Startupnews week 24 - 2025

Investments

DEALCIRCLE secures €5 million for expansion through strategic acquisitions

M&A tech DEALCIRCLE has raised around €5 million in a financing round led by the InnoVentureFonds of Hamburgische Investitions- und Förderbank (IFB) as well as Hanse Ventures and other industry experts. The capital is to be used for targeted acquisitions in order to support company successions in the small and mid-cap segment more efficiently. Against the backdrop of the succession crisis in Germany, DEALCIRCLE relies on AI-supported matching technology that accelerates and structures M&A processes. With over 1,400 brokered projects in 2024 and a forecast of 2,000 for 2025, the company is considered a leader in its field. The offering is complemented by the AMBER platform, which brings sellers and buyers in the SME sector together digitally.

Lucoyo Health breaks 1 million euro mark to improve psychotherapeutic care

The digital health startup Lucoyo Health GmbH has raised over one million euros to improve psychotherapeutic care since it was founded. The financing is made up of public funding, including the EXIST and NRW start-up grant, several MID funding programs and the IGP innovation program, as well as over 800,000 euros in private capital. Instead of a large pre-seed round, Lucoyo pursued a step-by-step financing approach via convertible loans and attracted investors with specialist expertise. The company has already used the funds to support around 10,000 patients. A classic financing round is planned for the end of 2025.

Payrails secures $32 million to scale its global payment platform

The Berlin-based fintech Payrails has raised 32 million US dollars in a Series A financing round. The round was led by HV Capital, with participation from existing investors EQT Ventures, General Catalyst and Andreessen Horowitz. The company plans to use the fresh capital to further develop its payment platform technologically, integrate new products along the payment process and drive expansion in the EMEA region. Payrails offers companies a modular solution for managing complex payment processes and counts Puma, Vinted, Flix and InDrive among its customers. The platform includes functions such as payment orchestration, tokenization, payouts and data analysis and can be integrated with over 100 external systems.

M&A and partnerships

Advisense acquires German ARREBA

Advisense has acquired the German consulting firm ARREBA Consulting GmbH, thereby strengthening its market presence in the area of governance, risk and compliance (GRC) in Europe. ARREBA, based in Munich and with 33 employees, specializes in regulatory reporting, risk management and IT-related projects. As a result of the takeover, Advisense's team of risk management consultants will grow to over 160 specialists, including over 50 in regulatory reporting. The aim of the merger is to expand the joint range of services, accelerate international expansion and further strengthen the company's position as a leading GRC service provider in Europe.

Webull UK cooperates with Upvest

Webull UK has partnered with Berlin-based investment infrastructure provider Upvest to enable trading of UK equities and ETFs on its platform for the first time. Upvest's API will give UK users access to fractional trading of shares and ETFs from as little as one pound. Upvest, which received approval from the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2024, is already active in the UK market with its second customer after Revolut. The aim is to make investments more accessible to small investors and promote diversification in UK portfolios.

BioNTech acquires CureVac to strengthen mRNA cancer research

BioNTech announces the complete takeover of mRNA specialist CureVac in order to strategically expand its own expertise in cancer research and therapy. The transaction will be made via a public exchange offer in which CureVac shares (valued at approximately USD 5.46) can be exchanged for BioNTech shares, representing a premium of approximately 55% to the previous three-month average share price. The aim is to combine the complementary strengths of both companies in the field of mRNA technology, design and production and thus accelerate the development of innovative cancer therapies. The project is supported by CureVac's main shareholder dievini Hopp BioTech holding and KfW on behalf of the German government. Following completion of the transaction, which is expected in 2025, CureVac will be integrated into BioNTech's structures as a 100%ige subsidiary.

Awards & Events

Family business career day at Bürkert inspires 700 talents

On June 6, 2025, the 34th Family Business Career Day took place on the Bürkert Fluid Control Systems campus in Ingelfingen. Over 700 pre-selected talents met 60 leading family businesses such as Kärcher, Hilti and the Schwarz Group. Over 5,000 vacancies were presented in more than 1,000 individual interviews and numerous discussions. The STEM sector was particularly well represented. The event offered a platform for intensive exchange, insights into corporate values and personal development prospects. Organized by the Entrepreneurs Club together with the Family Business Foundation, the Career Day underlines the role of family-run companies as the backbone of the German economy. The next Career Day will take place on November 14, 2025 at FIEGE in Münster.

EBAN Congress 2027 comes to Leipzig

Leipzig will host the 27th EBAN Congress, the largest business angel event in Europe, from June 21 to 23, 2027. Over 500 investors, start-ups, companies and political decision-makers from over 50 countries are expected to attend. This will put Saxony's innovation ecosystem in the international spotlight. The congress offers regional start-up teams a stage for presentation and networking. Leipzig's selection over strong competitors such as Paris or The Hague recognizes the growing importance of Saxony's business angel scene. The event is organized by futureSAX in cooperation with BAM!, BAND and the Saxon Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Personalities

Jovan Protić becomes new Managing Director at idealo

On June 10, 2025, idealo announced that Jovan Protić will join the management team as Managing Director alongside Mark Dekan and Jörn Rehse. Protić brings extensive experience in artificial intelligence and retail media and will drive idealo's growth in established and new European markets. With his digital expertise, he will shape the next development phase of the company. Protić previously held various management roles at Ringier Axel Springer, among others, where he was responsible for numerous digital products and AI initiatives.

New advisory board of the BRYCK Startup Alliance

The BRYCK Startup Alliance has set up a high-caliber advisory board to provide strategic support for the initiative and establish the Ruhr region as a leading location for deep tech startups. Gisbert Rühl (Chepstow Capital, formerly Klöckner & Co) will chair the board, supported by Prof. Gerhard Schembecker (TU Dortmund University) as deputy chairman. Other members include Christian Miele (Headline), Zarah Bruhn (socialbee), Christoph Keese (Axel Springer/WORLD.MINDS), Prof. Dietmar Harhoff (LMU/Max-Planck-Institut), Dirk Opalka (Initiativkreis Ruhr), Dr. Florian Heinemann (Project A), Florian Leibert (468 Capital), Florian Seubert (AB1204 Capital), Götz Erhardt (Accenture), Dr. Joann Halpern (ZAMWILL/NYU), Dr. Marcus Kruse (KRUSE GmbH), Dr. Tanja Emmerling (High-Tech Gründerfonds), as well as Timo Bartell and Tobias Frick (both RAG-Stiftung). Together, they will promote technology transfer, improve access to capital and actively support the establishment of a Startup Factory as part of the German government's EXIST lighthouse competition.

More exciting news

Ultraviolet launches in Europe

With the presentation of the F77 MACH 2 RECON and the F77 SUPERSTREET RECON at RELOAD.LAND 2025 in Berlin, the Indian high-performance startup Ultraviolette has announced its official market entry in Europe. The powerful electric motorcycles with road approval for A1 driving licenses are available from € 8,990 (initially with an early bird discount until August 8, 2025). An exclusive sales partnership with Zero Center AG ensures a presence in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. The F77 impresses with 30 kW of power, a range of up to 231 km and innovative technology such as Violette A.I., ABS and traction control. Ultraviolette thus relies on an uncompromising mix of performance, design and sustainability - made in India, for Europe's urban e-mobility future.

maincubes celebrates topping-out ceremony for sustainable data center FRA03 in Schwalbach

maincubes has celebrated the topping-out ceremony for its new FRA03 data center on the former Samsung site in Schwalbach. The site will go into operation in summer 2026 with an IT capacity of 16 megawatts and will be supplied exclusively with electricity from renewable sources, including through a power purchase agreement with Stadtwerke Göttingen. FRA03 is the company's second data center in Schwalbach and part of the strategic expansion in the Rhine-Main region. There is a particular focus on sustainability, for example through a planned waste heat utilization concept in cooperation with the SÜWAG Group. Local politicians welcome the project as a contribution to the digital and sustainable development of the region.