Dominik Esen

Vice President, STOCKHOLM

Dominik is part of the investment team in Stockholm and works across a wide range of industries within the Nordics and DACH. He focuses on early-stage startups.

Prior to Northzone, Dominik was a strategy consultant at Bain & Company. He also worked at Cherry Ventures, and spent several years at global insurer Allianz, focusing on their digital practice. In his early days, he spent time in the skies as a paratrooper in the German Special Forces.

Dominik grew up in Berlin and Istanbul, and holds a Masters in Management from the Stockholm School of Economics

There is always something new to discover

Interacting with inspiring entrepreneurs and learning about new industries motivates me. I’ve also done a lot of backpacking in Asia, South America, Africa, and Turkey. I love exploring new places and trying out new things; a new restaurant or having a go at Bachata – with varying degrees of success!

Du är en trollkarl, Dominik

I recently learned Swedish by reading all the Harry Potter books and looking up any word I didn’t know. I’m half Turkish and went to a bilingual school in Berlin so I can also speak English, German, and Turkish.

I'm happiest when

I’m with friends and family or doing something outside – the best case, both.

Paying it forward

I worked hard to get where I am today, it maybe wouldn’t have been if not for those I met along the way who shared knowledge and opened doors. I now mentor several young people who have amazing drive but come from non-academic and foreign backgrounds who lack the contacts and knowledge others have inherited – it’s great to see them succeed.