Startup News for the Weekend of Week 41, 2026

Funding

Bosch Ventures Launches 100-Million-Euro Fund for German Deep-Tech Startups

Bosch Ventures has announced a new €100 million fund called Spark, which is designed to invest specifically in German deep-tech startups. Starting January 1, 2027, the fund will focus on seed and early-stage financing. Successful portfolio companies will also receive support in later funding rounds. In addition to capital, Bosch Ventures aims to provide startups with access to specialized departments and potential industry partnerships within the Bosch Group through the Open Bosch initiative. With this new fund, Bosch Ventures is expanding its investment activities, which have been in place for nearly two decades, and aims in particular to strengthen the German innovation ecosystem.

Cori Clinical Raises $4 Million

Cori Clinical, an AI startup specializing in clinical trials, has closed a seed funding round of $4 million. The round was led by Breega, with additional participation from Enzo, Heartfelt, Together Ventures, and Bynd. The platform aggregates data from previous clinical trials with regulatory requirements and external sources, and supports teams in drafting study protocols, regulatory submissions, and operational planning. Cori is already collaborating with two of the world’s five largest clinical research organizations, as well as Erasmus MC. The company plans to use the capital to advance its product development and expand its clinical, technical, and commercial teams.

FOOD FOUNDERS Studio Raises Four Million Euros

The Zurich-based venture studio FOOD FOUNDERS has closed an oversubscribed funding round of four million euros. The capital comes from family offices and business angels and will be used to establish two additional food tech companies over the next two years. FOOD FOUNDERS first identifies specific problems faced by food and beverage manufacturers and then searches for suitable technologies from which new companies can emerge. To date, more than 100 technologies have been evaluated, nine of which have entered the validation phase. The first company to emerge was SentiaNova, which is developing a technology to remove unwanted flavors from plant-based proteins

• The London-based startup IMMIX is receiving 3.12 million euros to enable currency conversion for stablecoin payments beyond the U.S. dollar. Investors include Crane Venture Partners, BTSE, and Portfolio Ventures.

• The Paris-based biotech startup Rivercell has raised 22 million euros in seed funding to use AI to predict how human cells will respond to drugs and accelerate drug development. The funding round is led by HV.

• The Cypriot startup NeoFleet Capital has raised 3.5 million euros in a pre-seed funding round to finance professional taxi fleets in emerging markets. Investors include former inDrive President Mark Loughran, who is also joining as a co-founder.

• The AI startup Nous Research is raising $90 million to further develop its open-source AI agent, Hermes. Investors include Nvidia, Microsoft’s M12, and Samsung. The company is valued at $1.5 billion.

Awards & Events

MSC Startup Hub Becomes MSC Frontier Tech Hub

The Munich Security Conference, UnternehmerTUM, and TUM Venture Labs will continue their joint platform for technology, security, and innovation in 2027 under the new name MSC Frontier Tech Hub. The second edition will take place on February 12 and 13, 2027, in Munich and is expected to bring together more than 1,000 participants from politics, business, defense, academia, and the startup ecosystem. The focus will be on future technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, digital infrastructure, cyber and energy security, resilient supply chains, as well as space and defense. The inaugural event took place in 2026 under the name MSC Startup Hub and drew more than 800 participants from over 40 countries.

GründerGeflecht Invites You to a Networking Event at the Volkswagen Plant in Kassel

The next GründerGeflecht event will take place on October 29, 2026, at the Volkswagen plant in Kassel. In collaboration with HOLM, BVL, and MoWiN.net, the event brings together founders, startups, business successors, and network partners. The focus is on electric mobility. Following a brief introduction to the participating networks, Volkswagen will provide insights into current projects and technological developments in three keynote presentations. Afterward, a group dinner will offer an opportunity for networking. Participation is free, but registration is required by October 15. Check-in begins at 4:30 p.m., and the program starts at 5:00 p.m. Participants must bring a valid ID and observe the no-photography policy on the plant grounds.

Mergers & Acquisitions

anny Acquires AI Startup HiDesk and Expands Its Accounting Platform

The Cologne-based booking software provider anny is acquiring the AI startup HiDesk, which is also based in Cologne. The entire team, including founders Florestan Peters and Jeremy Meidinger, is joining anny. Together, the companies aim to develop an AI platform that processes customer inquiries via phone, email, and messaging apps and then independently handles bookings, changes, cancellations, and billing. To achieve this, anny is combining its booking software with HiDesk’s AI agents, whose models are hosted on European servers. According to their own statements, both companies are profitable and have grown so far without venture capital. anny has more than 1,500 corporate customers, while HiDesk serves over 250 customers and partners.

Main Capital Partners Acquires Majority Stake in Raynet

Main Capital Partners is acquiring a majority stake in the Paderborn-based software company Raynet from PINOVA Capital. Raynet employs approximately 170 people and develops software for IT visibility, IT asset management, and cybersecurity. The AI-powered Raynet One platform is designed to help companies map, manage, and secure complex IT landscapes. Together with Main, Raynet plans to accelerate its international expansion—particularly in Europe and North America—build strategic partnerships, and expand its product portfolio. In addition, an international buy-and-build strategy involving further acquisitions is planned. Founder and CEO Ragip Aydin will remain with the company.

Maccaferri Acquires Iterchimica and Surface Tech

The Italian infrastructure specialist Maccaferri is acquiring the asphalt additive manufacturer Iterchimica as well as the U.S. company Surface Tech, thereby establishing a new business division for high-performance materials. Iterchimica develops technologies designed to increase the use of recycled asphalt and extend the service life of roads. Surface Tech uses aramid fibers to reinforce asphalt and reduce cracking. Together with Maccaferri’s existing solutions, these technologies are intended to be used across the entire road structure in the future. Maccaferri aims to provide both companies with access to additional markets through its network spanning more than 130 countries. As part of the transactions, the previous owners are investing in Maccaferri and will remain involved in operations. The completion of the Iterchimica acquisition is still subject to regulatory approval.

Company Profiles

Visium Strengthens Leadership Team with Two New Additions

The Zurich-based AI company Visium is expanding its leadership team with the addition of Tomislav Ilicic and Andrea Tassistro. Ilicic is joining Visium as a partner and will focus in particular on expanding the company’s strategy and business in the life sciences sector. Previously, he served as Global Head of Data Science at Roche and Accenture, among other roles. Tassistro will assume the newly created role of Chief Transformation Officer and will be responsible for the further development of the go-to-market organization. He previously founded Foodetective, later PowerAPI, and most recently served as Chief Transformation Officer at the biotech company Owkin. With these two appointments, Visium aims to drive the development and scaling of AI solutions for companies in the life sciences and chemical industries.

Reel Appoints Jan-Christopher Klotz as Head of Germany

The Danish electricity supplier and energy trader Reel has appointed Jan-Christopher Klotz as Head of Germany. He is tasked with expanding the commercial business in Germany, building a local team, and strengthening collaboration with energy producers and industrial customers. Klotz is joining from the energy company Zelestra, where, as CCO, he was responsible for PPAs, tolling agreements, and the bidding strategy for EEG tenders, among other things. The appointment follows a Series A funding round of 15 million euros that Reel completed in early 2026, led by Future Energy Ventures. In Germany, the company already collaborates with energy producers such as Blue Elephant Energy and greenwind.

TradeLink Appoints Tobias Nendel as CEO

The Munich-based logistics startup TradeLink has restructured its leadership. Co-founder and former CPTO Tobias Nendel is taking over as CEO with overall operational responsibility and is tasked in particular with driving the company’s AI transformation. Co-founder Frederic Krahforst is transitioning to a strategic role as Chairman and will remain associated with TradeLink as a shareholder and advisor. Going forward, the company plans to expand its platform with AI agents that automate operational tasks in supply chains. According to the company, more than 10,000 companies already coordinate their goods flow via TradeLink. At the same time, the company plans to collaborate with customers to develop additional AI applications for areas such as order management, scheduling, and goods receipt.

b2venture Welcomes Former EPFL President Martin Vetterli as Venture Partner

The European early-stage investor b2venture has brought Martin Vetterli on board as a venture partner. The scientist served as president of the Swiss university EPFL from 2017 to 2024 and previously held positions including professor at Columbia University and UC Berkeley. In addition to his academic career, Vetterli has already invested as a business angel in startups founded by his former doctoral students. At b2venture, he will focus in particular on strengthening the connection between scientific research and venture capital. The investor holds stakes in companies such as DeepL, 1KOMMA5°, Raisin, and SumUp, and also invests in deep-tech companies like Araris Biotech and NEURA Robotics.

More exciting news

Kamux is withdrawing from the German market

The Finnish used-car dealer Kamux is completely winding down its business in Germany by the end of 2026. The company is closing its seven locations and plans to sell its remaining inventory of about 500 vehicles. About 70 employees are affected by the decision. Kamux has been active in Germany since 2015 but was unable to make the business profitable. In 2025, the company generated revenue of 82.5 million euros in Germany, with an adjusted operating loss of 3.6 million euros. Kamux estimates that the closure will cost between 12 and 14 million euros. Going forward, the group plans to focus on its core markets of Finland and Sweden.

Marstrom Composite Receives Order Worth Approximately Three Million Euros

Marstrom Composite, a subsidiary of the Swedish Scandinavian Astor Group, has received an order worth approximately 33 million Swedish kronor. This corresponds to about three million euros. The company will supply sophisticated composite solutions for industrial applications to an unnamed Western customer in the infrastructure sector. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in March 2027 and continue throughout the rest of the year. Marstrom develops and manufactures composite solutions for the defense, maritime, and industrial sectors, among others. For security reasons, the company is not providing further details about the customer.

CERPRO Becomes Part of Drevise and Expands AI Platform for Industry

The Berlin-based AI startup CERPRO will operate under the name Drevise going forward and is simultaneously expanding the scope of its platform. The software analyzes technical drawings, 3D models, specifications, and revisions to support industrial companies with feasibility studies, quality planning, supplier coordination, and the approval of components for mass production. Since a pre-seed funding round of over two million euros in November 2025, Drevise has grown from three founders to 15 employees, according to the company. More than 200 companies in nine countries are already using the technology in production, including Bosch Rexroth, Lixil, Innomotics, and Hörmann.

Goodman Data Center to Supply Neu-Isenburg with Waste Heat

Goodman, the city of Neu-Isenburg, and Stadtwerke Neu-Isenburg have laid the groundwork for utilizing the waste heat from the planned FRA02 data center. Once operational, up to 50 megawatts of thermal power is expected to be recovered there and fed into the municipal district heating network. The heat is intended to supply more than 600 buildings in the Süd industrial park and the Neue Welt residential area, as well as the Waldschwimmbad. The first phase of the data center is scheduled for completion in 2028; construction of Stadtwerke’s energy plant is set to begin that same year. FRA02 is the first project in Neu-Isenburg in which waste heat from a data center will be used for municipal heat supply.

Encare Secures First Partner Hospital in Vietnam

The Swedish health tech company Encare has established its first partnership in Vietnam with FV Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. The hospital, which is part of the Thomson Medical Group, will initially implement the ERAS program for colorectal surgeries as well as hip and knee replacements. Encare’s digital audit system, EIAS, will be used to evaluate compliance with medical guidelines and treatment outcomes. In the long term, FV Hospital aims to achieve certification from the ERAS Society. With this new partnership, Encare is expanding its presence in the Asia-Pacific region to 22 hospitals. According to the company, it currently collaborates with more than 140 hospitals in over 30 countries worldwide.

BMW Group Introduces Legora AI Platform in Legal Department

The BMW Group is rolling out the Legora AI platform across its entire legal department. The software is designed to support legal teams in conducting research, reviewing contracts, drafting documents, and monitoring regulatory developments. Legora will also be integrated into existing applications such as Microsoft Word. The partnership follows the opening of Legora’s Munich office in late September. According to the company, more than 200 law firms and legal departments in the DACH region are now using the platform. In Germany, the number of legal professionals working with Legora has risen from around 3,000 to more than 13,000 since the beginning of the year.