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Bernhard Niesner

Tarifa Holding

Founder & CEO

Bernhard Niesner is the co-founder and former CEO of Busuu, one of the world’s leading online language-learning platforms with more than 100 million users. In 2022, Busuu was acquired by Chegg (NYSE: CHGG), a global edtech company, for €385 million, marking one of the largest edtech acquisitions in Europe. Since stepping down as CEO, Bernhard has become an active angel investor, backing impact-driven startups, particularly in education and climate technology. He also serves as a board member of Austrian Startups and supports a number of philanthropic and entrepreneurial initiatives across Europe.
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Growth Stage
Jun 4, 2026
10:30 AM11:00 AM
Ecosystem Growth

From Founder to Investor: Evolving Roles in the Innovation Ecosystem

Bernhard NiesnerTarifa HoldingFounder & CEORenaud VisageSlateVCGeneral Partner & Co-FounderCristina FonsecaÍndico Capital PartnersGeneral Partner
Description
A growing number of successful founders are transitioning into investors, reshaping how capital, experience, and networks flow through the startup ecosystem. This session will explore how firsthand operational experience influences investment decisions, the shift from building companies to backing them, and how founder-investors contribute to ecosystem growth. It will examine the advantages and challenges of this transition, and what it means for the next generation of founders raising capital in an increasingly founder-led investment landscape.
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