Venture Athlete & International Expansion Expert | Thriving as Generalist in a Specialized Economy

I’m Dominik, founder, athlete, & creator. A proud generalist. This is my story: 

For the last 7 years, I helped bootstrap one startup from 0 to 1M in revenue and built the international business from scratch for one of Europe’s fastest growing EdTech companies (50 -> 240 employees in my three years there).

All while competing at the highest level of the beautiful sport of Lacrosse, including an appearance for the German National Team at the 2022 World Games (the Olympics’ little brother).

While my professional achievements may seem more impressive on paper, representing Germany on an international stage is the feat that I’m most proud of.

I wasn’t very athletic up until my mid-twenties. Very little talent, but a lot of injuries to make up for it.

Until one day, I started working with a personal trainer. He helped me break down the fundamentals I needed to fix.

I worked hard, and I worked consistently. Showed up to every practice, every gym session. Did my recovery & mobility work daily.

4 years later, I made the national team roster.

The potential was in me. But it needed help unlocking.

Throughout my entire career, I’ve also helped humans unlock their potential, just in different ways:

- By teaching people in rural Rwanda and Brazilian homeless shelter how to make glasses for less than $1, and how to build a business around it
- By bringing unemployed nurses from Italy to Germany and teaching them German, opening a completely different career path for them
- By expanding the leading operating system for schools throughout Europe, so that education becomes more digital and thus accessible
- By writing about my experiences online and sharing them with the world

In late 2023, I made the decision to quit my cozy, well-paid, full-time job that fit my profile perfectly.

I'm on a mission to build my own portfolio career - and help others to unlock theirs. Join me on my journey towards building a portfolio of cashflow-positive, impact-driven businesses.

These businesses have one goal: help others unlock their potential. Just like my personal trainer did for me.

I wish that some of the best portfolio company owners turned creators had documented their journey from day 1, and not retrospectively.

So that’s what I’m doing.

I write for generalists like myself, who want to make a living in a specialized economy without specializing themselves. 

You can do more than one thing in your life. 
Let’s design that life together. 

Sign up for my newsletter here: www.dominiknitsch.com/newsletter

Dominik Nitsch

"Life is half over by 23" sounds like an insane take, but I think it has some substance to it. Here's why: 

When you're 5, each year represents 20% of your life. 
When you're 10, 10%. 
Etc.

With each passing year, the relative increase in experience slows down. I'm 32 now, so the current year represents ~3% of my entire life so far. And it's just gonna become less. 

So according to Sam, my life is already 75% over. Unacceptable. 

Here's what you can do about it: 

1/ Implement landmark events 
Some days, even some weeks, I ask myself: "wtf did I do today?" and can't really think of anything. It was just a normal workday with no specific things worth remembering. 

Chain too many of those days, and time passes by incredibly fast. 
But if you do something out of routine (like attending a sports event, traveling to a new place, meeting an interesting person, trying a new skill) – you'll remember that. And the more landmark events you have in a year, the longer the year will feel in retrospect. 

2/ Diversify, diversify, diversify 
If you just do one thing, it's much easier to get stuck in a rut. If you do several things really well, progress accumulates not just in your main job, but also in your side hustles. 

Subjectively, this makes life feel longer. You look back on a year and think: "damn, I did all this in three different disciplines? that's cool." 

3/ Engineer anti-routines into your life
I'm all for having a routine; the best work gets done in a familiar setting. 

But as with everything in life: "everything in moderation, including moderation". If you always stick to your routine, life passes by fast. So build anti-routines into it. These could be: 
→ setting an objective to travel to 2 new countries every year
→ consciously breaking your normal daily routine 1-2 days per week
→ meeting one new person every week 

Novelty makes life longer. 

That being said, Sam has a point. Life's short. Don't waste it doing things that mean nothing to you.

Founder @ Generalyst | building talent infrastructure for early-stage startups | 1,245 generalists read my newsletter to future-proof their career.

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Specialization is the most overrated career advice of the last decade.

“Pick a niche.”
“Go deep.”
“Become the expert in one thing.”

What sounds great in theory, doesn’t work in practice anymore. 

It locks 20-somethings in boxes they shouldn’t lock themselves into yet. Most people in their 30s don’t know what they want. How do you expect high school and university grads to know that? 

The best way to find out what you want is to sample different things. 

This allows you to:
→ build a broad foundation
→ find out what you’re actually world-class at
→ get pattern recognition 

Knowing what you’re uniquely good at via trial and error is the ultimate way of “sharpening the axe”. 

Yeah, you might be falling behind compared to someone embarking on a medical or law career. 

But down the line, you’ll have a life that works exactly for you. 

Maybe it’s one job.
Maybe it’s a portfolio of jobs, turning into a Portfolio Career.

The possibilities are endless, but just picking one thing at 18 and sticking with it for the rest of your life sounds like a pretty bad strategy if you ask me. 

PS: I wrote a few articles about building a Portfolio Career. If that sounds interesting to you, you can download my portfolio career playbook here: https://lnkd.in/dGZaPsrv

Founder's Associates exist on a spectrum – from being purely operational to being a proper sparring partner. The breakdown: 

Want your own Founder's Associate? That's our bread and butter at Generalyst. We work with A+ generalist talents of all the three levels listed here. Faster than your own recruitment process, cheaper than your headhunter. 

PS: Want me to do one for Chief of Staff, too? Comment below.

Simon Veithen and I sat down on Friday to discuss: 

→ what the hell a generalist is, and why it's the best way to prepare for the future
→ how you can acquire meta skills 
→ why job safety is an illusion
→ how to achieve non-linear results 

... and much more. 

Listen to the full 1h episode here: https://lnkd.in/dNdxH_9s

How to identify high-performing organizations: 

"The single best indication of a high-performing culture is the prevalence of former entrepreneurs. It usually portends a high-agency organization equipped with people mentally and emotionally prepared for a startup journey. Figure out what percentage of a company’s employee base previously launched businesses of their own, and try to understand why they’ve decided to forgo their independence to contribute to a new mission." – Mario Gabriele

It takes a lot as a founder to subordinate yourself again (been there, done that). When an organization manages to attract these kind of people, there's usually something special going on. 

If you're a former founder and wanna join such an organization – there's a few in the Generalyst client portfolio :)

madaster germany

Company Story: 
Madaster is a global SaaS solution for Circular Economy in the real estate industry, helping clients to transition from linear to circular economic models.

Responsibilities & Achievements:
• Business Development: Lead client engagements with global corporates, financial institutions, and asset owners, advising on business transformation strategies to integrate Circular Economy principles. Focus areas included risk management, sustainable growth, and financial decision-making.

• Sales Strategy: Collaborated with country units and the global CEO to design and implement a scalable global sales structure. Focused on aligning sales across regions to enhance collaboration, efficiency, and revenue growth.

• Networking: Represented Madaster at panels and events, delivering keynotes to promote circular economy solutions. Fostered strategic partnerships and increased brand trust, including engaging with financial institutions in New York City.

• Growth Initiatives: Identified and cultivated strategic partnerships to develop innovative revenue streams, such as service components for consulting firms and collaborations with major software providers.

My Story: 
I joined Madaster to leverage my expertise in real estate, entrepreneurship, and networking while gaining hands-on experience in Circular Economy strategies. My role allows me to drive impactful growth in a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment.

Senior Business Development Manager

LINITY - Advanced Fiber Design

Relaunch Story:
I identified a growing trend in the furniture market toward fast design without meaningful narratives or unique identities. Linity’s strong brand story and timeless designs were well-positioned to fill this gap, offering something truly distinctive in a crowded market.

Responsibilities & Achievements:
• Brand Repositioning: Focused on Linity’s unique narrative, innovation, and timeless design, repositioning the company to stand out in the market.

• Supply Chain & Production: Developed a lean, flexible production model that reduced costs, improved scalability, and increased efficiency.

• Sales & Marketing: Crafted a marketing strategy that emphasized Linity’s unique story, resulting in partnerships with two leading global furniture brands, including a renowned name in outdoor furniture.

• Team Development: Recruited a new CEO and key executive with 20+ years of experience in top global furniture brands, strengthening the leadership team.

My Story:
I relaunched Linity to unlock the potential in our brand and products, leveraging our strength in fiber production and innovation to create a differentiated, sustainable furniture brand. I transitioned from operational leadership to a strategic supervisory role, continuing to champion Linity’s identity and values.

Board Member & Brand Ambassador

Despite its potential, external challenges, including market dynamics and scaling constraints, led to a strategic pause after 2017. This experience provided invaluable insights into entrepreneurship, lean operations, and resilience, which continue to inform my approach to leadership and business development.

Strategic Pause & Reassessment

Company Story: 
Linity is a boutique furniture brand founded on a research project focused on nature-inspired construction methods, developed through cross-industry collaboration with biologists, architects, and engineers. The innovative fabrication process is inspired by lobster shell construction, translating cutting-edge science into functional, sustainable, and high-quality designs.

Responsibilities & Achievements:
• Innovative Product Development: Developed a patented robotic fabrication process using fiber materials, achieving zero-waste manufacturing and unmatched design flexibility. Created one of the lightest tables globally (weighing only 200 grams), with surface finishes comparable to fine jewelry.

• Business Development & Strategy: Developed and executed a lean, vertically integrated business model that drove sustainable growth, operational efficiency, and scalability across design, production, and distribution.

• Recognition & Milestones: Recognized as one of the most innovative startups in Baden-Württemberg, providing early validation and helping establish Linity’s reputation as a leader in fiber design.

• Team Leadership: Led a cross-functional team of six employees, overseeing operations, design, and production to drive efficiency and ensure high-quality outputs.

My Story:
I founded Linity driven by my passion for entrepreneurship and building my own company. Motivated by the global recognition of the preceding research project and its unlocked potential, I took on the challenge of creating a unique brand that combines innovation, sustainability, and design.

Co-Founder | CEO

Quarterdeck Life Ltd

My Story:
Turned my hobby into a profession, working occasionally as a skipper in the Mediterranean Sea.

Responsibilities:
• Leading crews in the world’s largest flotilla sailing event The Yacht Week with up to 100 yachts, 1,000+ guests, and 150 skippers & hosts.
• Managing crew safety, organization, and planning. 

Achievements:
• Average Guest Rating of 9.83 out of 10.

Skipper

ALPHAOMEGA AG

Responsibilities:
• Set strategic direction for investments and portfolio management.
• Responsible for origination and evaluating investments, stakeholder management, market research, and portfolio development.

Achievements:
• Pre-Seed investment in a Fin-Tech company, now approaching an IPO.
• Achieved a CAGR of 20% for 2015 to 2024
• Secured and stabilized key investments.

My Story:
Current focus is on strengthening our existing investments, conducting market research, and networking to identify future investment opportunities.

Managing Director

Responsibilities:
• Led deal origination, market research, and due diligence for new opportunities.
• Managed relationships with investment partners, consulted on strategy, and monitored portfolio performance.

Achievements:
• Exit with a 90% ROI on a two year investment.
• Consulted the business transformation of one of our investments, driving automation and digitalization in the self-storage operations.

Investment Manager

Company Story:
As a family-run office, Alphaomega specializes in sustainable investments that strategically diversify our portfolio. With a strong network and targeted management, we have positioned ourselves in areas such as corporate investments, real estate, and lending.

Responsibilities:
• Supported deal origination, market research for new investments.
• Assisted in portfolio management and negotiations to gain hands-on experience.

Achievements:
• Gained hands-on experience in investment processes, including financial analysis and deal structuring.
• Led several small-scale investments, contributing to portfolio diversification.

My Story:
My passion for investments and entrepreneurship started early, leading me to learn independently and gain hands-on experience. Working in my family’s office allowed me to take initiative, grow my responsibilities, and actively contribute to shaping the company’s long-term future, while continuing to pursue my own career track.

Investment Analyst

• Project Management & Development for industrial real estate projects (size: 5.000 - 25.000 sqm) and residential projects.
• Clients in Residential, Office, and Industrial Real Estate, including Family Office with 200.000+ sqm of assets under management
• Consulting Services on Real Estate Development.
• Planing and execution in all architectural phases, 0 - 9. Focus on Development, Design, and Planing.

My Story:
I provided architectural planning, consulting, and project management services for a range of real estate projects. My focus was on delivering innovative and practical solutions, managing industrial and residential projects for family offices and other clients, and overseeing all phases from development to execution.

Architect | Real Estate Project Manager & Consultant

Jangled Nerves

• Parametric design, concept and development for Mercedes-Benz brand identity.

Architect | Design Digitalization (Interim)

Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE)

• Research on natural constructions & design transfer into human-made architecture.
• Development of fibre-reinforced structures and algorithms-aided design.

Architect | Research Assistant

Institute for Computational Design (ICD)

• Research and fabrication based on Computational Design & Automated Manufacturing.
• Specialist on Robotic Fabrication & Parametric Design.
• Scientific assistant at RoboLab - Robotic Manufacturing Laboratory with KUKA robots.

Hi, I’m Jakob. I went from architecture to founding a startup, while I gained long-term experience in investment and asset management. Occasionally, you’ll also find me working as a skipper on sailboats.

After completing my architecture degree at Karlsruher Institute of Technology and the University of Stuttgart, I focused on robotic fabrication and computational design, which led me to found my first startup, Linity.

To complement my entrepreneurial journey, I pursued a parallel career as an architect to gain hands-on experience in project development and management. This overlapping skill set provided invaluable insights into the intersection of design, execution, and leadership.

Within my family’s investment company, Alphaomega AG, I developed expertise on the investor’s side of entrepreneurship, gaining a deeper understanding of private equity and asset management.

While I stepped back from my operational role at Linity, I retained my position at Alphaomega AG and began working at Madaster, where I combine my versatile experiences and skills. 

At Madaster, I focus on scaling and advancing our platform, enabling businesses to transition from linear to circular economic models. By advocating for Circular Economy principles, I help organizations optimize resources, reduce environmental impact, and drive sustainable growth in the real estate sector.

I am passionate about personal growth and lifelong learning, continuously exploring innovative ways to enhance business strategies and implement digital transformation. 

Networking and collaboration are at the heart of my approach, as I thrive on building strong connections and fostering mutual support.

Outside of work, I turned my love for sailing into a profession. Since 2021, I’ve been a skipper at The Yacht Week, leading crews in the world’s largest flotilla sailing event. Each week involves overseeing up to 100 yachts with 1,000+ guests and 150 skippers and hosts, where I manage crew safety, organization, and planning.

I also explored acting as a creative side hustle, completing 2 years of professional training. This journey led to opportunities to work with two Oscar-winning directors and representation by a British agency.

Come aboard, let’s hoist the sails, tackle new business endeavors, and set the course for a circular economy!

Jakob Weigele

Become part of our #AGYLE community for African-German leadership.

Stefan, thanks for the great summary — I can simply repost it. Nothing to add :)

AGYLE - African-German Young Leaders in Business Lisa Lomberg Meret von Strünck Deutschland - Land der Ideen

Head of Region DACH+DK @ Vizcab | Digital Transformation in Real Estate

Manager Sustainable Product Design | Logistikingenieur | CSR-Manager | AGYLE 40under40

🚀 #AGYLE is back! The African-German leadership program is entering its sixth year!

This year’s theme: “GreenTech for Impact – Young Leaders Shaping Climate‑Smart Economies.”

Young leaders from #Germany, #Ethiopia, #Ghana, #Rwanda, #Senegal, #Tunisia, and - new this year - #Austria, #Morocco and #Kenya are invited to apply.

I still remember my AGYLE experience in 2024 like it was yesterday — not because I have a great memory, but because I’m still in touch with so many of the amazing people I had the chance to work with! 

The energy, openness, and great mix of perspectives from across African countries and Germany in 2024 were truly great. And in 2026, a whole new group of bright minds will get to experience the same.

If you’re curious about working at the intersection of innovation, sustainability and international collaboration, this programme is honestly a #no‑brainer.

This year they’re looking for innovators under 40 in fields such as:
🌱 Renewable energy
🌾 Climate & agritech
💧 Water & resource management
🚲 Sustainable mobility
…or any area where GreenTech can drive real impact.

And while the programme itself is fantastic, the real value lies in the network you build - one that stays with you long after the live week ends.

If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a message.

Good luck to everyone applying — it’s absolutely worth it. 💡🌍

Thanks to AGYLE - African-German Young Leaders in Business Lisa Lomberg Meret von Strünck and Team Deutschland - Land der Ideen

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