Startupnews week 37 - 2025

Investments

NC-Vision becomes RockQ Technologies: million-euro investment for German AI start-up

The Stuttgart-based software company NC-Vision will operate under the name RockQ Technologies in future and is receiving an investment worth millions from investor RockawayQ. With its no-code platform for the digitalization and AI-supported optimization of manufacturing processes, RockQ Technologies aims to significantly expand its presence in the DACH region and be represented nationwide by 2027. The solution enables companies to standardize production data, use machine learning models and significantly reduce development times and costs. For RockawayQ, the investment marks its entry into the DACH market, in which it plans to invest up to EUR 100 million over the next five years to build a leading European brand for industrial digitalization and AI.

EVANA strengthens its capital base on its tenth anniversary

Saarbrücken-based EVANA AG, which specializes in AI-supported real estate data management, is celebrating its tenth anniversary and continuing its growth trajectory. As part of a seven-figure capital increase, existing main investors confirmed their commitment, while new investors also joined the company. The company intends to further expand its position in the field of intelligent data rooms and continuously extend its product range. EVANA's solutions are already being used by well-known customers and are set to be used in other industries in the future.

Architect AI receives 3.5 million pounds in seed funding

The London and San Francisco-based start-up Architect AI has raised 3.5 million pounds in a seed round. The funding was led by Project A, with further participation from Concept Ventures and Insiders Ventures. Founded in 2024, the company is developing a platform that transforms traditional websites into adaptive, AI-supported "agentic" systems. These can adapt content in real time, automate visitor interactions and continuously evolve. Architect AI intends to use the capital to develop its product, expand its engineering team and drive expansion in Europe and North America.

Awards & Events

Seatsmatch launches "Space 4 Startups" competition in Vienna

Seatsmatch, a platform for coworking and new work, has launched the Space 4 Startups initiative to support founders and innovative SMEs in Vienna with workspace, networks and visibility. As part of a competition, coworking spaces with a total value of 10,000 euros will be awarded, which can be won via a pitch challenge on LinkedIn. In addition to cash prizes for flexible workspaces from andys.cc, ÖBB is offering a special prize with business coaching and presentation opportunities in front of Group stakeholders. The application phase runs until September 30, 2025, after which the award ceremony will take place in Vienna. You can apply at: https://seatsmatch.com/de/space-4-startups

AcouBatt and Hovanka win INNOVA Europe Competition 2025

At the Grand Finale of the third INNOVA Europe competition at ESMT Berlin, teams from 11 European business schools competed against each other with sustainable startup ideas. In the "Rising Stars" category, AcouBatt from London Business School impressed with a technology for more efficient battery production and received 20,000 euros as well as incubation services. Hovanka from the Kyiv School of Economics won the "Young Hopes" category with a mental health app and received EUR 5,000 for the further development of the idea. Founded in 2022, the competition promotes student and young start-up projects with a focus on sustainability, inclusion and health.

Future Forest Forum 2025 provides strong impetus for regenerative forestry

The fifth edition of the Future Forest Forum took place at Blankenburg Castle, where around 450 participants from science, business, start-ups, politics and practice discussed the future of sustainable forestry. Under the motto "Paths to Regeneration", the two-day program offered keynotes, excursions and innovation demonstrations. Highlights included the presentation of the Future Forest Award to the climate tech startup TreeScatter and the premiere of the Future Forest Female Founder Award, which went to Anne Findeisen and her biotech startup Ident Me. The forum made it clear how technology, practice and interdisciplinary exchange can work together to make forests more resilient and sustainable.

Mergers & Acquisitions

fonio.ai takes over fluently

The Viennese AI startup fonio.ai has acquired the Linz-based telephone assistant fluently as part of an asset deal, thereby strengthening its position as the market leader for AI-supported telephone solutions in the DACH region. fluently, which emerged from the digital agency softwarebude.at, most recently served around 450 customers and will be integrated into fonio.ai's infrastructure in future, while the agency will continue to work independently and cooperate closely with fonio.ai as a partner. Within a year, fonio.ai has already acquired 2,000 customers and automates around 800,000 calls per month. With the acquisition and continued growth of around 30 percent per month, the startup is now preparing for international expansion.

Frigoveneta takes over Bonera Refrigerazioni

The Ambienta platform company Frigoveneta has acquired the Italian refrigeration specialist Bonera Refrigerazioni. Bonera, a family business with around 50 years of experience, focuses on the planning, installation and maintenance of industrial refrigeration systems for the food and beverage industry. The transaction, in which the founding family retains a minority stake, will significantly expand Frigoveneta's customer base and market share. The acquisition is the second addition to the platform after Mercuri and supports Ambienta's strategy to build a leading player in the European refrigeration industry.

Cooperations & partnerships

MAN cooperates with TUM Venture Labs to promote start-ups

Commercial vehicle manufacturer MAN is becoming a partner of TUM Venture Labs and will support the promotion of start-up teams at the Technical University of Munich in future. The aim of the cooperation is to strengthen scientific spin-offs and accelerate the transfer of research results into practice. The partnership was announced at the IAA in Munich. MAN is contributing its industry knowledge and network to open up new growth opportunities for start-ups. The TUM Venture Labs, an initiative of TUM and UnternehmerTUM, currently bundle expertise from science, business and investors in twelve topic-specific labs to promote technology-driven start-ups.

Personnel

Factory Network with new CEO and strategic realignment

Berlin-based Factory Network has appointed Stefan Krause, formerly a member of the Board of Management at BMW and Deutsche Bank and founder of several electric car start-ups, as its new CEO. Together with founder Udo Schloemer, he will shape the next development phase of the network. The aim is to strengthen Europe's innovative power and focus the platform more strongly on talent from the fields of technology, art and culture. With the new brand promise "From Talent to Legend", Factory Network wants to create a space in the age of artificial intelligence in which ideas can grow into sustainable projects with international appeal. The change in leadership marks the start of a comprehensive strategic realignment that aims to reposition Europe as a center of innovation.

Homeday appoints Benjamin Lorenz to the management board

PropTech company Homeday has appointed Benjamin Lorenz as an additional Managing Director. The 39-year-old, who has been Vice President Sales at Homeday since 2022, will assume responsibility for Sales, People and Legal. Managing Director Dr. Robert Wagner will remain responsible for Product, Marketing, Operations and Finance. Lorenz brings many years of experience from management positions at idealo and Groupon. At Homeday, he played a key role in further developing the broker organization and focusing the business model more strongly on personal support. Homeday is one of the fastest-growing estate agents in Germany and has brokered over 17,000 properties since it was founded in 2015.

Further news

BRYCK WaterHub to bring water innovations into practice faster

RAG Aktiengesellschaft and the BRYCK innovation center have launched the BRYCK WaterHub in Essen. This is a platform that specifically transfers start-up technologies to the water industry. The aim is to bring solutions for challenges such as water scarcity, pollution and extreme weather faster into industrial application. The initiative combines RAG's infrastructure and expertise in mine water management with BRYCK's international start-up network. The first pilot projects on leakage monitoring and water analysis are already underway, and a program on extreme weather will start in October. The WaterHub is intended to position the Ruhr region as a model region for sustainable water technologies and at the same time develop international appeal.

iFLYTEK brings AI-supported e-ink tablet AINOTE Air 2 to Europe

Chinese technology company iFLYTEK has launched its new e-ink tablet, the AINOTE Air 2, on the European market. The device combines a paper-like reading and writing experience with AI functions such as real-time transcription, automatic meeting summaries and intelligent task management. With user interfaces in German and Spanish, the Air 2 is aimed specifically at European users. Thanks to its lightweight design, long battery life and AI-supported interaction, the 8.2-inch tablet is designed to offer new opportunities for productive work and efficient knowledge management, especially for professionals, students and creative professionals.