Clara Leise

Clara is a Vice President based in Berlin. She invests across sectors but has a particular weakness for fintech and B2B infrastructure.

Entrepreneurship has never been abstract to me; both my parents were self-employed architects, so I've seen firsthand what it takes to go from zero to one. My parents not only introduced me to the beauty of building something from scratch (in their case, houses), turning bold ideas into reality, and occasionally tearing down walls (in their case, literally); but also to the struggles that come with uncertainty and self-reliance. Looking back, that non-mundane, sometimes slightly crazy upbringing shaped how I think about and what I value in work and life. 

Since then, my path may not have been linear (though whose truly is?). It’s been rather a dance across experiences and industries. Early on, I went on to discover the world of energy trading, eager to build independence and fascinated by finance. I started out at one of Europe’s largest energy companies in Germany’s Ruhrgebiet. Trading got me. The corporate life less so.

I packed a bag and spent several months travelling the world. I noticed how local context shapes behaviour, and how the same human need can manifest in entirely different ways across countries and societies. Travelling deepened my curiosity and instilled a habit of trying to understand people and context far removed from my own. Looking back, these things seem to translate surprisingly well into venture.

Driven by curiosity I ventured into the world of startups and VC, and studied PPLE (Politics, Psychology, Law & Economics) in Amsterdam, followed by graduate studies at WHU. 

When the opportunity arose to spend time on the trading floor again, this time at J.P. Morgan, I couldn’t resist. I loved the energy, the audacity, being in a room full of competitive people passionately debating investment hypotheses. It confirmed: investing is fun! Craving more variety, I joined McKinsey and discovered a different kind of intensity: more structured, equally addictive - steep learning curves, brilliant people, all thriving under constant pressure to turn complexity into clarity.

However, I missed the boldness, the misfits, the rebels, people unwilling to accept the status quo… And where better to finally find them than in venture? Today, I feel incredibly lucky to work with founders who constantly challenge how we think about the world. People who inspire thoughts we didn’t even know were possible – which might be one of the most powerful things someone can do for you.

The world has changed dramatically since my parents started their entrepreneurial journey. Yet the beauty and the challenges of building something new and taking risks remain similar. It’s what continues to excite me. Working alongside the Creandum team and the founders we meet every day, I can’t imagine a more inspiring group of people to spend my time with. Happy to be part of this incredible, at times crazy, century-defining ride.