CN

Christian Nagel

Earlybird Venture Capital

Co-Founder & General Partner

Dr. Christian Nagel is a Partner and Co-Founder of Earlybird Venture Capital, a leading European venture capital firm established in 1997. He brings over 30 years of experience in technology investing, with a focus on Fintech, Artificial Intelligence, and Foodtech. As a key driver of Earlybird’s growth, Christian has played a pivotal role in shaping the firm’s strategy and expansion across Europe. Prior to founding Earlybird, Christian was the Co-Founder of SMB Industrieholding GmbH, a diversified group of industrial component companies, where he led initiatives in scaling operations, mergers and acquisitions, and divestitures. He began his career as a Project Manager at McKinsey & Company, working in the Düsseldorf, Zurich, and Hamburg offices. Christian holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of St. Gallen and a degree in Industrial Engineering from the Technical University of Hamburg (TUHH).
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Growth Stage
Jun 3, 2026
11:30 AM12:00 PM
Ecosystem Growth

Europe’s Early-Stage Investment Landscape: Competitiveness at Stake

Christian NagelEarlybird Venture CapitalCo-Founder & General PartnerJulien Codorniou20VCGeneral Partner
Description
A strong flow of early-stage capital has positioned Europe as one of the world’s most active startup ecosystems, yet questions remain about its long-term competitiveness. This session will explore how early-stage investment shapes Europe’s ability to generate and scale globally relevant companies. The discussion will highlight what it will take for Europe to convert early momentum into sustained global leadership.
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