Luuna – a direct-to-consumer mattress and sleep brand.

In 2013, he also became a Certified Super Angel through the European Investment Fund, meaning the EIF matched his startup investments, a significant institutional endorsement of his investing track record.

Beyond investing, Boersch developed a strong voice in leadership, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship through writing.

Key works include:

- “Missed the Future?” (2020) – a bestseller discussing Germany’s digitalisation gap and offering a roadmap toward becoming a digital knowledge nation.
- “ONE: Your Compass to Living Your One Life to the Fullest” (2024) – combining entrepreneurial success with personal wellbeing and holistic leadership.
- Earlier “Summa Summarum” volumes exploring management, success psychology, and economic policy.

In 2024, he became Chairman & General Partner of MountainX, a venture capital firm focused on European aerospace and defence technologies with dual-use potential.
 

Dr. Cornelius Boersch’s vision centres on building a future where entrepreneurship, technology, and responsible investment work together to create long-term value for society, not just financial returns. He believes in empowering founders who develop transformative solutions, strengthening Europe’s technological independence, and fostering innovation ecosystems that combine economic progress with personal fulfilment and human wellbeing. Through venture capital, education, and thought leadership, his aim is to support companies and leaders that drive sustainable growth, digital advancement, and strategic resilience, while encouraging individuals to achieve success in a balanced and purposeful way.

- Founder of the European Health & Longevity Institute (EHLI) – pioneering science-based executive health optimisation and preventive longevity strategies.
- Founder & Managing Partner, Mountain Partners – a global investment firm backing high-growth technology ventures across multiple continents.
- Serial Entrepreneur & Board Leader – founded, scaled, and exited multiple companies internationally.
- Global Speaker & Author – recognised voice on entrepreneurship, venture capital, leadership performance, and longevity innovation.
- Thought Leadership in Executive Health – championing a data-driven, preventive approach to optimising cognitive and physical performance for founders, CEOs, and decision-makers.

Dr. Boersch’s work bridges venture building with human optimisation, positioning executive health as a strategic asset in the age of scaled intelligence.