It needs the right story, the right partners and the right capital — and someone who can bring them together. I have done that for more than 25 years.

Good technology doesn’t sell itself.

Market Entry · Partnership Development · Commercial Due Diligence · Capital Raising

There are real commercial opportunities in energy transition — but a good product alone is rarely enough to capitalise on them. I work with energy, software and services businesses to identify opportunities, build commercial platforms to pursue them, navigate capital markets and help to deliver capital, signed contracts and real revenue.

25+ Years

across Energy, Technology, and Consulting

4 Sectors

Smart Grid, Software Platforms, Professional Services, Distributed Energy Assets

3 Regions

Australia, Southeast Asia, Europe

HOW I WORK

Every engagement is structured around a defined outcome and continues until that outcome is delivered. I’m in it for the result, not the retainer. And I only take on work I genuinely believe in.

Market Entry & Growth

For businesses entering new markets or scaling existing cross-border or domestic markets. I build the commercial foundations and execute alongside your team, not from the sidelines.

  • Market and competitor analysis

  • Business plan and company model

  • Channel and partner development

  • Interim management and local presence

Capital Raising & Investor Search

For founders and owners preparing for Series A/B or seeking the right strategic backer. I build a credible story, identify investors and manage the process through to close.

  • Investment narrative and valuation

  • Target investor identification

  • Investor engagement and materials

  • Business plan development

Technical & Commercial Due Diligence

For investors, fund managers and owners who need more than a checklist. I provide the technical knowledge and depth of experience to enable genuinely informed decisions and protect capital and value.

  • Technical and commercial due diligence

  • Sensitivity analysis and mitigation

  • Financial model development or review

  • Data room compilation and management

Restructuring & Integrations

For businesses, projects or portfolios under pressure. I diagnose what’s actually broken, design a path forward and take personal accountability for fixing the problems.

  • Root-cause analysis and diagnostics

  • Commercial assessment and recovery planning

  • Post-merger integration support

  • Stakeholder management and path to profitability

merten foerster

LOCATION

Brisbane, Australia

Citizenship

German & Australian

LANGUAGES

English & German

EDUCATION

MBA, Purdue University, U.S.

Diplom, Applied Computer Sc., Germany

Private Equity Cert, CFA

More than 25 years across multinationals like Siemens, family offices and energy scale-ups has taught me that the most valuable thing I bring to a client is not a methodology — it’s judgment. Judgement formed through experience, genuine curiosity about the business on hand, and the discipline to stay focused on what actually matters.

I can talk credibly with engineers, think commercially with partners and investors, and move pragmatically with operators. That combination lets me hold strategy and commercial reality in view at the same time — and close the gap between them.

My engagements are hands-on and deliberately focused. I work on a small number of clients at any one time because I think proximity and accountability matter. I’m not the right fit for every situation — but when the fit is right, I bring my full attention and work until the job is done.

References

Paul Weightman

Executive Director, Stara Investment Management Ltd

Executive Chairman, Corinthia Global Management

Former CEO & Founder, Cromwell Property Group

"Merten brought a level of commitment and loyalty to our commercialisation challenge that is genuinely rare. He stayed engaged through every obstacle until the best possible outcome was found."

Angelo Sofocleous

Head of Corporate Advisory, Marex, London

“I worked closely with Merten across an investor and partner search, and he quickly became the most trusted operational voice in the room. His judgement and transparency, as well as technical and commercial due diligence gave all stakeholders the confidence to make informed decisions.”

Let’s talk

I am genuinely interested in what you are working on. Send me an email or a LinkedIn message to set up a call — and we’ll work out together whether I’m the right person for the job.