Nicholas Macgowan Von Holstein

Managing Director at Match IQ GmbH

📍 Greater Hamburg Area, Germany🔄 Updated September 2026💼 9 investments📅 12 years investing🗓 Last invested Jan 2026
VC🌍 GermanyInvested this year
9
Total investments
4
Early stage
1
Mid stage
1
Late stage
12y
Years active

Portfolio

8 investments · sorted by recency
All investments
Early stage
Mid stage
Late stage
Advisor / Shareholder
Jan 2026
Breakwater builds AI-native PropTech at the intersection of real estate and modern hospitality. We create software and platforms designed for real people, not theory. Our focus is simple: earn more, operate smart, and scale without adding complexity. As a venture studio, we identify clear pain points, validate solutions in the field, and build products with measurable ROI from day one. Our work spans the full lifecycle, from day-to-day operations and portfolio scale to modern, creator-aligned distribution. We build alongside operators, move quickly, and stay grounded in execution. Based in Los Angeles. Built for modern hospitality.
Investor
Jul 2023
Pan-European specialist for working capital financing of football companies, innovator of a value account model as well as investor in the field of football companies.
Seed Investor
Aug 2022
Meet Raging Pig - a revolution within bacon that lets you enjoy the taste that you love in a healthy, sustainable and cruelty-free way. We’ve set out on an exciting journey to merge the power of bacon, foodtech and pop culture to drive the positive change our world needed yesterday. Treat yourself with a deep breath and imagine a world with peace. Imagine a world free from hate, no matter where you’re born or who you happen to fall in love with. Imagine a world without gender, social or economic inequality. Imagine a world where no human needs to starve. Imagine a world where all species live in harmony. Imagine a world that makes Mother Nature proud again. Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? So, will Raging Pig Company make this Utopia become reality? Probably not. However, the birth of Raging Pig Company will let us humans enjoy the delicious taste of pork without having to be a part of the, not so delicious, pig slaughtering circus ending the life of 1.5 billion life-loving pigs every year. And that’s at least a pretty decent starting point, don’t you think? Eager to join the revolution? We have an open door-policy for amazing people who want to contribute to our mission in any way. Don’t hesitate to reach out!
Investor
Nov 2021
Get in touch buzz@melibio.com
Investor
May 2021
We started Mami Wata because of love and belief. Our love for surfing, design and Africa. Our belief in the Power of African surf. “Mami Wata” is West African pidgin English literally meaning ‘Mama Water’… ‘Mother Ocean’ if you prefer. From Madagascar to Morocco, Liberia to Mozambique, Mami Wata is the African water spirit who appears in the shape of a mermaid. It is said that those who she takes for her lovers, return with a new spirit and become more successful and good looking. She is a symbol of fertility, a protector of women and children, a guardian of sea creatures and natural environments. Our mission at Mami Wata is to be a creative force for good in Africa. We do this through: - Manufacturing in Africa We design and manufacture our premium range of apparel, surfboards and accessories in Africa to create jobs and build skills in the Motherland. Where possible we use local materials, like African cotton. This sets us apart from many other brands out there as only about 8% of the world’s cotton is African cotton; this means that whenever you buy anything from us, you’re helping us support local farmers and communities. - Supporting African youth surf therapy organisations Waves for Change and Surfers Not Street Children are world-leading African surf therapy organisations reaching over 1 600 children a day through their programs and projects. They are fantastic organizations, improving lives through the Power of African Surf and we support them. - Strengthening African surf communities and tourism (aka Afrosurfonomics!) Quality waves and a strong surfing culture delivers considerable economic, social and environmental values to local communities. We aim to inspire surfers from around the world to come surf in Africa and we want local communities to participate and benefit. Wherever you are in the world, through our range of products and brand storytelling we want to connect you to African surf culture.
Investor
May 2021
Ascension is an early-stage venture capital firm built and managed by exited operators and entrepreneurs to back the next generation of tech and impact founders. Since 2015, Ascension has invested in 150+ start-ups across its (S)EIS & Institutional Funds – our specialist approach and extensive sector reach allow us to identify and scale pioneering tech enterprises. With over £83m under management and twelve exits, Ascension is the most active VC in London over the past decade (Beauhurst) and is UKBAAs Seed VC of the Year in 2022. Ascension is particularly focused on backing impact businesses leveraging the power of technology to solve some of the world’s biggest problems.
Advisor & Shareholder
Jul 2020
Kynda uses proprietary technology to turn agricultural by-products into mycoprotein for the food and pet-food industry. Our fermentation method only takes 24 hours and produces mycelium with >40% protein and up to 50% cell-bound oil in dry matter. And it beats plant-based protein on price.
Shareholder & Advisor (sold to Gustoso Gruppe GmbH)
2014
Otto’s Burger - Trendsetter & Innovator des "Gourmet-Dinings" im Burger-Fastfoodsequment, hält bereits seit 2014 die Messlatte des guten Geschmacks in ungeahnte Höhen. Wo anderen schwindelig wird, fangen wir an zu kochen. Fleisch oder Veggie? We got you both equally! Wir servieren saftigste premium Burger vom Feinsten aus knackfrischen Zutaten, mit oder ohne Fleisch. Abgerundet mit knusprigen Pommes und hausgemachten Saucen ist Otto’s der beste Freund deiner Seele und Lebensretter - nicht nur an grauen Tagen. Die Gemütlichkeit unserer Läden und offenen Herzen unserer Mitarbeiter laden zum Verweilen ein. Und jetzt kommt essen!
early stageHospitality
Experience · 13 entries
All (13)
Investments (9)
2026
Advisor / Shareholder
Jan 2026
Breakwater builds AI-native PropTech at the intersection of real estate and modern hospitality. We create software and platforms designed for real people, not theory. Our focus is simple: earn more, operate smart, and scale without adding complexity. As a venture studio, we identify clear pain points, validate solutions in the field, and build products with measurable ROI from day one. Our work spans the full lifecycle, from day-to-day operations and portfolio scale to modern, creator-aligned distribution. We build alongside operators, move quickly, and stay grounded in execution. Based in Los Angeles. Built for modern hospitality.
2025
Managing Director (on behalf of Bifrost Defence)
Oct 2025
Thor’s Haven exists to solve a simple but urgent problem at the edge of conflict and crisis: people need functional infrastructure where none exists, and they need it fast. We build ultra-mobile, modular micro-infrastructure for warfighters and responders. Trauma care units, repair workshops, relief spaces, gyms and kitchens that can be towed by a standard car and deployed within minutes. No heavy logistics. No fixed installations. Just practical, human-centred infrastructure designed for real conditions.
Incoming Founding Partner and Managing Director (from 15.10.2025)
Sep 2025
Were a defence tech venture studio that partners with exceptional founders, hackers and service personnel to build mission-critical companies from scratch, providing the operational team, venture building expertise and deep industry networks to turn defence and dual-use technology ideas into scalable, profitable businesses. Our model combines: ⚡ Speed: From idea to MVP in months, not years. ⚡ Testability: Building real tech that can be field-tested, not just pitched. ⚡ Dual-use scalability: Civil traction, defence-grade impact. ⚡ Insider access: Working with the people who define and deploy missions.
2023
Investor
Jul 2023
Pan-European specialist for working capital financing of football companies, innovator of a value account model as well as investor in the field of football companies.
2022
Seed Investor
Aug 2022
Meet Raging Pig - a revolution within bacon that lets you enjoy the taste that you love in a healthy, sustainable and cruelty-free way. We’ve set out on an exciting journey to merge the power of bacon, foodtech and pop culture to drive the positive change our world needed yesterday. Treat yourself with a deep breath and imagine a world with peace. Imagine a world free from hate, no matter where you’re born or who you happen to fall in love with. Imagine a world without gender, social or economic inequality. Imagine a world where no human needs to starve. Imagine a world where all species live in harmony. Imagine a world that makes Mother Nature proud again. Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? So, will Raging Pig Company make this Utopia become reality? Probably not. However, the birth of Raging Pig Company will let us humans enjoy the delicious taste of pork without having to be a part of the, not so delicious, pig slaughtering circus ending the life of 1.5 billion life-loving pigs every year. And that’s at least a pretty decent starting point, don’t you think? Eager to join the revolution? We have an open door-policy for amazing people who want to contribute to our mission in any way. Don’t hesitate to reach out!
Show all 13 entries ↓
Investment activity
2014–2026 · 9 investments
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