# Christof Wittig

> Christof Wittig is a German-born software entrepreneur, investor and LGBTQ+ advocate based in San Francisco. After founding and selling enterprise software companies, he co-founded Hornet in 2011 and eventually made the queer social network his full-time focus. His work joins consumer technology, online community, market-by-market operating discipline and public advocacy for safer, more open digital spaces.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at Hornet
- **Organizations:** Hornet, Queer Networks, Inc., Strive Capital, LGBT Foundation, LiquidM, Servo Software, db4objects, Apsis Software, Vespa Networks
- **Education:** Master of Science in Management, Sloan Fellow, Stanford University Graduate School of Business, Diplom-Ingenieur, Technical University of Munich
- **Known for:** Co-founded Hornet in 2011 and led it from a side project into a global queer social network whose current app listing says it is trusted by more than 100 million people., Raised Hornet's first institutional financing, an $8 million Series A led by Ventech China, in 2016., Founded and exited multiple software companies, including Apsis Software and db4objects.

## Career timeline

- **1993** — Founded Apsis Software in Munich; the company was later sold to Nemetschek and subsequently merged with conject.
- **2004** — Completed the Stanford Sloan program and began building db4objects, an open-source object database company.
- **2008** — db4objects was acquired by Versant; Wittig also founded Servo Software, an Android middleware company.
- **2010** — Servo Software merged with Synclore to form Kii; Wittig also founded Strive Capital.
- **2011** — Co-founded Hornet as a side project and also founded Vespa Networks.
- **2013-2014** — Founded and led LiquidM, a mobile advertising demand-side platform built from the madvertise technology and team.
- **2016** — Made Hornet his full-time focus; Hornet announced an $8 million Series A led by Ventech China.
- **2018** — Launched the LGBT Foundation and served as its president.
- **2023** — Presented an operating framework for distinguishing short waves, tides and longer climate changes in platform data.
- **2025** — Represented Hornet in an industry panel on technology, accountability and safety in digital spaces.
- **2026** — Continued leading Hornet and publicly reflecting on entrepreneurship, technology and San Francisco.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Hornet in 2011 and led it from a side project into a global queer social network whose current app listing says it is trusted by more than 100 million people.
- Raised Hornet's first institutional financing, an $8 million Series A led by Ventech China, in 2016.
- Founded and exited multiple software companies, including Apsis Software and db4objects.
- Co-invented patented mobile search technology, including US patents for mobile application discovery and social mobile search.
- Created or led ventures across Germany, the United States and Asia, spanning databases, mobile middleware, advertising technology and consumer social products.
- Helped launch the LGBT Foundation in 2018 and served as its president.
- Completed the UTMB CCC ultramarathon in 2023 and has publicly connected endurance sport with entrepreneurship.

## Latest updates

- **2026-05** — Published a personal essay, 'San Francisco, On the Edge, Still Mine,' reflecting on 21 years in the city and the consequences of successive technology booms.
- **2026-05** — Highlighted Hornet's support for Frameline50, the 50th edition of San Francisco's queer film festival.
- **2026-01** — Appeared in an opencompany video walking through Silicon Valley and discussing his entrepreneurial journey and Hornet's growth.
- **2025-08** — Hornet announced Hornet Stories as a way to keep content available after Apple removed the app from Russia's App Store.
- **2025-03** — Hornet published coverage of Wittig's participation in an industry discussion about technology and online safety.

## Links

- Website: https://www.christofwittig.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christof/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/christofw

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/christof-wittig
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-18