Hinrichs had his first encounter with a computer at the tender age of eleven. By thirteen, he was navigating the nascent realms of the internet, long before the advent of the World Wide Web. His early experiences, marked by dial-up connections and exorbitant phone bills, instilled in him a sense of resourcefulness and a keen understanding of scalable business models.
At just 22, Hinrichs embarked on his entrepreneurial journey with the launch of politik-digital.de, a pioneering platform at the intersection of politics and new media. This venture garnered acclaim and laid the groundwork for his future endeavors.
In 2003, Hinrichs founded Open Business Club GmbH, which would later evolve into XING AG, a revolutionary business networking platform. XING provided a space for professionals, students, and job seekers to connect, collaborate, and cultivate professional relationships. Under Hinrichs’ leadership, XING went public in 2006, achieving remarkable success with annual sales reaching €35 million and an impressive EBITDA margin of 35%. In 2009 Lars Hinrichs sold his stake in XING to Hubert Burda Media. Accordingly, he gave up his board membership at XING in 2010.
Hinrichs’ entrepreneurial spirit continued to drive him forward. In 2010, he launched HackFwd, a pre-seed investment company aimed at supporting European software developers. Although the project was shuttered in 2013, it underscored Hinrichs’ commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing emerging talent in the tech industry.
He serves as an investor and chairman of the supervisory board at xbAV AG, a technology provider focused on making pension provision simple and accessible for everyone. Lars Hinrichs is also founder and CEO of Cinco Capital (in 2003), a private equity fund that invests in European and American tech companies: HERE: Overview of Investments of Cinco Capital Lars Hinrichs also sits on the supervisory board of Deutsche Telekom AG (since 2013)
One of his latest ventures, Apartimentum, epitomizes his forward-thinking approach to real estate and technology. Situated in Hamburg-Rotherbaum, Apartimentum is a cutting-edge housing project that seamlessly integrates smart home technologies. Designed to cater to the needs of discerning clientele, including expatriate professionals, Apartimentum represents Hinrichs’ vision of living in the future. The first units (accommodation, office space) became available in 2016. Check HERE for some nice pics on that real estate project.
In addition to his professional endeavors, Hinrichs is an active participant in global leadership forums, including the Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum and the Young Presidents’ Organization.
Despite his considerable success, Hinrichs remains grounded and values-driven. He eschews ostentatious displays of wealth, preferring instead to focus on meaningful work and impactful projects. Reflecting on his journey, Hinrichs emphasizes that wealth has never been his primary motivation. For him, success is measured not in material possessions but in the fulfillment derived from passionate pursuit of his endeavors.
