Nicole Junkermann
{{Short description|German businesswoman}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Nicole Junkermann
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birthyear|1980|}}
| birth_place = Düsseldorf, Germany
| education = International University of Monaco
Harvard Business School
| spouse = {{marriage|Ferdinando Brachetti Peretti|2017|}}
| children = 1, Vita
| relatives =
}}
Nicole Junkermann (born 27 April 1980) is a successful German entrepreneur and investor. She was born in Düsseldorf and is the daughter of businessman Heinz Junkermann. She lives in West London. {{Cite web |last=Referente |first=El |date=2020-04-20 |title="Lo que de verdad hace una inversión buena son los emprendedores, y por eso cuando invierto, invierto en personas" |url=https://elreferente.es/entrevistas/lo-que-de-verdad-hace-una-inversion-buena-son-los-emprendedores-y-por-eso-cuando-invierto-invierto-en-personas/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=El Referente |language=es}}
Junkermann is the founder of NJF Holdings, an international investment company with interests in venture capital, private equity, and real estate.{{Cite web |last=Rich |first=Gracia |date=2020-07-21 |title=International Investor and Entrepreneur, Nicole Junkermann Sets the Stage Globally for Women In Finance {{!}} Formidable Woman Magazine |url=https://www.formidablewomanmag.com/international-investor-and-entrepreneur-nicole-junkermann-sets-the-stage-globally-for-women-in-finance/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |language=en-US}}
Biography
Nicole Junkermann{{Cite web |title=tbtech |url=https://tbtech.co/author/nicole-junkermann/ |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=tbtech.co |language=en-GB}} is the daughter of Heinz and Ingrid Junkermann. Her father Heinz Junkermann, born in 1928 in Frankfurt am Main, owned several companies. He founded a jewellery store (Schmuck-Kassette GmbH), a real estate company (IFG Gesellschaft für Immobilienbesitz) and a private bank for wealthy clients. He took his daughter with him to business meetings when she was 12 in order to prepare her for her future career.{{Cite web |last=Raeanne |date=2021-02-24 |title=Heinz Junkermann – A Personal Impact |url=https://www.europeanfinancialreview.com/heinz-junkermann-a-personal-impact/ |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=The European Financial Review |language=en-US}} Junkermann grew up in Marbella, Spain{{Cite web |title=Diese Frauen glauben an junge Gründerinnen und Gründer |url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/management/investorinnen-diese-frauen-glauben-an-junge-gruenderinnen-und-gruendehttps://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/management/investorinnen-diese-frauen-glauben-an-junge-gruenderinnen-und-gruender/26961860.htmlr/26961860.html |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=www.handelsblatt.com}}{{Cite web |last=Askari |first=Emma Roig |date=2019-04-29 |title=Nicole Junkermann: así es la mecenas de la agencia Magnum |url=https://www.revistavanityfair.es/poder/articulos/nicole-junkermann-mecenas-de-agencia-magnum/36407 |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=Vanity Fair |language=es-ES}} and studied business administration and management at the International University of Monaco (1998) and Harvard Business School.
Junkermann co-founded online sports gaming platform Winamax. Junkermann later co-founded Infront Sports and Media in 2002 and grew the business into one of the world’s largest sports media rights businesses. As a major shareholder and Vice Chairman, she oversaw the company’s sale to the private equity group Bridgepoint Capital in 2011 for approximately $650 million. {{Cite web |last=Long |first=Michael |date=2011-09-02 |title=Bridgepoint buys out Infront Sports & Media |url=https://www.sportspro.com/news/bridgepoint_buys_out_infront_sports_media/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=SportsPro |language=en-GB}}
Shortly after the sale of Infront, in 2012, Junkermann founded NJF Holdings. NJF Holdings’ venture capital arm, NJF Capital, manages a portfolio with investments in healthcare, sports, fintech, and deep tech.{{Cite web |last=Barratt |first=Bianca |title=How Young Businesses Can Safeguard Their Future According To A Successful Investor |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/biancabarratt/2020/04/24/how-young-businesses-can-safeguard-their-future-according-to-a-successful-investor/?sh=5bd92cc816b7 |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Forbes |language=en}}{{Cite journal |last=Araujo-Cabrera |first=Yasmina |last2=Aguiar-Quintana |first2=Teresa |date=2018 |title=Be Cordial Hotels & Resorts, una apuesta de un grupo de emprendedores por la expansión en el mercado turístico y por la sostenibilidad |url=https://doi.org/10.20420/eni.2019.245 |journal=Revista Emprendimiento y Negocios Internacionales |doi=10.20420/eni.2019.245 |issn=2530-5603|doi-access=free }}{{Cite web |date=2020-04-12 |title=Nicole Jukermann:"China va a salir beneficiada de esta crisis" |url=https://www.elmundo.es/economia/actualidad-economica/2020/04/12/5e8ce55e21efa03f7b8b469f.html |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=ELMUNDO |language=es}} Three of NJF’s early investments include Songza, Dollar Shave Club, and RelateIQ, which were acquired by Google, Unilever, and Salesforce respectively.{{Cite web |title=Handelsblatt |url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/management/interview-ki-kann-verstoerend-wirken-investorin-junkermann-ueber-fluch-und-segen-kuenstlicher-intelligenz/23687456.html?ticket=ST-4801351-nXOCEEgiL7cVNtkdcvCM-ap3 |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=www.handelsblatt.com}} She is currently an investor in companies such as SpaceX, Rippling, Lendable.{{Cite web |last=Filippetti |first=Simone |date=2022-10-01 |title=Randi Zuckerberg lancia a Londra la start up Hug, fucina di creativi |url=https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/randi-zuckerberg-lancia-londra-start-up-hug-fucina-creativi-AEJgbh4B?refresh_ce=1 |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Il Sole 24 ORE |language=it}}
Junkermann’s approach in NJF Capital has been to bridge tradition business models and emerging technologies{{Cite web |last=Junkermann |first=Nicole |date=2025-02-07 |title=Will AI change how you watch the Super Bowl? |url=https://www.cityam.com/will-ai-change-how-you-watch-the-super-bowl/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=City AM |language=en-GB}} which has created a portfolio of highly successful unicorn companies.
Junkermann previously served on the Department of Health and Social Care’s Healthtech Advisory Board, having been appointed by Matt Hancock, MP in November 2018. The board guides the Secretary of State and government on its mission to transform technology in the National Health Service.{{Cite web |title=Health technology expert panel meets for the first time |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/health-technology-expert-panel-meets-for-the-first-time |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Health technology expert panel meets for the first time |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/health-technology-expert-panel-meets-for-the-first-time |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} She is part of the board of the cybersecurity investment fund created by Pablo Casado in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Rodríguez |first=Carlos |date=2025-01-08 |title=El fondo de Pablo Casado y el sobrino de Ana Botín levanta 150 millones, el máximo previsto |url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/mercados/2025-01-08/hyperion-fondo-pablo-casado-sobrino-ana-botin-millones_4038336/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=elconfidencial.com |language=es}} In sports, Nicole has also served as an advisor to the Italian Olympic Committee.
One of NJF Capital’s portfolio companies is OWKIN, a Paris-based start-up, using AI for medical research. Junkermann serves as a director on OWKIN’s board.{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2018-01-23 |title=OWKIN Closes $11-Million Financing for AI in Drug Development |url=https://drug-dev.com/owkin-closes-11-million-financing-for-ai-in-drug-development/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=Drug Development and Delivery |language=en-US}} Junkermann also serves on the advisory council of Trilantic Capital Europe and was named in 2021 as one of Handelsblatt’s 100 Women Transforming Germany for the Future. In 2023, Nicole was appointed a Trustee of the world-renowned Royal Academy of Arts and in 2024 she was appointed a Trustee of the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, which supports the work of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, a world-leading cancer centre.
Family
In March 2017, Junkermann married Ferdinando Brachetti Peretti. They have a daughter born in December 2017. {{Cite web |date=2019-03-20 |title=Battesimo in Vaticano per la piccola Vita, figlia di Ferdinando e Nicole Brachetti Peretti |url=https://www.ilmattino.it/societa/persone/battesimo_vita_brachetti_peretti-4374748.html |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.ilmattino.it |language=it}}
Junkermann speaks six languages.{{Cite web |title=Diese Frauen glauben an junge Gründerinnen und Gründer |url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/management/investorinnen-diese-frauen-glauben-an-junge-gruenderinnen-und-gruender/26961860.html |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=www.handelsblatt.com}} As of 2018, she lived in South Kensington, London and often travels.{{Cite web |title=„KI kann verstörend wirken“ – Investorin Junkermann über Fluch und Segen Künstlicher Intelligenz |url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/management/interview-ki-kann-verstoerend-wirken-investorin-junkermann-ueber-fluch-und-segen-kuenstlicher-intelligenz/23687456.html |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=www.handelsblatt.com}} She is a fan of the football club Real Madrid.
Junkermann has been a committee member of the Tate Americas Foundation, an independent charity that supports the work of the Tate Gallery in the United Kingdom, since 2005.{{Cite web |title=Committees {{!}} TATE AMERICAS FOUNDATION |url=http://tateamericas.org/committees/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=tateamericas.org}}
References
{{Reflist}}
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Category:Harvard Business School alumni
Category:Businesspeople from Düsseldorf
Category:German women company founders
Category:German emigrants to the United Kingdom