Building Resilient Foundations: The Power of Hybrid Investment Models

In the fast-paced world of early-stage venture, the term "smart money" gets thrown around quite a bit. But at Hello World Investments, we believe that the true value of an investor lies in the friction between capital, knowledge, and time. Based here in Amsterdam, we have spent our years in the ecosystem learning that a one-size-fits-all approach rarely survives the first pivot.

Founded by Sam Renders—known to many in the music world as Sam Feldt—and myself, Nick Velten, Hello World Investments was born from our shared journey as co-founders of Fangage. Having lived through the challenges of scaling a startup, Sam and I realized that founders need more than just a wire transfer; they need a partner who understands the day-to-day grind of product-market fit and digital strategy. That is why we built our firm around a hybrid investment model: investing time, knowledge, and capital, both directly into startups and through selected fund partnerships.

The Hybrid Philosophy

Why operate as both an angel firm and a fund allocator? Because the startup lifecycle is rarely linear.

Direct investment allows us to get into the trenches with founders. Whether it is refining a digital strategy—something I focus on through my background with Stimmt—or leveraging brand and community growth, we treat these partnerships as an extension of our own operational experience. By engaging directly, we can provide immediate, actionable feedback during those high-stakes pre-seed and seed stages.

Simultaneously, we recognize the importance of the wider venture ecosystem. By participating in funds like Slingshot Ventures and Curiosity VC, we ensure that we are connected to broader market trends and deeper pools of expertise. This dual approach creates a resilient foundation, allowing us to support companies from their earliest infancy while keeping a pulse on the institutional capital that will fuel their Series A and beyond.

A Diverse Portfolio of Innovation

Our approach is reflected in the companies we are proud to call partners. Our portfolio represents a cross-section of innovation that spans creative commerce, AI, and infrastructure.

We have supported WebSummit to help facilitate the global exchange of ideas, while also backing consumer-facing brands like Madhappy that are redefining modern commerce. On the technological front, we are deeply interested in the companies that are streamlining operations and communication, such as Apollo HQ and Instant.

The intelligence layer is also critical to our thesis. We see immense potential in how companies utilize data and automation to solve complex problems, as demonstrated by the work being done at TrackBee and AudioStack. Finally, we are keen observers of the shift toward conscious consumption, which is why we’ve partnered with Update.

Lessons from Amsterdam

Operating from Amsterdam gives us a unique perspective. It is a city that balances historical longevity with a vibrant, forward-looking tech scene. Much like the city itself, we believe that a successful startup needs deep roots but must remain open to the winds of change.

If you are a founder currently navigating the pre-seed or seed stage, you know that the journey is rarely a straight line. It is a series of loops, failures, and hard-won successes. We look for founders who are not just looking for a check, but who are looking for a partner who has "been there, done that," and is ready to roll up their sleeves.

We aren’t looking for passive investments. We are looking for founders who are hungry, adaptable, and ready to challenge the status quo.

Reach Out

If you are building something that challenges the ordinary, we want to hear from you. We are always looking for the next wave of founders who value operational input as much as they value capital.

Whether it is a technical question about your product stack or a strategy session regarding your market entry, our doors are open. Reach out to us at hello@helloworld.amsterdam and let’s discuss what you are building.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What stages does Hello World Investments focus on? We focus exclusively on pre-seed and seed stage startups. We believe this is the most critical phase where our time, knowledge, and capital can have the most impact.

Who are the founders of Hello World Investments? Hello World Investments was founded by Sam Renders (Sam Feldt) and Nick Velten. Both Sam and Nick were co-founders of Fangage.

What is your investment strategy? Our strategy is hybrid. We invest directly in startups, providing both capital and operational guidance, and we also invest through selected funds like Slingshot Ventures and Curiosity VC to maintain a comprehensive view of the market.

Where is your office located? We are based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

How can I get in touch with the team? If you are a founder interested in our support, please reach out to us directly at hello@helloworld.amsterdam.