Blog
ESG at HTGF: Helping to drive sustainable innovations
In this interview, Claudia Raber and Dr. Adrian Fuchs from our ESG team offer insights into their work and present High-Tech Gründerfonds’ (HTGF) recently published ESG Report. They talk about the importance of sustainability in the start-up world and show how we and our portfolio are actively contributing to a more sustainable future.
Our first ESG Report was recently published. What did it focus on?
Claudia: The ESG Report centred on our fourth fund generation, HTGF
Blog
Is Product Management the missing puzzle piece in Europe?
In his daily work with early-stage Industrial Tech founders, our Principal Gregor Haidl places particular emphasis on deeply understanding the customer and defining a successful product. Effective product management is a cornerstone, vital not only for start-ups, but for companies of all sizes and industries. Gregor sat down with Elias Lieberich, who brings an extensive background in product management.
Having spent over a decade at Google and YouTube building some of their biggest
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Quo vadis e-fuels? The road ahead for alternative fuels
What role will e-fuels play for the drivetrains of tomorrow? It’s a topic that is being talked about more and more in politics and across society – sometimes in a highly emotional way. After all, many believe that the use of alternative drivetrains hinges on a fundamental question: Will we ever be able to move away from the principle of using combustion engines?
The discussion at the start of the year was an important one, as it shone a spotlight on the important topic of e-fuels an
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The best network is an active one – how HTGF supports C-level recruitment
For every company, finding access to specialized expertise and especially finding the perfect individual to complement a team can be a lengthy and resource-intensive search. This is where the HTGF can offer excellent support, thanks to its extensive network. It connects those who are seeking with those who are offering. For nearly three years, these threads have come together through Christina Siebel, Senior HR Relationship Manager. With over 15 years of professional experience in human reso
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Generation Greentech: How young ideas change the world
Five quick questions for Daniela Bach, Senior Investment Manager HTGF and Christian-Hauke Poensgen, Co-Founder Maya Climate
Christian-Hauke Poensgen, Co-Founder, Maya Climate and Daniela Bach, Senior Investment Manager, HTGF
What is Maya Climate and why can your idea make the world a little better?
Christian-Hauke Poensgen: We are a financing platform for nature-based solutions (NbS). These are some of the most efficient and scalable solutions for avoiding and reducing carbon in
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Investments in drug development: “We need to get to the source of the deals”
Dr. Frank Hensel is Principal at High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), where he is primarily responsible for start-ups from the field of drug development. Before joining HTGF, he was a successful entrepreneur himself and is now able to share his practical experience with start-ups. We sat down for a chat with him about the challenges of the sector, how HTGF is on the lookout for new innovations and why partnerships are especially important in this field.
Frank, your investments are focused
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German robotic Start-up is Ready to Shape the Future of Automation in Textile Industry
Munich, Germany, 9 August 2023 – Munich-based deep tech start-up sewts closed a €7m series A financing round with an impressive set of top tier investors on board. The funding round was dominated by international leading industrial and tech investors: Emerald Technology Ventures, CNB Capital, EquityPitcher Ventures and Nabtesco Technology Venture as new investors, as well as further contributions from existing shareholders Bayern Kapital, APEX Ventures and HTGF. With the new funding
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How the circular economy will change our world
Many companies are transforming their operations from a linear towards a more circular economy. The transformation process often takes a long time, is complex and costly. Developing and promoting the circular economy is not just beneficial for the environment, but obviously it creates the possibility of better and more sustainable access to raw materials in the long-term. It might help to reduce the dependency on international suppliers and can strengthen the own position in the v
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Start-up Stories with Betterfront: delighting customers!
How can technology help venture capital firms make better investments? We explore this question in the latest edition of Start-up Stories, HTGF’s short video format. Our guest is Michel Geolier, co-founder and CEO of Betterfront. The Munich-based investment technology company offers a fundraising and data analytics platform that enables fund managers to attract, engage and retain institutional investors. In doing so, Betterfront is creating the largest secondary market platform for LP
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Interview with Kenza Ait Si Abbou: emotional AI can read humans – even better than we can
Could machines soon be capable of understanding us better than other people? There’s a good chance they will, believes Kenza Ait Si Abbou Lyadini. Here in Germany, the engineer is one of the most well-known experts in artificial intelligence, or AI for short. In her latest book “Menschenversteher” (Understanding humans), she explores the development of emotional AI. We sat down for a chat shortly before her keynote speech at the HTGF Family Day in May. In the interview, we talked about
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Simone Menne in conversation: “We need to get back to basics again”
Simone Menne is one of the most important voices on the subject of innovation in Germany. She has a really good understanding of the business landscape in this country. Having previously held roles as CFO of Lufthansa and Boehringer Ingelheim, today she is an active member of multiple supervisory boards and shares her expertise with a wide audience. She will also be the keynote speaker at High-Tech Gründerfonds’ Family Day taking place on 9 and 10 May in Bonn. Ahead of the event, we sat d
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HTGF’s 700th investment: How oculai is revolutionising the construction industry
Marking High-Tech Gründerfonds’ 700th investment, the start-up oculai is revolutionising the construction industry with its innovative AI technology. Four of Germany’s five largest construction companies are already working with the construction tech start-up. We sat down for a chat with oculai founder Constantin Kauffmann and HTGF Senior Investment Management Dominik Lohle.
Constantin, congratulations on the successful financing round. Can you explain what oculai does exactly?
Blog
Start-up Stories: From student to CEO
Get started. Just do it. Don’t let the possible consequences put you off. These are important first steps when transforming your idea into a business model. This is something Julius Harling knows all about. Julius is the CEO and founder of Graswald, a start-up that specialises in the digitalization of plants, trees and other natural elements. For example, game developers and programmers can reproduce entire ecosystems in detail – for movies, for games and for the metaverse.
Julius
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Space for new ideas: investment in new space
In his earlier career, Christian Ziach used to work on space missions. Now, he’s investing in start-ups taking off into space. The HTGF Principal is viewed as an expert in the field of new space. In this interview, he talks about his latest investment, sheds light on the commercial use of space, highlights opportunities for start-ups, and he also reveals how he once helped to bring a rock sample from space down to Earth.
Christian, where does your fascination with space travel com
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MedTech Pitch Day 2023: Connecting Startups with Industry Leaders, Investors, and Decision-Makers
The MedTech Pitch Day, organised by HTGF, Dräger, B.Braun, Techniker Krankenkasse and the Health Innovation Port, is just around the corner. What can founders expect at the event and why should they definitely apply? We spoke to Anke Cassing, Principal at HTGF, and Jakob Lilienweiss, Investment Analyst at HTGF, to find out.
The MedTech Pitch Day will take place on March 29th in Berlin. Can you tell us more about the event and what founders can expect?
Anke: The event has develop