How Atlantic Labs & FoodLabs helped portfolio startups with a custom founder platform

The Problem

Atlantic Labs and FoodLabs, two Berlin-based VC firms, needed a better way to support their growing portfolio of startup founders. Common early-stage challenges — from legal setup to branding — kept surfacing across their network.

They wanted a platform that would:

• Centralize key resources and templates
  
• Offer curated service provider discounts
  
• Support different user types with tailored access
  
• Enable founders to engage with one another and share insights
  

But no existing tool offered the mix of permission controls, layout flexibility, and custom branding they needed.

The Solution

Using Softr and Airtable, the team built a fully custom founder platform — no developers required. Key features include:

• Tiered access control for founders, employees, and internal teams
  
• Curated resource hub with videos, articles, downloads, and directories
  
• Provider review system with ratings and comments
  
• Event sign-ups and peer networking across the founder community
  
• Full design customization to match Atlantic Labs & FoodLabs branding
  

Softr’s real-time Airtable sync and flexible building blocks made it easy to launch and iterate quickly — while keeping the platform user-friendly and engaging.

The Impact

Since launch, the platform has become a key value-add for founders and a powerful internal tool:

• 8,000+ engagement events in one month
  
• Hundreds of thousands of euros saved via partner discounts
  
• Stronger community across the portfolio
  
• Ongoing development of a V2 with expanded content and UX improvements
  

“Softr gave us the flexibility, speed, and design control we needed — all in one place," said Carolina Descastri, VC Platform Engagement Lead of Atlantic Labs & FoodLabs

The platform now helps founders move faster, spend smarter, and stay connected.