Stefan Glänzer is a German entrepreneur and investor, specializing in technology based companies and internet start-ups. He formerly was founding partner of Passion Capital early-stage VC fund and co-founder of White Bear Yard in London's east end, a 20.000 sqft co-working space for the European internet scene. He holds a PhD in foreign exchange risk management and describes himself as a firm believer in European entrepreneurship, on which he taught courses at the WHU business school.
Companies Glänzer has founded or co-founded include companions.de, Ricardo.de, myblog.de and Mendeley. His investments include Last.fm, Wahanda.com, Reality Jockey, Smarkets, Adzuna, Timetric, Tradeshift. and ERepublik.
Last.fm is an Internet radio site for streaming music, founded in 2002. Using a recommend system called Audioscrobbler, Last.fm records user’s different musical taste and makes recommendations. The site also offers different social networking features, allowing users to share their tastes.
A professional DJ for 15 years, Glänzer first encountered the digital radio site through his German music blog. In 2004 he invested in the site and became chairman. In 2007, the media profile of the site increased and the number of users rose to 40 million. Glänzer received £22 million for his stake when the business was taken over by CBS Radio later that year.
In November 2012 Glänzer admitted to sexually assaulting a woman on the London Underground after police witnessed the assault. He was sentenced in December 2012 and is listed on the Sex Offenders Register.
