Startupnews week 28 - 2025

Awards & Events

Apply now: Your startup at the Stuttgart Finance Summit 2025!

On September 18, 2025, the Stuttgart Finance Summit offers innovative start-ups the stage to present their ideas to over 900 decision-makers from business, politics and the financial world. At the exclusive Venture Day, up to eight start-ups will compete against each other in a pitch competition. Register now for the BW Startup Award with the chance to gain visibility, access to capital and valuable feedback from investors and industry experts.

Whether pre-seed or seed - apply now and help shape Europe's future!

MediaTech Hub Conference 2025 gives first insights into the program

On September 24 and 25, 2025, the MediaTech Hub Conference (#MTHCON25) in Potsdam will bring together around 600 industry experts from film, TV, streaming and tech to discuss key future issues in the media world. With over 50 international speakers (including from ARD, ZDF, RTL, Amazon, Samsung TV Plus and Studio Babelsberg), the conference offers over 20 sessions on current topics such as AI in media production, streaming tech, creator economy, journalism and digital trust. Under the motto "Where Creativity and Technology Intertwine", #MTHCON25 builds a bridge between technological innovation and creative storytelling.

Investments

coobi with successful pre-seed financing

The mental health start-up coobi has announced two significant successes: The digital relapse prevention solution is currently being used in clinical pilots with P3 Klinik GmbH and Lifespring Privatklinik, two of Germany's leading institutions in addiction medicine. At the same time, coobi closed an oversubscribed pre-seed financing round of €500,000. The start-up is supported by maze impact, SC Ventures (Standard Chartered) and several business angels and funding programs, among others. coobi relies on digital biomarkers to detect relapse risks at an early stage and enable personalized, data-based therapies.

OllyGarden secures $1.6 million pre-seed

The startup OllyGarden has received 1.6 million US dollars in a pre-seed round to further develop its platform for reducing telemetry data waste. The aim is to improve the efficiency of observability processes by identifying and sorting out irrelevant or erroneous data at an early stage. With the help of an "instrumentation score", the platform provides concrete tips for optimizing telemetry quality.

Tark Games receives USD 2.5 million

The Turkish game publishing startup Tark Games has raised a total of USD 2.5 million in a financing round led by Ludus Ventures with participation from Maxis Ventures and APY Ventures. The company aims to provide financial and strategic support to independent PC and console game developers in the early stages in order to make their projects internationally successful. Tark was founded by industry veterans İbrahim Yıldırım (e.g. The First Men, Overfall) and İlker Ergen (former CEO of InGame Group).

Actithera secures 75.5 million US dollars

The biotech company Actithera has closed an oversubscribed Series A financing round in the amount of 75.5 million US dollars. The capital will be invested in the clinical development of a drug candidate against the fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and in the expansion of the company's own platform for radioligand therapies (RLTs). Actithera's approach is based on a proprietary three-pillar technology that enables targeted tumor binding with rapid systemic elimination. The company, based in Oslo and Cambridge, was founded in 2021 by Dr. Andreas Goutopoulos and pursues a chemistry-driven, precision medicine strategy in oncology. The financing round was led by M Ventures, Hadean Ventures, Sofinnova Partners and 4BIO Capital.

Cooperations

SCM and MARKT-PILOT launch partnership for data-based spare parts pricing strategy

The SCM Group has launched a strategic partnership with software provider MARKT-PILOT to optimize its spare parts pricing strategy based on current market data. With the help of the AI-based solution, SCM wants to offer competitive, transparent prices in the e-shop and at the same time make procurement, warehousing and service processes more efficient. The collaboration is part of SCM's digital strategy to strengthen customer loyalty and competitiveness.

New partnership for start-up support in Bonn/Rhine-Sieg

Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences (H-BRS) and DIGITALHUB.DE have entered into a strategic partnership until 2028 to specifically strengthen the regional start-up ecosystem. The cooperation combines the scientific expertise of H-BRS with the practice-oriented services of DIGITALHUB.DE, for example through joint consulting services, mentoring, events and projects. Founders benefit from comprehensive support throughout the entire start-up process. The aim is to sustainably promote technology and knowledge-based start-ups in the region and provide new impetus for a future-oriented economic structure.

Mobilisights and Hiboo launch partnership for smarter fleet management

Mobilisights, the data-as-a-service subsidiary of Stellantis, and the European machine data platform Hiboo have entered into a strategic partnership to provide fleet operators with deeper insights into the actual use of their vehicles. Mobilisights' API will be used to integrate location data, usage time and energy consumption of connected Stellantis vehicles directly into the Hiboo platform. The data is combined there with other sources and prepared for easy use by operational teams. The aim is to make the use of mobile assets more efficient, strategic and sustainable. The cooperation stands for a joint focus on practical data, simple integration and clear added value for companies.

Fast charging infrastructure for Müller stores

ADS-TEC Energy and the Mannheim-based energy company MVV are jointly implementing more than three dozen battery-buffered fast-charging solutions at Müller retail locations. The charging infrastructure, including ChargePosts with integrated DOOH advertising spaces, enables ultra-fast charging even when grid capacity is limited. MVV is responsible for planning, financing and operating the systems. The project meets the requirements of the German Building Electromobility Infrastructure Act (GEIG) and offers Müller customers a convenient charging option while shopping.

Mergers & Acquisitions

First Camp takes over Via Claudia Camping in Bavaria

First Camp, the largest campsite operator in Northern Europe, is entering the German market with the takeover of Via Claudia Camping in Bavaria. The company is now active in five countries. CEO Johan Söör sees considerable growth potential in Germany - Europe's largest camping market. The popular location near the Alps will remain under the management of the previous operator Felicitas Weeber. The expansion is part of a long-term growth strategy that also includes further investments in Germany and Europe.

Whitevision acquires FileLinx to strengthen its IDP suite

Whitevision has announced the acquisition of Dutch software provider FileLinx to strengthen its position in the intelligent document processing (IDP) market. The acquisition adds low-code capabilities to the product portfolio and supports Whitevision's buy-and-build strategy, which has been pursued since the partnership with Main Capital Partners. FileLinx automates administrative processes such as invoice approval and procurement with its platform and has a strong customer base in the Benelux, particularly in the healthcare sector.

Personnel

Finom appoints Tijana Kovacevic as Chief People Officer

European financial platform Finom has appointed Tijana Kovacevic as Chief People Officer to underpin its international growth. With 18 years of HR experience in technology companies such as Wise, Coca-Cola HBC and refurbed, she brings extensive expertise in organizational development and talent strategy. Her appointment comes in the wake of recent €92.3m funding from General Catalyst and signals Finom's focus on targeted talent investment to support expansion in Europe. Kovacevic will help strengthen Finom's culture and attract new top talent to its growing team of over 500 employees.

TrueCommerce appoints Bill Glass as CEO

TrueCommerce has appointed Bill Glass as its new CEO, heralding a strategic refocus on innovation, operational excellence and an enhanced customer experience. Glass brings extensive experience from SaaS companies such as Bazaarvoice and insightsoftware and has served as Chief Sales Officer at TrueCommerce since 2022. Ray Greer, an expert in supply chain management, has also been appointed Chairman of the Supervisory Board. Kimberly Williams, CEO of Absorb LMS, also joins the board. These changes mark a new growth trajectory for the global supply chain solutions provider.

Hypoport InsurTech AG appoints Markus Niederreiner to the Management Board of Hypoport InsurTech AG and CEO of Smart InsurTech AG

Hypoport InsurTech AG has appointed Markus Niederreiner to the Management Board and as CEO of Smart InsurTech AG with effect from September 15, 2025. He will play a key role in driving forward the digital marketplace strategy for private and commercial insurance. Niederreiner's main aim is to establish a reliable, scalable infrastructure for brokers, distributors and insurers. At the same time, Fabian Nadler will take over responsibility for the occupational pensions segment on the Management Board from July 15.

More exciting news

Thalia endows chair for marketing and retail at HHL

HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management and Thalia Bücher GmbH are launching a strategic cooperation: Since July 1, 2025, Thalia has been sponsoring the new "Thalia Chair of Marketing and Retailing". The aim is to support practical research on digital consumer behavior, innovative retail concepts and omnichannel strategies. Joint studies and practical student projects will closely interlink theory and retail practice. The cooperation underlines Thalia's innovation strategy and at the same time strengthens HHL's entrepreneurial orientation. Both partners are also linked by their close regional ties in Leipzig.