Born in Rahden, Germany, Mr. Windhorst founded his first company, Windhorst Electronics Group, in 1993 at the age of 16. The company assembled and distributed PCs and IT products across Europe, and generated first-year sales of $50 million.

The company grew its assets to include 13 firms, diversifying to real estate, advertising and business consultancy, and opened its first office outside Germany in Hong Kong in 1994.

Already at the age of 18 years Mr. Windhorst became a member of the delegation of business leaders regularly accompanying Germany´s former Federal Chancellor Dr. Helmut Kohl on official state visits to China, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Brazil, Mexico and many others countries He was also elected in 1996 as the at that time youngest ‘Global Leader for Tomorrow’ by the World Economic Forum in Davos.

In 1995, Mr. Windhorst party relocated to Hong Kong to grow Windhorst Asia Pacific Holdings Ltd., and expanded its lines of business. He subsequently opened offices in China and Vietnam, directing 20 companies that collectively employed hundreds of people.

In 2000, Mr. Windhorst established  Windhorst New Technologies AG which focused on investments and developments in the internet and new technologies sectors.

In 2004, Mr. Windhorst founded investment group Sapinda, which originated and led investment transactions with a value of more than €2 billion within five years.

In 2009, following a restructuring process, Sapinda began investing in both private and public equity and debt. Mr. Windhorst opened additional Sapinda offices in London, Amsterdam and Hong Kong, and other cities

In 2019, Sapinda Holding rebranded as Tennor Holding B.V., and Mr. Windhorst became Chairman of the newly-established Advisory Board. Tennor Holding B.V. today is a global investment holding company which owns and manages a multi billion euro portfolio of majority and minority owned businesses across various sectors and industries with thousands of employees across a number of global locations and operations.