Startup news for the weekend week 4/26

Funding

NENNA.AI receives investment in the millions

The Berlin-based AI privacy platform NENNA.AI has closed a financing round in the millions. The investment is led by IBB Ventures and dfv Venture, supplemented by several experienced business angels from the B2B deep tech and consulting environment. NENNA.AI offers companies data protection-compliant access to leading AI models, whereby sensitive data is processed exclusively on European, in particular German, infrastructure. The platform is based on privacy-by-design, is GDPR-compliant and EU-AI-Act-ready and thus addresses the growing need for sovereign and secure AI use in European companies.

CallStream AI receives seed funding from Superhero Capital

The Finnish startup CallStream AI, which transforms mobile calls into actionable business intelligence, has received funding from Superhero Capital in a seed round. CallStream AI will use the capital to further develop its AI-based analytics capabilities, deepen the integration of CRM and ERP systems and expand its sales reach through partnerships with telecom providers. The company enables companies to automatically analyze mobile calls, create summaries and transfer insights directly into enterprise systems.

terralayr secures €192 million for battery storage and LAYR platform

terralayr has raised €192 million in a financing round (according to its own information on Linkedin), including an upsizing option of €80 million, led by Eurazeo and existing investors such as RIVE Private Investment, Creandum and Earlybird. terralayr intends to use the funds to accelerate the expansion of its battery storage portfolio, which currently comprises around 150 MW in operation or under construction, projects of around 200 MW and a pipeline of 8 GW. In addition, the company's proprietary LAYR platform for flexibility solutions is to be further developed.

Fintalo receives pre-seed financing

Fintalo has completed an oversubscribed pre-seed financing round of more than 500,000 US dollars, in which Techstars and several angel investors, among others, participated. The company intends to use the fresh capital to further develop its AI-supported platform, which serves as the central infrastructure for modern investment banking. The aim is to simplify workflows in the M&A environment, bundle fragmented processes and provide data- and AI-based insights for advisors and investors.

Awards & Events

Circular Technology Award promotes innovations for the circular economy

CIRCULAR REPUBLIC, the circular economy initiative of UnternehmerTUM, is launching the Circular Technology Award together with Knorr-Bremse. The aim of the competition is to identify innovative green tech solutions for the automated dismantling and recycling of critical raw materials and to bring them into industrial application. The award is aimed at start-ups as well as small and medium-sized companies from Europe and is endowed with four prizes of 25,000 euros each; two proof-of-concept projects with Knorr-Bremse are also planned. The application period ends on March 2, 2026, and the award ceremony will take place on May 6, 2026 at IFAT in Munich. Application at: https://www.circular-republic.org/award/

Mergers & Acquisitions

Cap Vert strengthens its platform with four strategic acquisitions in France

Cap Vert, the French provider of environmental services in the infrastructure and green space sector, has acquired four companies: TGBL Group, Ets Julien, Chenot Paysage and Joigneaux Paysagiste. The acquisitions expand the Group's expertise in the areas of tree care along railroad and electricity networks, ecological engineering and green space design and maintenance, strengthen its regional presence and create synergies with existing holdings. These acquisitions bring the number of Cap Vert acquisitions to 16 and underline the inorganic growth strategy of Ambienta, the platform's investment manager, which aims to position the company as the leading multi-service platform for sustainable green space management. Cap Vert now employs over 1,200 people at more than 55 locations and has tripled its turnover since 2021.

IMPAG Group takes over Spanish Comindex S.A.

The Zurich-based IMPAG Group, an international specialty chemicals distribution company, is acquiring the Spanish company Comindex S.A. The transaction, which was signed in December 2025, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026. The acquisition strengthens IMPAG's presence in Spain, Portugal and North Africa and expands its offering in the field of material science. The acquisition is part of the Group's growth strategy and in partnership with Deutsche Private Equity (DPE). Both sides emphasize that the decision was made strategically and that Comindex will benefit from the expertise and infrastructure of the IMPAG Group in the future.

Personnel

octonomy gains Frank Piotraschke as Chief Revenue Officer

The Cologne-based AI company octonomy has appointed Frank Piotraschke as Chief Revenue Officer. Piotraschke brings over 20 years of experience in scaling European tech companies, including as CRO at SoSafe, Staffbase and Optimizely. At octonomy, he will be responsible for the international expansion following the recently completed 20 million dollar seed financing. The company develops AI-powered automation solutions for technical support and service that process complex documentation with over 95% accuracy. With Piotraschke, octonomy intends to further develop its go-to-market strategy and open up new markets in the DACH region and the USA.

Management change at IntegrityNext: Bruno Teuber becomes CEO

IntegrityNext has appointed Bruno Teuber as its new Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect. Former CEO and co-founder Martin Berr-Sorokin will take over as Chairman of the Advisory Board and will continue to provide strategic support to the company. Teuber joined IntegrityNext in August 2025 as Chief Revenue Officer and brings over 30 years of experience in building and scaling international sales organizations. Under his leadership, IntegrityNext aims to drive international expansion, expand partnerships and invest in product innovation to support companies worldwide with sustainable and resilient supply chains.

More exciting startup news

Qonto adds credit card and overdraft facility to its offering

Qonto has launched a credit card and an overdraft facility to offer small and medium-sized enterprises in Europe more flexibility in short-term liquidity management. With the new products, the company is responding to the high demand for short-term financing among its customers. The credit card allows up to 30 days payment deferral with a monthly limit of up to 15,000 euros, while the overdraft facility allows accounts to be overdrawn up to an approved limit to secure ongoing payments. Both solutions complement Qonto's existing financial management offering and are designed to help companies efficiently bridge cash flow bottlenecks.

Hellstern medical brings Robotic Surgeon Assist to NATO DIANA

Hellstern medical GmbH from Wannweil and New York has been included in the NATO DIANA innovation program with its key technology, the Robotic Surgeon Assist noac. The robotic assistance solution provides surgeons with sensor-controlled support directly at the operating table and, according to the company, enables robot-assisted procedures in up to 95% of all operations. As part of DIANA, the technology is being further developed as a dual-use solution for critical infrastructures and system-relevant operations. The recently concluded financing includes seven-figure funding from NATO, regional savings bank subsidiaries and private investors. Hellstern medical emphasizes the technology's contribution to securing surgical care in civilian and military contexts.

SYPOX electrifies chemical processes for greater sustainability

The start-up SYPOX aims to make the chemical industry more sustainable by electrifying energy-intensive production processes. Instead of fossil burners, the company uses electrically generated high-temperature heat to produce synthesis gas, which can significantly reduce CO₂ emissions. Founded by researchers at the Technical University of Munich, SYPOX developed its technology without external investors and with the support of TUM Venture Labs. The company has already acquired its first major customer, chemicals group Clariant, which plans to operate an industrial plant using the new technology from 2026.

Autoderm integrates AI skin analysis into the DocMorris app

The AI-supported dermatological medical device Autoderm is now integrated into the DocMorris app, expanding the platform's digital health offering. The new skin check enables users to identify more than 70 common skin conditions, including skin cancer and inflammatory diseases, using a smartphone photo. Autoderm is approved and clinically validated as a medical device in Europe. The integration gives millions of DocMorris customers quick and low-threshold access to digital skin health assessments to help them decide on suitable products or seek medical advice.