Cipio Partners' Advisory Board comprises, among others, the following individuals:

Rolf C. Dienst
Advisory Board Member

Since 1991, Rolf Christof Dienst has been founding partner of Wellington Partners, Munich, a pan-European venture firm. Rolf graduated from Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität, Munich, with a degree in law and took up legal practice in 1974. In parallel with his studies, he co-founded Matuschka Group in 1968. During Rolf's tenure as President and Head of its Corporate Finance and Venture Capital units overseeing 150 professionals and 10 offices in Europe and North America, Matuschka Group became one of Europe's leading corporate finance and asset management firms.

In 1978, together with US private equity house, TA Associates, Rolf organized one of the first US venture capital programs for European investors. In 1984, Rolf co-founded TVM-Techno Venture Management, Munich/Boston, jointly sponsored by TA Associates, Advent International, Siemens AG and Matuschka Group.

With a staff of 25, Wellington Partners currently manages approx. € 325 million in three fund generations and has invested in over 70 high-tech companies in Europe with 20 successful exits (including four IPOs). Wellington Partners is viewed as one of the top German and European early-stage venture capital managers.

Rolf is married and has five children. He is actively involved with Odeon-Center for Entrepreneurship at Munich's Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität, where he also serves as an honorary senator.

Falk F. Strascheg
Advisory Board Member

Falk F. Strascheg is an electronics engineer and highly regarded entrepreneur. He currently runs Extorel, a leading European venture capital fund-of-funds, which he founded in 1998. In 1987, he established German early-stage direct investment firm, Technologieholding VC GmbH, and grew it to become the leading German venture capital firm backing firms such as Intershop, Brokat and others. Falk sold Technologieholding VC in 2000 to 3i Group Plc.

In 1971, Falk founded Laser-Optronic in Munich. Within less than ten years, the firm became one of the leading European producers of laser systems, establishing a global presence. In 1981, Falk sold Laser-Optronic to Coherent Inc., Palo Alto, the world leader in laser manufacturing.

Falk held the presidency of the European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (EVCA) in 1997/98. He currently serves on supervisory, advisory and governing boards at various German and foreign high-tech and financial services concerns. In May 2002, Falk established Munich University of Applied Sciences' Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship, to which he remains a major contributor.