Startupnews KW 45 - 2024

Stage Two 2024: Klett Group acquires stake in Careloop. Novocarbo wins German Sustainability Award 2025. INERATEC strengthens management team. Xavveo secures 8.6 million dollars. Ampd Energy receives 27.3 million dollars. Merger of Likeminded and nilo.health. Xayn and Libra enter into partnership. Validation Cloud receives 10 million US dollars. Serres receives €1.8 million research grant. ZE Energy secures 54 million euros. Marosa receives 12 million euros from Aquiline.

Awards & Events

Stage Two 2024: Europe's largest competition for university start-ups with over 5 million euros in prize money

Europe's largest competition for university start-ups, Stage Two, entered its fourth round in 2024 and attracted over 50 start-ups from more than 20 countries to Berlin, where they presented themselves to more than 100 investors and industry experts. With over five million euros in prize money, Stage Two, an initiative of HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management and RWTH Aachen University, set an example for the growing interest in university start-ups as drivers of innovation in Europe. Since its foundation in 2021, Stage Two has developed into the world's largest competition for university start-ups and provides targeted support for start-ups from universities through access to networks and capital. One highlight was the Leipzig-based start-up MOLA, which offers a digital platform for affordable and safe sports training.

Novocarbo wins the German Sustainability Award 2025

The Hamburg-based company Novocarbo has been awarded the German Sustainability Award 2025 in the "Chemical Industry" category. The jury recognized Novocarbo's climate-friendly technology, which converts plant residues into so-called biochar, binds CO₂ and generates renewable energy in the process. The solution is intended to contribute to the decarbonization of industry, promoting closed material cycles and the reduction of fossil raw materials. The German Sustainability Award, Europe's largest award for ecological and social commitment, is presented annually by the German Sustainability Award Foundation in cooperation with the German government.

KfW honors impact investor Xavier Sarras and SurFunction for sustainable innovations

KfW Capital recently honored both the impact investor Xavier Sarras and the Saarbrücken-based company SurFunction for their achievements in the field of innovation and sustainability. Xavier Sarras, founding partner of 4P Capital, received the title of "Best Impact Investor" for his success in the field of climate protection and impact investing, particularly through his investments in transformative start-ups. The jury praised Sarras' strategic approach, which combines market value and sustainable impact. SurFunction GmbH was recognized as the state winner in the KfW Entrepreneurship Competition for Saarland. The company impressed with its patented technology for the contactless functionalization of surfaces, which enables sustainable benefits in various industries and follows the example of nature.

Financing rounds

Xavveo secures 8.6 million dollars for the further development of photonic radar technology

The Berlin-based startup Xavveo, which specializes in sensor solutions for autonomous vehicles, has received 8.6 million dollars in seed capital in a financing round led by Vsquared Ventures and imec.xpand. Xavveo will use the capital to drive forward the development of its photonic radar system, which is designed to increase the safety and reliability of autonomous vehicles (AV) even in difficult weather conditions. The investment will also support the expansion of the engineering team and cooperation with car manufacturers and technology companies. The innovative radar technology uses silicon photonics and enables precise 360° detection in real time that can withstand rain, fog and darkness.

Ampd Energy receives 27.3 million dollars to promote zero-emission energy storage solutions

Ampd Energy, a Singapore-based company specializing in energy storage solutions, has raised 27.3 million dollars in an oversubscribed Series B funding round. The round was led by Kibo Invest and Openspace, supported by MTR Lab, Taronga Ventures and 2150. With the capital, Ampd Energy plans to further develop its zero-emission battery storage systems Enertainer and Ampd Silo™ and expand its reach to new markets such as mining and manufacturing, as well as regions such as Europe, the Middle East and the US. Ampd Energy's products, which are currently installed in seven countries and have saved 69,000 tons of CO₂, offer a sustainable alternative to diesel generators and reduce the carbon footprint by up to 90%.

Validation Cloud receives USD 10 million for AI expansion in the Web3 area

Web3 data and AI startup Validation Cloud has received a USD 10 million investment from True Global Ventures to further expand its AI platform for Web3. With this funding, the Swiss-based company aims to improve the accessibility of blockchain data and thus promote its use in Web3 networks. Validation Cloud's platform combines staking, node API and data AI services and is experiencing strong growth. The company has increased its staking volume to over one billion US dollars and offers the world's best performance with its Node API, according to CompareNodes.

Serres receives €1.8 million research grant for sustainable hospital solutions

Serres, a provider of sustainable fluid management solutions for hospitals, has received a €1.8 million research grant from Business Finland. The project supports Serres' strategy to develop sustainable solutions that help hospitals on their way to net-zero emissions. The funding will enable a large-scale project to reduce hospital waste and promote a circular economy in the healthcare sector. Serres plans to work with research institutions and hospitals to establish responsible and environmentally friendly processes for operating theaters worldwide.

ZE Energy secures 54 million euros

French renewable energy provider ZE Energy has raised 54 million euros in a financing round led by Amundi Transition Énergétique. New investors include Amundi's Core+ Infrastructure Fund and Demeter's Climate Infrastructure Fund, while historic shareholder Sorégies reaffirms its commitment. The funds will support ZE Energy in the expansion of its hybrid solar power plants combining photovoltaics and battery storage, particularly in Europe. ZE Energy plans to reach an installed capacity of over 900 MW of photovoltaics and 600 MWh of storage capacity by the end of 2026.

Marosa receives 12 million euros from Aquiline

Marosa, a Spanish provider of VAT compliance and e-invoicing models, has received its first external financing of 12 million euros from Aquiline Capital Partners. This investment will support Marosa's growth, the further development of its compliance software VATify and its international expansion. VATify, the company's cloud-based solution, facilitates VAT compliance and fulfills the legal requirements for electronic invoicing in Europe. In light of new legislation on mandatory e-invoicing and real-time reporting in the EU, Marosa aims to help multinational companies digitize their VAT processes and efficiently overcome regulatory challenges.

Exits, M & A

Klett Group invests in Careloop to combat the shortage of caregivers

The Klett Group has acquired a majority stake in the Berlin-based startup Careloop, which specializes in the digital recruitment, qualification and integration of international caregivers in Germany. Together, the two companies aim to address the shortage of skilled workers in the German care sector in the long term. Careloop, which has already successfully placed hundreds of care workers from over 30 countries in Germany since 2019, plans to expand its range of language and specialist courses and tap into new markets with the support of the Klett Group. The synergies of Careloop's digital platform and the Klett Group's international reach are intended to strengthen the rapid integration and qualification of professionals and contribute to the stability of the German healthcare system. We reported on a seed financing round for the startup in 2021.

Merger of Likeminded and nilo.health

The two leading providers of digital mental health solutions in the corporate sector, Likeminded and nilo.health, have announced their merger and now form the new market leader in the DACH region. Together, they serve over 500 companies and are focusing on an expanded service offering and an ambitious growth strategy that includes international expansion. Backed by existing investors such as Heartcore Capital and Vorwerk Ventures, who are providing fresh capital, the merged company aims to fundamentally change the corporate healthcare industry and make a significant contribution to improving the mental health of employees.

Xayn and Libra enter into partnership

German AI startups Xayn and Libra have announced a partnership to integrate Xayn's legal AI Noxtua into Libra's legal automation platform. The collaboration combines Noxtua's specialized language models, tuned to legal content andtrainedby legal experts, with Libra's workflow platform toprovidelegal professionalsin Europe with a secure, privacy-compliant solution for automating tasks such as document analysis and drafting. Both companies place a high value on data protection and compliance: Noxtua is hosted on the Open Telekom Cloud and meets strict European data protection requirements, while Libra is operated on EU servers and is also compliant with the GDPR and the German Federal Lawyers' Act (BRAO).

Personnel

INERATEC strengthens management team

Karlsruhe-based INERATEC, a pioneer in power-to-liquid technology and the production of e-fuels, has appointed Maximilian Backhaus as its new Chief Commercial Officer to drive its global expansion. Backhaus, formerly Chief Marketing Officer at HelloFresh, brings extensive experience in building global brands and will lead INERATEC's next phase of growth. His focus will be on the commercialization of e-fuels and the expansion of the company's activities in the renewable fuels sector. With this move, INERATEC strengthens its leadership position in sustainable energy solutions and supports the goal of a decarbonized industry.