Startupnews KW 35 - 2025

Investments

Amass Technologies secures 1.4 million euros for AI knowledge platform

The Danish biotech start-up Amass Technologies has received 1.4 million euros in seed funding from Giant Ventures, Kost Capital and the state Export and Investment Fund. The company is developing an AI-supported platform that brings together scattered scientific data from sources such as patents, specialist articles, regulatory documents and internal documents in a structured knowledge graph. The aim is to accelerate research processes in the life sciences and make new connections between scientific findings visible. In addition to functions such as literature and competition analyses, the platform also offers AI-based Q&A tools for researchers and decision-makers.

Deftpower secures 12.5 million euros

The Dutch cleantech start-up Deftpower has raised 12.5 million euros in a financing round led by Endeit Capital. The startup intends to use the funds to further develop its AI-supported platform for smart charging of electric vehicles and drive forward its expansion in Europe. Founded in 2020, the company aims to use the technology to make charging processes more cost-effective, efficient and grid-friendly by automatically shifting charging processes to times of low prices and high availability of renewable energy, and is already supporting over 40 customers in ten European countries.

Maisa AI receives 25 million US dollars for business automation

The Spanish-American start-up Maisa AI has raised 25 million US dollars in a financing round led by Creandum. With its Maisa Studio platform, the company develops digital assistants for companies that are designed for transparency and traceability. Its first customers come from the financial, automotive and energy industries. The capital will be used to expand the team and drive international expansion.

Awards & Events

HPI Venture Builder launches new application round

The HPI Engine, the Hasso Plattner Institute's startup ecosystem, has opened the application phase for the next batch of the HPI Venture Builder. Students, researchers and engineers with a tech idea can register for the three-month incubator program until September 15, 2025. The sector-independent Venture Builder supports participants in developing their ideas and prototypes into market-ready start-ups. This is done with mentoring, practical workshops, investor access, free co-working space in the Berlin-Brandenburg region and optional scholarships. The program charges no fees and takes no shares, allowing founders to focus fully on their growth. Further information at: https://www.engine.hpi.de/program/hpi-venture-builder

Reaktor.Berlin invites you to an Open Mic Pitch and Family Day

Accelerator Reaktor.Berlin announces two upcoming events to bring founders and investors together. An Open Mic Pitch will take place on August 28, 2025, where startups can present their ideas to a jury of investors, industry experts and mentors. Jury members include Bettine Schmitz (Auxxo Angel Fund), Eve Büchner (quantumReality), Jürgen Schepers (IHK Berlin), Oliver Kranz (BACB) and Prof. Dr. Steffi Haag (HHU Düsseldorf). One month later, on September 24, 2025, Reaktor.Berlin and its partner Osborne Clarke will be hosting a Family Day. In addition to networking with founders, investors and other players in the Berlin startup scene, the program includes panel discussions with keynote speakers and pitches from Reaktor-Batch 8 and Reaktor.Wildau. The event starts at 2 p.m. at Schinkelplatz 5 in Berlin.

HR Tech Jungle Pitch Award 2025 in Berlin

The HR Tech Jungle Pitch Award will take place in Berlin on October 14, 2025. Five selected HR tech start-ups will present their solutions live on stage at the Spielfeld Digital Hub and have the chance to win investments of up to 125,000 euros. In addition to capital, participants can look forward to valuable feedback from experienced investors and HR experts, exclusive visibility in the German HR and WorkTech scene and access to the #hrtechallyance network with over 150 industry representatives. Young HR tech start-ups with B2B SaaS models or platform solutions in areas such as work, learning, organizational development and employee benefits can apply until 7 September 2025.

BIG UP Spotlight Quantum: Investors and start-ups in Braunschweig

At the BIG UP Spotlight Quantum event organized by Braunschweig Zukunft GmbH on 26 August 2025, nine start-ups from all over Germany presented their innovations in the field of quantum technologies to international investors from the USA, Switzerland, Italy and Germany. Applications ranging from quantum computing, sensor technology and cybersecurity to aerospace were made visible in St. Catherine's Church. The investors emphasized the great potential for economic quantum leaps, while Lord Mayor Dr. Thorsten Kornblum highlighted Braunschweig's leading role in quantum research. With the PTB, the TU Braunschweig and the new high-tech incubator QIMP, the city has a strong infrastructure to support start-ups and SMEs in the development of industrial applications.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Orca Capital takes over Sub Capitals in full

The shareholders of Orca Capital AG have acquired 100% of Sub Capitals GmbH, thereby ensuring the continuation of business operations and the targeted further development of the company's in-house AI technology for the financial sector. Sub Capitals, founded in Munich in 2021, had recently supported around 15 financial institutions in several countries with AI-based risk management solutions, but had come under pressure due to long sales cycles and a difficult financing environment. With the takeover, which renders a previously initiated insolvency filing obsolete, the company will now expand its technology in close cooperation with Orca Capital. The founders Marius Siegert and Marc Schmid will remain on board, while Orca shareholder Christoph Dichtl will take over the management of the company. The parties have agreed not to disclose any financial details.

Cooperations

Shift Agency becomes a partner of AI Hub Frankfurt

The AI Hub Frankfurt welcomes Shift Agency as a new official partner in the network. The strategy, creative and technology consultancy brings a human-centered approach to the use of artificial intelligence. Together, Shift and AI Hub Frankfurt want to drive innovation in the field of generative AI, combine creative and technological projects, promote knowledge transfer and organize events for the community. The aim of the partnership is to further develop practical and responsible AI applications in the Rhine-Main region.

M.O.B.A. Network launches strategic partnership with Tourn International

The Swedish M.O.B.A. Network has announced a strategic partnership with Tourn International, a specialist in content production and digital growth strategies. As part of the partnership, Tourn will act as the production arm of M.O.B.A. Network and develop new video and content formats to strengthen reach and engagement in the gaming and creator economy. Both companies are combining their expertise in content creation, monetization and technology to scale joint projects and open up additional business areas. The first positive revenue effects are expected as early as the fourth quarter of 2025.

Personnel changes

Change in the management of idealo

From September 2025, Julia Sommerfeld and Sabrina Frank will strengthen the management of idealo internet GmbH. As Senior Vice President Communications & Public Affairs, Sommerfeld will take over corporate communications and represent idealo as company spokesperson, while Frank will be responsible for legal strategy as General Counsel. Both succeed Honey Deihimi, who is leaving the company to take up a management position in the German government. Sommerfeld previously spent nine years in Axel Springer's Corporate Communications department, while Frank worked for seven years as Senior Legal Counsel at Axel Springer, specializing in antitrust law and digital regulation. Both report directly to Mark Dekan, Managing Director of idealo.

Further exciting news

Uniform company law could strengthen venture capital in Europe

According to the Leibniz Institute SAFE, legal scholars from Frankfurt, Milan and Leeds have shown in recent studies that rigid national company laws in Europe make it more difficult to draft contracts between start-ups and investors and thus hinder access to venture capital. In Germany and Italy in particular, strict legal requirements and restrictive court interpretations mean that tried-and-tested contract models from the USA can only be applied to a limited extent. This even results in higher costs and legal uncertainty. An optional European company law (28th regime) is being discussed as a solution, which could create more contractual freedom, transparency and legal certainty. The model is the US state of Delaware, which offers flexible regulations for participation agreements. According to the researchers, a Europe-wide standardized model along these lines could reduce transaction costs and open up better growth opportunities for start-ups.

UnitPlus combines bank card with overnight money above ECB interest rates

With ZinsPlus, UnitPlus is launching a product on the market for the first time that combines call money with a bank card and currently offers 2.30% p.a. interest. interest. Yields develop dynamically in line with the interest rate policy of the European Central Bank, supported by a security basket that picks up on market movements. This allows customers to use liquid funds flexibly and at the same time invest them with high returns. At the same time, UnitPlus is launching MultiPlus, an active multi-asset ETF portfolio in Germany that makes the institutional research expertise of Goldman Sachs Asset Management available to private investors. Around 70% of the portfolio is made up of equities, 30% of bonds and around half is invested in Europe. UnitPlus aims to offer both private clients and SMEs innovative solutions for flexible, income-oriented investment and cash management.