Feedback from Customers
of Medici Global Ventures
Anil Khera
Founder & CEO from London, England
“My experience with the Medici Community has found it to be open, collaborative, and insightful. I come away feeling intrigued, humbled, and motivated. It is really fantastic.” – Anil
Anil is the Founder and CEO of Node, (www.node-living.com) a global asset manager and operator of next generation furnished apartment and coliving rental communities in creative capital cities around the world. Node’s mission is to create a better way to live in cities and partners with investors and developers to deliver a new way of rental living that focuses on community, convenience and affordability. Prior to Node Anil worked for 11 years at Blackstone, the world’s largest real estate investor. He is based in London with his two children and family.
Jörg Walden
Serial Entrepreneur & Founder from Reutlingen, Germany
“As a bootstrap entrepreneur you think you never have time for self development. The Medici Community provides a safe space and a culture that allows its members to slow down and talk openly with each other about things that might need to be changed in your life. ” – Jörg
Sustainable transformation is Jörg’s vision and passion. He passionately brings his experience as a founder and company leader in software development and in innovation management to companies he has founded and financed, to medium-sized companies and other organizations.
Francesco De Meo
Consultant, Healthcare Business from Alaró, Spain
“The Medici Community helps you think about your future, not just in business, but in your personal life as well within an energetic and open-minded network of amazing people.” – Francesco
Francesco developed Helios, a start-up healthcare business, into the leading #1 privately owned European hospital group. At the age of 60, Francesco retired from the company. Today, he accompanies with his advisory boutique BE FASTER Consulting transformations in the healthcare sectors globally and start-ups in the healthcare business worldwide.
Tobias Essinger
Founder & CEO from Frankfurt, Germany
“Being part of the Medici Community is very energizing. I would recommend the Medici Community to any business owner or entrepreneur who not only wants to further their business development, but also their personal development and relationship development.” – Tobias
Tobias is a speaker, consultant and film producer. He loves storytelling and inspiration. As founder and CEO of E-Productions, he works with organizations to tell their stories in ways that will help inspire and move people to action.
Rob Shevlin
Property Investor from Mallorca, Spain
“What I love about the Medici Community is that there is a real mix of ages, nationalities, and industries, and a shared spirit of wanting to connect and grow.” – Rob
Rob works within the luxury real estate market with real estate agents, land owners, architects, construction and finance partners to design and build property projects from €1m-€20m end sale value.
Ville Helenius
Partner in Management Consultancy from London, England
“What I appreciate about the Medici Community is that it is fantastically diverse including business owners, fund managers, violinists, entrepreneurs, and even a few young entrepreneurs.” – Ville
Ville is the Managing Director of Simbalite having founded the business in 2011 in response to client demand for his advisory work. He has over 20 years of experience as a senior strategy and transformational change expert with extensive experience across banking, wealth management, asset management and hedge funds. He has a proven track record of delivering business launches and complex change programs.
Paul Lenoir
Consultant in Generosity & Philanthropy from Bern, Switzerland
“The atmosphere within the Medici Community is very open. People share from their hearts about mistakes, defeats, challenges, joys, and successes. It’s like being with close friends even if I haven’t known them for very long.” – Paul
Paul currently serves as board member at TrustBridge Global Foundation and Fondation Générosité and is involved in Real Estate.
Dennis Penner
Entrepreneur & Business Owner from Oberhonnefeld-Gierend, Germany
“Within the Medici Community there is a real openness among its members to have quite honest conversations which is key to just letting it go and receiving some amazing solutions.” – Dennis
Dennis is the owner and founder of Hello Ad!, a company that specializes in winning new customers and employees for medium-sized logistics and medicine industries through video marketing, social recruiting and employer branding.
Paolo Fantacci
Consultant from Florence, Italy
“If you want to think differently in your life and get away from your usual circles of influence, the Medici Community can expose you to so many new ideas and stimulate you to look at your life in a different way.” – Paolo
Paolo began his career in innovative marketing and international sales, in particular, importing and launching new products in the Italian and European markets. During his professional career so far, he has been responsible for launching and marketing brands such as Parker pens, Ray Ban sunglasses, Pentax cameras, Omron medical equipment, Remington razors and housewares, Honeywell air conditioning, and Filofax personal organizers.
Paweł Bochniarz
Managing Partner at Venture Capital Firm from Józefów, Poland
“I recommend the Medici Community to any entrepreneur or business owner who wants to not just be in their business but to look at their business from the outside. To take a step back in order to make a deeper reflection on what they are doing with their lives and their business.” – Paweł
Paweł is a seasoned investor and advisor who specializes in deep-tech startups in Poland and Central & Eastern Europe. He co-founded Radix Ventures, an early stage venture capital fund, as a General Partner in 2023, where he helps identify, evaluate, and support promising teams developing breakthrough technologies in energy, industry, and smart solutions.
Philipp Ahrenkiel
Founder & CEO from Bern, Switzerland
“Being part of the Medici Community opens up your horizons, provides out-of-the-box thinking, and connects you with many new friends.” – Philipp
Philipp is founder and CEO of Swiss Climate, headquartered in Bern, Switzerland. Swiss Climate is a leading consulting company with over 10 years of experience in the development of holistic climate strategies and sustainability concepts. They provide companies with solutions on how to use resources more efficiently and reduce climate-relevant emissions at the same time.
Tom-Gøran Skog
Founder & CEO from Mosjøen, Norway
“The Medici Community brings diverse people together that not only add value to your business, but also become friends.” – Tom-Gøran
Tom is the founding CEO of Scistron, a company that works on fundamental science, prototyping and technology demonstration. The objective is to create useful technology to solve the relevant problems of today and tomorrow.
Brook Hazelton
Art & Technology Executive from Farmington, CT USA
“The event was very well organized, with the perfect level of content for the audience, and a very active schedule without being over programmed with one way communication. It was the right size to form new relationships with a good number of the participants. Well done!” – Brook
Brook Hazelton is an experienced art and technology executive who also provides art advisory services to a small number of individuals and institutions. He is currently Advisory Board Chairman for LiveAuctioneers, the leading online marketplace for auction houses, and ThePackengers, a provider of e-logistics and shipping for unique items. Mr. Hazelton previously served as President of Christie’s for North & South America, and prior to that acted as global CEO of Phillips auction house.
Andreas Sprengel
Real Estate Development from Frankfurt, Germany
“After participating with Cris in Florence, I feel encouraged in my life’s motto not just to make a lot of money, but to invest it strategically.” – Andreas
Andreas’ career path led him from banking to studying banking, eventually transitioning to the real estate development and revitalization sector. Today, he holds approximately 60,000 square meters of office space in the Frankfurt area through various family-owned companies.
Thibault Montjean
IT & Cyber Security Executive from Boulogne-Billancourt, France
“The cultural and high-level aspect of the discussions among the participants at the Medici event broke down the usual barriers of shyness or pride that you often find at other similar events.” – Thibault
Thibault runs companies in IT, CyberSecurity, and also created a value oriented firm dedicated to school uniforms. He is a sports fan and never happier than in a garage fixing something.
Jon Reynolds
Founder & CEO from Cambridge, United Kingdom
“The Medici event facilitated trusted connections with remarkable, like-minded individuals, fostering a down-to-earth atmosphere. Cris’ Medici framework, particularly the message of getting one’s ‘house in order,’ resonated deeply. Exploring new concepts, such as patronage and the role of the arts, added a refreshing layer to the experience.” – Jon
Jon Reynolds co-founded technology company SwiftKey in 2008 and was CEO until its acquisition by Microsoft in 2016. SwiftKey is best known for its smart typing technology which features on more than 1 billion devices to date. He is now working on a new start-up Re:store looking to bring human connection back into online retail.
Sangkung Conteh
Financial Entrepreneur from Glauburg, Germany
“My aspiration is to leave a lasting legacy in this world, one that I can proudly share with my children and grandchildren. The Medici Gold Community undoubtedly helps me on this journey and truly enriches both my personal and professional life.” – Sangkung
Ben Trantham
Entrepreneur & Business Owner from Ft. Worth, TX USA
“The Medici gathering that I attended in Florence was a great event and delivered excellent value. I look forward to attending again.” – Ben
Ben Trantham is an entrepreneur and business owner of several family-run companies ranging from real estate development, social media influencing, e-commerce and most recently a Swiss acquisition of automated vehicle parking technology.
Vince Birley
CEO from Marietta, GA USA
“The Medici event that I attended in Florence was a first class experience with wonderful people. Three points of impact for me were: an appreciation for the arts, the importance of personal balance, and the pursuit of humble influence.” – Vince
Vince Birley has over 30 years of experience in the personal and institutional financial services industry. Prior to his current role, serving as CEO of Vident Financial, he was the Chief Strategy Officer and Chairman of the Investment Policy Committee for Ronald Blue and Co. While serving in that role, he was responsible for leading the efforts to develop the Principled Reasoning investment philosophy that the Vident indices utilize.
Johannes Hahn
Photographer & Amazon Business from Wuppertal, Germany
“As a business owner, the Medici GOLD Community is incredibly motivating. You will gain valuable insights about the Medici family and learn how to apply this knowledge to your business growth; how you can practically use these insights to enhance your business.” – Johannes
Chris Wintersohl
Goldsmith from Palma, Spain
“I chose to join the Medici GOLD Community for its exclusive network of high-level business professionals and that it’s tailored for decision-makers and individuals looking to transform their businesses while making a significant impact on the world.” – Chris
Chris is a passionate and award-winning master of the art of goldsmithing. His passion lies in creating personalized jewelry and products. Chris received his training in Germany from master goldsmiths at the highest level. He deepened his knowledge of traditional goldsmithing skills during his stays in Italy, where Italian gold masters entrusted him with their ancient secrets and techniques. Traditional goldsmithing, combined with innovative 3D technology, is his credo today.
Carina Thoma
Event Specialist from Palma, Spain
“I believed I was doing quite well, taking the time to reflect and maintain my personal and mental well-being. However, Cris asks you exactly those questions you need to hear, which forces you to reconsider, to refocus. His questions made me realize there are still many things I need to do in order to achieve my goals. I highly recommend the Medici GOLD Community. You’ll be inspired by amazing and inspiring people.” – Carina
Carina is a marketing and event specialist, project manager & Scrum Master with a background in business psychology.
Samuel Lawson Johnston
Co-Founder at Kinrise & Finlay from London, England
“I really appreciate that the Medici Community is just such a broad mix of people from all over the world, from different industries and with different backgrounds. I’ve met some fantastic people and have made some new friends from new countries. I’d absolutely recommend people joining this community.” – Sam
Samuel founded Kinrise which is an investment fund turning iconic and historic buildings into mixed-use work and cultural venues across the UK. He has worked in UK commercial real estate for 19 years, with former roles as an Investment Director and Partner at Cording Real Estate Group (now Edmond De Rothschild Real Estate). He is also a trustee of Charity:Water and Saint Church (Hackney), and co-founded eyewear brand Finlay London.
Lucas Carstens
Founder & CEO from Oslo, Norway
“As part of the Medici Community I have been able to meet some really great people who have similar ways of thinking but do very different things. I think being able to learn from different people who are like-minded but have new insights is pretty cool.” – Lucas
Lucas holds a PhD in Artificial Intelligence from Imperial College, London. Before starting Modulize, he worked managing Data Analytics solutions for a variety of use cases. He is motivated by using technology to solve large, real world problems.
Christian Reister
Owner & CEO - Violin Assets GmbH from Frankfurt, Germany
“I joined the Medici GOLD community to understand the Medici family dynamics, finding their thoughts and actions inspiring. The Medici family served as a role model for patrons throughout history, and the Medici GOLD community provides valuable insights into their ideas.” – Christian
Jeff Thomas
Founder & CEO from Houston, TX USA
“I enjoy studying successful people and families to learn from them. I also enjoy being in community with like-minded people. The Medici event in Florence inspired me to help build such a community.” – Jeff
Jeff is the Founder and CEO of Arkos Global Advisors, based in Houston, Texas. Arkos is a non-traditional multi-family office that helps families thrive across generations. Jeff also Chairs the Board of Lee Strobel Ministries and is on many other non-profit boards.
Wojciech Hanusek
Owner & CEO of Connectivum™ from Geneva, Switzerland
“Under Cris’s guidance and aim for lasting positive change I have gained profound insights through the lens of Florence’s cultural heritage and am forging genuine connections, leading to meaningful personal and professional advancements. This community is not just a program; it’s a life-changing experience that I am immensely grateful for.” – Wojciech
Christoph Jakob
VC & Owner - Tax Consulting Firm from Baunatal, Germany
“I joined the Medici GOLD community to learn the Medici family’s secrets for success, both in business and private life. I value the holistic approach and aim to apply these lessons for a balanced and fulfilling life.” – Christoph
As an expert consultant in the field of restructuring and business planning, Cristoph Jakob is now a sought-after expert on restructuring processes, business sales, and the accompaniment of start-ups. He is particularly passionate about supporting young companies, as a consultant or service provider, as an investor with stakes in over 15 startups and as the initiator of the investor club of Northern Hesse.
Simon Strobel
Entrepreneur in Security Business from Plauen, Germany
“What inspires me about the Medici community is its international focus and the great relationships I’ve formed. Through meaningful conversations, I have gotten to know other business people on a very deep level.” – Simon
Simon has served as the managing director of their family business ESRA GmbH since 2018. Through his constant drive for improvement, he leads the company into further growth steps. His passion is working with people and innovative technology. With his innovative solutions, he continually challenges those around him to think outside the box.
Oliver Borrmann
Corporate Management of Family Business Hark Orchideen in Lippstadt, Germany
“I was inspired to join the Medici community because of the very positive spirit I experienced during my conversation with Cris Auditore Zimmermann, who was burning with the topic. I am also inspired by the international aspect. I love that you meet with international people you wouldn’t normally run across. I think the relationship between international business owners and entrepreneurs is quite unique.” – Oliver
Oliver grew up in their family horticultural business with more than 40,000 square meters and thus his future career was virtually predestined. After his high school diploma and civil service, he studied horticulture in Osnabrück and graduated as an engineer. He then worked in management positions in international horticultural companies in Germany and abroad. Since the beginning of 2020, Mr. Borrmann has been a partner and is jointly responsible for one of the world’s largest young plant nurseries.
Michael Hübl
Serial Entrepreneur & Founder of Bryter GmbH from Bensheim, Germany
“The most inspiring thing about being part of the Medici Community is being with a diverse group of people from fields like science, agriculture, security, tech, etc., who share a common goal. It is great to exchange our experiences and work together towards the shared goal of having an impact not only in our businesses but also in our personal lives and in the communities around us.” – Michael
Michael describes himself as a serial entrepreneur and has received multiple awards for his work. His latest company, flinc, a dynamic ridesharing service, was acquired by Daimler in September 2017. He has since co-founded and is currently the Chief Product Officer for BRYTER, the leading platform in decision automation.
Peter Hopton
Tech Entrepreneur & Angel Investor from Sheffield, England
“I love hearing about the learnings of Cosimo de’ Medici and his approach to community and the people alongside the business. I think there are some really important lessons there which I can learn from and then implement to help improve my community, my business and my city.” – Peter
Peter is an entrepreneur with skills in market strategy, ideas, innovation and technology. He invented Iceotope, a server cooling technology and mentors and chairs deep-tech startups and University spin outs, helping them understand themselves, the market and investors.
Andrew Han
5 Stones Family Office from Singapore
“Being with Cris in Florence was an eye-opening experience. I particularly enjoyed journeying with other business people together and understanding the context of the Medici. History brought to life!” – Andrew
Originally from Sydney, Australia, Andrew has spent the last two decades living and traveling around Asia and the United States, and has gained a broad range of experiences in corporate and financial services. More recently, his focus has included technology start-ups concentrating on digital assets and healthcare. He seeks to influence and impact the marketplace with purposeful outcomes to faithfully steward the social and economic resources placed in his hands.
Grant Webster
Managing Director - CEF from Knoxville, TN USA
“I chose to participate in the Medici GOLD community primarily because of Cris. He is an exceptional entrepreneur, and I admire how he not only learned Italian but also delved deeply into this subject matter. I was confident that the kind of people he would attract and bring together would be the type of individuals I want to learn with.” – Grant
Vincent W. Piselé
Founder & CEO of FootSnap from Mugena, Switzerland
“I love that there’s no competition within the Medici Community. It’s just people sharing experiences, sharing knowledge, sharing thoughts, helping and encouraging each other. It is almost like family.” – Vincent
Vincent is the founder and CEO of FootSnap, a provider of innovative solutions for the shoe industry. With over 10 years of experience as an entrepreneur,Vincent has a passion for creating and delivering value to customers and retailers through cutting-edge technology and digital transformation.
Timothy Blonkvist
Founding Principal of Overland Partners Architecture + Urban Design from San Antonio, TX USA
“Few Gatherings have provided such a sense of global interaction and potential for building on relationships that can stand the test of time than the Medici gathering in Florence. What a powerfully rich learning experience packed with people, places and insights into the lives of the Medici family.” – Tim
Tim is renowned for his passion and energy in creating sustainable architectural projects worldwide, from single-family homes to urban designs. He believes that architecture embodies the people it serves, emphasizing the collective impact of buildings in creating outdoor spaces. Tim’s creative force blends art, architecture, and natural light, drawing inspiration from painting in Italy and local art sessions. His early career includes working with Dr. Justus Dahinden in Zurich and I.M. Pei in New York.
Heikki Vuorikoski
Business Advisor & Serial Entrepreneur from Finland
“It’s really invigorating to meet with other business owners who are creating various companies at the same time. I love being a serial entrepreneur and I have found my community!” – Heikki
Heikki has a background in biology and genetics, and has wide experience running businesses at the top level (CEO, Business Development Director, president of the board, board member, etc.). He has exceptional expertise in SME strategy and growth, academic entrepreneurship, business plan creation, & start-ups within the area of drug development, health and wellbeing, and circular bioeconomy, as he has established eight companies within this area.
Ed Dean
Consultant from Phoenix, Arizona USA
“The Medici Community provides a safe space for A-players to talk freely about ideas while at the same time encouraging and supporting each other.” – Ed
Ed is a former senior sales and marketing executive who left the marketplace in 2004 to help various non-profit organizations and provide executive consulting to CEO’s and young entrepreneurs.
Boris Markic
Co-Founder of Quarantini Gin from Frankfurt, Germany
“What I love about the Medici Community is that it has some great diversity in it. There are different industries, backgrounds and ages. It’s a place to give and to receive. I feel like I can also contribute my knowledge.” – Boris
Tim Dann
Entrepreneur from Baar, Switzerland
“Being part of the Medici Community as a younger person allows me to really appreciate and learn from the wisdom and experience of others in the group who are further along than I am. Not just learning about their successes, but also learning from the processes to get there, including the afflictions, pains, and problems connected to it; the actual tactical aspects of life and business.” – Tim
Tim’s mission in business as an entrepreneur is to profoundly impact individuals until they flourish, and as an investor, to equip and empower other entrepreneurs to do the same.
Yannick le Plat
Co-Founder of Finca Service from Santa Maria, Spain
“There is more to the life of a business owner than just to make money. Talking about all areas of life is so refreshing.” – Yannick
Michael Brüggler
Business Economist (FH) & Startups Investor from Agno, Switzerland
“Years ago I read about Pablo Picasso inviting other artists and intellectuals to have conversations at his home. This is how I experienced the Florence Experience.” – Michael
Michael is a business economist (FH), startups investor and CEO/CFO on demand. As a fintech and financial expert, he focuses on managing fintech applications to the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) as well as advising board members and investment committees.
Aleksander Baranski
Investor In Public & Private Tech Companies from London, England
“It was great to meet other Medici Community members and see how people from different paths in their lives and careers got to a place where they felt like it’s a good idea to reach out, be in community, share experiences, and explore similarities and different takes on paths to success.” – Aleksander
Aleksander is a partner with Greentrail Capital. Greentrail Capital is an investment firm focused on publicly listed companies and pre-IPO opportunities in the technology sector.
Simon Almström
Product Leader, Advisor, Coach from Stockholm, Sweden
“The transparency and vulnerability among the Medici Community members provides a great foundation to build continued relationships on.” – Simon
Simon is a seasoned product leader who helps companies build products that their customers love. His strengths are product development, team leadership and business strategy. Simon has a wide set of industry experience to fall back on, including: FinTech, AI, Sustainability and Manufacturing among others. The products he has developed touches the lives of millions of people.
Jonathan Ostrowski
Business Coach from Warsaw, Poland
“There’s so much that’s done online nowadays, but there’s real value in coming together in a physical space. No matter how many meetings you have online, being in person with Cris and other Medici Community members really accelerates the level of trust and provides a great start for ongoing relationships.” – Jonathan
Jonathan coaches owners, leaders and executives running established businesses worldwide. He specializes in strategic leadership. Getting leaders to work on the business not in the business. He focuses on proven priorities, people and productivity strategies associated with highly efficient and effective, high-performing, strategic leaders.
Robert Eckstein
Director of Business Development at Fine Art Invest Group AG from Belin, Germany
“I enjoyed the time I got to spend with other entrepreneurs in Florence, exchanging ideas with them, having fun, and getting new inspiration for my next goals.” – Robert
Robert Eckstein combines a comprehensive expertise in finance and investment with a deep, passionate connection to art.
Once a talented street dancer who showcased his skills on the streets, Mr. Eckstein has evolved over the years into one of the most influential art advisors in the German-speaking world. With over a decade of experience and an impressive range of collaborations, from Engel & Völkers to the Stateless Community, he has established himself as an expert who views art as a solid pillar of wealth diversification. However, his vision goes far beyond the traditional understanding of art investment.
Robert Eckstein is your point of contact for art and discreet wealth protection in Switzerland.
Fabian Weiss
Legal Scholar
“Gathering with Medici Community members in Florence was one of the best experiences in the last year for me and for my business. I saw the possibility to make some changes. I learned so much. ” – Fabian
Fabian is working for large international law firms in Hamburg, Germany and New York City, US. He also consulted for the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg for a couple of years.