Little did I know that my pursuit would lead me to First Momentum - a fund that not only ticked every box on my checklist but also completely redefined what a VC internship could be. From sourcing deals and leading founder calls to joining my first investment committee meeting on day one, this experience has been transformative.
Let me take you behind the scenes of my journey - what I’ve learned, the challenges I’ve faced, and why I believe First Momentum is the perfect place for anyone ready to step up and make an impact in venture capital.
Before I considered working at a VC, I wanted to immerse myself in the startup world to learn what makes a great venture case and how to build one. I had the privilege of supporting exceptional founders like Sebastian and Timon from Luminovo and Benjamin and Noel from YFood, watching them scale their businesses. These experiences shaped my understanding of what successful startups need in order to thrive.
When I decided to transition to VC, it was non-negotiable for me to find an environment that offered just as many development opportunities and responsibilities as my previous roles. I wanted a fund that resonated with my interests, had a strong team culture, a solid deal flow, and would let me experience every part of the investment process.
That’s when I stumbled upon First Momentum's job description. The role immediately stood out - it emphasized that juniors are deeply involved in the investment team, working end-to-end on deals from the very beginning. Conversations with David, one of the partners, and reference calls with Reinhardt, a former team member, confirmed that First Momentum was exactly what I was looking for.
The phrase “There are no limits” perfectly describes the work at First Momentum. From sourcing and leading initial calls to reference checks and the investment committee, I’ve been involved in every part of the process. Fun fact: my very first meeting at First Momentum was an investment committee session!
A typical week involves active deal sourcing across various channels, numerous founder calls, screening calls, partner discussions, and deep dives into startup data rooms and third-party research. If you love connecting with founders and discussing their ideas, First Momentum is the perfect place for you. You’ll take ownership of deal flow from day one and play a critical role in the fund's success.
I had a look at enterprise SaaS tools in different verticals (e.g., fintech, climate tech, mobility), industrial tech & robotics cases, Dev Tools & Infra plays, and last but not least, Deep Tech cases, such as drug development procedures, novel semiconductor architectures & cutting-edge computer vision models. Eventually, this led to investments in Encosa Energy & Forward AM - to name the ones I am allowed to tell you about ;).
Be ready to talk to very exceptional people during your time at First Momentum! I am always amazed when I talk to scientific founders with years of research experience who want to bring their IP from the lab to the real world. Most recently, I had several conversations with a scientific founder working in an intensive care unit and doing ultra-marathons on the side. The level of ambition, intelligence & discipline was simply mind-blowing & it shows you how many groundbreaking ideas are actually out there currently under development.
Every week, we present and defend our deals in front of the team, making data-backed recommendations on whether to proceed. Beyond investment work, there’s always something exciting happening—whether it’s portfolio support (like hiring campaigns and go-to-market strategies), fundraising and investor relations, or special projects such as the Spin-off Summit or DeepTech Napkin initiative.
These opportunities won’t just fall into your lap - you have to proactively seize them, but the rewards are well worth the effort.
The culture at First Momentum is exactly what I was searching for: open, collaborative, and grounded, with mutual respect across all levels, from partners to interns. Although we operate in a remote-first setup, we prioritize staying connected through regular one-on-one check-ins, daily coffee chats, and quarterly offsites in the DACH region. Our most recent offsite in South Tyrol was unforgettable - check out this post on LinkedIn for a glimpse into the experience.
What truly sets First Momentum apart is the support system. Regular check-ins with the partners ensure you can explore opportunities aligned with your career goals. Senior VCs dedicate time to weekly one-on-one mentoring sessions, helping you optimize your learning curve and accelerate your growth.
Collaboration is another cornerstone of our culture. Deals are distributed among team members based on expertise and capacity, which has given me exposure to an exciting mix of software and hardware ventures.
Now, you might wonder who I am actually talking about all the time. So, let me introduce the FM team to you. Sebastian, Andreas, and David are the partners with stellar engineering backgrounds from KIT and ETH. They really know their way around deeply technical topics, both on the hardware and software side, which extremely critical when doing such investments. But it even gets more technical with our two PhDs (i.e. in Physics and Applied Physics) Ana and Max who are pushing i.e. cleantech & quantum computing investments at FM. Meanwhile, Lena, an exited founder & marketing genius, supports portfolio founders operationally as head of platform, and Christian focuses on software deals and portfolio growth based on his extensive operational experiences, i.e. at Razor Group.
Choosing the right VC fund is a personal decision. If you’re looking for an early-stage, deep-tech-focused fund that will give you end-to-end exposure to venture capital while supporting you throughout your journey, First Momentum is the place to be.
Before you apply, take the time to do your due diligence. Reflect on what matters most to you in a VC role and don’t hesitate to reach out to current team members or alumni for insights.
I couldn’t be happier to work with such an amazing team of talented individuals who have supported and challenged me from day one. If this post has sparked your interest, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn - I’d be happy to answer your questions and share more about the First Momentum experience!
