# Sebastian Borek

> Sebastian Borek is an entrepreneur, investor and co-founder of the Founders Foundation and Hinterland of Things. He served as Founders Foundation CEO until 30 September 2021. Since October 2025 he has been a managing director of HTGF, leading Digital Tech, and since February 2026 a managing director of DTCF. His career links family businesses, startup education and technology investment.

- **Role:** Managing Director, Digital Tech at High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF); Managing Director at DeepTech & Climate Fonds (DTCF)
- **Organizations:** High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), DeepTech & Climate Fonds (DTCF), Founders Foundation gGmbH, Hinterland of Things, Borek Media, Borek Kommunikation, financeAds International, Bertelsmann, ProSiebenSat.1, Pixelpark
- **Nationality:** German
- **Education:** Bachelor’s degree, New York University, MBA, University of St. Gallen
- **Known for:** Co-founded an entrepreneurship education organisation in Bielefeld in 2016., Co-created Hinterland of Things to connect technology founders and established industry., During his Founders Foundation tenure, more than 350 talents were trained and more than 50 startups passed through programmes, according to the July 2021 handover announcement.

## Career timeline

- **2000** — Founded a print ecommerce startup operating in the United States and Europe.
- **2003** — Reported as responsible for strategic business development at Borek Kommunikation.
- **2015** — Named to lead financeAds International with Hakan Özal.
- **2016** — Co-founded Founders Foundation with Dominik Gross and Bertelsmann Stiftung.
- **2018** — Hinterland of Things conference took place in Bielefeld on 8 February.
- **2021** — Ended Founders Foundation CEO tenure on 30 September; Gross took sole management on 1 October.
- **2023** — Discussed his move to Portugal with his family on Portugal - The Simple Life.
- **2025** — Joined HTGF management on 13 October, responsible for Digital Tech.
- **2026** — Assumed DTCF management with Romy Schnelle and Achim Plum on 1 February.

## Achievements

- Co-founded an entrepreneurship education organisation in Bielefeld in 2016.
- Co-created Hinterland of Things to connect technology founders and established industry.
- During his Founders Foundation tenure, more than 350 talents were trained and more than 50 startups passed through programmes, according to the July 2021 handover announcement.
- Appointed HTGF managing director responsible for Digital Tech in 2025.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — HTGF launched fundraising for its fifth seed fund on 26 August; Borek commented on AI expertise, European applications and supporting founders beyond the next round. First closing is planned for mid-2027.
- **2026-02** — Borek, Romy Schnelle and Achim Plum assumed DTCF management on 1 February.
- **2025-10** — Joined HTGF as managing director leading Digital Tech on 13 October.

## Links

- Website: https://sebastianborek.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastianborek/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/Seba_Borek

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/sebastian-borek
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21