Best Nights VC emerged in 2021 as the rebranded Venture Capital Unit of Jägermeister, dedicated to shaping the industry’s future. The dynamic entity collaborates with visionary entrepreneurs challenging traditional notions of live entertainment. You may have heard of some of their investments; ever been to one of Thursday’s dating events across London? Maybe you’ve been to an event with a new friend using the LA-based app, 222? Or, if you’re one of our Berlin readers, you may have rented this week’s fit using fashion rental company, Pool.

BNVC’s mission revolves around partnering with diverse, passionate innovators who contribute to the evolution of nightlife, transforming it from entertainment into a cultural force. Together, these ventures collectively make live entertainment more enjoyable, inclusive, and diverse, aligning with BNVC’s vision.

With a rich background in the industry, Lorrain de Silva, Managing Director at Best Nights VC, is shaping its future through these strategic investments. We caught up with Lorrain to talk through their investments, and the work BNVC does in revolutionising nights out.

Hey Lorrain! What do you think shapes an incredible night in London?

Since I’m not living in London, I don’t think I can mention many favourite places there, but rather what makes a night out the best night in the first place. For me, it’s about heading out into the unknown with other people and not getting distracted by what’s to come the next day and the commitments that come with it while on this little night excursion. It’s all about losing yourself in the exuberant mood of the moment. In London, of course, this can happen with the support of our 4 UK portfolio start-ups (Unhurd Music, Togather, Thursday Dating, and Chargedup), which make the nightlife experience even richer with their products/services.

You’ve mentioned interest in making social experiences more fun, inclusive and diverse. Can you provide some examples of initiatives and projects within the BNVC portfolio that embody this vision?

Before everything else, we prioritise projects, initiatives, and start-ups that hold cultural significance.

We invest in ventures that not only serve communities but also operate within and contribute back to them. Lex, for instance, excels in providing a secure space for the queer community to connect and share experiences. Similarly, Thursday, a dating app, tackles the issue of endless swiping by organising in-person events weekly, resulting in memorable nights out where individuals connect with new people.

Can you share some insight into how Best Nights VC tracks the thriving nightlife scene that contributes to society, and how you contribute to broader cultural and societal movements?

We know that 2 years of pandemic and isolation left its mark on society. Nowadays people are aware that social interactions are essential for their mental wellbeing. At BNVC, financial return follows impact on nightlife. That’s why our impact is measurable, we keep track of leveraged best nights on the consumer side through our investments. We developed and implemented our internal impact framework to keep track of how much our portfolio companies are contributing to people’s lives. This is how we are tracking how many occasions are created, or accompanied by our start-ups, and end up at almost 20 million Best Nights per year on the consumer side, where users/members/customers went out and had their best night IRL. These created Best Nights can be translated into happiness or on a societal level into mental wellbeing.

How does BNVC view the role of technology in transforming and shaping the future of nightlife, particularly with relation to community building and breaking down social barriers?

At BNVC, my mission is to fortify nightlife through strategic, sustainable investments. Collaborating with my team, our focus is on identifying tech-driven business models that foster real-life connections and craft unforgettable experiences. Simply put, we invest in technology to encourage less screen time, paving the way for more face-to-face interactions.

Our vision is one of a thriving nightlife where individuals feel safe, immersed in the moment, and having a best night. It’s a future where every culture, gender, and sexual orientation is not only acknowledged but embraced, with sustainability as a companion of it all.

Over the past decade, venture capital has financed tech innovations, notably in areas like social media. However, as our society evolves, we recognize a pressing need for venture capital investments in the cultural realm. It’s about catalysing a shift where individuals re-embrace genuine social interaction, stepping away from virtual spaces to engage in real-life encounters. Our goal is to encourage people to connect in person, fostering meaningful conversations with strangers and cultivating an environment where diverse opinions and lifestyles aren’t just accepted but genuinely appreciated.

Tech has been seeping into nightlife over the past few years, from new audio-visual tools to Tupac’s hologram appearance during Coachella 2012. What have been the biggest implementations of technology into the scene over the last 20 years?

20 years is quite a long time and covers the full legacy of tech driven platforms and businesses ranging from music television to file sharing, all hardware innovations up to streaming and broadcasting. However, on this level, I would say that it has never been easier to build/produce/establish something with the tools and opportunities available. No matter if independent artist, fan, or entrepreneur.

We are always looking for innovative impactful businesses with cultural relevance. We have the feeling that the emerging markets with younger demographics will gain lots more attention and develop more influential momentum in the near future.

How do you see technology enhancing the overall experience for club and eventgoers? And how do you think it will make the nightlife industry grow?

Technological innovation is already in place, picture a club or festival visit 10-15 years ago and compare it with today. Where do you go to explore what’s going on, where and how do you buy tickets, how you make reservations, how to order and pay… That’s all developed and improved in the backend and used by great players in our society to enable small venues and festival promoters to serve seamless events. Subsequently, planning and promoting becomes easier and cheaper with today’s tools, which ends up in greater experiences for the visitor and equitable collaborations in the backend.

What do you anticipate will be the 3 biggest trends for clubs and events in 2024?

We are only the investors looking for and enabling the innovators in the industry, and not the developers and trend makers. With that we shine a light on a neglected industry and hope for more positive momentum and broad attention for the industry’s needs. This means enabling independent artists to make a living from their art, for the venues to host more qualitative events and for the people to have the best nights of their lives.

What do you think the landscape of nightlife will be in 10 years’ time?

After a long period of business models and initiatives focused on dopamine, our approach with BNVC is to support more serotonin-focused approaches. This means that we hope people will seek and value real encounters in real life. The technology will just be a smart companion in your pocket and not a virtual event on smart devices.

BNVC host a bi-monthly “RealTalk” Networking Salon at their Berlin Mitte HQ where they host panel discussions with key players in the scene where they dive into specific topics in the field. February’s RealTalk salon session will be on The Gender Gap in Culture & Tech.

Following the panel discussion, they open up the space for a networking event. This is a chance to connect with fellow attendees, share ideas, and build valuable relationships within the community. The RealTalk Networking Salon aims to foster delightful surprises, community building, and an evening of real connections.