HTGF is a venture capital investor for innovative technologies and business models. We successfully support the best founders whose ideas can revolutionise entire industries and improve people’s lives – from seed to exit.
As a seed investor, we have already financed 670 start-ups in the industrial tech, digital tech, life sciences and chemicals sectors. We have overseen more than 150 exits, including IPOs. When founding your company together with us, you benefit from an experienced partner at your side. Further information for founders
We are a public–private partnership that works closely and successfully with companies from a wide range of industries. Our more than 30 fund investors include medium-sized companies, family businesses and corporations. We provide them with access to innovative start-ups and technologies insights into deal flows and connections to our global network. Further information for fund investors
Our HTGF IV fund investors
In addition to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and KfW Capital, the investors in our fourth fund include many companies from a wide range of industries. Medium-sized companies in particular are strongly represented, along with many large corporations and family offices (Start of the investment phase in fall 2022).
Our portfolio
Our investment companies are the heart of HTGF. We are proud of each and every one of them. Our investment managers have a direct line to the founders and are on hand with support and the entire HTGF network.
HTGF shares its experience with us in matters of reporting, for example. That helps enormously when it comes to optimizing processes on the one hand and remaining transparent on the other. However, the investor never intervenes more deeply than necessary, so that our start-up momentum is maintained.
Dipl. Ing. Miriam HaerstCo-founder and managing partner
HTGF has developed a very rational and scientific approach to addressing problems in start-ups. I like that. The experience and the breadth of the portfolio make that possible.
Pierre BaquéCo-Founder / CEO – Neutral Concept Ltd.
Participating in HTGF’s network as a start-up cannot be overstated. We met our first customer at an HTGF event, even though we weren’t even in the portfolio at the time.
Philipp BürlingFounder Numaferm GmbH
HTGF has supported us unconditionally for many years. On the journey of a startup, many things develop differently than expected. We entrepreneurs therefore need a partner who supports us with advice and peace of mind to get up anew each time and make things better.
Philipp Roesch-SchlandererFounder and managing director eGym
HTGF was the first investor who understood our idea and vision and invested pre-product.
Julia Bösch Founder and managing director OUTFITTERY
We really enjoy being at the HTPC every year. This is where we meet corporate champions from large industrial companies who pass us on to the relevant contacts. That’s worth its weight in gold for our business development.
Dr. Tim PohlmannFounder and managing director IPlytics GmbH
At Family Day, we found a strong investor for our follow-on financing.
Felix BrandFounder and managing director CardioSecur
Insights
Press
9. August 2022
Mobile learning start-up doinstruct closes seven-figure financing from High-Tech Gründerfonds and Born2Grow
Rethinking employee training, integration, and communication: doinstruct develops a low-threshold, multilingual mobile training solution for frontline workers. The software enables companies to train their employees and service providers by smartphone, across supply chains and in any location. With its strong new partners doinstruct hopes to revolutionize in-company employee training and push ahead with product development and the expansion of the company into new sectors.
doinstruct
Press
27. July 2022
Energy transition startup node.energy raises 7 million euros in Series A financing
A total of four new investors are joining the company, while existing investors such as High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and renowned business angels are once again contributing fresh capital.
The four new Series A investors were selected consciously. The financing round is led by Cologne-based VC BitStone Capital, the leading PropTech fund with strong expertise in the real estate industry. As co-investors, the 10x Founders contributes extensive experience in the software-as-a-service secto
Press
12. July 2022
Embedded security startup Emproof secures €2m seed financing from European investor syndicate
Eindhoven/Bochum, July 12th, 2022 – Emproof B.V. successfully closed a € 2 million seed financing round, which enables the company to further develop its product range and serve customers in Europe and the USA. This financing round is led by the Dutch investment group TIIN Capital through its Dutch Security TechFund, alongside High-Tech Gründerfonds from Germany and the French venture capitalist Cyber Impact. Emproof has developed a unique technology which protects resource constrained
Blog
10. August 2022
From the sandpit to product-market fit: Instagrid features in HTGF Start-up Stories
How do I find product-market fit? How do you find the right idea to start a business? And why is it so important to design a prototype early on? These are just some of the many questions that Andreas Sedlmayr, one of Instagrid’s founders, has got the answers to. In our brand-new series of short video clips, called Start-up Stories, we ask the founders of our portfolio companies to share some important tips and insights directly from the world of business.
Instagrid specialises in
Blog
6. July 2022
“A strong signal, especially for start-ups”
High-Tech Gründerfonds is launching its fourth fund, HTGF IV, which has secured over €400 million in commitments at first closing. That makes it the seed investor’s biggest fund to date. Dr. Robert Habeck, Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, recently announced the first closing of the fund at the HTGF Family Day. In this interview, HTGF Managing Directors Alex von Frankenberg and Guido Schlitzer talk about HTGF’s successful fundraising efforts and exp
Blog
18. May 2022
GWA Hygiene and Dräger: From collaboration to investment
How does a company specialized in medical and safety technology with a more than 130-year history end up getting together with a six-year-old start-up? Common goals, collaboration on an equal footing and good partners are key aspects in this regard. That is at least according to Jens Altmann, President Business Unit Data Business at Dräger, and Tobias Gebhardt, CEO at GWA Hygiene. Dräger, a global corporation, recently invested in High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) portfolio company GWA Hygien
Finding a promising Start-up is our expertise, then leading it to a successful exit is our job. We are very proud of every sale, in most cases to grow further with even more energy.
We work as a team. Our investment managers contribute a great deal of experience and expertise. They are not only financing experts, but many of them have also founded their own companies or bring years of industry experience or specialized scientific know-how with them.
Our start-ups become part of the #HTGFFamily, one of the strongest networks in the high-tech venture sector, where we use our expertise to actively support growth, customer acquisition, hiring, co-investment and follow-up financing.
Become Part of the HTGF Family
Are you the founder of a high-tech start-up? Does your company match our industry focus and meet our investment criteria? Then we look forward to getting to know you and your company! Send us your pitch deck – we’ll be in touch.
Sector focus?
We invest in start-ups in the fields of industrial technology, digital tech, life sciences and chemistry.
Investment criteria?
Your start-up is less than three years old and its headquarters are in Germany. Start-ups from abroad need a clear connection to Germany.
Financing?
We invest flexibly according to the needs of the start-up.
Investment volume?
In the seed round up to 1 million euros. In total we can invest up to 3 million euros in a start-up.
Added Value?
We are sparring partners in all questions regarding the development of start-ups and will open doors for you.
Sector focus? 
Investment criteria? 
Financing? 
Investment volume? 
Added Value?