Returning Investor Money, Head of Product at Gorillas, New Startup and Investment Vehicle - Patrick Haede, Stealth Founder & Investor

About this episode

What happens when a pandemic brings your startup to its knees? Patrick Haede lived through this painful experience and extracted valuable learnings for his entrepreneurial career. From returning million-dollar investments to his time as Head of Product at Gorillas, and now his new stealth startup – his story shows how to emerge stronger from crisis.

From Mapify to HomeToGo: When Pandemic Changes Everything

Patrick's first startup Mapify had specialized in travel technology. But when the pandemic hit, it became clear quickly: the business model had no future. Instead of burning through the investment, Patrick made an unusual decision: he returned the money to his investors and sold Mapify to HomeToGo.

"It was a difficult time, but also an educational one," Patrick reflects. The crisis forced him to be honest with himself and his investors. This transparency and integrity would later prove valuable.

Investor Money as Push, Not Seed Capital

From Mapify's failure, Patrick drew an important insight: investor money should primarily serve as a push, not as seed capital. "If you need investment just to get started, you probably haven't identified the right problem," he explains his philosophy.

This attitude also shapes his current investment vehicle. Patrick strategically invests in startups that already have traction and use capital for acceleration, not basic financing.

Head of Product at Gorillas: Learnings from Hypergrowth

After Mapify's exit, Patrick joined Gorillas as Head of Product – right in the middle of explosive growth. There he experienced firsthand what hypergrowth means and what challenges come with it.

"At Gorillas, we built in a few months what takes others years," Patrick reports. But this speed also brought problems: quality versus speed became a constant trade-off. The experience taught him that sustainable growth is often more important than rapid growth.

Doubts Are Part of It – As Founder and Investor

One of the most valuable insights from Patrick's journey: doubts are normal and even necessary. "If you don't have doubts as a founder, you're probably not reflecting enough," he says. This self-reflection also helps him as an investor make the right decisions.

The New Startup: What's Different This Time

With his new startup (still in stealth mode), Patrick is doing many things differently. The learnings from Mapify and Gorillas flow directly into the new company:

• –Focus on sustainable growth instead of hypergrowth
• –Clear investment strategy from the beginning
• –Work-life balance as integral part of company culture

"I've learned that founding is a marathon, not a sprint," Patrick explains his new approach.

Quick Coffee and Investment Philosophy

Parallel to his startup, Patrick operates the investment vehicle Quick Coffee, supporting other founders. His investment hypotheses are based on his own experiences: he seeks founders who already have traction and want to use investment as an accelerator.

Conclusion: Failure as Learning Opportunity

Patrick's story impressively shows that failure isn't the end, but often the beginning of something better. His decision to return investor money instead of burning it, his time at Gorillas, and applying these learnings in his new startup – all of this makes him an experienced founder who knows what matters.

For other founders, his journey offers valuable insights: honesty with yourself and investors, the right attitude toward investment capital, and the recognition that doubts and reflection are important companions on the entrepreneurial path.