Bringing together more than 2,000 GSB alumni across 40 graduating classes to invest in the most innovative startups is no small feat. Yet that’s exactly what Martin Rudigier has achieved with GSBackers, a syndicate network by and for GSB graduates. With 13 years of experience at the intersection of Germany’s auto industry and Silicon Valley’s tech ecosystem, he launched GSBackers to give fellow alumni opportunities to support and invest in one another. “He manages to get allocation in some of Silicon Valley’s most competitive deals alongside Midas List investors, and offers this to GSBers,” explains Valerie Shen, MBA ’19, MS ’19.
GSBackers has now fueled more than 60 startups, and in 2024 alone its portfolio companies secured over $1.7 billion in follow-on funding. But money is just part of the story. “GSBackers provided not only capital, but also access to a trusted network of GSB alumni across classes who are now investors and ambassadors for my company,” says Monica Molenaar, MBA ’03. She adds that the platform “uniquely enables alumni to support one another — whether as founders or backers — while erasing class-year silos and democratizing access to venture and PE opportunities that would otherwise remain out of reach.”
For many, the impact has been deeply personal. “Martin has directly changed my life as well as the lives of hundreds of GSB founders and early-stage employees,” reflects Kari Schrader, MBA ’12. Monica echoes that sentiment: “Martin has created something truly special with GSBackers: a dynamic, mission-aligned investment community that transforms both sides of the founder-investor relationship and exemplifies the best of what the GSB stands for.” Outside of work, Martin is passionate about education equality and has helped hundreds of students gain admission to the world’s top business schools. He’s also a PADI Rescue Diver involved in marine conservation efforts in the Caribbean. Across all these pursuits, he remains committed to connecting people in service of innovation, embodying the GSB’s mission to “change lives, change organizations, change the world.”
