Deep Tech Germany - by Startuprad.io
By Jörn "Joe" Menninger
We bring you news, interviews, and live events from Germany in English only.
Learn more at www.startuprad.io
Deep Tech Germany - by Startuprad.ioNov 26, 2020
This Month in German Startups - December 2021
HoHoHo Welcome to This Month in German Startups in December 2021 by Startuprad.io - in a news recording with Chris from New York City and me Joe, from Frankfurt am Main.
We recorded this new episode on Monday, December 20th. All news not included here will be published in our next news episode. There will also be our annual Fintech Review on December 25th and we will be back with an AI startup interview on January 13th. So we take a few weeks off around the holidays. Happy Holidays!
We are not there yet, so let's get started:
Today we bring you another new unicorn, a monster funding of 266 mn US$ at Mambu, Volocopter calls off its SPAC IPO and gets a backlash from its early crowd investors, also Jokr is now the 3rd quick delivery unicorn - in record time - and we have an update on Sono Motors. We also take a look at the State of European Tech survey by Atomico and several news pieces on the German Venture Capital Market, as well as VC in general.
Let's talk startups:
Subscribe HereFind all options to subscribe to our newsletter, podcast, YouTube channel or listen to our internet radio station here: https://linktr.ee/startupradio
Enablers Invest-in-HessenThis show was made possible by Hessen Trade and Invest with their brand Invest-in-Hessen. You can learn more about them here (https://www.invest-in-hessen.com/). We also run a dedicated sub-podcast with all interviews and news in cooperation with them. Find it all here: https://anchor.fm/techstartupsgermany
StartupravenThe best way to identify investors and cooperation partners for early stage startups. Sign up for early access here: https://startupraven.com/
Find all links and extensive show notes here: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/this-month-in-german-startups-december-2021/
Cogia Just IPOed And Wants to Use the Access to Capital to Drive Market Consolidation
Our Sponsor Invest-in-Hessen
This show was made possible by Hessen Trade and Invest with their brand Invest-in-Hessen. You can learn more about them here (https://www.invest-in-hessen.com/). We also run a dedicated sub-podcast with all interviews and news in cooperation with them. Find it all here: https://anchor.fm/techstartupsgermany
“My goal is 10 mn Euros revenue. To reach this we need to keep buying [companies]” Pascal Lauria, founder and CEO Cogia The Founder
Pascal Lauria (https://www.linkedin.com/in/pascallauria/) has a very diverse background, raised in the Rhine-Main-Area his studies took him to Canada. He later worked in Taiwan, Silicon Alley (New York’s startup hub) and in Silicon Valley. He took his experience to go back to Frankfurt and set up Cogia there (https://www.cogia.de/?locale=en_us).
“Acquisitions are not always successful. We are very aware of that. We are working on it. For example, in our last acquisitions, we did not lose even one employee.” Pascal Lauria, founder and CEO CogiaThe Startup
Cogia Intelligence (https://www.cogia.de/?locale=en_us) is a big data, ai startup. It provides in its current setup innovative products and solutions in the areas of web and social media monitoring, market research, and open-source intelligence. The company Cogia GmbH is the startup, the company Cogia AG is the listed entity. Pascal started Cogia in 2010 but listed Cogia AG only in 2021 in Düsseldorf. Then the two entities merged and so Cogia GmbH got listed. You can learn more about the listed entity here: https://cogia.ag/de/investor-relations/
“With the access to capital markets I want to do one to two acquisitions per year.” Pascal Lauria, founder and CEO CogiaFind all links and show notes here: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/cogia-just-ipoed-and-wants-to-use-the-access-to-capital-to-drive-market-consolidation/
This Month in German Startups - November 2021
Welcome to This Month in German Startups in November 2021 by Startuprad.io - in a news recording with Chris from New York City and me Joe, from Frankfurt am Main.
We recorded this new episode on Friday, November 19th. All news not included here will be published in our December News (to be published on December 23rd). There will also be our annual Fintech Review on December 25th and we will be back with an AI startup interview on January 13th. So we take a few weeks off around the holidays. We are not there yet, so let's get started:
Today we have escooter Tier’s newest funding and acquisition, N26 pulling the plug on their US operations already in January 2022, and the amazing IPO of Sono Motors on NASDAQ. There are also new unicorns, we proudly present Frankfurt’s first unicorn, the insurtech Clark.de. Also, Razor Group (an Amazon shop buyer) becomes a unicorn with a 125 mn US$ fundraising. In November, there is no unicorn tracker. We will keep our eyes open and maybe the next news will have a unicorn tracker companion.
Happy Thanksgiving to our US audience!
Let's talk startups:
Find all links and show notes here: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/this-month-in-german-startups-november-2021/
Subscribe HereFind all options to subscribe to our newsletter, podcast, YouTube channel or listen to our internet radio station here: https://linktr.ee/startupradio
Enablers Invest-in-Hessen
This show was made possible by Hessen Trade and Invest with their brand Invest-in-Hessen. You can learn more about them here (https://www.invest-in-hessen.com/). We also run a dedicated sub-podcast with all interviews and news in cooperation with them. Find it all here: https://anchor.fm/techstartupsgermany
StartupravenThe best way to identify investors and cooperation partners for early-stage startups. Sign up for early access here: https://startupraven.com/
News Text and Show NotesFind all links and show notes here: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/this-month-in-german-startups-november-2021/
LUBIS EDA Maybe a Game Changer for the Semiconductor Industry
Tobias Ludwig, CEO and Founder LUBIS EDA Subscribe Here
Find all options to subscribe to our newsletter, podcast, YouTube channel or listen to our internet radio station here: Link https://linktr.ee/startupradio
I started with HTML and worked my way through to PHP and everything related to web.Tobias Ludwig, CEO and Founder LUBIS EDA
Want to be found by Business opportunities or contacted by new investors?
Get scouted by us, when we have a matching mandate and enroll your startup in our database: https://forms.gle/DmPtBKJH7MMmJoYo8
We don’t sell your data or spam you. We will even reach out to you before we include you in a scouting mandate.
The faster you can get the chips in production, the higher are your profit margins. The first company takes almost all of the profits in this industry.Tobias Ludwig, CEO and Founder LUBIS EDA The Founder
We interview the founder Tobias Ludwig (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobias-ludwig-5b1274a0/), CEO and founder of LUBIS EDA (http://lubis-eda.com,https://www.linkedin.com/company/lubis-eda/). Tobias has developed software since he was 14, starting out writing websites. Ever since he was working, developing software, and studying. He also spent one year at Michigan State University on an exchange program. The company is an early-stage startup, providing software for the semiconductor industry, likely a game-changer for the industry.
If you have a problem with the design of your chips is faulty, you may only find out after you started production. Than you have to trash all the newly produced faulty chipsTobias Ludwig, CEO and Founder LUBIS EDA The Startup
The software of LUBIS EDA helps semiconductor producers to accelerate their production of new (http://lubis-eda.com,https://www.linkedin.com/company/lubis-eda/). In the chip industry, the first company to offer a new chip gets almost all the profits. Therefore, it is very important for semiconductor producers to be fast. The software of LUBIS EDA helps you to save up to 2 months in your development and assures your chip design is fault-free. With LUBIS EDA there is no need for starting over the chip development shortly before the production is about to start, since an error was discovered.
Conservative time savings estimate with our tool is 10%, which can go up to 20%. This may add up to two months in time savings.Tobias Ludwig, CEO and Founder LUBIS EDA Find all links and show notes here: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/lubis-eda-maybe-a-game-changer-for-the-semiconductor-industry/
GSA Unicorn Tracker - October 2021 (Bonus)
Welcome to This Month in German Startups by Startuprad.io – in a news recording with Chris (from New York City) and me Joe (from Frankfurt am Main).
Guys, it is October, it is getting colder outside and cozier inside, so we bring you another “Doppelpack”of our news recording! We bring you another bonus news episode as part of our news coverage of the German startup scene. We recorded this episode on October 25th, 2021, wrapping up October. This is a Bonus Episode following our special coverage of the unprecedented creation of unicorn startups in the German speaking startup scene!
Subscribe HereFind all options to subscribe to our newsletter, podcast, YouTube channel or listen to our internet radio station here: Link https://linktr.ee/startupradio
Want to be found by Business opportunities or contacted by new investors?Get scouted by us, when we have a matching mandate and enroll your startup in our database: https://forms.gle/DmPtBKJH7MMmJoYo8 We don’t sell your data or spam you. We will even reach out to you before we include you in a scouting mandate.
Find all the links to our sources and the show notes here: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/gsa-unicorn-tracker-october-2021/
This Month in German Startups - October 2021
This Month in German Startups - October 2021
Welcome to This Month in German Startups in October 2021 by Startuprad.io - in a news recording with Chris (Back Home in New York) and me Joe, from Frankfurt am Main.
We recorded this new episode on October 25th. Note that there is also another episode of our unicorn tracker, getting published along with this episode in order to keep the news brief.
Today we have to announce that N26 reclaimed the title of Germany’s most valuable fintech (but not startup, that is still Celonis), Sono Motors is filing for an IPO in the US - ahead of even delivering their first car -, corona is leaving the first traces in the startup scene, less startups, but more funding for the surviving ones.
Subscribe HereFind all options to subscribe to our newsletter, podcast, YouTube channel or listen to our internet radio station here: https://linktr.ee/startupradio
Want to be found by Business opportunities or contacted by new investors?Get scouted by us, when we have a matching mandate and enroll your startup in our database: https://forms.gle/DmPtBKJH7MMmJoYo8
We don’t sell your data or spam you. We will even reach out to you before we include you in a scouting mandate.
Find our extensive collection of links, sources, and the whole show notes here: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/this-month-in-german-startups-october-2021/
A Look Inside the World’s First Law Regulating Autonomous Driving (Bonus Episode)
Find all options to subscribe to our newsletter, podcast, YouTube channel or listen to our internet radio station here: Link https://linktr.ee/startupradio
Want to be found by Business opportunities or contacted by new investors?
Get scouted by us, when we have a matching mandate and enroll your startup in our database: https://forms.gle/DmPtBKJH7MMmJoYo8
We don’t sell your data or spam you. We will even reach out to you before we include you in a scouting mandate.
The Expert
This is another episode in our subject matter expert interviews. This time we are joined by Jan-Philipp “JP” Günther-Burmeister (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-philipp-g%C3%BCnther-burmeister-4b3421106/), a Lawyer practicing for more than 5 years in Germany.
The New LawThe Federal Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure published a press release: Germany will be the world leader in autonomous driving https://www.bmvi.de/SharedDocs/EN/Articles/DG/act-on-autonomous-driving.html
Together with JP, we are talking about the newest update/amendment / Novellierung of an already existing traffic law. As we will see in the interview, not all aspects are covered yet and complete autonomous driving is not yet permitted, BUT the law allows for semi-autonomous driving with a remote controlling human taking over control if needed.
Lawyers are not sure yet about how many vehicles such a remote operator could control, but more than one is certain. This may open up opportunities for fleets for remote-controlled trucks, buses, cabs, and delivery vans steered by a handful of people with a normal workday, working in shifts from a control center, or even from home.
Find all links and show notes here: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/a-look-inside-the-worlds-first-law-regulating-autonomous-driving-bonus/
Meet Edupression a Vienna-Based App on Prescription
Find all options to subscribe to our newsletter, podcast, YouTube channel or listen to our internet radio station here: Link https://linktr.ee/startupradio
The Founder
In this interview, we talk to Daniel Amann (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-amann-4a1b0711a/), the CEO and Co-Founder of Edupression (https://edupression.com/). Edupression is an anti-depression app from the greater Vienna area. Daniel has a background in financial services, where he held a lot of different positions with companies like Allianz or Raiffeisen International. One of his friends committed suicide, which drew his attention to depression.
So, he co-founded Edupression.
When you have a depressive episode, there is a 50% probability, that you will have another depressive episode. Daniel Amann, Co-Founder and CEO Edupression Want to be found by Business opportunities or contacted by new investors?Get scouted by us, when we have a matching mandate and enroll your startup in our database: https://forms.gle/DmPtBKJH7MMmJoYo8
We don’t sell your data or spam you. We will even reach out to you before we include you in a scouting mandate.
The Startup
In total the founding team of Edupression (https://edupression.com/) are 4 co-founders, which spent approx. three years working on Edupression before the interview, including advice from the Medical University Vienna (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MedicalUniversityof_Vienna).
Edupression is a certified medical product, as a stand alone therapy for mild to medium depression symptoms, stand alone or in combination with drugs or psychotherapy. The company plans to have the app available on prescription in January 2022 in Germany and Austria.
In the German-speaking area (Germany, Switzerland, Austria) there are approx. 8 million people suffering from depression. … It is also the same in the US, Canada or developing countries, around 7-8%. Daniel Amann, Co-Founder and CEO Edupression App DownloadApple’s App Store (https://apps.apple.com/app/id1562982041)
Google Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.proappdev.edupressionwebmobile_app)
Edupression is currently looking to raise Series A funding for its international expansion in 2022. They would like to close the round end of 2021 or early in 2022.
Find all links and show notes here: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/meet-edupression-a-vienna-based-app-on-prescription/
This Month in German Startups - September 2021 Unicorn Tracker (Bonus)
This Month in German Startups - Summer Wrap-Up (July, August, September) 2021
Welcome to This Month in German Startups in September 2021 by Startuprad.io - in a news recording with Chris (Back Home in New York) and me Joe, from Frankfurt am Main. We recorded this new episode on September 28th. Not that there is also another episode of our unicorn tracker, getting published along with this episode. Have a look. This will be a bit longer recording. Best get a snack and a drink right now. The summer was hot here in Germany in terms of startups, but not so much in terms of temperature. Since we have the weather out of the way. Let's talk startups:
Want to be found by Business opportunities or contacted by new investors?
Get scouted by us, when we have a matching mandate and enroll your startup in our database:https://forms.gle/DmPtBKJH7MMmJoYo8 We don’t sell your data or spam you. We will even reach out to you before we include you in a scouting mandate.
Find all links and show notes here: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/this-month-in-german-startups-summer-wrap-up-july-august-september-2021/
Entrepreneur Tools #6 – How to Start Thinking About Your Corporate Culture
Entrepreneur Tools
This is a new series, within Startuprad.io’s YouTube Blog. We meet a lot of people and of course, we talk with some of them about the typical entrepreneur problems.
We are looking forward to your feedback.
I learned that humans are basically good. Michelle Tsing, Entrepreneur, Investor, Mentor, Podcast/Radio Host The EntrepreneurMichelle Tsing (https://www.linkedin.com/in/laptopradio/) is an investor and entrepreneur. She hosts a weekly show on the Stanford University Campus radio, called Laptop Radio. She used to work at PayPal, Samsung, Cisco, and eBay. She is also a podcast host at Starting Y, based in Silicon Valley. In addition to that Michelle works with several startups as an advisor. She shares in our 6th episode of entrepreneur tools her thoughts about company culture and how to start thinking about it. Company culture is a very complex topic and we are just scratching the surface here, but it is a good point to start.
The culture is usually the founder … think about your vision, your mission, and the values you care about. Michelle Tsing, Entrepreneur, Investor, Mentor, Podcast/Radio Host Further Readings / Additional Ressources- Start with a self-assessment, good places to start are for example the book “The Four Agreements “
- Look around examples for values
- Paypal – Practise detachment
- Ebay – Humans are basically good
- Google - Don’t do evil
- Zappos your culture is your brand – Pursuit of happiness https://www.huffpost.com/entry/zappos-founder-tony-hsieh_1_b_783333
- The Four Agreements https://amzn.to/3B8B3bD
- The Gift of Imperfection https://amzn.to/2WfTj3I
- Daring Greatly https://amzn.to/2Wnie5h
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlF4aBwTomo&list=PLUbiCAQc22WtWCZ1yTVMvh56CcUbjC1bV
FeedbackReach out to us, here is our audience survey, to give us feedback, suggest topics, interview partners or just to say “Hallo!” https://forms.gle/mLV6mVKwGwKuut8BA
The InterviewerThis interview was conducted by Jörn “Joe” Menninger, startup scout, founder and host of Startuprad.io. Reach out to him: LinkedIn Twitter Email
Find all the links and show notes here: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/entrepreneur-tools-6-how-to-start-thinking-about-your-corporate-culture/
Minutes Left German Startup Awards 2021 – Special Award for Lukasz Gadowski
Find all options to subscribe to our newsletter, podcast, YouTube channel or listen to our internet radio station here: Link https://linktr.ee/startupradio
It is not desirable to sell a company. … there may be instances where it makes sense. … there are exceptions to every rule. Lukasz Gadowski, Winner Special Award German Startup Awards Media PartnershipThis interview is in media partnership with the German startup association (Bundesverband Deutscher Startups https://deutschestartups.org/). Their German Startup Awards (GSA21) honor each year outstanding female and male founders and investors in special categories. You can learn more about the winners in our interview and on our website: https://germanstartupawards.de/
It always starts with a general pattern. … if you want to get ideas in a specific area, expose yourself to this area. Lukasz Gadowski, Winner Special Award German Startup Awards The FounderIn this interview, we talk to Lukasz Gadowski (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukaszgadowski) (known as one of the co-founders of Delivery Hero (Lieferheld) or Mr Spex). He received a special award for his special merit with and for the German startup scene. Among his many ventures, he co-founded or is invested in are Spreadshirt, studyVZ, Point Nine Capital, brands4friends, Aroundhome, Vertical Media (Gründerszene), the escooter startup Circ, Volocopter, Enpal, Mr. Spex and of course, Delivery Hero. He works with his private investment company Team Europe https://www.teameurope.net/ During his interview he also shares insights in big enablers shaping the future, which will opening up opportunities for entrepreneurs. He also shares advice for entrepreneurs on how to win, even if you are entering a market late.
Congratulations to Lukasz! Tune in to the interview to learn more.
I think Circ went from zero to 1.000 employees in 15 months. That is what I would call hypergrowth. Lukasz Gadowski, Winner Special Award German Startup Awards FeedbackReach out to us, here is our audience survey, to give us feedback, suggest topics, interview partners or just to say “Hallo!” https://forms.gle/mLV6mVKwGwKuut8BA
The InterviewerThis interview was conducted by Jörn “Joe” Menninger, startup scout, founder, and host of Startuprad.io. Reach out to him: LinkedIn Twitter Email
Keep Up to DateHere is our publication calendar: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=MDEyaTI3YWs1MjVxaTNzbWdqbDh2OXRiaW9AZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ
Find all the links and show notes here: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/german-startup-awards-2021-special-award-for-lukasz-gadowski/
Meet the Person in Charge of Germany’s €10 bn Startup Program
In this interview we talk to Thomas Jarzombek (https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-jarzombek-a4227183/) a member of the German Parliament Bundestag, also the Commissioner for Digital and Startups of Germany and in charge of the newly started 10 bn startup program. Thomas is a member of the CDU, Christian Democratic Union, the party of chancellor Merkel. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Democratic_Union_of_Germany). Thomas has also been an entrepreneur before he was an elected official. He started out with implementing Windows 95.
Note: In the name tag in the YouTube video, we shorted this to “Digital commissioner”, due to the available space.
We want to get better in the commercialization of German innovations.Thomas Jarzombek, MdB, Commissioner for Digital and Startups How the money will be invested Note: There is a general election coming up in Germany on September 26th, 2021. This will lead to a new government since chancellor Merkel will retire. Therefore, another government may change this allocation. We also invest in rocket technology. We have been looking at what Elon Musk does with SpaceX and adapted some of his strategies.
Thomas Jarzombek, MdB, Commissioner for Digital and Startups Investing Indirectly (as LP)
The new investment program is looking to invest 50% together with private investors, who also chip in the other half.
The program will invest in European VCs, focusing on Germany. They are looking for VCs, investing in Germany approx. the money they receive from the program.
The largest single investment will be as LP of the European Investment Fund, which will get 3 bn Euros (https://www.eif.org/).
HTGF will start the 4th fund with money from the program. Look in our show notes below for the interview with the CEO of HTGF. They raise funds with half of the money coming from the Government and half from private investors, which include already household names like Bosch, BASF, B. Braun, Boehringer, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Post DHL, Lanxess, RWE, SAP, and many others. You can learn more about HTGF in our interview, see links below.
We have patient money and I expect the money to be spent over the next 10 years.Thomas Jarzombek, MdB, Commissioner for Digital and Startups Investing Directly: Deep Tech Future Fund
The Deep Tech Future Fund (https://deeptech-future-fonds.de/) is aiming to commercialize innovations from Germany. They are even investing in startups directly, who do not have a business model yet, for example working in quantum computing.
2 bn Euros will be managed by KfW in discretionary accounts to set up specific investment vehicles and their subsidiary Coparion (https://www.coparion.vc/). Part of the money will be managed in discretionary accounts. These vehicles can invest directly in startups.
We expect with our investment to double – with private investors approximately 2x – in the German startup scene.Thomas Jarzombek, MdB, Commissioner for Digital and Startups
https://www.startuprad.io/blog/meet-the-person-in-charge-of-germanys-e10-bn-startup-program/
swisspod wants to build a Hyperloop underneath the Alps
Find all options to subscribe to our newsletter, podcast, YouTube channel or listen to our internet radio station here: Link https://linktr.ee/startupradio
The FounderIn this interview, we talk to Denis Tudor (https://www.linkedin.com/in/denis-tudor-5737a394/) he is the CEO and Co-Founder of Switzerland-based swisspod (https://swisspod.ch/), a startup that aims to develop hyperloop tracks underneath the Swiss alps. Denis is a Forbes 30 under 30. He graduated valedictorian with a degree in engineering and went on to the Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland (https://www.epfl.ch/de/), to get his Ph.D.
Denis has always been fascinated by the Hyperloop idea from Elon Musk to a level, where he participated with a team in one of Hyperloops competitions. They won the best non-student design award out of more than 3.000 teams, who initially registered.
The idea kept fascinating him, which triggered him to founding swisspod.
Is your Startup in Need of A bank Account? - Affiliate Links- Try the account of our Affiliate Partner Penta: http://bit.ly/3bdHX3d
swisspod (https://swisspod.ch/) is working on getting the Hyperloop underneath the Swiss Alps, transporting passengers with capsules of approx. 30 passengers.
SwissPod got a grant from the Swiss Government to set up the first testing facility for Hyperloops in Europe. Therefore their next step is to get this facility up and running and testing the idea and technologies needed
Is your Startup in Need of an Office? - Affiliate Links- Try the account of our Affiliate Partner WeWork: https://we.co/2GYbxvS
Reach out to us, here is our audience survey, to give us feedback, suggest topics, interview partners or just to say “Hallo!” https://forms.gle/mLV6mVKwGwKuut8BA
The InterviewerThis interview was conducted by Jörn “Joe” Menninger, startup scout, founder, and host of Startuprad.io. Reach out to him: LinkedIn Twitter Email
This Month in German Startups - June 2021
Welcome to This Month in German Startups June 2021 by Startuprad.io - in a news recording with Chris (Back Home in New York) and me Joe, from Frankfurt am Main.
We are reporting live from Germany’s largest unicorn wave ever. We announce two new unicorns (Scalable Capital and Forto (formerly FreightHub)) and Germany’s first Decacorn Celonis, valued at more than 11 bn US$. The 2019 Unicorn Wefox raises large funding of 536 mn € (650 mn US$). About You IPOs for 23 €/share at 4 bn Euro (4.85 bn US$) AND Austria becomes a new most valuable startup with GoStudent (1.4 bn €, 1.67 bn US$), after they had their first unicorn only last month.
Plus SolarisBank is rumored to be in talks of a 100 mn Euro VC Deal, which would make them a unicorn as well, to buy up a competitor. Especially active in this frenzy of unicorn creation is Softbank from Japan and Tencent from China.
We have a special episode on the unparalleled unicorn creation, which is available on the same channels. If you want to know more about the new Decacorn and unicorns in Germany and Austria you want to listen to this episode as well. We keep here the coverage of unicorns to a minimum.
Note: This will be the last news recording before the summer break. There will be no regular news in July or August, but we will be back with news at the end of September, wrapping up the summer news.
We are soooooooooo looking forward to the summer that Joe even wears a Hawaii shirt. Be happy for your eyes if you are only listening to this podcast :-)
Subscribe Here
Find all options to subscribe to our newsletter, podcast, YouTube channel or listen to our internet radio station here: Linkhttps://linktr.ee/startupradio
Find all links, texts, and show notes here on our blog post: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/this-month-in-german-startups-june-2021/
Bonus: This Month in German Startups – Unicorn Stampede
Welcome to This Month in German Startups by Startuprad.io – in a news recording with Chris (from New York City) and me Joe (from Frankfurt am Main).
This is a Bonus Episode covering the Unicorn Stampede in German-speaking countries. This recording is from June 29th, 2021 and all-new unicorns, formed afterward will be covered in our next news podcast, to be published End of September!
You may remember that we had another bonus episode last month covering the rise of Berlin-based fintech Trade Republic to become Germany’s most valuable startup? There is already a new king in the country with Celonis becoming Germany’s first Decacorn (valuation above 10 bn US$, here even 11bn US$). We also see that all of these monster fundings are driven by international investors, especially Softbank from Japan and Tencent from China.
Find all links and show notes on our blog post here: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/bonus-this-month-in-german-startups-unicorn-stampede/
Meet Palturai – The Google of Business Data
Tilo Walter, CEO and Founder Palturai Subscribe Here
Find all options to subscribe to our newsletter, podcast, YouTube channel or listen to our internet radio station here: Link https://linktr.ee/startupradio
You can use our tool for example in the KYC process.Tilo Walter, CEO and Founder Palturai The Founder
We talk in this interview to Tilo Walter (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tilo-walter-18b90567/), the CEO and Founder of Frankfurt-based business intelligence platform Palturai (https://palturai.com/?lang=en).
Tilo first started out with an apprenticeship at a bank, after studying industrial engineering he was a consultant and then spent quite some time working in Germany’s largest credit bureau called Schufa.
This gave him the idea of Palturai, which allows one to aggregate important business data to companies.
We have data from more than 7 mn companies, from public sources, building a graph with more than 1 bn relations.Tilo Walter, CEO and Founder Palturai
Is your Startup in Need of a Bank Account? - Affiliate Links
- Try the account of our Affiliate Partner Penta: http://bit.ly/3bdHX3d
Palturai (https://palturai.com/?lang=en) is a business intelligence platform, aggregating important data about companies in their database. The company provides the information as a business graph. The name also originates form a Hungarian mathematician named Pál Turán, who contributed a lot to graph theory (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A1l_Tur%C3%A1n). The company was founded in 2014, but re-branded in 2020 with the opening of its first international location close to Philadelphia.
We have been bootstrapped, but with the international expansion we needed a proper funding round.Tilo Walter, CEO and Founder Palturai
Funding Round
Palturai raised 4 mn Euros Series A investments, and their investors include a German bank and SBI Holding (Softbank’s Berlin entity).
Is your Startup in Need of an Office? - Affiliate Links- Try the account of our Affiliate Partner WeWork: https://we.co/2GYbxvS
Tilo Walter, CEO and Founder Palturai
Learn more here: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/meet-palturai-the-google-of-business-data/
Onetool Helps to Cut Your SaaS Costs
In this interview, we talk to Gordian Braun (https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordianb/?locale=en_US), the CEO and co-founder of onetool (https://onetool.co/), a Berlin-based cloud startup. The startup is also a Y-Combinator Alumnus ( https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/onetool ), and an alumnus of the German Accelerator program (https://www.germanaccelerator.com/companies/#onetool).
Gordian already had great experiences in his life before he even started onetool. He founded companies before, including one in Austin, TX. He worked at a VC, as an investment scout and is currently a member of the Forbes Technology Council.
Other solutions allow you to do similar stuff, after up to 6 months of working to integrate them. Our tool only takes you about an hour.Gordian Braun, CEO and co-founder onetool The Startup
onetool (https://onetool.co/) was founded by Gordian since he always ran into the same problem: What accounts did the employee use, that just left. How can I make sure I don’t overspend and no one has access to my customer's data, that is not working here anymore?
Our customers usually use only cloud-based tools, so basically all modern startups.Gordian Braun, CEO and co-founder onetool Venture Capital Funding
The company already counts amongst its investors HTGF. They have already raised more than 1.6 mn Euro in Venture Capital. Likely they will look for a new funding round “very soon” according to Gordian.
We got an email “You are invited to the final interview for Y-Combinator”. Oh, yeah it looks like we appliedGordian Braun, CEO and co-founder onetool Find all the links and show notes here: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/onetool-helps-to-cut-your-saas-costs/
Meet Nanostrcut, They Are Listening To Molecules
Henriette Maaß, CEO and Co-Founder NanoStruct
Find all options to subscribe to our newsletter, podcast, YouTube channel or listen to our internet radio station here: Link https://linktr.ee/startupradio
The FounderWe talk to Henriette Maaß (https://www.linkedin.com/in/henriette-maa%C3%9F-608792142/), co-founder and CEO of the startup NanoStruct. During her Ph.D. in solid-state physics, she looked at the electronic state of materials. She founded NanoStruct (https://www.nanostruct.eu/en/home-english/)during her post-doc at university.
Henriette went on record here to admit that she is a Star Wars and Star Trek fan.
Looking to enter the German or European market? - Affiliate Links- Our partner Mainstage has experience with that. They could help with a completely remote program https://msgi.one/startupradio Learn more about them here: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/mainstage-incubator-helps-to-build-world-changing-startups-right-in-the-heart-of-europe/
Henriette Maaß, CEO and Co-Founder NanoStruct The Startup
The idea of NanoStruct came when Henriette talked to her co-founder, who pursued his Ph.D. using spectroscopy as well, but another method. They are working on nanostructures like normal antennas but in nanometer sizes. The antennas function for frequencies of visible light, for which they have a reliable way to produce them over and over (which is not common for nanostructures). Their product can be used to search for contaminations like in biotech, pharma, or the food industry. You can learn more on their company website https://www.nanostruct.eu/en/home-english/
They are planning to do the production themselves since their production is neither expensive nor complex.
Don’t be scared of physic, it is actually a lot of funHenriette Maaß, CEO and Co-Founder NanoStruct Venture Capital Funding
NanoStruct is currently running on a federal grant for transferring research results into feasible products. They are looking for similar follow-up funding, until mid-2022, when they would rely on external investors. They are currently just starting to reach out.
Affiliate Links- Learn how to grow your business using the numbers in your profit and loss and balance sheet: https://www.learndesk.us/class/5571076509663232/growth-by-the-numbers-real-small-business-finance-for-real-small-business-owners use our promo code: Access
Find all the links and show notes here: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/meet-the-startup-nanostruct-they-are-listening-to-molecules/
Entrepreneur Tools #4 – How to Build a Tech Team
Entrepreneur Tools #4 – How to build a tech team
You need to educate the US companies on what is possible and not possible in an employment contract in Germany.Tim Heathcote, Headhunter Subscribe Here
Find all options to subscribe to our newsletter, podcast, YouTube channel or listen to our internet radio station here: Link https://linktr.ee/startupradio
Entrepreneur ToolsThis is a series, within Startuprad.io’s podcast and YouTube blog. We meet a lot of people and of course, we talk with some of them about the typical entrepreneur problems. Sometimes an entrepreneur solves known problems in a very systematic way or can help us to find solutions to typical entrepreneurs’ problems. We will talk to him or her and bring you these recordings as entrepreneur tools. We are looking forward to your feedback.
The Entrepreneur
Tim (https://www.linkedin.com/in/timheathcote/) is an English ex-pat living in Frankfurt, making a living as a headhunter in the tech and startup space. He has founded Rebel Soul Recruitment (https://rebelsoulrecruitment.com/)
Looking to enter the German or European market? - Affiliate Links- Our partner Mainstage has experience with that. They could help with a completely remote program https://msgi.one/startupradio Learn more about them here: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/mainstage-incubator-helps-to-build-world-changing-startups-right-in-the-heart-of-europe/
Tim Heathcote, Headhunter Here is a little warp-up: The headhunter must:
- Understand the company and the values of the company
- Know what technical skill is required for the role
- Understand the incentive structure of the company hiring
- Get familiar with the legal restrictions for an employment contract
- Set up a hiring process (this step may also be at #7, depending on your CTO and his/her network).
What are you testing for
How do you test it for
How do you measure it
- Use the network of your CTO to build the tech team
- When the tech team gets larger, you need to rely on a headhunter at one point
Find all the links and show notes here: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/entrepreneur-tools-4-how-to-build-a-tech-team/
This Month in German Startups – May 2021
Today we are wrapping up May 2021 for you. We talk about the massive Trade Republic funding, making them Germany's most valuable startup. We are talking about SPACs again, Germany’s institutional funds investing in crypto, and 3 bn shots of the corona vaccine. As always, we have a great show for you!
Housekeeping - Time to bragStay safe everyone!
- We are very happy to have been listed as No 4 on the Welp Magazine list of "20 Best Start-ups Podcasts of 2021" https://welpmagazine.com/20-best-start-ups-podcasts-of-2021/
- Station Frankfurt featured our newest internet radio station in an article https://station-frankfurt.de/2021/05/07/das-steckt-hinter-dem-24-7-startupradio-startuprad-io/
- Italy-based Startup.info covered our internet radio station as well: The World’s First Internet Radio Station Dedicated to Startups and Tech Companies Just Launched https://buff.ly/3upGZte
Trade Republic is now Germany’s most valuable startup with 5.3 bn US$
SPACs
In the US the largest wave of SPAC IPOs is already behind us, but in Europe, it is just gaining speed. Frankfurt Stock Exchange expects up to 20 SPAC IPOs in 2021. In all of Europe, they expect more than 30 https://buff.ly/3h0mMqS
Amazon Shops are still HOTBerlin’s Razor Group raises $400M to buy and scale Amazon Marketplace merchants – TechCrunch https://buff.ly/2PVJULY
Germany rumored to open flood gates to Crypto Investments - Think again'Damn Huge': Germany Opens Up to Institutional Crypto Funds - Decrypt https://buff.ly/3vvX3dU
Joe will talk about this soon - as soon as he gets to it - but the main point one has to understand in German institutional funds is that the investors are regulated and not so much the vehicles.
3bn Shots are comingCorona vaccine producer BioNTech is looking to produce 3bn shots https://buff.ly/2RHzXlA
We just passed a small moment in History80 years ago, on May 11th, 1941 german inventor Konrad Zuse started his Z3. This was one of today's first - maybe The first - modern-day computer. He developed it, to take over statistical calculation he found tiresome https://buff.ly/3eEJ3sB
Find all other show notes here: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/this-month-in-german-startups-may-2021/
eye2you Converts Smartphones in Simple Medical Retina Scanners
Find all options to subscribe to our podcast, listen to our internet radio station, or follow us on social media here: https://linktr.ee/startupradio (you also find a link to our audrec board, where you can suggest startups)
The FounderWe are talking to Jörn-Philipp Plies (https://www.linkedin.com/in/plies/) CEO and Co-Founder of eye2you (https://eye2you.ai/).
Philipp started out his professional life with an apprenticeship and moved to study at Technical University Darmstadt (TU Darmstadt, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technische_Universit%C3%A4t_Darmstadt) computer science and robotics.
While working on his final diploma thesis, he became interested in visual recognition and finally the eye. This led him to take on his Ph.D. at the University of Tübingen, studying how the brain processes visual information.
Affiliate Links- Learn how to grow your business using the numbers in your profit and loss and balance sheet: https://www.learndesk.us/class/5571076509663232/growth-by-the-numbers-real-small-business-finance-for-real-small-business-owners use our promo code: Access
The story of eye2you (https://eye2you.ai/) started at Korea University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea_University), with a project for development aid projects in Ethiopia. Now the company is incorporated in Tübingen Germany and works on AI algorithms to recognize diseases in pictures of the retina.
They are working on empowering general physicians, nurses, or caretakers to perform a basic checkup with their software. Groups at risk for retina diseases are people with high blood pressure or diabetes.
Here is an explainer video for more details: https://youtu.be/nWFbvuYC2PY
Venture Capital FundingThe startup already closed the pre-seed funding round, currently having 5 FTEs and one working student.
Affiliate Links- Is your startup in need of a bank account in Germany? Try our partner affiliate Penta http://bit.ly/3bdHX3d
- Looking to open a bank account to shift between crypto and fiat? Try our partner Bitwala with this affiliate link here http://bit.ly/2w01Zye
We bring the German speaking startup scene to you in English
Welcome to Startuprad.io,
we cover the German-speaking startup scene since 2015 with our franchise. Since 2019, we eased access to the German-speaking startup scene further with our special interest podcasts Fintech Germany, Blockchain Germany, Deeptech Germany, and German Startup News.
We have been called "The Authority on German Startups" and are a Top 0.5% global podcast, according to Listen Notes. Chartable.com scored us in 2020 a global Top 100 Science Podcast, a global Top 150 Tech Podcast, and a global Top 750 Business Podcast.
You can learn more here: https://linktr.ee/startupradio
BS-Free Service Design & Data-Driven Business Solution - Entrepreneur Tools Episode 3
This is a new series, within Startuprad.io’s YouTube Blog. We meet a lot of people and of course, we talk with some of them about the typical entrepreneur problems. Sometimes an entrepreneur solves known problems in a very systematic way, which we find great, or has great insights. In both cases, we will talk to him or her and bring you these recordings as entrepreneur tools. We are looking forward to your feedback.
This time we talk to Simon Stengelmeier (https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonstegelmeier/), also known as The Data Warrior (https://thedatawarrior.com/). This time we are talking about service design and marketing. Tune in to learn more.
Jobs to be Done (including Affiliate Links)- Jobs to Be Done: A Roadmap for Customer-Centered Innovation (AL) https://amzn.to/2SLZdIh
- The Jobs-to-be-Done Handbook: Practical techniques for improving your application of Jobs-to-be-Done (AL) https://amzn.to/3fg34VA
- Link to HBR Article: Know Your Customers’ “Jobs to Be Done” https://hbr.org/2016/09/know-your-customers-jobs-to-be-done
Put Value First
Know Your Target Audience / Create a Customer Avatar
Craft Your Message
Your Signature Solution
3 Steps to Success: How To Structure & Sell Your Services- Maximize (Customer Avatar, Message, Solution)
- Monetize (Leads, Trust, Conversion)
- Multiply (Paid, Organic, SEO)
Find the complete show notes here: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/bs-free-service-design-data-driven-business-solution-entrepreneur-tools-episode-3/
Spacific Allows You to Measure Objects with AR Glasses
Subscribe Here
Find all options to subscribe to our newsletter, podcast, YouTube channel or listen to our internet radio station here: Link https://linktr.ee/startupradio
MOIN! Media Partnership
This podcast is in media partnership with the Hamburg-based startup blog Hamburg Startups (https://www.hamburg-startups.net/).
The Founder
We talk to the Hamburg-based founder Dennis Ahrens, the CEO and Founder of Spacific (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennisahrens/). Spacific offers a software for augmented reality glasses to measure objects within rooms (https://www.spacific.de). Dennis has been involved in several companies, before starting his startup, one stop including staying for almost 13 years.
Dennis discovered his fascination for augmented reality while working in a project where AR devices have been used to measure stairs to build in stair lifts (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stairlift).
Affiliate Links
- Learn how to grow your business using the numbers in your profit and loss and balance sheet: https://www.learndesk.us/class/5571076509663232/growth-by-the-numbers-real-small-business-finance-for-real-small-business-owners use our promo code: Access
The Startup
Dennis founded his startup Spacific (https://www.spacific.de/) with customer service engineers in mind, who work for B2B companies.
The startup works on possibilities to measure objects inside a room. This would enable service engineers to put on their AR glasses and measure objects (e.g. lifts, forklifts, …).
Spacific is working on a self-service portal, for their business customers. There the Spacific clients can tailor their specific needs and processes with a work-flow-configurator, making their customer service better and fast than their competitors’.
Venture Capital Funding
Currently Spacific is funded by the savings of Dennis and funding from the City of Hamburg. They would be open to talking to external investors.
Joe refers during the interview to this book: The world is flat (book) (AL): https://amzn.to/3hgWyQH
If you are curious, here is a Hololens (as Affiliated Link AL) on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3y2t7Io
https://www.startuprad.io/blog/spacific-allows-you-to-measure-objects-with-ar-glasses/
This Month in German Startups - April 2021
Conversational AI for Customer Service with e-bot7
Fabian is not only the founder of a successful company and a Forbes 30 under 30, he is also the co-founder of a tech blog called Chatbot News Daily and he is also a DJ, having worked with the likes of DJ Tiesto.
Next to all this Fabian and e-bot7 have been founding members of the KI Bundesverband, the German Association for Artificial Intelligence, Germany’s largest AI network.
Proptech Capmo Replaces Pen and Paper with Digital Workflows and Smart Construction Analytics
"Construction is likely the biggest industry in the country of the people listening or watching, but it is also likely the least digital industry."
Florian Biller, CEO and Co-Founder Capmo
The StartupConstruction sides are usually littered with large and bulky paper-based construction plans. It is also a hassle to keep all people up to date with recent changes, especially on larger constructions
The biggest challenge in construction is not the design, but the execution. That is where we help.
Florian Biller, CEO and Co-Founder Capmo
Learn more here www.startuprad.io/blog/proptech-capmo-replaces-pen-and-paper-with-digital-workflows-and-smart-construction-analytics/
Television.ai Generates with an AI TV Content
This Month in German Startups - March 2021
Flash Update on Startuprad.io
Hey guys, we are posting this short podcast just to keep you up to date on what Startuprad.io is doing.
You may know that we have special interest podcast (link to subscribe below) like Fintech, Deep Tech, Blockchain and for our Startup News? We are also a YouTube Blog (link below).
We also launched with our friends from Starting Y, Laptop Radio, Radio Free Enterprise and the IBGR Network the worlds first internet radio station dedicated to startups and tech companies on February 18th 2021. We are currently still in beta, but our Alexa Skill should be ready soon, as well as our listing on several radio directories.
Subscribe Here
Find all options to subscribe to our newsletter, podcast, YouTube channel or listen to our internet radio station here: Link linktr.ee/startupradio
Affiliate Links
· Is your startup in need of a bank account in Germany? Try our partner affiliate Penta bit.ly/3bdHX3d
· Looking to open a bank account to shift between crypto and fiat? Try our partner Bitwala with this affiliate link here bit.ly/2w01Zye
Feedback
Reach out to us, here is our audience survey, to give us feedback, suggest topics, interview partners or just to say “Hallo!” forms.gle/mLV6mVKwGwKuut8BA
The InterviewerThis interview was conducted by Jörn “Joe” Menninger, startup scout, founder and host of Startuprad.io. Reach out to him:
Follow usInstagram www.instagram.com/startuprad.io/
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/4837115/
Twitter twitter.com/startuprad_io
Newsletter: startupradio.substack.com/subscribe
Keep Up to DateHere is our publication calendar: calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=MDEyaTI3YWs1MjVxaTNzbWdqbDh2OXRiaW9AZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ
Mirrakoi Helps Surgeons with 3D Models and 3D Prints to Prepare for Surgeries
Pablo Garcia-Amorena, CEO and Co-Founder Mirrakoi
Subscribe HereFind all options to subscribe to our newsletter, podcast, YouTube channel or listen to our internet radio station here: Link linktr.ee/startupradio
The FounderIn this interview, we talk to Pablo Garcia-Amorena (https://www.linkedin.com/in/pablo-garcia-amorena-711518166/). He is originally from Barcelona, where he studied Mathematics and Engineering as a double major. He than went on to the Swiss Federal Institute (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne). Within their program he was focusing on processing data from medical devices, where he met his two co-founders of Mirrakoi.
You can also learn more about Pablo here:
www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Pablo-Garcia-Amorena-2118645293https
Affiliate LinksIs your startup in need of a bank account in Germany? Try our partner affiliate Penta bit.ly/3bdHX3dLooking to open a bank account to shift between crypto and fiat? Try our partner Bitwala with this affiliate link here bit.ly/2w01Zye The StartupThe startup is called Mirrakoi (https://mirrakoi.com/ https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/mirrakoi-sa) and is in a broader sense a medtech startup. The startup helps surgeons to prepare for important operations with 3D printed models or virtual reality. They even help to 3d print assistance tools to help the surgeons with their job.
They are currently helping surgeons with the preparation of reconstructive surgeries, like the reconstruction of faces after car accidents.
For research projects, they are 3d printing what they call “surgical guides”. For example, these guides help to guide the drill of the surgeon to drill at the right point and depth during surgery.
We are focusing on models for pre-operation. Our models will right now not end up in the patient, but we have a research project for that.
Pablo Garcia-Amorena, CEO and Co-Founder Mirrakoi
Venture Capital FundingMirrakoi is currently bootstrapped but will soon be looking for an external investor.
Health Venture Labs (Budapest)In this small section we talk to the accelerator program Health Venture Labs (HV Labs), and its co-founder Daniel Szemerey (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-szemerey/). HV Labs is the program Mirrakoi went through. If you are curious, they are looking for startups for their next intake: hvlab.eu/. As stated in the interview, they have a preference for medical imaging startups.
Part of their program is also a chance to dip in the Boston medtech startup hub.
Further Readings / Additional ResourcesCT Scans: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CT_scan#:~:text=A%20CT%20scan%20or%20computed,of%20a%20body%2C%20allowing%20the
MRT Scans: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_resonance_imaging
X-Ray: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray
Erasmus Programm: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erasmus_Programme
FeedbackReach out to us, here is our audience survey, to give us feedback, suggest topics, interview partners or just to say “Hallo!” forms.gle/mLV6mVKwGwKuut8BA
The InterviewerThis interview was conducted by Jörn “Joe” Menninger, startup scout, founder and host of Startuprad.io. Reach out to him:
Follow usInstagram www.instagram.com/startuprad.io/
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/4837115/
Twitter twitter.com/startuprad_io
Newsletter: startupradio.substack.com/subscribe
Keep Up to DateHere is our publication calendar: calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=MDEyaTI3YWs1MjVxaTNzbWdqbDh2OXRiaW9AZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ
EVITADO Avoids Collisions of Planes on the Ground – Using Lidar
EVITADO avoids collisions of planes on the ground –Using Lidar“The direct costs to repair a plane, after a ground collision usually runs least at 250.000 Euros. Not included are indirect costs like delays in schedule or revenues lost”
Alexander Kasinec, Co-Founder Evitado
Don’t Miss Any Blog Post, Video, or Audio PodcastSubscribe to our newsletter on Substack here: startupradio.substack.com/subscribe
“We found that ground collisions of planes happen on average one or two times a month”
Alexander Kasinec, Co-Founder Evitado
Media PartnershipThis podcast is in media partnership with the Hamburg-based startup blog Hamburg Startups (https://www.hamburg-startups.net/). They keep you up to date on the local startup scene in Hamburg, they organize regular events (in normal noncorona times) AND they do have a special section on food startups as well. Even if you are not able to speak German, a visit with an auto-translate is worth it, since they also have an extensive directory of local startups on their website.
“I guess I am a bit an aviation geek myself”
Alexander Kasinec, Co-Founder Evitado
The FounderJoe talks to Alexander Kasinec (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-kasinec-87715866/), co-founder of the Hamburg-based startup EVITADO (https://evitado.io/). Alex is an American, who co-founded the company in Hamburg. He started learning German in 8th grade already, spent time during his studies in Germany, and did an internship in Germany as well. He then ended up getting a master’s degree in Hamburg, where he met his co-founders.
“There are some pretty big [aviation] companies here in Hamburg. That is why we decided to stay here.”
Alexander Kasinec, Co-Founder Evitado
Affiliate LinksIs your startup in need of a bank account in Germany? Try our partner affiliate Penta bit.ly/3bdHX3dLooking to open a bank account to shift between crypto and fiat? Try our partner Bitwala with this affiliate link here bit.ly/2w01Zye “There was a list in 2017 by the FAA and one of the pain points were collisions on the ground by planes for example with hangars”
Alexander Kasinec, Co-Founder Evitado
The StartupEvitado (https://evitado.io/) provides a warning system for planes pulled on the ground, so the drivers of these pushback tractors do not collide with other planes on the ground, hangar doors and so on. Their system is based on Lidar and offers the drivers a Birdseye view of their plane and vehicle.
The idea of Evitado was developed by Alex and his co-founder, who met during their MBA. They made it in the finals in a pitch competition, which gave them their hint that their idea may be much more than just a hobby.
“Hamburg is the world’s third-largest hub for the aviation industry, behind Seattle and Toulouse in France”
Alexander Kasinec, Co-Founder Evitado
Venture Capital FundingEvitado is looking for 750.000 € as a seed funding round. They would like to close the round end of June 2021.
“Our system is based on Lidar technology”
Alexander Kasinec, Co-Founder Evitado
The Audio InterviewThe Audio Podcast will be published at the same time. Please give us a bit to post the Spotify link here. In the meantime, you can subscribe to our podcasts here
“We would love to integrate our software in the Microsoft Flight Simulator. It is a beautiful tool”
Alexander Kasinec, Co-Founder Evitado
FeedbackReach out to us, here is our audience survey, to give us feedback, suggest topics, interview partners or just to say “Hallo!” forms.gle/mLV6mVKwGwKuut8BA
The InterviewerThis interview was conducted by Jörn “Joe” Menninger, startup scout, founder and host of Startuprad.io. Reach out to him:
Follow usInstagram www.instagram.com/startuprad.io/
Lin...
KONVOI Helps with AI and Sensors to Prevent the Theft of Truck Cargo
Heinz Luckardt, Co-Founder KONVOI
Don’t Miss Any Blog Post, Video, or Audio PodcastSubscribe to our newsletter on Substack here: startupradio.substack.com/subscribe
… there is organized crime stealing from parked trucks. … We want to be preventive, before the theft happens.
Heinz Luckardt, Co-Founder KONVOI
Media PartnershipThis podcast is in media partnership with the Hamburg-based startup blog Hamburg Startups (https://www.hamburg-startups.net/). They keep you up to date on the local startup scene in Hamburg, they organize regular events (in normal non corona times) AND they do have a special section on food startups as well. Even if you are not able to speak German, a visit with an auto translate is worth it, since they also have an extensive directory of local startups on their website.
Our solution will be a combination of hardware and software.
Heinz Luckardt, Co-Founder KONVOI
The FounderIn this interview, we talk to Heinz Luckardt (https://www.linkedin.com/in/heinz-luckhardt-a77a351a0/), Co-Founder of Hamburg-based startup KONVOI. He is originally from Frankfurt, but his studies took him to Hamburg University, where he met his co-founder. But Heinz has already traveled the world, he studied in Milano (Italy), he has been a sales intern in India, as well as working with Fraunhofer Institute. At Fraunhofer, he was working on salt-based 3d printing.
The vision is later to go deep into predictive analytics, like generating heatmaps for truck thefts.
Heinz Luckardt, Co-Founder KONVOI
Affiliate LinksIs your startup in need of a bank account in Germany? Try our partner affiliate Penta bit.ly/3bdHX3dLooking to open a bank account to shift between crypto and fiat? Try our partner Bitwala with this affiliate link here bit.ly/2w01Zye The StartupThe startup was set up already in times of corona, in October 2020. Theft of truck cargo, literally from the back of a truck, is a big problem for the trucking companies, as well as all companies using this mean of transport. So KONVOI (https://www.konvoi.eu/) provides a combination of hardware and software to prevent these thefts. Right now, they are working on the first step of the solution, but the vision is to go deep in predictive analytics.
We are looking for innovative trucking companies in Germany, to give us feedback.
Heinz Luckardt, Co-Founder KONVOI
Venture Capital FundingKONVOI is currently not actively looking for external investors. They are currently on a government grant, funding the company at least until end of 2021.
We are not focusing on one technology. We are working with radar, as well as ultra-sonic sound at the moment.
Heinz Luckardt, Co-Founder KONVOI
The Audio InterviewYou can subscribe to our podcasts here
Further Readings / Additional ResourcesMilan, Italy en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milan
Frauenhofer Institutes are organized in the Fraunhofer Society: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraunhofer_Society
FeedbackReach out to us, here is our audience survey, to give us feedback, suggest topics, interview partners or just to say “Hallo!” forms.gle/mLV6mVKwGwKuut8BA
The InterviewerThis interview was conducted by Jörn “Joe” Menninger, startup scout, founder, and host of Startuprad.io. Reach out to him:
Follow usInstagram www.instagram.com/startuprad.io/
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/4837115/
Twitter twitter.com/startuprad_io
Newsletter: startupradio.substack.com/subscribe
Keep Up to DateHere is our publication calendar: calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=MDEyaTI3YWs1MjVxaTNzbWdqbDh2OXRiaW9AZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ
This Month in German Startups - February 2021
Today we are wrapping up February 2021 for you. There is great news in the German startup scene, the much anticipated Auto1 IPO generated two new tech billionaires, Europe’s first Tech SPAC lists in Frankfurt, more Wirecard details, we talk about Trade Republic and Gamestop, as well as the billion exit of Berlin-based AdJust.
Follow us on Social MediaInstagram www.instagram.com/startuprad.io/
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/4837115/
Twitter twitter.com/startuprad_io
Keep Up to DateHere is our publication calendar: calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=MDEyaTI3YWs1MjVxaTNzbWdqbDh2OXRiaW9AZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ
Affiliated LinksWhy not learn from entrepreneurs and executives who are open to share their favorite books. We skimmed through some recommendations and that is what we found.
Recommended by: Bill Gates
“Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker” amzn.to/2XAENlBRecommended by: Jeff Bezos
“Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras” amzn.to/2RGKGKeRecommended by: Elon Musk
“Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel” amzn.to/2REbHhwRecommended by: Tony Hsieh
“Tribal Leadership: Leveraging Natural Groups to Build a Thriving Organization by Dave Logan” amzn.to/34KgraQRecommended by: Warren Buffet
“Business Adventures: Twelve Classic Tales From the World of Wall Street by John Brooks” amzn.to/2K92z06Recommended by: Tim Cook
“Competing Against Time by George Stalk and Thomas Hout” amzn.to/3cjMMYn Housekeeping - Time to brag Stay safe everyone!
In the meantime you can tune in to our internet radio station, the worlds first 24/7 dedicated to startups and tech companies! s2.radio.co/sb16d65602/listen - We will soon be available on many platforms, for now:
raddio.net/373202-startupradio/ radio.streamitter.com/station/startupradio-89HNV
Top NewsWe have two new tech billionairesThe IPO of Auto1 went spectacularly well and skyrocketed on the first day of trading on February 4th, surging 45%. We took a look at the data and realized that this was the first tech IPO in a long time that generated new tech billionaires in Germany. Bloomberg: SoftBank-Backed Auto1 Soars in Debut After $2.2 Billion IPO buff.ly/2YLTm5jReuters: UPDATE 2-AUTO1 shares go into top gear in Frankfurt debut buff.ly/3pLaOSmRead more in our blogpost here: At recording this Auto1 IPO turns founders into billionaires buff.ly/3oY45EA Related: The story from the side of one of their first investors: How VC fund DN Capital invested in car marketplace Auto1 8 years ago and landed an $8 billion IPO winner buff.ly/3abVPMO
N26German regulator, stung by past failings, extends oversight of N26 - sources buff.ly/2Ymp88F German mobile bank N26 is thinking of making its first acquisition buff.ly/3ckRpVq
Trade Republic, Reddit and GameStopBerlin-based SolarisBank needed four years to get to 400k customers, but the next 600k came within half a year says their chief commercial officer Jörg Diewald, many of them have to be attributed to Trade Republic buff.ly/3oEKLMc Our take on this topic: www.startuprad.io/berlin/gamestop-reddit-and-fintech-trade-republic/ Note: There will be a follow-up on yet another blog post from our side, with hearings of Roaring Kitten and profits for hedge funds. We're nothing like Robinhood, says Berlin-based broker Trade Republic | Sifted buff.ly/3bAqNOq
iCarPorsche's Cayenne Boss Dr. Manfred Harrer (48) is hired by Apple. He was rumored to be one of the best engineers in the company. Is the ...
Xperience+ Wants To Change How You Watch Sports and Movies Forever
Fabrizio Gramuglio, CEO and Co-Founder Xperience+
The Founder(s)Fabrizio is the Co-Founder and CEO of Xperience+ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/gramuglio/). Fabricio is by training a geneticist, but he found the lab work not really appealing, so he set out on a new path. Fabricio is also a Ted Speaker (https://youtu.be/Qw30kQVyvnM).
Pedro is the CMO and Co-Founder of Xperience+ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedrogmferreira/), who is also the founder of the local tech blog Frankfurt Valley (http://frankfurtvalley.app/), as well as the community manager of Startuprad.io (http://www.startuprad.io/about-us/).
Both together manage the local chapter of the singularity university (https://su.org/).
Affiliate LinksIs your startup in need of a bank account in Germany? Try our partner affiliate Penta bit.ly/3bdHX3dLooking to open a bank account to shift between crypto and fiat? Try our partner Bitwala with this affiliate link here bit.ly/2w01Zye Why don’t we let life the people around the world the experiences they want – in a very immersive way?
Fabrizio Gramuglio, CEO and Co-Founder Xperience+
The Startup Xperience+ (https://xperience.plus/) is not itself a hardware provider. The company offers on its app a marketplace for companies to join the Internet of Senses and use the protocols of Xperience+ for this.
Part of the offer will also be a Library of Senses, in which experiences can be stored and retrieved at will.
We are working on letting fans experience their favorite game from the perspective of a player – with all five senses. It will be totally immersive.
Pedro Ferreira, CMO and Co-Founder Xperience+
The Xperience+ AppThe app is currently not available to the public. Currently, the app is in closed beta status. They are working on the library and the option to stream videos. We will let you know when the app is available.
We are working on disrupting the “old” audio and video media and bring in all the five senses.
Fabrizio Gramuglio, CEO and Co-Founder Xperience+
Venture Capital FundingXperience+ has already raised a seed investment of 500.000 €. They are open to additional external investors.
If this works guys, you will put every diet out of business, since people can taste everything, without gaining the calories.
Joe Menninger, CEO and Founder Startuprad.io on Xperience+
Audio PodcastYou can subscribe to our podcasts here
Further Readings / Additional ResourcesNothing to see here 😊
FeedbackReach out to us, here is our audience survey, to give us feedback, suggest topics, interview partners or just to say “Hallo!” forms.gle/mLV6mVKwGwKuut8BA
The InterviewerThis interview was conducted by Jörn “Joe” Menninger, startup scout, founder and host of Startuprad.io. Reach out to him:
Follow us on Social MediaInstagram www.instagram.com/startuprad.io/
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/4837115/
Twitter twitter.com/startuprad_io
Keep Up to DateHere is our publication calendar: calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=MDEyaTI3YWs1MjVxaTNzbWdqbDh2OXRiaW9AZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ
© Startuprad.io - All right reserved
Tangany Offers a White-Label Custody Solution for Crypto Assets
Martin Kreitmair, CEO and Co-Founder Tangany
Media PartnershipThis podcast is in media partnership with the FinTech Forum (http://www.fintechforum.de/). The FinTech Forum - launched 2013 in Frankfurt am Main - is the first and largest hub for FinTechs in Continental Europe, with a community of more than 12.000 companies. With more than 17 events, with more than 270 startups on stage, and more than 1.000 investors and financial institutions. FTF alumni have raised $310mn+ in funding and resulted in exits worth $300mn+ .
Our level of paranoia level is right at the top. The security for crypto assets must be even on a higher level than for banks.
Martin Kreitmair, CEO and Co-Founder Tangany
The FounderWe talk to the CEO and Co-Founder Martin Kreitmair (https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-kreitmair). He is not only with Tangany, but also a member of the Board of Germany’s blockchain association called Bundesblock (https://bundesblock.de/). He has a master’s in computer science and has been working at a startup for more than seven years, where he was hired as the 7th employee and saw the company grow.
First, we were two founders, …joined by former colleagues from an agency.
Martin Kreitmair, CEO and Co-Founder Tangany
Martin became interested early in Blockchain and Bitcoin but was no miner – which he partly regrets now 😊. He felt like it was the right time to start his company after many years as a startup employee.
Security is key for crypto custody.
Martin Kreitmair, CEO and Co-Founder Tangany
The StartupTangany (https://tangany.com/) is the all-in-one cloud suite to easily offer crypto and digital asset custody to your clients and customers. They do not offer services for retail customers, but rather to fintechs and financial institutions for save keeping of digital and crypto assets (including, but not limited to cryptocurrencies). They are a regulated custodian.
The product of Tangany is a white-label tool (via API) to enable their customers like startups, so they can offer crypto wallets to their (retail)-clients. The big advantage of Tangany for their clients is that they don’t need to get a license since the company is already regulated under German law to be a custodian.
It took us a very very long time to design our architecture … to the highest thinkable level of security.
Martin Kreitmair, CEO and Co-Founder Tangany
Excited about a Digital EuroTangany would be quite happy if a digital Euro, based on Blockchain is realized, this would be a huge opportunity for them. Since every citizen would need a digital wallet as Tangany could provide.
I am very convinced that a digital Euro will come, one way or another.
Martin Kreitmair, CEO and Co-Founder Tangany
Venture Capital FundingTangany raised a venture capital round in January 2020 and currently, they are in preparation for another round.
Further Readings / Additional Resources
Custodian www.investopedia.com/terms/c/custodian.asp
Feedback
Reach out to us, here is our audience survey, to give us feedback, suggest topics, interview partners or just to say “Hallo!” forms.gle/mLV6mVKwGwKuut8BA
The InterviewerThis interview was conducted by Jörn “Joe” Menninger, startup scout, founder and host of Startuprad.io. Reach out to him:
Follow us on Social MediaInstagram www.instagram.com/startuprad.io/
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/4837115/
Twitter twitter.com/startuprad_io
This Month in German Startups - January 2021
Welcome to This Month in German Startups by Startuprad.io - in a transatlantic news recording with Chris in New York City. This is the first news episode of 2021, but you can have a look at our 2020 review.
Today we are wrapping up January 2021 for you. There is great news in the German startup scene, from two new unicorns to a much anticipated IPO of Auto1 (will be raising at least 1.5 bn Euros), Delivery Hero goes VC and there may be Amazon TV/Radio in Germany.
Housekeeping - Time to brag Just a bit of bragging today: Listen Up! Here’s Your Guide To European Tech And Startup Podcasts In English buff.ly/39S3qyR
Top NewsWe have two new unicornsMambu - Germany’s newest Fintech Unicorn offers Banking Software as SaaS buff.ly/3oNEHC2 - Without them, no N26. They provide the software, which enables challenger banks like them.Munich-based HR scaleup Personio lands €103.5 million Series D funding and a €1.4 billion valuation buff.ly/35QYn0pRelated: Start-Up Personio Joins Circle of Unicorns - Technical University of Munich - School of Management buff.ly/2YgKm7W
Delivery Hero raises 1.2 bn in fresh capitalDelivery Hero raises 1.2 bn Euros (1.47 bn US$) in new funding, selling "in hours" 9.44 mn new shares for 132 Euros each buff.ly/394ZFFQRelated:Delivery Hero starts their own Corporate Venture Fund called DX Ventures with 50 m Euros buff.ly/2MPUt11
Auto1 IPOAuto1 IPO will be raising a minimum of 1.5 bn Euros (2.2 bn US$) buff.ly/3plC62nOlder articles related to this IPO - you can see the fundraising went up 500 million More details of the planned IPO of Auto1 Group emerge. They want to list in 2021 Q1 in Frankfurt in Prime Standard. Out of 1 bn € to be raised 250 m will pay back convertibles, 750 m will be invested in further growth buff.ly/38Hq0uz Used-car platform AUTO1 to float in Frankfurt, looking to raise 1 bn Euros from selling new shares, with a valuation of 6-8 bn Euros buff.ly/3bxbWWx
Amazon TV or Radio Station in Germany?Amazon has filed paperwork in Germany to get a broadcast license. The filing dates to November 2020 buff.ly/3bW0Mur
Wirecard We keep you updated, just a small selection of news here.
Keep in mind there is still an investigative committee ongoing.
Oliver Samwer from Rocket Internet gave a private loan to Markus Braun from Wirecard of 75 mn Euros (91 m US$), which he demanded back rather harshly, shortly before Wirecard filed for insolvency buff.ly/3bW2ITUIn Austria, an investigation against former Wirecard COO Marsalek is ongoing in potential bribery of an employee of Austrian constitution protection (like their NSA). He is supposed to have checked the solvency of porn site hosts for Mr. Marsalke buff.ly/39eVNDz
Ecosystem Slack users in Germany were greeted in the new year with a big outage covering most of the first working day of the new year 2021 buff.ly/3972zd0 January 4thTech workers want to relocate to Germany more than any other country in the world buff.ly/2Jims8n Germany starts with the test of a countrywide patient file, called "E-Patientenakte." The users can carry around all their medical files (x-rays, reports ...) on their smartphone and grant their physician access buff.ly/3hHb3M4Berlin remains the capital of German Venture Capital in 2020. EY tracked 314 financing rounds, out of a total of 743 they found. according to their data, VC funding declined in #Germany in 2020 by 15% to 5.3 bn Euros (6.45 bn US$) buff.ly/3oMxaDEIn the most recent fintech ranking #Frankfurt is losing position No 3 to Hamburg and now only scores at No 4 buff.ly/3o5IeKU
Hubs Note: The order of news and cities is only due to the time when we discovered the news.
FrankfurtFrankfurt-based provider of high performance computing Northern Data ...
This Month in German Startups - 2020 Review
Welcome to This Month in German Startups by Startuprad.io - in a transatlantic news recording with Chris in New York City. This is an annual tradition, where we look at the past year and forward into the coming one. Not to mention, we have been totally wrong last year with the outlook, so we are more sticking to the review this year.
Today we bring you an overview of the German startup corona aid, an overview of the German startup scene, lists of top startup stories, a few outlooks on 2021, and a bit of wine :-)
Ecosystem European Startup Scene 2020 - Snapshothttps://2020.stateofeuropeantech.com/chapter/state-european-tech-2020/article/exec-sum/
8 crucial takeaways from Atomico's recently-launched The State of European Tech 2020 report | via Silicon Canals buff.ly/3m6MxVg
‘Megarounds’ helped European Tech ecosystem growWhile many founders found it more challenging to get funding, 2020 is on track to be a record year, with potential to surpass $41B invested, driven by more $100M+ deals.Germany is projected 23 bn US$Low capital, pivoting the product, and sales decline hit founders hardest in 2020International investment hasn’t dried upFrance is the only one of Europe’s three largest markets to grow in 2020. London remains the biggest investment hub in 2020Travel sector gets notably low investmentsInvestment in purpose-driven tech companies soarsGender and racial inequality still prevails in the European tech ecosystem
List: 10 biggest healthtech stories of 2020 buff.ly/3aQlnjv
The guinea pigs of Germany’s new healthcare revolutionBioNTech: the German biotech startup behind the coronavirus vaccine
Hot or not: Where European VC funding went in 2020 by Pitchbook buff.ly/3nMSzf7 - Difference to Atomico ⇒ Different source for data ...
UK still has the largest VC market in total (13.7 bn $), but Germany (6.8 bn $) grew three times as fast with 10.9% vs UK’s +1.7% BUT this may also be due to Brexit. We will see what 2021 brings. According to Pitchbook France grew by an astonishing 25.4% to a total of 6.1 bn $. The other markets in Europe surpassing 1 bn $ are Sweden (3.2 bn$), Spain (1.4 bn$), and Finland (1.2 bn$).
These are the 10 largest funding rounds of Europe in 2020 buff.ly/2W1KGX8
including AUTO1 Group, Tier Scooters and Lilium from Germany
German Startup Scene 2020 - Snapshot Deutscher Startup Monitor deutscherstartupmonitor.de/
This is an annual survey by the German startup association, this year more than 1.900 startups participated.The largest share of the - participating startups - (note, there is a bias here) have been inBerlin 17,7%Rhein-Rhur (Cologne, Düsseldorf, …) 12.8%Munich 6.5%Hamburg 5.8%This is one of the reasons we try to highlight so many startups from different areas, since not only every 5th startup is in Berlin. Please note that we try to have approx. 20% of our interviews from Berlin, to give these startups also a fair representation.On average a startup in the survey employed 14.3 employees, up from 13.3 in 2019 and 12.3 in 2018. Despite Corona, 90% were planning to hire people. 15.9% of founders are female in this survey, slightly up from the previous years (15.7% in ‘19 and 15.1% ‘18)Universities play a central role as a core for a startup cluster, especially Germany’s Technische Hochschule (technical universities aka TU) e.g. TU München, KIT, RWTH Aachen, LMU München, Universität Mannheim, Universität Bremen, WHU, TU Berlin, TU Darmstadt and FU Berlin.~ 20% of founders have a migration backgroundThe most important technology is AI, more than 26.7% of startups had a SaaS business model68.8% of all startups focus on B2B, 26.5% on B2C, and 4.7% on B2G (Business to Government)The most important funding sources are the founder's own savings (used by 78.4%), government programs (used by 44.3%), and business angels (used by 31.6%). Actually...
Meet Europe’s most important Seed Investor
We are the most active seed investor in Europe.
Alex von Frankenberg, MD HTGF
The InvestorAlexander “Alex” von Frankenberg (https://www.linkedin.com/in/justdoitalex/, https://twitter.com/Justdoitalex, https://www.crunchbase.com/person/alexander-von-frankenberg) is Managing Director of Germany’s High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF).
We helped to raise 2,8 bn Euros in follow-on funding for our portfolio companies.
Alex von Frankenberg, MD HTGF
HTGF is a venture capital investor with private (like BASF, Bayer, Braun, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cewe, Dräger, Haniel, Lanxess, RWE, SAP, …) and public LPs (KfW, German Federal Government). The fund has approximately 890 m € (1 bn US$) in assets under management and close to 600 seed investments. focuses its investments in Europe, especially Germany, but also invests across the world – even at a lesser degree.
In my experience in the venture business: It is really the “long tail” that matters ... it is also in the long tail, in den deal flow, where you need to find the hidden gems
Alex von Frankenberg, MD HTGF
Affiliate LinksIs your startup in need of a bank account in Germany? Try our partner affiliate Penta bit.ly/3bdHX3d
Looking to open a bank account to shift between crypto and fiat? Try our partner Bitwala with this affiliate link here bit.ly/2w01Zye
I think our record was 28 days between first meeting the startup and signing the [investment] contract.
Alex von Frankenberg, MD HTGF
The FundIn 2005 HTGF (https://www.htgf.de/en/, https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/high-tech-gr%C3%BCnderfonds, https://twitter.com/HTGF, https://www.linkedin.com/company/high-tech-grunderfonds/) was established as a private-public partnership, to compensate – at the time – for the lack of active, domestic seed investors. Just two years after the bursting of the dot com bubble many seed investors went out of business and so an expert group of the German government recommended setting up a fund. The private investors helped HTGF to develop into a real venture fund, not only a public funding entity.
I reply to every email, even one that would just say “Yo, we should talk”.
Alex von Frankenberg, MD HTGF
On average it takes three months between the first contact with HTGF and its investment. Note this may vary significantly during corona and maybe some time afterwards.
HTGF always takes the role of a lead investor in a seed-stage investment. This is due to their history. In later rounds, they will give up the role of a lead investor.
HTGF IVHTGF is currently raising its fourth fund and is looking to close the fund in June 2022.
We not only open doors at our LPs for our portfolio companies, we also know many many other companies.
Alex von Frankenberg, MD HTGF
Further Readings / Additional Resources
Dot-com bubble: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dot-com_bubble, www.investopedia.com/terms/d/dotcom-bubble.asp
We can invest globally, but we are focusing on Germany.
Alex von Frankenberg, MD HTGF
FeedbackReach out to us, here is our audience survey, to give us feedback, suggest topics, interview partners or just to say “Hallo!” forms.gle/mLV6mVKwGwKuut8BA
The InterviewerThis interview was conducted by Jörn “Joe” Menninger, startup scout, founder and host of Startuprad.io. Reach out to him:
This Month in German Startups - December 2020
Welcome to This Month in German Startups by Startuprad.io - in a transatlantic news recording with Chris in New York City.
Welcome to the Chris-mas edition :-)
Today we are wrapping up December 2020 for you. Please keep in mind that due to the holidays and the current lockdown in Germany we are recording this news on December 15th. All news not included here will be part of our January warp-up and there will be a 2020 review 2021outlook as well.
Today we bring you news about the 10 bn investment package of the German government, the new DAX, Peter Thiel’s investments in Germany, Taxes, AI, and much more.
EnablerThis recording was made possible by (Hessen Trade and Invest). Learn more about our enabler here: www.invest-in-hessen.com/
Find all options to subscribe here:
💢 Tech Startups Germany by Startuprad.io - Audio onlyiTunes apple.co/2Z17bflSpotify spoti.fi/3kCcgoB Housekeeping - Time to brag We have only one thing to say: Stay safe everybody! Be grateful for what you have!
Affiliate LinksThe current situation with the Coronavirus-related lockdown is frequently compared to severe economic recessions including, but not limited to the 2008 Financial Crisis and the Stock Market Crash of 1929. If you want to know more, consider these books below.
“Galbraith was asked by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. if he would write the definitive work on the Great Depression that he would then use as a reference source for his own intended work on Roosevelt.” (from Wikipedia) - The Great Crash 1929 by John Kenneth Galbraith amzn.to/3cl41sAEssays on the Great Depression amzn.to/2VvEsht by former Fed Chairmen Ben S. Bernanke “an American economist at the Brookings Institution[3] who served two terms as Chair of the Federal Reserve, the central bank of the United States, from 2006 to 2014” (from Wikipedia)From John Kenneth Galbraith as well: A Short History of Financial Euphoria amzn.to/2VxngbgA great book on crashes, bubbles, and economic uncertainty, in general, is “Devil Take the Hindmost: A History of Financial Speculation” by Edward Chancellor amzn.to/2VaUDSlAll the news and links here
www.startuprad.io/blog/this-month-in-german-startups-december-2020/
This Month in German Startups - November 2020
Welcome to This Month in German Startups by Startuprad.io - in a transatlantic news recording with Chris in New York City.
Today we are wrapping up November 2020 for you with an update on German startups working on corona vaccines, Flixbus, Finleap, Rocket Internet’s ongoing delisting, and a potential digital Euro
Enabler
This recording was made possible by (Hessen Trade and Invest). Learn more about our enabler here: www.invest-in-hessen.com/
Find all options to subscribe here:
Tech Startups Germany by Startuprad.io - Audio PodcastiTunes apple.co/2Z17bflSpotify spoti.fi/3kCcgoB
Housekeeping - Time to brag
We have only one thing to say: Stay safe everybody! Be grateful for what you have!
Affiliated Links
Why not learn from entrepreneurs and executives who are open to share their favorite books. We skimmed through some recommendations and that is what we found.
· Recommended by: Bill Gates
“Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker” amzn.to/2XAENlB
· Recommended by: Jeff Bezos
“Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras” amzn.to/2RGKGKe
· Recommended by: Elon Musk
“Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel” amzn.to/2REbHhw
· Recommended by: Tony Hsieh
“Tribal Leadership: Leveraging Natural Groups to Build a Thriving Organization by Dave Logan” amzn.to/34KgraQ
· Recommended by: Warren Buffet
“Business Adventures: Twelve Classic Tales From the World of Wall Street by John Brooks” amzn.to/2K92z06
· Recommended by: Tim Cook
“Competing Against Time by George Stalk and Thomas Hout” amzn.to/3cjMMYn
Show Notes, Links and more reading
www.startuprad.io/blog/this-month-in-german-startups-november-2020/
Artificial Connect uses AI to generate automated local event announcements
Felix Rolf, CEO Artificial Connect
Media PartnershipThis interview is in media partnership with the CONTENTshif accelerator program (https://www.contentshift.de/en/accelerator/programme/for-startups/), which we follow since its inception. CONTENTshift is the accelerator program of the German Book Publishers and Printers Association. Below you will find more interviews from past batches. We used to record the interviews directly at Frankfurt Book Fair, but since it is canceled this year due to Corona, we resorted to remote only interviews. At the time of the recording, we did not know who won the final award. The winner of this year’s batch is SciFlow (https://www.contentshift.de/en/contentshift/news/congratulations-to-sciflow/). We will publish the exclusive interview with them as the last of our series this year.
The FounderIn this interview, we are talking to Felix Rolf (https://www.linkedin.com/in/felix-rolf-526a4894/) the founder and CEO of Artificial Connect (https://www.artificial-connect.com/), an AI startup located in the beautiful city of Hannover.
Felix originally started with an advertising conglomerate with roots in newspaper publishing, where he got to work in several departments. He enjoyed his time in digitalization projects, especially in data science. During his time there he worked at the intersection of data science and sales.
I participated in a boot camp for three months to learn about the statistical tools needed for data science.
Felix Rolf, CEO Artificial Connect
PatreonLearn about our interviews hours before they are released, help in the selection of the startups we interview or even suggest startups to be interviewed, by becoming a Patron: buff.ly/32bZ4zW
DueDashIf you don’t like Patreon, there is DueDash. DueDash is a Social Network, for startups and investors. We have a group of supporters there as well. You can join the group there: buff.ly/2R90PYp
Affiliate LinksWhy not learn from entrepreneurs and executives who are open to sharing their favorite books. We skimmed through some recommendations and that is what we found.
Recommended by: Bill Gates
“Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker” amzn.to/2XAENlBRecommended by: Jeff Bezos
“Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras” amzn.to/2RGKGKeRecommended by: Elon Musk
“Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel” amzn.to/2REbHhwRecommended by: Tony Hsieh
“Tribal Leadership: Leveraging Natural Groups to Build a Thriving Organization by Dave Logan” amzn.to/34KgraQRecommended by: Warren Buffet
“Business Adventures: Twelve Classic Tales From the World of Wall Street by John Brooks” amzn.to/2K92z06Recommended by: Tim Cook
“Competing Against Time by George Stalk and Thomas Hout” amzn.to/3cjMMYn Find all links and show notes here: www.startuprad.io/blog/podcast-artificial-connect-uses-ai-to-generate-automated-local-event-announcements/
Scriptbakery taught an AI to analyze manuscripts and the emotions of a potential reader
Patrick Kaiser, COO Scriptbakery
Media PartnershipThis interview is in media partnership with the CONTENTshif accelerator program (https://www.contentshift.de/en/accelerator/programme/for-startups/), which we follow since its inception. CONTENTshift is the accelerator program of the German Book Publishers and Printers Association. Below you will find more interviews from past batches. We used to record the interviews directly at Frankfurt Book Fair, but since it is canceled this year due to Corona, we resorted to remote only interviews. At the time of the recording, we did not know who won the final award. The winner of this year's batch is SciFlow (https://www.contentshift.de/en/contentshift/news/congratulations-to-sciflow/). We will publish the exclusive interview with them as the last of our series this year.
The FounderWe talk to Patrick Kaiser (https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-kaiser-5978ba1b6/), the COO of Scriptbakery (https://www.scriptbakery.de/), a Freiburg based startup, which taught its AI to analyze a book script and analyze the potential emotions of a reader.
Patrick got his job as COO because he has a black belt in Kungfu. The founder of the company knows him from the Kungfu gym, where the founder was Patrick’s student.
We taught our AI with 1.7 mn data points, to make it work with all European languages
Patrick Kaiser, COO Scriptbakery
PatreonLearn about our interviews hours before they are released, help in the selection of the startups we interview or even suggest startups to be interviewed, by becoming a Patron: buff.ly/32bZ4zW
DueDashIf you don’t like Patreon, there is DueDash. DueDash is a Social Network, for startups and investors. We have a group of supporters there as well. You can join the group there: buff.ly/2R90PYp
Affiliate LinksIs your startup in need of a bank account in Germany? Try our partner affiliate Penta bit.ly/3bdHX3d
Looking to open a bank account to shift between crypto and fiat? Try our partner Bitwala with this affiliate link here bit.ly/2w01Zye
The largest chunk we get here as scripts are biographies by Professors and Teachers who have retired
Patrick Kaiser, COO Scriptbakery
Blog PostFind all the links and show notes here: www.startuprad.io/blog/scriptbakery-taught-an-ai-to-analyze-manuscripts-and-the-emotions-of-a-potential-reader/
This Month in German Startups - October 2020
Today we are wrapping up October 2020 for you with a monster round in the making at N26, new information on the Wirecard insolvency and questions about published information of Heidelberg based insurance startup Getsafe.
You can now join us on the entrepreneur network DueDash: buff.ly/2R90PYp with 5 Euros a month you support our work! Or become a Patron at Patreon: buff.ly/32bZ4zW
Thank you!
EnablerThis recording was made possible by (Hessen Trade and Invest). Learn more about our enabler here: www.invest-in-hessen.com/
Find all options to subscribe here:
💢 Tech Startups Germany by Startuprad.io - Audio onlyiTunes apple.co/2Z17bflSpotify spoti.fi/3kCcgoB Find all the links and show notes here: www.startuprad.io/blog/this-month-in-german-startups-october-2020/
doks. innovation enables indoor drone flights for next level digital logistics
Benjamin Federmann, CEO and Co-Founder doks.innovation
The FounderIn this interview, we talk to Benjamin Federmann (https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminfedermann/) the CEO and Co-Founder of Kassel-based drone startup doks. innovation (https://www.doks-innovation.com/). D oks.innovation is not a hardware startup, they only provide Benjamin has spent some time after university in marketing and consulting for some smaller and also well-known companies like Leica.
The feedback from the interviews I conducted was so good, I was sure I needed to found the company
Benjamin Federmann, CEO and Co-Founder doks.innovation
PatreonLearn about our interviews hours before they are released, help in the selection of the startups we interview, or even suggest startups to be interviewed, by becoming a Patron: buff.ly/32bZ4zW
The customer can ask almost any question and find the answer in our data.
Benjamin Federmann, CEO and Co-Founder doks.innovation
DueDashIf you don’t like Patreon, there is DueDash. DueDash is a Social Network, for startups and investors. We have a group of supporters there as well. You can join the group there: buff.ly/2R90PYp
When we started with our first prototype, we crashed 30 to 40 drones.
Benjamin Federmann, CEO and Co-Founder doks.innovation
Affiliate LinksIs your startup in need of a bank account in Germany? Try our partner affiliate Penta bit.ly/3bdHX3d
Looking to open a bank account to shift between crypto and fiat? Try our partner Bitwala with this affiliate link here bit.ly/2w01Zye
Our drone is a flying camera to collect data for the inventory management.
Benjamin Federmann, CEO and Co-Founder doks.innovation
The Startup
The startup doks.innovation enables companies to monitor their warehouses via drones, which can fly indoors without smacking on any shelf or wall. Doks is not a hardware startup. doks.innovation provides only the ai software for the drones to enable them to fly indoors. On the other hand, they are also working closely with hardware providers, since they have very specific requirements for their drones. The drones are using cutting-edge drone hardware, which is not yet publicly available.
The company is still small, but they have reference customers like Mars and BMW.
Our clients have to press a button and come back 3 or 4 hours later. The data collection is totally automated. The customer can ask almost any question and can find the answer in our data.
Benjamin Federmann, CEO and Co-Founder doks.innovation
Venture Capital Fundingdoks.innovation is open to talking to new investors from Europe and the US. They are looking for the next financing round in Q1 2021 and to expand to the US in 2021.
When we stared there was no hardware available for what we have been looking for.
Benjamin Federmann, CEO and Co-Founder doks.innovation
The Video Interview is set to go live on October 15th, 2020 19.00 CET Frankfurt/Paris/Zürich/Milanohttps://youtu.be/yi8SmEMuuj8
Drones are good for land surveying, but are there areas where drones are currently not working? So I made more than 100 interviews in one and a half year.
Benjamin Federmann, CEO and Co-Founder doks.innovation
Further Readings / Additional ResourcesLearn more about Kassel here: www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g187342-Kassel_Hesse-Vacations.html
FeedbackReach out to us, here is our audience survey, to give us feedback, suggest topics, interview partners or just to say “Hallo!” forms.gle/mLV6mVKwGwKuut8BA
The InterviewerThis interview was conducted by Jörn “Joe” Menninger, startup scout, founder and host of Startuprad.io. Reach out to him:
This Month in German Startups - Summer 2020 (July, August, September)
Today we are wrapping up summer 2020 for you. This is going to take a bit longer than normal, so grab a coffee and relax on the couch.
You can now join us on the entrepreneur network DueDash: buff.ly/2R90PYp with 5 Euros a month you support our work! Thank you!
EnablerThis recording was made possible by (Hessen Trade and Invest). Learn more about our enabler here: www.invest-in-hessen.com/
Find all options to subscribe here:
💢 Tech Startups Germany by Startuprad.io - Audio onlyiTunes apple.co/2Z17bflDeezer bit.ly/2Qbh1rlTuneIn bit.ly/2M8vpznStitcher http://bit.ly/34xTANO💢 Tech Startups Germany by Startuprad.io - VideoiTunes apple.co/2M8ZxKJ
Housekeeping - Time to brag We made it now in 39 Countries in the podcast charts, adding Switzerland, Zimbabwe, Israel, and Indonesia! Thank you!
[caption id="attachment_3669" align="alignleft" width="800"]Podcast Charts Appearances of Startuprad.io - Now in 39 countries[/caption]
As a premier source for startup information from Germany, Startupradio was already a part of the US launch of podcasts on Amazon Music and is now in Germany as well.
www.instagram.com/p/CFcAK3wj3Gn/
Video News - This video will go live on Thursday, September 24th 19.00 CET (Frankfurt, Zürich, Berlin, Milan)https://youtu.be/AQBKnWmxaTY
Audio News - The audio podcast will go live at the same timeWe just need some time after the release until we can embed the Spotify player here.
Top NewsCoronavirus / Curevac Curevac was one of the biggest startup stories during the summer. They are a Tübingen, Germany-based biotech company, working on a coronavirus vaccine.
They IPOed for more than 200 mn US$ (https://buff.ly/3iUsus6)
They got visited by Elon Musk (https://buff.ly/3cjMdzf)
And we already blogged about their government investment in June (https://buff.ly/3iY0y6Q)
And they received a large investment pre-IPO by two international heavy weights:
Pre-IPO: Qatar Investment Authority takes stake in vaccine-maker CureVac buff.ly/3jnYZzD Glaxosmithkline (GSK) pays 142 mn Euro for 10% stake in one of #Germany's most promising candidates for a #coronavirus #vaccine Curevac from Tuebingen buff.ly/3homvLk Coronavirus / Potential super spreader event in the Berlin startup scene?deutsche-startups reports in their podcast, that a super-spreader event took place in the Berlin Venture Capital and startup scene on Friday, September 11th buff.ly/2ElAxzc
Wirecard We keep you updated, just a small selection of news here
Wirecard's liquidator sends employees into garden leave without pay via email after 20.00 o'clock. Rumors talk about 50% of the more than 1.000 employees buff.ly/34wB7F6
Related: Wirecard scandal fallout sees 50% of German staff laid off buff.ly/3hvG30vWirecard liabilities exceeding the assets by 2.8 bn Euro, only a few of the companies within the group had revenues at all says an expert assessment obtained by German media buff.ly/2EzLhKv Berlin-based Finleap snapped up some employees there:
Finleap starts a new unit Finleap Forward, with former Wirecard employees to help banks, insurers and SMEs with their digital transformation buff.ly/2QsWkra
More details emerged: Finleap hired a team of six employees of the Wirecard Innovation Labs to help banks, insurance companies, and SMEs with their digital transformation buff.ly/3hza2EYBerlin-based big data startup SO1 was bought shortly before the accounting scandal, now the founders bought assets back buff.ly/32JMcl0 More than 100 potential bidders lined up to acquire parts of #Wirecard, Germany’s erstwhile fintech darling” https:...
Cyreen provides brick and mortar retailers with analytics for offline shopping carts
Legal Tech AI Startup NAIX redacts Contracts with AI for Companies in M&A Transactions
NGRAVE offers the most secure end-to-end solution in the world for managing digital assets
You cannot predict our private keys.
The private key is generated on the spot, even we as the manufacturer do not know your private key.
There are no back-doors in our device.
Ruben Merre, CEO and Co-Founder NGRAVE
The FounderThis time we talk to Ruben Merre, the CEO and Co-Founder (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruben-merre/, https://medium.com/ngrave) of NGRAVE (https://www.ngrave.io/), which offers a highly secure solution to manage one’s digital assets. Ruben originally stared out with a business engineering degree. He not only worked as a strategy consultant, contributor to Hackernoon (https://hackernoon.com/u/ruben.merre) but also is a bestseller online investment instructor at UDEMY (https://www.udemy.com/user/rubenmerre/).
This interview is part of our ongoing media partnership with Accelerator Frankfurt (https://www.acceleratorfrankfurt.com/).
In 2019 a record 4.5 bn US$ in cryptocurrencies was stolen… we still see the same trend. Hacks are increasing in size and in frequency …
Ruben Merre, CEO and Co-Founder NGRAVE
PatreonYou can now support us on Patreon www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=35246148 if you like what you see and hear consider to support us, so we can keep bringing you great content.
Affiliate Links Is your startup in need of a bank account in Germany? Try our partner affiliate Penta bit.ly/3bdHX3d
Looking to open a bank account to shift between crypto and fiat? Try our partner Bitwala with this affiliate link here bit.ly/2w01Zye
There are no solutions to own your crypto, how it should be.
Ruben Merre, CEO and Co-Founder NGRAVE
The StartupOfficially the startup NGRAVE (https://www.ngrave.io/, https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/ngrave´), based out of Brussels, Belgium. The story started as the former project of one of the three co-founders was hacked and approximately 10 million US$ worth in Ethereum was stolen. The old project was shut down and NGRAVE was founded to provide a secure way of storing digital or crypto assets.
Venture Capital FundingNGRAVE is looking for funding in the second half of 2020.
There are no backdoors in our product.
Ruben Merre, CEO and Co-Founder NGRAVE
Indiegogo CampaignAt the time of the interview, the campaign was not yet launched. At the time of the publication the campaign already ended, but they raised more than 380.000 € (more than 450.000 US$), achieving more than 1.500% of their goal of 25.000 € (https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/zero-the-most-secure-easy-to-use-crypto-wallet#/).
Our device looks like a small smartphone. The device is completely disconnected from the world, so no hacker can access it. …. Nobody can ever steal the private keys, because they are never exposed.
Ruben Merre, CEO and Co-Founder NGRAVE
Pre-order the Device (NGRAVE Zero)For everybody who missed the Campaign, you can buy the device here: www.ngrave.io/products/zero.
This is not an affiliate link.
The Video Interview is set to go live on Thursday, August 27th 19.00 CEThttps://youtu.be/NZoSbjoRJzg
You generate your private key at first activation of your NGRAVE Zero. Your biometric data like your fingerprint, but also external data like the ambient lighting at that moment. That makes statistically a unique key.
Ruben Merre, CEO and Co-Founder NGRAVE
The Audio PodcastSubscribe to our podcasts here
We build our backup as a stainless-steel puzzle. It survives if your house burns down and since it is a puzzle – no one who random finds it – will know your private key
Ruben Merre, CEO and Co-Founder NGRAVE
Further Readings / Additional Resources
IBAN www.investopedia.com/terms/i/iban.asp
Blockchain Hacks www.investopedia.com/news/largest-cryptocurrency-hacks-so-far-year/
Private Key https://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/...