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It’s been 5 years since a 25-year-old Joachim walked in the door as an Analyst – you’re now a Principal. What are the first things that come to mind when thinking back on that journey?
It’s honestly hard to believe it’s been five years already. When I joined, I thought I had a decent idea of what VC was, but the reality was much more complex and a lot more interesting. I’ve learned that pattern recognition is about much more than markets or metrics. Sounds classic maybe, but it's about people – how founders think, how teams work, how conviction is built.
I also started appreciating just how much of this job is earned by doing. You can’t shortcut the reps like sourcing companies, sitting in the trenches with founders, backing the right ones, and sometimes learning from the ones that don’t work out. As frustrating as some of these moments can sometimes be, the steep learning curve genuinely a big part of what makes it so much fun.
Was there a specific early moment where you thought: ‘This is exactly why I’m in VC’?
One early moment that stands out was a call with a founder I’d sourced during my first year. It was a scrappy pre-seed company, and I didn’t know much at the time, but I remember getting off that call feeling like this is the kind of person I’d back, no matter the stage. Smart, driven, clear about the problem, but also open to be challenged.
We didn’t end up investing, but that conversation showed me what makes this job unique. It’s about the ability to spot something early, form a conviction, and then work to get others on board. The idea that you can help shape the early trajectory of a company just by showing up, asking the right questions, and building trust. It clicked for me then, and it still drives a lot of my energy for the job.
What’s your proudest moment so far in your career?
One of the moments I’m most proud of was leading the investment process in a company that, on paper, didn’t tick every traditional box. It was a slightly unconventional founder, operating in a niche that didn’t have much hype. But I had a strong conviction that the team was onto something. I pushed internally, did the work, and got the deal across the line.
Seeing that company now grow, hire talent, expand internationally is a reminder of why we do this. That felt like a real step forward for me in terms of both responsibility and impact.
Beyond investing, how have your years at Scale shaped you personally?
These past five years at Scale have shaped me far beyond the job title. VC forces you to build judgment quickly. You’re constantly weighing imperfect information, making calls with long feedback loops, and learning to separate noise from signal. That’s made me more comfortable with uncertainty, not just at work, but in life — trusting my instincts more, being okay with not having all the answers, and learning to sit with ambiguity instead of rushing through it.
Another thing is that I’ve also come to value curiosity and humility much more. I’ve met founders and operators who are world-class at what they do, and what strikes me most is their willingness to learn, listen, and evolve. That’s influenced how I show up in my own life too — being more present in conversations, asking better questions, listening more closely. It’s changed how I connect with people and how I continue growing as a person.
What’s something you now look for in founders that you didn’t fully appreciate early on?
Early on, I probably focused too much on the clarity of the pitch, things like market size, product vision and traction. All important, but over time I’ve come to really value how a founder thinks, especially under pressure. Are they intellectually honest? Do they take feedback well without being overly reactive? Can they zoom in on details but still hold the bigger picture?
One trait I pay much more attention to now is what I’d call “earned insight”. A founder who has lived the problem, not just studied it. It tends to show up in how they talk about their users, the edge in their product thinking, or how creatively they’ve solved constraints. That kind of depth is harder to fake, and it usually translates into stronger execution over time.
What’s one thing about venture, or Scale specifically, that would surprise your younger self?
I think my younger self would be surprised by how much of this job is about people and timing rather than just picking the “best” companies. Venture from the outside looks analytical and thesis-driven (and it is, to an extent), but what often moves the needle is building real trust with founders, being top-of-mind when it matters, and backing conviction even when the data isn’t perfect.
Lastly, what keeps you excited about venture every day?
What keeps me excited is the constant learning and the proximity to people building things from scratch. You’re exposed to new ideas, sectors, and technologies every week, and it forces you to stay curious and challenge your own thinking.
More than that, though, it’s the opportunity to support founders at a pivotal moment. When things are still messy, the outcome is uncertain, and your input can actually make a difference. Being part of that early phase, where conviction matters more than consensus, is still what makes the job rewarding for me.
