Dirk Lueth is Co-founder and Co-CEO of Uplandme, with an entrepreneurial career spanning Europe and the United States. The company started in 2018 and launched its first city in 2019, building a persistent virtual world with a player-driven economy.
His earlier ventures include Financial Times Deutschland and Forbatec, which was acquired by SunGard. He also co-founded the Open Metaverse Alliance for Web3 and contributed to Navigating the Metaverse, published by Wiley in 2022. His doctorate at the European Business School examined private and state-controlled currencies and their relationship to property rights. His work has included mentoring startups through international accelerators in Silicon Valley.
He mentors through honest conversation and pattern recognition. His examples focus on consequential choices—reframing a business model, selecting the right ownership structure or approaching a sale—rather than incremental optimisation.
Where Dirk can help
- platforms
- gaming
- fintech
- business models
- exits
Operating and investing experience
A selection of companies and roles connected to Dirk Lueth.
Ventures
Uplandme
Co-founder and Co-CEO; started in 2018 and launched its first persistent virtual city in 2019.
Forbatec
Earlier venture acquired by SunGard.
Financial Times Deutschland
Earlier venture experience.
Open Metaverse Alliance for Web3
Co-founder.
Highlights
- Co-founded Uplandme, which began in 2018 and launched its first city in 2019.
- Co-founded the Open Metaverse Alliance for Web3.
- His earlier ventures include Forbatec, which was acquired by SunGard.
- Contributed to Navigating the Metaverse, published by Wiley in 2022.
Questionsfounders ask aboutDirk Lueth
Where can Dirk help founders?
Dirk supports founders on business-model design, digital economies, strategic transitions, and navigating institutional M&A opportunities.
Which company-building situations are most relevant to Dirk’s experience?
His background is highly relevant for founders building platform businesses, virtual economies, gaming ecosystems, and fintech infrastructure.
What perspective does Dirk bring as a mentor?
He brings experience from building companies in Europe and the United States, using pattern recognition to help founders think through major strategic and financing decisions.
The best mentors spot the best founders early.
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