Klaus Hommels: Lakestar investors had no disadvantage

Dusseldorf Klaus Hommels found himself in need of explanation. Over the years, the investor has done numerous side businesses outside of his venture capital company Lakestar. Now one of his funds is doing poorly — and his fund investors want to know if he was too selfish.

Hommels is one of the best-known start-up investors in Germany. But with a net return of ten percent, his Lakestar I fund is in a much worse position than top funds of the same year, which certainly generate a return of around 20 percent. And now there is also the accusation that Hommels could have done better. Because he made some very good deals with his partner.