OMR Podcast

15 Jan 2025 · 73 min

0:00

In this OMR podcast episode, host Philipp Westermeyer interviews Jan Beckers, founder and chief investment officer of BitCapital, Germany’s leading retail‑focused technology fund with roughly €1.7 billion AUM. Beckers explains the fund’s structure – a mix of retail and institutional capital – and its active stock‑picking approach that targets global technology leaders such as HelloFresh, Kaspi, Nubank, Duolingo and Nvidia. He highlights the central role of data, AI and proprietary research pipelines in generating alpha. The conversation then shifts to specific case studies: a costly, high‑risk venture in the e‑VTOL maker Lilium, which Beckers describes as the fund’s worst investment but still a technology he believes will reshape mobility; and a short‑term opportunistic trade in Carvana, where the fund captured a 500 % gain before exiting. Beckers also shares his bold view that Germany should consider a sovereign Bitcoin reserve to diversify its balance sheet, and critiques the country’s lack of state support for deep‑tech firms. He discusses his nuanced stance on subsidies, the political landscape, and his limited but cross‑party engagement with policymakers. The interview touches on his perspective on Elon Musk’s platform (Twitter/X) as a free‑speech venue, his assessment of the German automotive sector (important but currently a “sideline” for BitCapital), and the broader challenge of retaining talent in Germany. Beckers predicts Friedrich Merz as the most likely future chancellor, while expressing skepticism about the current government’s performance. Throughout, he emphasizes a long‑term, risk‑aware investment philosophy, the importance of technology for Germany’s economic future, and the need for a more entrepreneur‑friendly environment.

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