News week 22 - 2024

New board member at FINOM Payments. New restructuring calculator from More at Home. Application phase for Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ program launched. B42 secures new funding and wins Adrian Dubler as Co-CEO. Application phase for Lab4Land Accelerator 2024 launched. CargoBeamer secures 140 million euros.

FINOM appoints new board member at FINOM Payments

FINOM, a European online banking platform for SMEs, has appointed Kseniia Kutyreva as Managing Director - Financial Crime for FINOM Payments. Kutyreva, one of FINOM's first female employees and former Head of Risk & Compliance, will be responsible for developing a robust risk management system to prevent money laundering, terrorist financing and fraud. Her appointment has been approved by the Dutch Central Bank. With her extensive experience and previous successes at FINOM, she will play a key role in further developing the platform and ensuring regulatory excellence.

B-42 secures new funding and gains Adrian Dubler as Co-CEO

The sports tech startup B42 has successfully closed another funding round to drive the further development of its soccer training platform. Although no exact amounts were disclosed, the total financing amounts to several million euros. In addition, Adrian Dubler will join the company as its new Co-CEO. With his extensive experience, he will support B42 in its internationalization and expansion in the DACH region. B42 offers a comprehensive app-based training solution for ambitious female soccer players and coaches that includes fitness and rehabilitation programs. Under the new leadership and with fresh investment, B42 aims to improve amateur soccer worldwide. Further information is available on the B42 website.

New renovation calculator from More at Home

Hamburg-based startup More at Home has developed a new renovation calculator that enables property owners and tradespeople to plan renovation projects efficiently and transparently. This free online tool takes into account individual properties and cost factors to provide a detailed cost estimate. It connects property owners with a large network of contractors to ensure optimal contracting. CEO Benjamin Gropler emphasizes the environmental and cost benefits of energy-efficient renovations, which can significantly reduce the carbon footprint. Skilled trade companies benefit from better planning security and efficient order management. Founded in 2023, the start-up aims to transform the refurbishment market through digital solutions and promote sustainable property refurbishment.

CargoBeamer secures 140 million euros in investment capital

The Leipzig-based logistics company CargoBeamer has received 140 million euros from public and private investors in a Series B financing round. The funds, including 90 million euros from the German and Swiss transport ministries, will be used to build two new terminals in Kaldenkirchen (Germany) and Domodossola (Italy) in order to shift freight traffic from road to rail. In addition to the public funding, CargoBeamer has secured around 50 million euros from private investors, led by Nordwind Ventures. The company plans to build 18 terminals and 50 new routes in Europe over the next ten years in order to significantly reduce CO2 emissions in freight transport.

Application phase for Lab4Land Accelerator 2024 launched

The Lab4Land Accelerator has opened the application phase for 2024. From June 2, 2024, interested parties can apply for the three-week program, which will take place from August 19 to September 6, 2024 at the DSTATION KreativCampus in Schöppenstedt, southeast Lower Saxony. The program supports the verification and further development of ideas. The highlight is the big pitch and matching evening on September 6, 2024, where participants present their ideas to potential partners and investors. The application deadline is June 30, 2024.

Application phase for Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ program started

EY's Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ program will take place in Germany again this year. The aim is to support and promote ambitious female founders. With over 900 participants from 55 countries so far, the program has already achieved considerable success. From now until August 15, female entrepreneurs can apply and benefit from personal advice, strengthening their leadership and business skills and increasing their visibility among managers and investors. We are looking for women who are owners or CEOs with significant company ownership, who demonstrate passion and determination to grow their business and whose companies have been operating in Europe for at least two years. Further information is available from the EY network.

Exactly.ai receives €4 million for AI-powered artist platform

Exactly.ai, a generative AI platform to help artists commercialize their work, has raised €4 million in a seed funding round led by Speedinvest and backed by InReach Ventures, Cornerstone VC, GuruDev Capital and international investors. Founded in 2022 by Tonia Samsonova, Exactly.ai enables artists to create their own AI models that reflect their individual style and quickly produce high-quality works. With 30,000 users worldwide, Exactly.ai demonstrates the potential for fruitful collaboration between technology and the creative industries. Backers such as Julian Blessin from Speedinvest and Amanda Jones Floyd from InReach Ventures emphasize the innovative approaches to increasing productivity and monetization in the arts.

AUTOVIO receives 3.8 million euros for digital driving school solutions

The Berlin-based start-up AUTOVIO has closed a further financing round of 3.8 million euros. The full-service provider digitizes driving schools and offers a platform that optimizes the entire operation including marketing, sales and customer service. Already 50 driving schools are using AUTOVIO's services, quadrupling the efficiency of administration. Investors such as coparion and Sparkmind support the company, which has established itself as a market leader since its foundation in 2021. The aim is to offer a modern learning experience, especially for the digital-savvy Generation Z, and to make driving school operations more economical.