Frank Beckmann worked over 20 years in the C-suites of industrial corporations, including stints in China and Thailand. Coming from a family which owned a third-generation business meant that it was only a matter of time before the entrepreneurial bug hit. In 2017 he leveraged his industry knowledge and networks to co-found ParkenPropertyPartner GmbH which advises and supports companies on innovative digitalized parking operations internationally. Five years later, he spied another opportunity to harness newfound knowhow and leverage the technology innovation approach into a new company.
Eighty under five
At that time Frank eyed the numbers and quickly realised that, on an average, 80 percent of start-ups did not survive the first five years. “This leads to 80 percent less value, less innovation and less passion, sometimes even affecting the health of founders,” he laments.
As founder and CEO of GVI Investment Advisory, he has since made it his mission to increase the success rate of start-ups internationally. The company is an international boutique partner for venture capitalists (VCs), family offices and other investors. It aims to sustainably increase the success rate and valuation of start-ups while reducing and mitigating the risk for investors.
Like all good entrepreneurs, Franks knows how to leverage skills and opportunity from his industry experience and is grateful for the business acumen acquired while growing up. “I have an entrepreneurial DNA and a good understanding of family businesses and offices. As we are three brothers our family business was too small for all of us, so our elder brother is managing the family business allowing me to pursue my own goals to become a global player in the entrepreneurial field,” he explains.
Being highly self-motivated and a super-connector helps him uncover patterns and assess situations quickly. Getting to know new interesting people in different cultures on an almost daily basis has enabled him to learn, understand and to see challenges from various perspectives, all of which lead to increased quality and success rates of his projects.
Credits: Southeast Asian Entrepreneurs in Europe Association e.V.
Talk the talk, walk the walk
Working internationally comes with the challenge at times of finding the right venture capital in certain countries. And being a super-connector means he frequently encounters his fair share of difficult individuals. “I am frustrated if people are stubborn, egoistic and selfish instead of being open-minded and respectful,” he confesses. “With some people I have a good discussion to raise the awareness of these issues; with some people I just end the relationship.”
But Frank takes his inspiration from the motivated start-ups which engage him trustfully with a desire to be successful and to continuously learn. And when the relevant VC comes along and funds one, “the feeling is just awesome!”
Today, he offers the same advice for others that he reminds himself to do daily, “Just do it, be open, observe, learn and improve with networks and collaborations.”
If you are interested in connecting with Frank, you can reach him at hello@consultingforfuture.org or go to https://www.consultingforfuture.org/gvi-investment-advisory/
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