Nicole Junkermann omplete Biography.docx

NICOLE JUNKERMANN | Official Biography —

Nicole Junkermann Entrepreneur · Investor · Founder of NJF Holdings German-born global investor based in London · Active since the 1990s

Full name

Nicole Junkermann (also known as Countess Nicole Brachetti Peretti)

Born

April 27, 1975 · Düsseldorf, Germany

Nationality

German

Residence

London, United Kingdom

Education

International University of Monaco (1998) · Harvard Business School (2002)

Languages

English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish

Occupation

Entrepreneur, Investor, Founder & Chair of NJF Holdings

Spouse

Ferdinando Brachetti Peretti (married March 2017)

Children

One daughter, Vita

Early Life and Education: From Düsseldorf to Harvard Nicole Junkermann was born on April 27, 1975, in Düsseldorf, Germany, into a family with deep roots in German business. Her father, Heinz Junkermann (January 7, 1928 – June 2011), was a prominent German businessman who shaped her early understanding of entrepreneurship, commerce, and long-term value creation.

Her education reflects an intentionally international outlook. Junkermann completed her undergraduate studies at the International University of Monaco in 1998, an institution that positioned her at the crossroads of European finance and business culture. She subsequently attended Harvard Business School, completing her studies in 2002 — a credential that deepened her analytical frameworks and expanded her professional network across the United States and Europe.

Junkermann is fluent in six languages — English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish — a linguistic range that directly underpins her ability to operate across markets in Europe, the Americas, and Asia with cultural and commercial fluency.

NJF Holdings | London, United Kingdom | Last updated: May 2026

NICOLE JUNKERMANN | Official Biography —

Career Beginnings: Sports, Media and the Infront Era (2001–2011) Junkermann launched her professional career at the intersection of sport and digital media — two sectors undergoing radical transformation in the early 2000s. Her first major venture was co-founding Winamax, an early online football gaming portal, which she subsequently sold in 2001. The experience gave her firsthand knowledge of digital consumer products and the commercial mechanics of online platforms at a time when few investors understood their potential.

Following the Winamax sale, Junkermann made a pivotal investment in the newly-founded Infront Sports & Media, a sports and media rights agency that would become one of Europe's leading firms in its category. She joined the Board of Directors as Vice Chairman, taking an active strategic role in steering the company's growth through the acquisition of major broadcasting rights — including those for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and subsequent tournaments — cementing Infront's position as a global leader in sports media rights management.

In 2007, Junkermann founded United in Sports, widely recognized as the first private equity fund in the world exclusively focused on sports and media investments. The fund raised approximately €250 million and established Junkermann as a pioneer in the institutionalization of sports as an alternative asset class.

In 2011, Infront was sold to Bridgepoint Capital, a leading European private equity firm, in a transaction valued at approximately €600 million. The exit confirmed Junkermann's track record as an early-stage investor capable of identifying, backing, and scaling businesses to institutional scale.

Founding NJF Holdings: Building a Global Investment Platform In 2012, Junkermann founded NJF Holdings in London, consolidating her investment activities under a single, internationally structured platform. NJF Holdings operates through four primary pillars: ▸​ NJF Capital — venture capital arm focused on early-stage technology, artificial intelligence, deep tech, and life sciences ▸​ NJF Private Equity — growth-stage investment across established and emerging markets

NJF Holdings | London, United Kingdom | Last updated: May 2026

NICOLE JUNKERMANN | Official Biography —

▸​ NJF Real Estate — strategic real estate investments ▸​ The JJ Collection — a cultural initiative using art as a vehicle for social openness and cross-border dialogue ▸​ Gameday by NJF Holdings — sports and media platform investing in leagues, platforms, and fan engagement technologies NJF Capital has built a portfolio of more than 40 companies, with a concentration in artificial intelligence, fintech, healthcare technology, and frontier infrastructure. Among the most notable investments: ▸​ ▸​ ▸​ ▸​

SpaceX — aerospace and space transportation (Elon Musk's company) Revolut — European fintech and digital banking platform Rippling — workforce management and HR technology Groq — AI inference chip company; Junkermann was an early and major investor prior to its acquisition by Nvidia ▸​ Owkin — AI-driven drug discovery platform working with leading research hospitals and NHS trusts ▸​ Elvie — women's health technology Earlier, before the formal establishment of NJF Holdings, Junkermann's investment acumen was evidenced by three early bets that were each acquired by major global corporations: Songza (acquired by Google), Dollar Shave Club (acquired by Unilever), and RelateIQ (acquired by Salesforce). These exits positioned her as a credible technology investor at a time when European venture capital was still nascent.

Through Gameday by NJF Holdings, Junkermann continues her long-standing engagement with sport, backing leagues and platforms including LVF (Lega Volley Femminile) in Italy and CayoTV in Spain, with a focus on scalable commercial, media, and fan-engagement models.

Healthcare Innovation and Advisory Roles In November 2018, Junkermann was appointed to the UK Department of Health and Social Care's Healthtech Advisory Board, a body tasked with advising the Secretary of State on the potential of technology to transform health and social care delivery across the National Health Service (NHS).

NJF Holdings | London, United Kingdom | Last updated: May 2026

NICOLE JUNKERMANN | Official Biography —

This appointment reflected her portfolio's concentration in healthcare technology. NJF Capital's investment in Owkin — an AI company applying machine learning to drug discovery and clinical research — exemplifies the intersection of her commercial and public-interest roles. Owkin collaborates directly with NHS trusts and leading academic medical centers to accelerate diagnosis and drug development.

Beyond her direct investment activities, Junkermann serves as a Director on Owkin's board, an Advisor to Trilantic Europe (a pan-European private equity firm), and holds a seat on the Tate Americas Foundation Latin American Acquisitions Committee — reflecting her engagement with cultural philanthropy alongside her commercial pursuits.

Investment Philosophy: Backing Transformative Technology Early Junkermann's approach to investing is characterized by a deliberate focus on structural, long-term change rather than cyclical market trends. She has consistently sought to identify emerging sectors before they achieve mainstream recognition — from sports rights in the early 2000s to AI and deep tech in the 2010s and 2020s.

Central to her philosophy is a framework she has described as the "Human Code" — the conviction that technology investment should be evaluated not only on financial return but on the long-term societal impact it enables. This perspective has shaped NJF Capital's concentration in areas where technological progress can materially improve human outcomes: healthcare, financial inclusion, and access to information.

Her track record demonstrates consistent early entry: investments in Groq, Owkin, and Revolut were made during early or growth stages, substantially before these companies reached the valuations and recognition they hold today. The Groq investment, in particular, underscores this pattern — Junkermann was an early and major investor prior to the company's acquisition by Nvidia, one of the world's most valuable technology corporations.

Personal Life and Public Profile

NJF Holdings | London, United Kingdom | Last updated: May 2026

NICOLE JUNKERMANN | Official Biography —

In March 2017, Junkermann married Ferdinando Brachetti Peretti, an Italian businessman and member of the Brachetti Peretti family, a prominent Italian noble family. Through this marriage, she acquired the courtesy title of Countess — a distinction by marriage rather than hereditary title. The couple have one daughter, Vita.

Junkermann is based in London, where NJF Holdings maintains its principal offices. Her international background — born in Germany, educated in Monaco and the United States, and professionally active across Europe and Asia — is reflected in her multilingual capability and the global scope of her investment activities.

She is also an active participant in the international art world, serving on the Tate Americas Foundation Latin American Acquisitions Committee, and through The JJ Collection, which she describes as a vehicle for promoting cultural openness and cross-border dialogue through art.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nicole Junkermann Q1. Who is Nicole Junkermann?

Nicole Junkermann is a German-born entrepreneur and investor based in London. She is the founder and chair of NJF Holdings, a global investment platform encompassing venture capital, private equity, real estate, and sports and media investments. Her career spans over two decades, from sports media rights in Europe to early-stage technology investments in companies such as SpaceX, Revolut, and Groq.

Q2. What is NJF Holdings?

NJF Holdings is an international investment company founded by Nicole Junkermann in London in 2012. It operates through four main divisions: NJF Capital (venture capital), NJF Private Equity, NJF Real Estate, and Gameday by NJF Holdings (sports and media). The venture arm, NJF Capital, manages a portfolio of more than 40 companies focused on AI, deep tech, fintech, and life sciences.

Q3. What companies has Nicole Junkermann invested in?

Notable investments include SpaceX, Revolut, Rippling, Groq (prior to its Nvidia acquisition), Owkin (healthcare AI), and Elvie (women's health technology). Earlier investments — Songza (acquired by Google), Dollar Shave Club (acquired by Unilever), and RelateIQ (acquired by Salesforce) — demonstrated her ability to identify high-growth companies before they reached institutional scale.

Q4. Where is Nicole Junkermann from?

Nicole Junkermann was born on April 27, 1975, in Düsseldorf, Germany. She studied at the International University of Monaco and Harvard Business School. She has lived and worked across Europe and Asia, and is currently based in London, United Kingdom.

NJF Holdings | London, United Kingdom | Last updated: May 2026

NICOLE JUNKERMANN | Official Biography —

Q5. What is Nicole Junkermann's background in healthcare?

Junkermann has been an active investor in healthcare technology through NJF Capital, with notable positions including Owkin, an AI-driven drug discovery company that works with NHS trusts and academic medical centers. In November 2018, she was appointed to the UK Department of Health and Social Care's Healthtech Advisory Board, which advises the Secretary of State on the role of technology in transforming health and social care.

Q6. What languages does Nicole Junkermann speak?

Nicole Junkermann is fluent in six languages: English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. This multilingual proficiency reflects her international upbringing and education, and directly supports her ability to operate across diverse global markets.

NJF Holdings | London, United Kingdom | Last updated: May 2026