About
As a repeat entrepreneur, my business ventures span a diverse range leveraging Dark Venture and Dark Studio to manage a portfolio of technology-enabled startups and digital-native vertical brands.
In 2014, I founded e2y, an award-winning digital experiences consultancy specializing in SAP Customer Experience (formerly Hybris) and Mirakl. As Chief Executive Officer and board member, I led e2y through its acquisition by Dimension Data, now NTT.
Before venturing into entrepreneurship, I held leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies such as Dell, LEGO, and Nikon, where I spearheaded global and European eCommerce and Direct-to-Consumer initiatives.
Laurent Christen
My Business World
As a repeat entrepreneur, my business ventures span a diverse range leveraging Dark Venture and Dark Studio to manage a portfolio of technology-enabled startups and digital-native vertical brands.
In 2014, I founded e2y, an award-winning digital experiences consultancy specializing in SAP Customer Experience (formerly Hybris) and Mirakl. As Chief Executive Officer, I led e2y until its acquisition by Dimension Data, now NTT.
Before venturing into entrepreneurship, I held leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies such as Dell, LEGO, and Nikon, where I spearheaded global and European eCommerce and Direct-to-Consumer initiatives.
Venture Studio
Venture Studios are transforming the way companies are created, and Dark Studio is at the forefront of this movement. At Dark Studio, we work on projects from the earliest stages of ideation—identifying problems, matching them with large market opportunities, and providing the initial funding needed to achieve product-market fit.
Dark Venture complements this mission by funding innovative, tech-enabled companies with high growth potential. Combining financing with incubation programs led by Dark Studio, Dark Venture invests in Dark Studio’s portfolio companies and serves as an early-stage investor for the next generation of tech start-ups looking to scale.
Dark Studio's partners are seasoned entrepreneurs with expertise in consulting, engineering, product innovation and leadership. We are dedicated to building impactful businesses.
Dark Studio’s portfolio companies include digital-native vertical brands, unified commerce businesses, and category creators focused on solving real-world problems through innovative technology. Together, Dark Studio and Dark Venture are building the future of entrepreneurship.
Portfolio companies
Dark Studio’s Portfolio Companies are digital native vertical brands, unified commerce companies and category creators that solve real problems using innovative technology.
At Active Rock we design and engineer innovative socks with the specific needs of a sport in mind, and for all types of athletes, regardless of skill level.
Maison du Vélo aims at creating physical and digital spaces for cycling enthusiasts. We love to share our passion for cycling. We are the go-to place for all cycling needs.
Rebel Skin rebels against the preconceived idea that aging is something that simply happens to us. We believe that with the right tools everyone has the ability toage beautifully. Our mission is to support you on your journey.
Investing
I support innovative entrepreneurs who excel at blending technology and flawless go-to-market execution. The companies I back are high-growth disruptors, redefining industries through exceptional customer experiences and cutting-edge technology. They pioneer new product categories, and as a business angel, I invest in start-ups at their earliest stages, during pre-seed or seed phases.
USEcryption creates new opportunities to securely compute and share confidential data with full privacy and security.
Victo - My Putter is a fully-configurable putter with an innovative curved face that gets the ball rolling more smoothly with less sliding or skidding.
Marpin Labs unlocks complex machine data to support vehicle and fleet systems.
Investing means believing in entrepreneurs but also taking a risk. Some say 9 out of 10 startups fail. Not all of my investments are successful. Take Roleshare as an example. Its vision was to become the world's leading job share platform but unfortunately had to close in autumn 2023.
Advisory
As an entrepreneur, I understand the dedication and challenges involved in building a new venture. It’s about balancing strategy, branding, go-to-market execution, defining the ideal customer profile, driving sales and marketing, onboarding new talent, and navigating the complexities of legal, HR, finance, and technology—all at once. I’m passionate about helping individuals and organizations unlock their full potential, just as my peers have supported me in growing my own start-ups.
I’ve had the privilege of mentoring university students worldwide through the Red Bull Basement programme, guiding them on refining their pitch, business model, and future start-ups. As a mentor, my mission is to inspire and empower the next generation of entrepreneurs to realize their potential and achieve success.
