Startupnews week 41 - 2024

GSK Stockmann and neoshare enter into technology partnership. Qonto appoints Natalia Williams as new CPO. Ambienta acquires N2B Arrosage. Whitevision expands through acquisition of Inconto. NRW.BANK invests 15 million euros in Gründerfonds Ruhr II. BayBG sells shares in SEP AG. PurposeTech closes first fund to support start-ups. VERBUND X Ventures invests 1.5 million euros in Easelink. Qantev secures 30 million euros.

EXIT: BayBG sells shares in SEP AG to BIP Capital Partners

BayBG Bayerische Beteiligungsgesellschaft has sold its shares in SEP AG, an expert for platform-independent backup and disaster recovery solutions, to BIP Capital Partners from Luxembourg. This is part of a succession solution in which BIP acquires a majority stake in SEP AG. SEP AG, which specializes in data backup, serves a rapidly growing market, which has been reflected in international growth and technical development in recent years. SEP CEO Susanne Moosreiner and other employees will remain minority shareholders after the transaction. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

Funds & financing rounds

NRW.BANK invests EUR 15 million in Gründerfonds Ruhr II

In the first closing, NRW.BANK has invested EUR 15 million in Gründerfonds Ruhr II to promote start-ups in the Ruhr area and neighboring regions. The Essen-based early-stage fund raised a total of EUR 31 million and focuses on technology-oriented start-ups in sectors such as chemicals, energy, life sciences, logistics and the digital economy. The aim of the fund, which is managed by Ruhrgründer Management GmbH, is to receive further commitments over the next twelve months in order to reach a total volume of 50 million euros. The first launch of the fund started in 2017 with 34.5 million euros.

PurposeTech closes first fund to support start-ups

PurposeTech has successfully closed its first pre-seed fund to support founders from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) operating in the fields of health, sustainability and education. The fund was founded by Zdenek Fred Fous, a serial entrepreneur, and the Impact Hub in the Czech Republic, a global network for innovation-driven companies. Since its inception in February 2023, PurposeTech has already evaluated over 1,100 start-ups and invested in five. The fund plans to support a further 10 start-ups in the next 12 to 18 months.

VERBUND X Ventures invests 1.5 million euros in Easelink

VERBUND X Ventures, the corporate venture unit of the Austrian energy group VERBUND, has invested EUR 1.5 million in the Graz-based deep-tech company Easelink. Easelink, known for its patented Matrix Charging® technology, offers an automated, highly efficient charging solution for electric vehicles that works without manual plugging in. With this investment, Easelink aims to expand international partnerships with car manufacturers and become the global standard for automated charging. Easelink's technology is considered a key solution for future e-mobility and supports decarbonization in Europe.

Qantev secures 30 million euros

Paris-based AI startup Qantev has raised 30 million euros in a financing round led by Blossom Capital. With the participation of existing investors, including Elaia, Omnes and RAISE Venture, Qantev plans to further develop its platform, recruit talented professionals and expand internationally, particularly in North America and Asia. Qantev's AI-powered platform optimizes claims management for health and life insurers, reduces costs and improves service. The company, founded in 2019, already counts insurance giants such as AXA and Generali among its clients and has doubled its team in the last 12 months.

Personnel

Qonto appoints Natalia Williams as new CPO

Qonto, a financial solutions startup for SMEs and the self-employed in Europe, has appointed Natalia Williams as its new Chief Product Officer (CPO). Williams will be responsible for product strategy and development and brings experience from companies such as MailChimp and Hootsuite. Her focus will be on localizing Qonto's offering in new markets such as Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and Portugal. The aim is to further strengthen Qonto's position as the preferred financial solution in Europe and to drive user-centered innovation.

Cooperations and partnerships

GSK Stockmann and neoshare enter into technology partnership

GSK Stockmann is entering into a technology partnership with neoshare AG to drive digital transformation in the real estate and finance industry. neoshare offers an AI-supported platform that facilitates the implementation and management of financing projects as a "single source of truth". GSK Stockmann contributes its legal expertise in the real estate and financing sector. The partnership aims to create more efficient processes and greater security for projects.

Machtfit cooperates with Wellhub

Machtfit, a platform for occupational health management (OHM) in Germany, has entered into a partnership with corporate fitness provider Wellhub. The aim of the collaboration is to support companies with customized health solutions that strengthen both employee health and economic performance. With the integration of Wellhub, machtfit is expanding its offering in the area of corporate fitness. Companies such as the DEKA Group and Stadtwerke Lübeck are already using the new offerings via the machtfit platform.

Mangopay optimizes payments on the FOURSOURCE sourcing platform

Mangopay, a provider of flexible payment infrastructures for marketplaces, has launched a new solution for the Berlin-based B2B sourcing platform FOURSOURCE. The integration enables the platform's more than 50,000 users to make payments directly in the FOURSOURCE environment, without external money transfers. This increases security and improves the user experience. FOURSOURCE, an apparel and textile sourcing network, expects the partnership with Mangopay to not only improve the user experience, but also generate new revenue streams.

M & A

Ambienta strengthens expertise in irrigation systems through acquisition of N2B Arrosage

Ambienta SGR SpA ("Ambienta") announces that its platform company Cap Vert Group ("Cap Vert"), a leading pruning company in France, has acquired N2B Arrosage, a specialist in irrigation systems. The acquisition expands Cap Vert's water division and strengthens the residential segment in particular. N2B Arrosage is known for its expertise in the management of irrigation systems and will support Cap Vert in developing innovative and sustainable solutions for urban green spaces.

Whitevision expands through acquisition of Inconto

Whitevision has announced the acquisition of Inconto, a Dutch provider of software solutions for e-procurement, contract management and invoice processing. This acquisition marks the first step in Whitevision's buy-and-build strategy since partnering with Main Capital Partners in August 2024. Inconto, founded in 1998, expands Whitevision's offering in the field of intelligent document processing and the procure-to-pay value chain. The acquisition strengthens Whitevision's position in the public administration, healthcare and hospitality sectors and opens up new growth opportunities in document-intensive industries such as construction.