OUR STORY
What is the meaning of K2 and MATCH
K2MATCH is the combination of K2 and MATCH. K2 is the second highest mountain on planet earth, but even more difficult to climb than Mount Everest. Match stands for bringing together startups with experts (skills), solution partners (tools), and investors (funds).
Our K2MATCH Community are Sherpas who guide Startups and facilitate their ascension to the summit of K2.
- TOGETHER TO THE TOP
Below we share our Story of K2MATCH.
We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this journey. Without you all this would have not been possible…
Founders Picture: Badr Moudden and Alexndros Dohn
2021 - Founding K2MATCH and 2022 working in Stealth
In 2021, Badr and Alex met at an Italian restaurant in Berlin to plan building a trusted ecosystem to help Startups grow and succeed on their journey as we know how difficult it can be sometimes running a Venture. Being also very passionate about innovation, startup culture, and helping great people, we aimed to make it happen.
By August 2021, we founded our company in Cyprus after Alex moved there. Operating from Paphos and Badr from Düsseldorf, we worked in stealth mode to build our network. For us, it was important to set the right expectations and take our time to develop an ecosystem of partners and investors. Working under the radar allowed us to focus on meaningful connections and solid groundwork.
In 2023, we kicked off with the network we had built. After two years of careful planning, we emerged with a strong foundation that exceeded our expectations. Our trusted ecosystem now connects startups with the right partners and investors, inspiring them to achieve goals together and building great relationships.
This journey, from our meeting at the Italian restaurant to launching our network, highlights the power of shared vision and perseverance. We remain dedicated to supporting and growing the startup and investor community.
2023 - Kickoff of K2MATCH
Driven by the vision of creating a professional, internationally curated entrepreneurial ecosystem, we set out to empower Startups and ScaleUps. This journey began with the launch of our first two Investor Lounges in Düsseldorf, followed by the inaugural edition in Monaco, where we successfully brought Startups and Investors together in a trusted and dynamic environment.
Building on this momentum, we developed an online Dealflow platform, enabling seamless connections within our ecosystem. By 2023, we proudly curated a portfolio of 500 innovative Startups, laying the foundation for a thriving network that continues to grow and inspire.
First Edition of our Investor Lounge in Düsseldorf
Co-Founder: Alexandros Dohn and Badr Moudden
Investor Lounges Düsseldorf and Monaco 2023
2024 - Investor Lounges Series Monaco
Driven by our commitment to cultivating a globally-connected, professionally curated entrepreneurial ecosystem, we embarked on a mission to empower Startups and ScaleUps. This vision materialized even further with our three successful Investor Lounges in Monaco, where we fostered a trusted environment for Startups and Investors to seamlessly connect and collaborate.
To further enhance these opportunities, we developed an online Dealflow platform, streamlining connections within our ecosystem. By 2024, we proudly curated a network of over 2,000 innovative Startups, solidifying our commitment to fostering growth and innovation on a global scale.
Our Journey continued with the unexpeced…
At our second Investor Lounge in Monaco, we had the privilege of meeting Peter Harrison, who traveled all the way from Australia to join us. Since that moment, Pete has become an integral part of both our events in Monaco and our growing team. As the founder of EmergentQx and a Pritchett Architect Partner, Pete specializes in training top C-level executives, bringing unparalleled expertise to the table.
Through his training we have experienced ourself we quickly recognized the immense value Pete adds to our startup and investor community. Together, we’ve developed a dedicated personal development program, emphasizing the human factor—arguably one of the most critical components of any venture.
Discover more in the article below:
K2MATCH Investor Lounge in Monaco - 3rd Monaco Edition
K2MATCH Team: Peter Harrison, Alexandros Dohn and Badr Moudden
Welcoming Our CTO Adam to the Team
We have known Adam for years, and we are excited to have him join us as CTO at K2MATCH in 2024. His expertise and vision are key to building our technical foundation and online matching that drive our ecosystem forward. In addition to his role with us, Adam founded CyprusLimited.com, bringing valuable entrepreneurial experience to our team.
We are grateful to have Adam on our journey as we reach new milestones and grow our startup and investor community.
K2MATCH Investor Lounge in Monaco - 2nd Monaco Edition
K2MATCH Team: Alexandros Dohn and Adam G. Butkiewicz
Investor Lounges in Monaco (March, June and October) 2024
Great Fundraising Successes
Interview with Everybody Counts - Monaco Tribune
We asked how the K2Match experience went. Andy delivered a live pitch, with Question & Answers on the fly.
He admitted he used to find live pitches daunting but this was a great experience, and he came away with 4 or 5 investors, in fact they hope to put a syndicate of investors together. “They can see how lucrative it is, the figures speak for themselves.”
