Consequences for Start-ups: award-press with Wirecard

Of the "commercial band fraud" in the investigation against Wirecard meanwhile, the speech. The payment service provider has long been regarded as a proof that Tech can rise to the top companies in this country to the Dax-corporations. However, Wirecard is the next German case of fraud, the international sensation and perhaps even the VW-Diesel-scandal in the shadow puts.

Bastian Benrath

editor in the economy.

Gustav Theile

editor in the economy.

he is in Germany, but Is long-term damage? One side appeased, and argued that it was an isolated case. The other warns and points to a serious damage to their image.

among the most prominent Mahnern the Investor, Carsten Maschmeyer, the financial Advisory firm AWD is a past dubious business practices have been accused of. "I know of international investors, which is to say: In Germany, we only invest in established companies," says Maschmeyer. "You haven't got your new business. BASF and Allianz are good, but the new title, which is not controlled by your intense enough.“

He sees a big setback: "for Many years we had the Image of a clean man. Now we have scammers made in Germany.“ He also sees the danger that regulation hampers the business. "The Fintechs are almost under a General suspicion. The investors will ask: Can I trust you? The battle of credibility has begun.“

ammunition for price handle

Christian Vienna, head of the insurance App Getsafe, wants to separate emotions and facts: "The facts suggest that it is an isolated incident," he says. For future financial statements, the Emotional was important: "The investors want to utilize all the possible signals, in order to press prices. Investors could point the Finger again and again on Wirecard.“

Many large venture capital funds to appease it. "There's always individual companies that have their problems," said Alexander Frolov, managing Director of the Berlin-based Investors Target Global, which manages more than 800 million euros. Impact on investment rounds from other Fintechs he is not afraid.

Similarly, Uwe Horstmann, managing Director of early stage investor Project A, which manages around $ 500 million, manifests itself. "The case, Wirecard is in investors' circles, still not a big issue," he says. "The Problem, rather the auditors and the Bank supervision." Generally speaking, to lax oversight for Fintechs in Germany, but surely. "All Start-ups that have to do with the Bafin to know that their employees look closely and there's not a lot to do with Laissez-faire is." What went in the case of Wirecard wrong, would have to show the investigation.