| Capital: | € 15 million |
|---|---|
| Age: | 44 |
| Born: | 10/10/1975 |
| Country of origin: | Germany |
| Source of wealth: | Entrepreneur, author |
| Last updated: | 2022 |
Brief introduction
Frank Thelen is a German business, writer, writer and investor for young companies. Thelen is known by the general public through his participation as an investor in the Vox program “Die Höhle der Löwen”.
Thelen has been an integral part of this since 2014 and has been investing in many companies in the food and technology sector.
In addition to his entrepreneurial activities, Thelen has also become increasingly politically active in recent years. The main topic is digitalization and that Germany must be more competitive and innovative.
Youth
Frank Thelen was born in Bonn in 1975 and also spent his childhood and young in the former Federal Capital. He grew up in the middle class environment, but quickly felt called to be bigger. So he ended his studies in computer science to start his own company.
Career
Frank Thelen’s career, like almost norms in the technology industry, a roller coaster journey full of ups and downs.
Since establishing his first company in the late 1990s, Thelen has gone through all emotional nuances. However, it is always clear for him that defeat will only be temporary. The first company Twisd AG tries to market the type of router that is connecting a relatively new local network to the internet. The idea seemed brilliant and sometimes also on the road to success. However, the Dotcom bubble explosion destroyed the financial foundation and Thelen suddenly was very owed. However, he did not let this hamper him and immediately develop software for digital photo platforms, which he could then sell to Fuji and might receive a two -digit million dollar for it. The financial situation has settled again and in the following years, Thelen established and participated in many well-known companies such as Smartlane, Wunderlist and MyTaxi.
Through his involvement in “Die Höhle der Löwen” in Vox, Frank Thelen also found a new field of business and seems very interesting outside of its ordinary environment: the food industry.
Over the years, he eventually invested in a variety of food start-ups such as ankerkraut (spices), small lunch (soup) or lizza (low carbohydrate pizza). Thelen also used his greater awareness to publish several books and to be involved in politics.
However, at the end of 2019, he announced that he would retire from TV and concentrate on his business activities.
The spotlight of his career
1994: Foundation of the first company
2012: Chancellor Angela Merkel presents the “Innovate 4 Society Award”
2014: First Participation in “The Lion’s Den” in Vox
2015: Sales “Wunderlist” to Microsoft
2018: Biography Publication “Startup DNA – Fall, Get Up, Change the World”
Quote from Frank Thelen
“If you want to progress, pain and fall are part of it. You have to learn to get up and keep going. “
“As an entrepreneur, you must bear the strong criticism of investors and continue to fight.”
“As the founder, I must be able to say what I did in three to four sentences. That should happen even if I wake up drunk at night. “
An impressive quote shows the attitude with him Frank Thelen worked. In his view, there is no reason or reason that can permanently prevent success. However, the founder and businessman must be patient and persistent. If an idea is rejected, it should not give up soon. Conversely, hard work to improve so you can convince the next presentation. The absolute focus of the founders must be around time in the company. Because direct disturbances endanger long -term success.
Amazing facts
Frank Thelen has not only been a computer fan since the beginning of his youth, but also a skateboarder and an excited snowboarder. To this day, he feels very related to this scene and therefore supports several social projects in this field.
As mentioned, Thelen is also politically active. He was a member of CDU until 2017, but was called to the Federal Council by FDP in the same year as representatives nominated from the Parliament of the State of Northern Rhine-Westphalia to elect the Federal President.
Frank Thelen said he had never operated a vacuum cleaner. He revealed this in a presentation at the “The Lion’s Den” event.