Company Setup for German Founders Raising US Funding

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“What’s the exact setup we need to raise funding in the US?”

Here’s the specific structure that works for German founders raising US venture capital, based on real success cases:

The Required Setup

1. German Side

Set up lean and fast:

  • Personal Holding UG (minimum capital)
  • Qonto account for initial operations

2. US Corporation

Work with Orrick (specifically their German-US team) to:

  • Set up Delaware corporation (10M shares)
  • Create German subsidiary (100% owned by US entity)

3. Critical: Banking Structure

This exact sequence matters for US investors:

  1. Deutsche Bank account first
  • One of few accepting foreign ownership
  • Required for next steps
  1. Once DB account is set up:
  • Open Qonto business account
  • Use DB proof of ownership
  1. Smart move: Consider moving from DB later
  • Keep only if needed
  • Many founders find better alternatives once established

4. Tax Setup

Two key partners:

  • US: taxstudio.com
  • Germany: bmt.tax

Why This Exact Structure Works for US Fundraising

  • Clean cap table through Delaware corp
  • Banking setup that US VCs understand
  • Tax structure ready for due diligence
  • Professional firms that US investors trust

Remember

  • This isn’t about the perfect structure – it’s about the structure that works for raising US funding
  • Follow the exact banking sequence
  • Use the recommended service providers – they know this path

Based on proven cases of German founders successfully raising US venture capital

Contact us if you have any questions or need further guidance: