In this Edition:
Why I’m doing this
What you should expect from me
One ask
Hello Friends,
I've spent the last 10 months building something I think is clearly missing. Let me take you back
This is not a fund.
Auctora Partners is an investment firm that puts forward one deal at a time. We put in our own capital into every deal, because these are deals we actually want to do. Only then we invite people we trust to join us. Selective, invite only.
This is the first newsletter I'm sending to the group who've been following along. Some of you I've known for years. Some of you reached out after seeing early posts. A few of you have already told me you're in before I've even announced the first deal.
Thank you. That matters more than you know.
Why I'm doing this
I've been on both sides of the table, leading companies, restructuring them, investing out of a €140M fund in London across the DACH region.
When talking to investors, I noticed something: nobody talks about what they're actually doing. But everyone wants to know what everyone else is doing.
A lot of my friends and peers want exposure to private markets. But it's not an easy step to take. They lack time, resources, and most importantly: access.
The only real option is to do it all yourself: sourcing deals, running diligence, negotiating terms, managing cap tables.
That's actually what I enjoy doing.
So why not share it?
Deal by deal. Your choice, every time.
What you should expect from me
I'm not going to flood your inbox. This isn't a daily blog.
But when I send something, it'll be one of three things:
A deal announcement: Here's a company I'm backing, here's why, here's how to join me
Portfolio updates: What's working, what's not, what I'm learning
Thoughts on building this firm: The messy reality of deal sourcing, LP conversations, founder diligence, and everything in between
I'm also documenting this journey on YouTube. Not because I want to be a content creator. But because I think there's value in showing what building an investment firm actually looks like.
If you want the transparent, unfiltered version of what I'm learning, that's where it'll be. If you just want deal flow, this newsletter is enough.
One ask
I want this to be a two way exchange. If you know an exceptional founder, send them my way, just reply to this email.
However, I'm not looking for pitch decks from strangers. I'm looking for warm intros to mission-driven founders who have an ambitious vision.
That's it. That's the newsletter.
The first deal drops soon. I'll be in touch.
Johannes
P.S. If this resonates with someone you know, an operator with capital to deploy, an engineer who wants in on early-stage deals, a founder who's been thinking about angel investing but doesn't know where to start, forward this along. They can sign up at https://deal-by-deal.beehiiv.com/.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered as financial or investment advice. Always do your own research and consult with a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions.