Startupnews week 33 - 2025

Investments

Better Medicine secures € 1 million pre-seed

Estonian healthtech startup Better Medicine has raised € 1 million in a pre-seed round, bringing its total funding to almost € 6 million. Its core product is BMVision Kidney, the world's first CE-certified AI tool for detecting kidney cancer in accordance with EU MDR standards. In clinical tests, it achieved time savings of up to 52% and a detection rate of 99.2% in collaboration with radiologists. The technology aims to reduce radiology bottlenecks and burnout by automating reporting and measurements. The fresh funds will be used for the European rollout, preparation for FDA approval and pilot projects in the USA.

NBank Capital invests 400,000 euros in Vanevo

NBank Capital has invested 400,000 euros in the current financing round of VANEVO GmbH, which has raised a total of around 1.8 million euros. The Oldenburg-based company develops core components for redox flow batteries that flexibly store electricity from renewable energies and are particularly suitable for large wind and solar power plants. With a patented manufacturing process, Vanevo significantly reduces production costs by sealing stacks in a single step and replacing bolted individual parts with adhesive processes. The fresh capital will be used to expand sales and enable the company to build its own pilot plant. NBank Capital has been invested in Vanevo since 2020 and is thus supporting the further development of this scalable storage technology, which is increasingly in demand, especially in international project tenders.

Awards & Events

EUDIS Space & Defense Hackathon in autumn 2025

From 17 to 19 October 2025, the EU is organizing the third Defence Hackathon on the topic of Technologies for Space and Defence as part of the Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS). Eight organizations from Italy, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Romania, the Czech Republic, Poland and Portugal will simultaneously organize regional competitions in which teams will develop innovative solutions for three challenges: protection of space infrastructures, use of space tech for defence purposes and sovereign aerospace. Participants from Ukraine are once again invited. The aim of the format is to connect young talents with defense and space experts, develop prototypes and strengthen the European security and innovation landscape. Registrations are possible until October 10. More information at: https://eudis-hackathon.eu/

Düsseldorf Future Tech Fest 2025

On September 11, 2025, the Future Tech Fest will bring together over 5,000 guests from all over the world as part of Startup Week Düsseldorf. As the leading B2B startup expo in Germany, it brings together decision-makers, startups, corporates and investors. With over 300 startups from 25 countries, more than 90 speakers (including Ranga Yogeshwar, Tina Müller and Joey Kelly) and 100 interactive workshops, the program covers topics ranging from AI and green tech to space mobility. The event offers a variety of networking formats such as matchmaking and aims to sustainably strengthen the innovative power of the NRW economic region.

Personnel

HTGF appoints Sebastian Borek as Managing Director for Digital Tech

High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) has appointed Sebastian Borek as the new Managing Director for the Digital Tech investment division as of October 13, 2025. This completes the management team alongside Romy Schnelle (Industrial Tech) and Dr. Achim Plum (Life Sciences & Chemicals). Borek brings over 25 years of international experience in building digital business models, as a serial founder and in startup promotion. He will help shape the strategic direction of HTGF and further strengthen the fund as a leading early-stage investor in Germany and Europe.

Further exciting news

German tech sector achieves record financing of USD 4.3 billion in the first half of 2025

According to Tracxn's Germany Tech H1 2025 Funding Report, the German tech sector raised a total of USD 4.3 billion in the first half of 2025. This is an increase of 39% compared to the previous half year. This puts Germany in fourth place worldwide behind the USA, the UK and India. Growth was primarily driven by late-stage financing (+89%) and strong sectors such as enterprise applications (USD 2.4 billion), energy technology (USD 1.1 billion) and aerospace, marine and defense technology (USD 990 million). There were ten financing rounds of over USD 100 million, two new unicorns and 80 acquisitions, including the USD 1.3 billion takeover of CureVac by BioNTech. Munich and Berlin led the way with 32% and 29% of the total volume respectively.