Roman Kirsch

Roman Kirsch is a distinguished German entrepreneur and early-stage investor, widely recognized for his significant contributions to the European startup ecosystem. His entrepreneurial journey includes co-founding Casacanda, a design e-commerce platform that was successfully acquired by Fab.com for approximately $30 million, marking an early exit success. He also co-founded Lesara, an online fashion retailer that notably raised over $100 million in funding before facing insolvency, showcasing his experience across the full spectrum of startup growth and challenges.

As an investor, Kirsch operates primarily through Rapid Pioneers Group, a Berlin-based venture builder he founded. This entity is not merely a capital provider but adopts a highly hands-on approach, often acting as a co-founder or deeply involved early-stage partner. Rapid Pioneers Group specializes in pre-seed and seed investments, focusing on identifying and building new ventures from the ground up, particularly in the B2C, B2B SaaS, e-commerce, and marketplace sectors. Their investment philosophy emphasizes active participation, providing strategic guidance, operational support, and talent acquisition alongside financial backing.

Rapid Pioneers Group typically issues first checks ranging from $100,000 to $750,000, reflecting their commitment to providing substantial early capital and support to promising ventures. Their model is designed to de-risk the initial phases of a startup by embedding expertise and resources directly into the founding team. This venture builder approach allows them to take significant equity stakes, aligning their success closely with that of their portfolio companies. Kirsch and Rapid Pioneers Group are key players in fostering innovation within the German and broader European startup landscape, leveraging Kirsch's extensive operational experience to guide nascent companies toward scalable growth.