Startup news for the weekend week 17/26

Funding

10 million euros against chick killing for Omegga

The Munich-based DeepTech startup Omegga has closed a seed financing round of 10 million euros, led by IQ Capital and Capnamic and with the participation of EIC Fund. The company is developing an AI-supported spectroscopy for sex determination in eggs, which enables early identification and should therefore avoid the killing of male chicks after hatching. The technology is already in use and is now to be scaled up and extended to other industrial applications. The aim is to improve both ethical requirements and economic efficiency in the poultry industry.

Verda receives 117 million US dollars for growth and expansion

The Finnish AI infrastructure company Verda has raised 117 million US dollars in fresh capital, consisting of equity and debt financing. The company plans to use the funding to accelerate the development of its AI cloud infrastructure and expand internationally, particularly in Europe, the US and Asia. Verda also plans to hire over 100 new employees and enter additional markets such as the UK and the US. Founded in 2020, the company provides scalable computing power for AI applications using a fully integrated infrastructure and data centers powered by renewable energy.

Logicc secures 2.5 million euros in funding for AI platform

Startup Logicc has closed a €2.5 million funding round with investors including 10x Founders, Redstone and MS&AD Ventures, after reaching €1 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR). The company is developing a platform that enables secure, GDPR-compliant access to modern AI technologies, particularly for regulated industries such as law, medicine and finance. The aim is to overcome compliance hurdles and facilitate the integration of AI into existing company systems in order to achieve efficiency gains.

Awards & Events

Zukunftswiesen Summit - tradition meets innovation

The Future Meadows Summit has the motto "Tradition meets Innovation" and will bring together the key players of the future on April 27 and 28, 2026. A unique meeting place for SMEs, corporates, start-ups and students will be created in the heart of one of the leading economic regions. More than 50 start-ups will present their ideas, over 100 SMEs will contribute their experience and around 1,500 participants will come together to network, exchange ideas and work together on solutions for the future. The Summit sees itself as a source of inspiration for new beginnings, courage and concrete innovations.

The program is complemented by high-calibre speakers and driving forces from the worlds of business, politics, media and entrepreneurship. Personalities such as Christian Sülzer (SAP), Isabel Grupp (Plastromayer), Christian Wolf (More Nutrition), Nena Brockhaus and Dr. Georg Kofler will share their perspectives and experiences. Representatives of large companies and institutions such as Google, Würth, Festo, STIHL and thyssenkrupp are also represented. The Future Meadows Summit thus offers a unique platform where knowledge, ideas and networks come together to actively shape the future. Tickets and more information are available on the event homepage.

Futury Build Days bring ideas to prototype in 32 hours in Frankfurt

With the Futury Build Days, Futury GmbH is organizing an innovation format in which over 100 students and start-ups develop practical prototypes within 32 hours. In collaboration with companies such as Techem, WISAG and Viega, interdisciplinary teams work on real industrial challenges, in particular with AI-supported solutions. The format goes beyond a traditional hackathon, as promising projects are subsequently developed further and potentially supported all the way through to their launch. The aim is to bring innovations into application more quickly and strengthen the entrepreneurial spirit in the Frankfurt-Rhine-Main region. We are looking forward to the results.

Encare receives Swecare Export Award 2026

The Swedish company Encare was honored with the Swecare Export Award 2026 for its international growth in the field of digital solutions for surgical care. The jury particularly recognized the company's increasing export activities, global reach and successful positioning in key markets such as the USA. Encar's solutions for optimizing surgical treatment processes are now used in over 137 hospitals in more than 30 countries. The award was presented in Stockholm and recognizes Swedish life science companies with innovative and sustainable export strategies.

Exit

P101 exits Cyber Guru and invests in new cybersecurity player

Venture capital firm P101 SGR has completed its exit from cybersecurity company Cyber Guru and simultaneously reinvested in the newly formed group LibraCyber. Cyber Guru, which specializes in AI-powered security awareness training, has driven its international expansion since P101's investment in 2021, most recently serving over 1,500 customers. The acquisition by email security provider Libraesva now creates a new European provider that combines prevention, detection and management of human security risks. The move underlines P101's strategic focus on the growing cybersecurity market and further expands its commitment in this area.

ProSiebenSat.1 sells US creator business

ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE has sold its North American creator business Studio71 US to Fixated LLC in order to strengthen its strategic focus on the entertainment business in the DACH region. Studio71 US, a network for content creators and podcasts, recently generated annual revenues of EUR 246 million. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. While the US business will be divested, Studio71 will remain part of the Group in the German-speaking region. ProSiebenSat.1 expects a moderate decline in revenues as a result of the sale, but continues to anticipate organic growth and a significant increase in EBITDA.

Cooperations & partnerships

Partnership for AI-supported call center solutions

The Berlin-based company Synthflow AI and 8x8 Inc. have entered into a strategic partnership to jointly develop AI-supported solutions for call centers. As part of the collaboration, Synthflow's technology will be integrated into 8x8's contact center offering to automate and streamline customer interactions across phone, chat and digital channels. The aim is to increase customer satisfaction, reduce costs and enable companies to use modern voice AI more quickly. Both companies are thus responding to the growing demand for dialog-oriented AI solutions and plan to make their offerings more widely accessible in future, for example to smaller companies.

Wolt and Dott expand subscription offering to include mobility

Wolt has entered into a strategic partnership with micro-mobility provider Dott to expand its Wolt+ subscription program. Members receive 30 minutes of free rides on e-scooters or e-bikes every month in eight European countries. The aim is to expand the offer beyond delivery services to a comprehensive lifestyle membership that combines dining, shopping and mobility. The integration represents the first large-scale third-party service within Wolt+ and is intended to simplify everyday life for users and create additional added value.

Mergers & acquisitions

Personio becomes profitable and strengthens AI through acquisition

The Munich-based HR software company Personio has achieved a profitable quarter for the first time and acquired the recruiting AI startup aurio in order to expand its AI strategy. By integrating aurio's technologies, Personio aims to automate processes such as candidate search and pre-selection in particular and make them more efficient. The company now serves around 16,000 customers and is using the profitability it has achieved as a basis for further growth and investment, including in the rapidly growing payroll area. The aim is to relieve HR teams through AI-supported solutions without replacing human decisions.

Personnel

New Managing Director Urte Zahn at Re-Fresh Global

The German company Re-Fresh Global has appointed Urte Zahn as Managing Director to drive the next phase of growth. The focus is on scaling up an enzymatic recycling technology that can be used to convert mixed textile waste into high-quality, cellulose-based materials. The aim is to close an existing gap in the recycling infrastructure and provide sustainable raw materials for various industries. Zahn brings many years of experience in leadership and transformation, while co-founder Revital Nadiv continues to be responsible for technological development. The company has already implemented pilot projects with industrial partners and is now aiming for further commercialization and international expansion with a seed financing round.

Balderton brings serial founder Phil Chambers on board as a partner

European venture capital firm Balderton Capital has signed up serial entrepreneur Phil Chambers as a new partner with a focus on early-stage investments. Chambers brings over 20 years of experience as a founder, manager and investor in the European tech ecosystem, including co-founding Peakon, which was later acquired by Workday for around 700 million US dollars, and his role as CEO of space startup Orbex. Previously, he was also involved in over 100 start-ups as an angel investor. At Balderton, he will support founders in the early growth phase and contribute his operational experience to the investment strategy.

More exciting news

HHL launches AI startup bootcamp "AI Startup Builder - Terminal 01"

HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management has introduced the first AI Startup Bootcamp at a German business school with "AI Startup Builder - Terminal 01". The two-day program is aimed at prospective founders and teaches in a practical way how agent-based AI systems can be used to develop and validate scalable business models. The focus is on methods such as "vibe coding", context engineering and the development of autonomous AI agents that support the entire start-up process. The bootcamp is part of the HHL ecosystem, which integrates AI as a central future competence in teaching, research and practice.

Floryn launches in Germany and addresses financing gap in the SME sector

Dutch fintech Floryn is expanding to Germany and will be launching its data-based financing solution for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from April 21, 2026. The aim is to close an existing financing gap caused by bureaucratic processes and low approval rates at traditional banks, particularly in the segment between 10,000 and 250,000 euros. Floryn offers flexible credit lines with a fully digital application process based on bank transaction data and fast decision-making through AI-supported analyses. The company positions itself between traditional banks and alternative lenders and focuses on transparent conditions and usage-based interest rates. To enter the market, Floryn is cooperating with partners such as Deutsche Firmenkredit Partner and Fynbiz to facilitate access to SMEs and accelerate the rollout. Since its foundation in 2016, Floryn has already processed over 110,000 loan applications and achieved a financing volume of more than 519 million euros.