Marco Cesare Solinas
Founder of Puzzle
Germany
Overview
Work Experience
Co-Founder
2023 - 2024
⋅ Raised €150k from Antler, a global VC fund, to build a new e-commerce platform. ⋅ Led fundraising, product development, and strategic partnerships. ⋅ Built an MVP and secured 12+ brand partnerships to validate market demand. ⋅ Gained firsthand experience in go-to-market, growth strategies, and fundraising—relevant to venture building and VC investing.
Founder / Entrepreneur in Residence (Feb 23 Cohort)
2023 - 2023
⋅ Selected from a highly competitive 1% acceptance rate to join Antler’s startup incubator. ⋅ Developed a new venture concept to disrupt consumer product distribution. ⋅ Recruited a founding team and validated the business model.
VC Investor (from Intern to Associate)
2018 - 2023
⋅ Investor at a tech investment firm (a vc fund of funds) ⋅ Led diligence on 500+ opportunities, identifying high-growth opportunities. ⋅ Financial modelling & analysis of venture capital portfolios & breakout companies. ⋅ Played a key role in 10+ successful deals, overseeing the full investment cycle. ⋅ Due diligence, drafting investment memos, and presenting to the investment committee. ⋅ Building and nurturing relationships with targets. ⋅ Financial and cash flow analyses of potential investments, portfolio funds & companies. ⋅ Initiated and launched #ESGinVC to promote (ESG) awareness in venture capital.
Venture Capital Intern
2017 - 2017
⋅ Managed the dealflow, reviewing and summarising pitch decks and business plans. ⋅ Supported the investment process. ⋅ Market researches and analyses, presenting them to the Investment Committee on a weekly basis.
Delegate for Economy and Labor at the G7 Youth Summit
2016 - 2016
⋅ Selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Delegation at the official G7 Youth Event. ⋅ Negotiated policy proposals related to the impact of singularity and technology in the labour market.
Business Development Intern
2015 - 2015
⋅ Conducted a research on the insurance market in Europe in order to develop an expansion strategy. ⋅ Mapped 100+ competitors in the HR software market. ⋅ Implemented hiring processes and relations with agencies to recruit software developers.
Business Development/City Manager Intern
2013 - 2013
⋅ 25+ contracts signed for approximately 50 restaurants. ⋅ Increased orders from users from 5 to 30 per day. ⋅ Reorganised the team of delivery riders with 9 new employees.