Moritz Döpfner, son of Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner, has successfully raised $90.6 million for his first venture capital fund, significantly exceeding the initial target of $75 million. The fundraising, which reportedly began in late 2023, was recently disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Peter Thiel’s Strategic Investment
While the identities of all investors remain confidential, media reports indicate that controversial billionaire Peter Thiel is a key backer, reportedly contributing $50 million. Döpfner and Thiel share a professional history, as Döpfner previously served as Chief of Staff at Thiel Capital, the family office of the right-libertarian investor.
Döpfner Capital’s Structure and First Move
The 30-year-old Moritz Döpfner leads Döpfner Capital, a fund registered in Delaware with offices in West Hollywood, Los Angeles. He operates as a “Solo-GP,” a model where a single general partner makes all investment decisions, a structure that has seen increasing adoption in both the U.S. and Europe.
Döpfner Capital’s only confirmed investment to date is the Berlin-based combat drone startup Stark Defence. Interestingly, Peter Thiel is also an investor in Stark Defence. Thiel’s involvement recently sparked controversy in the context of a multi-million euro contract awarded to Stark by the German Bundeswehr. However, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) ultimately deemed it acceptable, as Thiel’s stake in the company is less than ten percent.
