Early Beginnings
While most six-year-olds were playing with toys and learning their alphabet, young Lars Windhorst, born in Rahden, Germany, was interested in the stock market. By the time he reached the age of ten he began dabbling in the market, and at the age of 14 he began to tinker with computers.
By the time his 15th birthday rolled around he was writing software and building his own computers. At this time Lars Windhorst, the son of a small stationery storeowner, turned the family garage in his small hometown of Rahden Germany into a makeshift computer lab. He quickly realized that he needed to find a source for cheap computer components if he was ever going to make a profit in his venture. He flew to China, found suppliers of inexpensive components, and mobilized his classmates to help him build computers that were later sold in his father’s shop. First Company Formed Over the next two years his company, the Windhorst Group, grew its assets to include thirteen firms with its first annual turnover of 80 million Deutsche marks. Dealing with real estate, IT components, computers, advertising, and offering advice to businesses, he opened offices in New York and Hong Kong, later moving into China and Vietnam. As ex-Chancellor Helmut Kohl toured the Far East, Lars Windhorst went along as part of the official government delegation. As Lars Windhorst’s economic ventures expanded he created a holding company for his oil and advertising segments, employing more than 200 workers in the 20 different companies that he directed. His business activities and assets gradually spread into the realm of electronics, trading, investments and commodities. Internet Downturn In Support of the Younger GenerationLars Windhorst understands the power as well as the challenges faced by the youth of today and served as a member of the board on the Mentor Foundation from 1997 – 2002. The foundation pulls together professionals and experts from around the world to educate and empower children to stay away from substance abuse. The foundation, which was co-founded by the Queen of Sweden, also established the Scientific Advisory Network, which is an organization of global experts who offer advice and technical support covering all aspects of drug prevention.Current BusinessLars Windhorst’s new business venture also suffered heavily as the 2008 financial crisis hit, forcing him once again into a position of restructure. In 2009 the group reopened through shareholder capitalization. The newly opened international investment and holding company began investing in both private and public equity and debt with Lars Windhorst taking responsibility for its German subsidiary, Sapinda Deutschland GmbH, as its CEO.Business ExperienceLars Windhorst has been through the financial wringer on several occasions, and has learned invaluable business lessons first hand. When Sueddeutsche magazine conducted an interview with him, he explained that he started doing business at a young age without formal training and made decisions by the seat of his pants. In retrospect, some of those decisions were wrong and those mistakes caught up with him years later. Even so, some of the downturns were due to extraordinary credit market upheavals that could not have been envisioned. He was even in a very serious plane crash in 2007 that left him with serious burns, broken bones and bruises. The plane that he was sitting on in Kazakhstan crashed upon take-off killing one pilot and injuring the other one. He recovered quickly and in four weeks time was already back at work – just in time for the 2008 worldwide financial crisis. With his colorful past and a bright future ahead, many friends and international businessmen are still throwing their support behind him.Read More about Lars Windhorst Follow Lars Windhorst on Twitter
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