Startup News for the Weekend, Week 35/26

Braunschweig Technology Park Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary

The Braunschweig Technology Park is celebrating its 40th anniversary and looks back on more than 160 companies that have utilized the startup center since its opening in 1986. According to Braunschweig Zukunft GmbH, this has resulted in the creation of more than 2,000 jobs, most of which are highly skilled. Former tenants include companies such as Aerodata, GOM, IServ, Simtec, Solvis, and smartmicro; current tenants at the Technology Park include OKAPI and NOVUS, among others. The center was established through a collaboration between the city and the Technical University of Braunschweig and offers young companies not only discounted office space but also consulting and coaching. Since 2002, the technology park has been operated by the city’s economic development agency, Braunschweig Zukunft GmbH.

Awards & Events

BIG UP Brings Startups and Investors Together in Braunschweig

At the BIG UP Startup Summit on September 2 in Braunschweig, 18 startups from Germany will meet with investors and representatives from the financial sector. The event, organized by Braunschweig Zukunft GmbH in collaboration with CorpPearls, focuses on the sectors of high-tech and deep tech, green mobility and clean tech, as well as dual-use technologies. In three pitch competitions, six startups in each will present their business models; the winners will each receive 5,000 euros in prize money. Announced participants include representatives from the European Investment Bank, the High-Tech Gründerfonds, Join Capital, World Fund, eCAPITAL, Futury Capital, and NBank Capital. The program is complemented by investor meetings, a session on the security and defense industry, and a matching event with regional business angels. The event is held under the patronage of Lower Saxony’s Minister President Olaf Lies.

Startup Ecosystems Send a Unified Message at NRW Day

Four key startup ecosystems in North Rhine-Westphalia plan to jointly promote the region as a hub for innovation at NRW Day in Münster. On August 29, representatives from the BRYCK Startup Alliance, Factory33, Gateway Factory, and R-Factory will discuss the importance of startups and collaboration between academia, business, and society under the title “Made in Tech.” The program will be accompanied by NRW Minister of Economic Affairs Mona Neubaur. In addition, selected startups will present their technologies and business models from fields such as medtech, robotics, and industry. With this joint appearance, the participating organizations aim to strengthen regional networking and highlight the importance of science-based startups for NRW as a business hub.

MediaTech Hub Conference Brings the International Media Industry to Babelsberg

On September 29 and 30, 2026, the MediaTech Hub Conference will bring together more than 50 international experts from film, television, streaming, journalism, and technology at Studio Babelsberg. Topics of discussion will include European media sovereignty, new streaming models, AI in journalism, and the use of artificial intelligence and virtual production in film and television. The discussions will be complemented by a Journalism & Tech Day, a Virtual Production Area featuring a 15-meter LED volume, and an AI Garden showcasing applications from real-world production processes. Another key focus will be on the impact of AI on jobs and skill requirements in the media industry.

Mergers & Acquisitions

b’steuern Merges with AI Startup Glindway

The Berlin-based tax firm b’steuern is partnering with the software and AI startup Glindway to accelerate its transformation into an AI-based tax firm. The Glindway team is contributing its expertise in AI engineering as well as software and product development, with the specific goal of automating standardized processes and routine tasks in tax consulting. Starting in October, b’steuern also plans to launch its own MCP server, through which clients can access their current financial and tax data with the help of AI assistants. According to the company, which was founded in 2025, it now serves more than 750 clients and employs around 35 people. For 2026, b’steuern expects revenue of more than three million euros.

Collaborations & Partnerships

Plum Expands Partnership with Upvest to the United Kingdom

The British finance app Plum is expanding its collaboration with the Berlin-based investment infrastructure provider Upvest—which has been in place since 2023—to the UK market. Initially, investment funds will be offered via Upvest’s infrastructure, followed by stocks and ETFs. In a further step, Plum also plans to migrate its existing UK fund business to the platform. By consolidating operations onto Upvest’s API-based infrastructure, the company aims to simplify its current structure—which involves multiple service providers—and standardize operations across various markets and asset classes. Upvest will handle brokerage, custody, and back-office services, among other things.

News Worth Reading

German government deficit rises to 71.3 billion euros

The German government deficit rose significantly to 71.3 billion euros in the first half of 2026, exceeding the previous year’s figure by 36.6 billion euros. According to preliminary calculations by the Federal Statistical Office, the deficit amounted to 3.1 percent of gross domestic product, placing it just above the Maastricht reference value of three percent. The main driver was the federal government, with a deficit of 48.1 billion euros. While government revenues increased by 2.8 percent to 1,073.2 billion euros, expenditures rose much more sharply, by 6.1 percent, to 1,144.5 billion euros. Among other items, social benefits, subsidies, investment grants, and interest payments rose particularly sharply.

FRYTE and SMATRICS Connect Charging Infrastructure for Electric Trucks

FRYTE Mobility and SMATRICS are collaborating on charging infrastructure for electric trucks in Germany and Austria. To this end, FRYTE is integrating both semi-public charging points from the SMATRICS Depot Club and public charging stations operated by SMATRICS into its route and charging planning for logistics companies. This is intended to make it easier for freight forwarders to find available charging points along their routes and enable depot operators to better utilize their existing infrastructure. The technical foundation for this integration is the open communication standard OCPI. Starting in 2027, there are also plans to make selected charging points directly bookable. In the long term, the reservation data will also be linked to the energy management systems at the respective locations.

Warmwind Launches International Rollout of Its Autonomous AI Workers

After a test phase lasting several months, the Jena-based AI startup Warmwind is launching the international rollout of its autonomous AI workers. The software is designed to automate recurring digital workflows by having AI agents visually recognize existing programs and operate them independently using a mouse and keyboard. This allows processes to be automated even without specially developed API interfaces. Since the start of the closed beta in July 2025, Warmwind reports having recorded around 90,000 registrations from more than 30 countries and, shortly before the public launch, achieved approximately 450,000 euros in annual recurring revenue with its first paying customers. This scaling is supported by a strategic partnership and a multi-million investment from Hetzner. Warmwind currently employs 15 people in Jena and is already testing its technology with several DAX-listed companies and medium-sized businesses.

Synfia Labs Launches AI Solution for Transformation Processes

The Vienna-based technology company Synfia Labs is launching “Transformation Intelligence,” an AI-powered solution designed to support change processes within companies. The platform conducts automated conversations with employees and other stakeholders, asks tailored follow-up questions, and analyzes the responses to identify, among other things, uncertainties, resistance, and potential problems during transformations at an early stage. The aim is to supplement quantitative metrics—such as project progress or system usage—with qualitative insights. The conversations can be conducted via voice or text in more than 70 languages and reused to track changes over extended periods. According to the company, the technology is already being used by organizations in sectors such as critical infrastructure, finance, science, and public administration.

Thermondo expects to post positive EBITDA for the first time in 2026

The Berlin-based cleantech company Thermondo expects to post positive consolidated EBITDA in 2026 for the first time since its founding and forecasts a result of 12 million euros. At the same time, revenue is expected to rise by approximately 30 percent year-over-year to more than 275 million euros. The heat pump business remains the key growth driver: By the end of the year, Thermondo expects a total of 20,000 heat pumps to be installed and aims for an annual installation rate of at least 10,000 units in the future. By 2025, revenue had already risen by 47 percent to approximately 212 million euros, while EBITDA improved to minus 24 million euros.