Book Tip No. 49 (2021): Frank Thelen: 10x DNA. The Mindset of the Future.

3rd edition Bonn 2020

By Hans-Christian Riekhof

Not all investors write books. Therefore, it arouses curiosity when Frank Thelen, a prominent representative (“Höhle der Löwen”), speaks up. The title of the book 10x DNA is also the name of an investment fund he has launched, which is also referred to several times in the book. A marketing gag and sales book then? Yes and no.

What does the reader learn? Frank Thelen offers a very readable overview of future technologies in the sense of a tour d’horizon. He mentions many interesting start-ups (of course also those he has invested in), he explains basic technological terms – and for safety also again that the term trillions is used differently in the USA than in Europe.

A few examples: could you explain offhand what Xenobots are, how Distributed Ledger Technology works, what advantages Torrent networks and URLLCs (Ultra Reliable and Low Latency Communications) have? And do you know the Keihanna Science City?

The reader will already be familiar with many topics. But it is precisely the overview of the various application areas of new technologies that makes the book appealing. And Frank Thelen dares to assess the future chances of these technologies.