JUPUS Completes Successful Seed Round of €6.5 Million – Acton Capital as Lead Investor

The Cologne-based Legal Tech startup JUPUS has raised €6.5 million in funding. The seed round was led by Acton Capital and existing investors such as HTGF (High-Tech Gründerfonds) and business angels.

With this fresh capital, JUPUS plans to further develop its product, expand its market share, and shape the future of legal work. Already, hundreds of law firms are using JUPUS’s AI software to automate tasks through Artificial Intelligence.

AI Takes Over the Lawyer’s Daily Routine
JUPUS offers the first fully automated AI solution for law firms that not only automates administrative tasks but also communicates directly with clients. JUPUS’s AI secretary is unique in the market: It enables law firms to manage their processes from the first call to the final legal document entirely through AI. Standard processes are not only digitized but fully automated. Hundreds of law firms in Germany are already successfully using the solution in their daily work. JUPUS addresses the industry’s most pressing challenge: the growing shortage of skilled workers.

The Answer to the Industry’s Biggest Problem The increasing shortage of legal assistants is pushing law firms to their limits. Delayed response times, dissatisfied clients, and overwhelmed teams are the consequences. JUPUS addresses this issue by having AI take over time-consuming tasks, ignificantly relieving the law firm staff.

Currently, law firms using JUPUS save an average of 40 work hours per month, and by 2026, this number is expected to increase to over 100 hours per month thanks to new AI functionalities. This allows law firms to better utilize their limited resources, increase client satisfaction, and remain operational despite the shortage of skilled workers. Tasks that once took hours are now completed in seconds with JUPUS, making efficiency the new standard in law firm operations.

“We are at the beginning of a new era for the legal market,” says René Fergen, founder and CEO of JUPUS. “Artificial Intelligence will fundamentally change how legal work is organized and executed – with entirely new opportunities for law firms. With JUPUS, we are leading this transformation and enabling law firms to radically simplify and accelerate their workflows. Our goal is to mitigate the growing shortage of skilled workers and give law teams the freedom to focus again on what really matters: advising their clients.”

JUPUS Automates What Law Firms Used to Need Entire Teams For
Unlike previous solutions, JUPUS covers the entire process of law firm work – from the first client contact to the final legal document. The AI software communicates directly with clients, handles administrative tasks, coordinates appointments, and creates required documents. JUPUS is the first legal AI solution to fully integrate client communication, mandate preparation, and document drafting in one platform, fundamentally redefining law firm operations.

New Funding to Expand the AI Solution in Law Firms Since its founding in 2022, the team, led by founders René Fergen and Jannis Gebauer, has already supported hundreds of law firms in Germany, helping them process their client requests with JUPUS. With this new funding, the company will continue developing its AI software and expand its market share.

Acton Capital, one of Europe’s leading investors in digital business models, is confident in the vision and potential of JUPUS: “The legal market is undergoing a transformation, and JUPUS is ideally positioned to lead this change. The team has impressively shown how legal processes can be automated using AI – resulting in massive efficiency gains for law firms. We see JUPUS as having the potential to set a new standard in the legal world. We look forward to supporting the team on this journey,” explains Fritz Oidtmann, Managing Partner at Acton Capital.

In addition to JUPUS, Acton Capital has supported well-known companies such as the leading e-commerce platform Etsy and the Canadian legal tech company Clio. JUPUS had previously raised €1.3 million in a pre-seed round from the High-Tech Gründerfonds and business angels such as Micha Grüber (Co-Founder 1KOMMA5) and Kilian Kaminski (Co-Founder Refurbed). With the current round of €6.5 million, this amount has now been quintupled, marking a significant step in the company’s expansion.

About JUPUS
JUPUS develops the first AI secretary specifically for law firms, enabling law teams to comprehensively automate their workflows. From the first call to the final legal document, JUPUS supports all central process steps fully through AI. Already, hundreds of law firms rely on JUPUS’s AI secretary.

About Acton Capital
Acton Capital is an international venture capital firm with offices in Munich and Vancouver. Since 1999, the team has been investing in technology-based business models from Europe and North America. With over two decades of experience and a deep understanding of digital transformation, Acton Capital has supported more than 100 startups, including global leaders such as Alphasights, Clio, HomeToGo, and Mambu. For more information, visit www.actoncapital.com.

About HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds 
HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing start-ups in the fields of Deep Tech, Industrial Tech, Climate Tech, Digital Tech, Life Sciences and Chemistry. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports start-ups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in pre-seed and seed phases and can participate significantly in later-stage financing rounds. Across its funds, HTGF has over 2 billion euros under management. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed more than 770 start-ups and achieved almost 200 successful exits.  
Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices.  
For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn.   

Media contact 
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH 
Tobias Jacob, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager  
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 121
t.jacob@htgf.de   

HTGF backs Emerge Tech: AI Agents empower SMEs facing skilled worker shortage

• HTGF invests in Emerge Tech, which uses AI agents to make employers more visible, improve the quality of applicants and reduce recruitment costs significantly.
• Proof of impact: 40% better applicant matching, 87% cheaper than agencies and 54% less HR effort.
• Seed round in preparation: Emerge is developing the leading AI platform for employer branding and people experience in medium-sized businesses.
• Signal-sending founding team: combining tech innovation, HR vision and growth expertise, a Babbel co-founder, the founder of DEBA and an international scale-up architect are set to achieve new heights.

High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and the Heimatboost investment community are investing in Emerge Tech GmbH, a Berlin-based HR tech start-up that uses AI-powered employer branding to put SMEs on an equal footing with large corporations by making the process more accessible, automated and effective. The investment will fund the development of the platform and prepare the seed round.

“To solve the skills shortage, we must start with employers. Our AI agents will create game-changing opportunities, finally enabling smaller teams to stand out as employers and reshape HR.”

Daniel Braun, Co-Founder & CEO, Emerge

AI against the skills shortage: highly efficient and genuinely authentic.

Although the shortage is not expected to peak until 2035, companies are already struggling to establish a presence in the labour market. Rather than relying on agencies, Emerge uses AI: Creative Carla defines your identity and message, while Channel Charly delivers them to the right channels based on data — precisely, measurably and scalably. What was once only available to large corporations with big budgets is now accessible to medium-sized companies too, with measurable success: a 40% better fit between people and organisation, 87% lower costs compared to agencies and 54% less effort in everyday recruitment. Thanks to AI, employer branding is no longer a one-off campaign, but an ongoing dialogue between companies and potential employees.

“Employer branding has long been a privilege reserved for big brands. However, talent doesn’t make decisions based on budget; authenticity wins. That’s exactly where our AI comes in.”

Reiner Kriegler, Co-Founder & CPO, Emerge

Strategy & Outlook

Until the end of 2025, Emerge’s focus will be on improving product quality and increasing user numbers with Carla and Charly, with the aim of creating a scalable, robust AI agent model. A seed round is planned for late 2025, after which the focus will shift towards internationalisation. At the same time, a new line of agents is being developed to support the entire people experience, from onboarding to performance management.

“The complementary and experienced founding team at Emerge immediately impressed us. Their blend of HR expertise and technological know-how is precisely what is required to facilitate the long-term digital transformation of medium-sized businesses. We are delighted to support Emerge on this journey as an investor.”

Christian Arndt, Principal at HTGF

Founding team

• Daniel Braun scaled the HR tech start-up WorkGenius to £150 million in revenue in the US and is now CEO of Emerge.
• Wolf Reiner Kriegler: Employer branding pioneer and founder of the German Employer Branding Academy. Now CPO of Emerge.
• Thomas Holl is the co-founder of the language learning app Babbel and is now the CTO of Emerge.

With Emerge Tech, they are bringing technology to employers in need of real change.

About Emerge Tech
Founded in Berlin in 2024, Emerge Tech GmbH develops specialised AI agents that digitise and enhance the employer attractiveness of small and medium-sized businesses faster, more efficiently and more affordably than any agency service. In 2025, the focus will be on user growth and product maturity, followed by international expansion in 2026 with new agents covering the entire people experience. Find out more about AI agents at emerge-tech.io.

Media contact
Emerge Tech GmbH
Reiner Kriegler
Co-Founder & CPO
E-Mail: reiner@emerge-tech.io

About HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds
HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing startups in the fields of Deep Tech, Industrial Tech, Climate Tech, Digital Tech, Life Sciences and Chemistry. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports startups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in pre-seed and seed phases and can participate significantly in later-stage financing rounds. Across its funds, HTGF has over 2 billion euros under management. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed more than 770 startups and achieved almost 200 successful exits.  
Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices.  
For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn.   

Media contact
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Tobias Jacob, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 121
t.jacob@htgf.de  

desk.ly secures seven-figure funding for the future of hybrid workplaces

Osnabrück-based start-up desk.ly, provider of an AI-powered platform for modern workplace management, announces the successful closing of a seven-figure financing round from HTGF for its next growth phase. With the new capital, desk.ly will expand its AI capabilities, improve data analysis and strengthen its market position through strategic partnerships in the furniture, construction and workplace consulting sectors.

Strong demand for intelligent workplace solutions

desk.ly addresses the growing challenges of hybrid working models with features such as desk sharing, smart booking suggestions and data-driven office management. Based on past bookings, teammates’ workspace choices and individual needs and preferences, desk.ly suggests the optimal workspace.

Hybrid working models offer companies new opportunities for efficient office use

With desk.ly’s desk sharing software, you can reduce vacancies, optimise resources and make office space more flexible – whether through more compact space planning or subletting. More efficiency, less unused space.

Since its founding in 2021, desk.ly has been helping companies transition to hybrid working models. With over 1,000 customers, including Eurowings, Funke Medien Gruppe, OMR, Volksbank and Fraunhofer, and more than 100,000 active users, desk.ly is one of the leading platforms for intelligent workplace management in Europe. The team now consists of around 40 employees.

Felix Mohr, CEO and founder of desk.ly, says: “In the new world of work, efficiency, flexibility and data intelligence are the keys to success. That’s why we’re building desk.ly – together with our customers and based on our belief that every workplace should be smart, sustainable and people-centric.”

More efficiency, less cost

Desk sharing software helps companies reduce their energy costs, optimise their building structure and tailor services to their needs. Flexible space planning and optimised space utilisation create a more efficient office infrastructure that not only improves resource utilisation, but also reduces operating costs in the long term – a clear gain in efficiency and a quick return on investment (ROI).

Optimise space and reduce costs

Hybrid working models and shared desks mean that offices are on average 40% less occupied. This unused space offers huge savings potential – from reduced rental and energy costs to lower cleaning and catering expenses. desk.ly helps companies turn this potential into concrete financial benefits and sustainably reduce their operating costs.

In addition to reducing rental costs, desk.ly can also optimise ancillary costs such as energy, cleaning and food – benefiting the company’s bottom line and contributing to sustainability.

Next steps: AI features and scaling

desk.ly will use the funding to further develop its AI-based features, such as personalised booking recommendations and intelligent agents. desk.ly will also focus on strategic partnerships with leading brands in the furniture, construction and workplace consultancy industries to create a holistic solution for its customers.

desk.ly has achieved strong growth with impressive capital efficiency and has successfully positioned itself in a dynamic market. We are excited to accompany the strong team on its journey and believe that desk.ly will play a key role in shaping the future of work environments,’ said Maurice Kügler, Senior Investment Manager at HTGF. 

About desk.ly
desk.ly is the AI-powered workplace management platform that organises hybrid work environments in an efficient, sustainable and user-centric way – from desk sharing and smart booking recommendations to data-driven office management. For over two years, desk.ly has been the category leader in workplace management and desk booking on platforms such as OMR Reviews. Further information: www.desk.ly

About HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds 
HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing startups in the fields of Deep Tech, Industrial Tech, Climate Tech, Digital Tech, Life Sciences and Chemistry. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports startups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in pre-seed and seed phases and can participate significantly in later-stage financing rounds. Across its funds, HTGF has over 2 billion euros under management. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed more than 770 startups and achieved almost 200 successful exits.
Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices.  
For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn.   

Media contact 
Tobias Jacob, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager  
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 121 
t.jacob@htgf.de

7Learnings Secures €10M+ Series B to Accelerate Global Expansion of Its Retail AI Platform

• 7Learnings secured €10 million in Series B funding to advance its predictive pricing and retail optimization technology, and to scale in North America and beyond.
• The round was led by Acton Capital, renowned for its investments in companies such as Etsy, mytheresa, Clio, and SoSafe, with the continued backing from High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF).
• The funding comes amidst renewed supply chain uncertainties due to the impact of US tariffs, highlighting the value of 7Learnings’ predictive pricing and retail optimization solutions in driving measurable business outcomes.

7Learnings, the leading provider of AI-powered retail optimization technology, today announced the successful close of its Series B funding round, securing over €10 million in new investment. The funding round was led by Acton Capital, one of Europe’s leading venture capital funds with a focus on technology start-ups. The existing investor High-Tech Gründerfonds also participated in the round, renewing their commitment. The funding will accelerate 7Learnings’ international expansion, with a strategic focus on entering the North American market.

Unlike many high-growth tech startups, 7Learnings has reached profitability ahead of its Series B round, underscoring the strength and scalability of its business model. This new investment is earmarked entirely for growth, allowing the company to capitalize on its momentum and rapidly extend its global footprint.

“We’ve built a profitable business by delivering measurable results for our customers,” said Felix Hoffmann, CEO and Co-Founder of 7Learnings. “Amidst trade uncertainties, persistent inflation, and global supply chain challenges, better decision intelligence has become business-critical for brands and e-commerce merchants. This investment allows us to bring our technology to even more retailers worldwide, with North America as our next major focus.”

7Learnings has emerged as a clear market leader in AI-driven pricing, trusted by leading global retailers and validated through hundreds of A/B tests. The company’s Retail AI platform goes beyond dynamic pricing, offering predictive capabilities that align marketing campaigns with pricing strategies and optimize product orders, unlocking full-margin potential across the value chain.

“With the continued pressure from inflation and shifting consumer behavior, as well as the renewed impact of U.S. tariffs on our sourcing and pricing strategy, 7Learnings has been instrumental in helping us navigate these challenges. Its AI-powered pricing and retail optimization tools allow us to adapt quickly, make smarter pricing decisions, and protect our margins without compromising on brand integrity or customer experience,” says Timo Bethlehem, Managing Director at meinemarkenmode.de. The fashion retailer has been working with 7Learnings for 5 years, achieving a 13% revenue increase by leveraging predictive pricing.

With its unique ability to synchronize pricing, marketing, and ordering decisions through machine learning, 7Learnings empowers retailers to make smarter, faster, and more profitable decisions at scale.

“Pricing is one of the most powerful levers for driving profitability in e-commerce. What impressed us about 7Learnings is their state-of-the-art proprietary AI technology, which consistently outperforms the competition. They’ve already established themselves as the market leader in Germany, and we’re excited to support their international expansion,” says Sebastian Wossagk, managing partner at Acton Capital.

“At a time when AI has seemingly infused any technology-driven business, it is more important than ever to look at its ROI. The AI applications provided by 7Learnings deliver a clear and tangible effect on their customers’ bottom line. We have been impressed with the leadership’s vision and drive, and are happy to double down on our investment,” adds Martin Möllmann, Principal at HTGF.

About 7Learnings
7Learnings provides an AI-powered retail optimization platform for B2C companies, pioneering the overarching optimization of pricing, performance marketing, and product ordering. With 7Learnings’ machine learning algorithm, retailers and brands can predict the impact of pricing decisions, determine the optimal price for all products, and reduce manual labor by up to 80 percent. The solution has been rigorously tested in numerous A/B experiments and consistently delivers measurable performance improvements and profit increases of more than ten percent.

7Learnings was founded in Berlin in 2019 by Felix Hoffmann, Eiko van Hettinga, and Martin Nowak. Its clients include international companies such as Westwing, Bonprix, Tom Tailor, Tamaris, and DK Company

About HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds  
HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing startups in the fields of Deep Tech, Industrial Tech, Climate Tech, Digital Tech, Life Sciences and Chemistry. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports startups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in pre-seed and seed phases and can participate significantly in later-stage financing rounds. Across its funds, HTGF has over 2 billion euros under management. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed more than 770 startups and achieved almost 200 successful exits.   

Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices.   For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn.    
 
Media contact  
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH  
Tobias Jacob, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager   
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 121  
t.jacob@htgf.de    

Eyeo raises €15 million seed round to give cameras perfect eyesight

Breakthrough color-splitting photonics innovation triples light sensitivity and breaks sensor resolution limits for a new era in ultra-compact, high-performance imaging

• Light carries everything in an image – and yet, all 10 billion image sensors sold yearly are 70% blind because of decades-old color filtering technology.
• Eyeo replaces traditional filters with advanced color-splitting technology originating from imec, world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. For the first time, photons are not filtered but guided to single pixels, delivering maximum light sensitivity and unprecedented native color fidelity, even in challenging lighting conditions.
• Compatible with any sensor, eyeo’s single photon guiding technology breaks resolution limits – enabling truly effective sub-0.5-micron pixels for ultra-compact, high-resolution imaging in XR, industrial, security, and mobile applications – where image quality is the top purchasing driver.

eyeo today announced it has raised €15 million in seed funding, co-led by imec.xpand, Invest-NL, joined by QBIC fund, High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and Brabant Development Agency (BOM). Eyeo revolutionizes the imaging market for consumer, industrial, XR and security applications by drastically increasing the light sensitivity of image sensors. This breakthrough unlocks picture quality, color accuracy, resolution, and cost efficiency, which was never before possible in smartphones and beyond.

The €15 million raised will drive evaluation kit development, prepare for scale manufacturing of a first sensor product, and expand commercial partnerships to bring this breakthrough imaging technology to market.

The Problem: Decades-old color filter technology throws away 70% of light, crippling sensor performance

For decades, image sensors have relied on the application of red, green, and blue color filters on pixels to make your everyday color picture or video.  Color filters, however, block a large portion of the incoming light, and thereby limit the sensitivity of the camera. Furthermore, they limit the scaling of the pixel size below ~0.5 micron. These longstanding issues have stalled advancements in camera technology, constraining both image quality and sensor efficiency. In smartphone cameras, manufacturers have compensated for this limitation by increasing the sensor -and thus camera- size, to capture more light. While this improves low-light performance, it also leads to larger, bulkier cameras. Compact, high-sensitivity image sensors are essential for slimmer smartphones and emerging applications such as robotics and AR/VR devices, where size, power efficiency, and image quality are crucial.

The Breakthrough: Color-splitting via vertical waveguides

Eyeo introduces a novel image sensor architecture that eliminates the need for traditional color filters, making it possible to maximize sensitivity without increasing sensor size. Leveraging breakthrough vertical waveguide-based technology that splits light into colors, eyeo develops sensors that efficiently capture and utilize all incoming light, tripling sensitivity compared to existing technologies. This is particularly valuable in low-light environments, where current sensors struggle to gather enough light for clear, reliable imaging. Additionally, unlike traditional filters that block certain colors (information that is then interpolated through software processing), eyeo’s waveguide technology allows pixels to receive complete color data. This approach instantly doubles resolution, delivering sharper, more detailed images for applications that demand precision, such as computational photography, machine vision, and spatial computing.

Jeroen Hoet, CEO of eyeo: “Eyeo is fundamentally redefining image sensing by eliminating decades-old limitations. Capturing all incoming light and drastically improving resolution is just the start—this technology paves the way for entirely new applications in imaging, from ultra-compact sensors to enhanced low-light performance, ultra-high resolution, and maximum image quality. We’re not just improving existing systems; we’re creating a new standard for the future of imaging.”

Market Readiness and Roadmap

Eyeo has already established partnerships with leading image sensor manufacturers and foundries to ensure the successful commercialization of its technology. The €15M seed funding will be used to improve its current camera sensor designs further, optimizing the waveguide technology for production scalability and accelerating the development of prototypes for evaluation. By working closely with industry leaders, eyeo aims to bring its advanced camera sensors to a wide range of applications, from smartphones and VR glasses to any compact device that uses color cameras. The first evaluation kits are expected to be available for selected customers within the next two years. Eyeo is headquartered in Eindhoven (NL), with an R&D office in Leuven (BE).

Anne Umbach, Investment Manager at HTGF, says: “Eyeo’s cutting-edge technology, which allows for more precise color detection and outstanding image quality even in low-light conditions, positions the company as a potential European tech champion. With a highly innovative technology and a strong, complementary and experienced team, Eyeo is well-equipped to establish a global presence in the expanding surveillance and security market, as well as in the smartphone industry.”

About eyeo
Eyeo is redefining imaging with the world’s most advanced nanophotonic color-splitting technology. For the first time, image sensors can capture all of incoming light, overcoming the current 30% limit imposed by decades-old color filter technology. Instead of filtering photons, Eyeo’s breakthrough technology guides them directly to individual pixels, unlocking full light sensitivity and native color fidelity, even in the most challenging conditions. Compatible with any CMOS sensor platform, Eyeo’s single-photon guiding capability also breaks resolution barriers, enabling sub-0.5-micron pixels for ultra-compact, high-performance imaging in XR, industrial, security, and mobile applications where image quality is critical.

Learn more at www.eyeo-imaging.com

This operation benefits from the support from the European Union under the InvestEU Fund

Press Contact

PR-Agentur: Mike Sottak // +1 650 248-9597 // mike@wiredislandpr.com 

Eyeo: press@eyeo-imaging.com

About HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds 
HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing start-ups in the fields of Deep Tech, Industrial Tech, Climate Tech, Digital Tech, Life Sciences and Chemistry. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports start-ups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in pre-seed and seed phases and can participate significantly in later-stage financing rounds. Across its funds, HTGF has over 2 billion euros under management. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed more than 770 start-ups and achieved almost 200 successful exits.  
Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices.  
For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn.   

Media contact 
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH 
Tobias Jacob, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager  
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 121
t.jacob@htgf.de   

eeden Closes €18M Series A Financing to Scale its Breakthrough Textile Recycling Technology

German tech startup eeden, which has developed a groundbreaking textile recycling technology, announces the completion of its €18 million Series A funding round.

The round was led by Forbion, a leading venture capital firm based in The Netherlands, through its BioEconomy Fund. Also joining as new investors are Henkel Ventures, the strategic venture capital fund of Henkel, with deep expertise in surface and coating technologies through its consumer and industrial business, and NRW.Venture, the Venture Fund of NRW.BANK, North Rhine-Westphalia´s development bank. All existing investors reinvested in the round, including the venture capital investors TechVision Fund (TVF), High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and D11Z. Ventures – the early-stage nvestment arm of the family office of Dieter Schwarz. The funding will enable eeden to build its demonstration plant in Münster, optimize large-scale processing, and establish commercial projects with key players in the textile industry.

A major step toward circularity

Ongoing challenges including rising costs, scarcity of resources, material volatility, and growing regulatory hurdles continue to strain the textile industry. To remain competitive, brands and manufacturers are increasingly looking for textile materials that combine high performance, scalability, and circularity at price parity. eeden addresses this need with its breakthrough in chemical recycling technology that recovers pure cellulose and PET building blocks (monomers) from cotton-polyester blends. Their products can be used to produce virgin-quality lyocell, viscose, and polyester fibers thereby offering a resource-efficient alternative to conventional fibers and unlocking new circular value chains.

Steffen Gerlach, CEO & Co-Founder of eeden: “Over the past few years, we have developed a proven solution that has the potential to meet the industry’s long-term need for cost-efficient and high-performing circular materials. We are proud that our new and existing investors believe in our approach and share our vision. With their support, we are ready to scale our technology and turn textile waste into materials the industry truly needs.”

With increasing textile waste comes increased regulation. As of January 2025, EU member states are required to implement separate collection systems for used textiles. eeden’s technology provides a pragmatic solution that is capable of processing complex blended materials.

Alex Hoffmann, General Partner at Forbion noted, “eeden has developed a pioneering solution that can make large-scale textile recycling not only technologically feasible, but also commercially viable in the near future. We see tremendous potential in their approach and are excited to support the team as they bring this breakthrough technology to industrial scale.”

Björn Lang, Partner TVF, “As an early investor, it’s great to see how the team has turned a vision into a validated process and strong strategic partnerships. The progress they’ve made shows what’s possible when the right people and strong science meet real customer needs. We’re excited to keep backing the team as they scale their impact.”

Nik Raupp, Principal at HTGF: “The founders of Eeden have consistently achieved impressive results over the past three years. They have exceeded their ambitious targets and gained new strategic partners. My expectations have been more than fulfilled, and I am therefore looking forward with great anticipation to our future collaboration and the promising developments of the years to come.”

The new eeden demonstration facility in Münster, Germany follows the successful technology validation of its pilot plant with industrial partners. This €18 million Series A financing will enable the company to optimize large-scale processing and establish commercial projects with key players in the textile industry.

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About eeden
eeden is a tech company based in Münster, Germany, pioneering the chemical recycling of cotton-polyester textiles. Founded in 2019, eeden has developed a breakthrough technology that efficiently separates and recovers cellulose and PET monomers, which fiber producers transform into virgin-quality lyocell, viscose, and polyester fibers – enabling the transition toward a fully circular textile industry. Find out more at eeden.world

About Forbion
Forbion is a leading global venture capital firm with deep expertise in Europe and offices in Naarden, The Netherlands, Munich, Germany and Boston, USA. Forbion invests in innovative biotech companies, managing approximately €5 billion across multiple fund strategies that cover all stages of (bio-) pharmaceutical drug development. In addition, Forbion leverages its biotech expertise beyond human health to address ‘planetary health’ challenges through its BioEconomy fund strategy, which invests in companies developing sustainable solutions in food, agriculture, materials, and environmental technologies. Forbion’s team consists of over 30 investment professionals that have built an impressive performance track record since the late nineties with 128 investments across 11 funds. Forbion’s record of sourcing, building and guiding life sciences companies has resulted in many approved breakthrough therapies and valuable exits. Forbion typically selects impactful investments that will positively affect the health and well-being of people and the planet, as well as meet its financial return objectives. The firm is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment. Forbion operates a joint venture with BGV, the manager of seed and early-stage funds, especially focused on Benelux and Germany.

About Henkel Ventures
Henkel Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of Henkel, following a balanced approach with strategic fit and solid financial return. The venture unit partners with start-ups for co-innovation and invests in early-stage, late seed until B rounds in the areas of Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Adhesive Technologies, Sustainability and Digital Commerce. Find out more at Henkel Ventures

About NRW.Venture
NRW.Venture is the venture capital fund of NRW.BANK. In this way, the promotional bank for North RhineWestphalia responds to the scarce supply of financing for young, innovative and often technology-oriented companies, which often do not have sufficient access to loans. Their main asset is a new market idea – which is why their chances of success are often difficult to assess. Together with private-sector investors, NRW.Venture invests up to 15 million euros of equity in such start-ups over several financing rounds – typically from the second round onwards – with NRW.BANK taking a minority stake with a term of three to seven years. But the Bank not only provides capital – an experienced team is the key to joint success. NRW.Venture’s investment professionals have many years of venture capital experience, often complemented by technology and start-up experience, and use their expertise and network to ensure that start-ups have the best chances of success.

About TVF
TechVision Fund (TVF) is a leading early-stage VC fund from Aachen, Germany – with a focus on technology start-ups in the pre-seed to Series A phases. TVF focuses on outstanding teams from the Rhineland region, including the neighbouring Netherlands and Belgium. The TVF management has experience from four fund generations and currently has over € 100 million in assets under management. The funds are backed by strong investors such as NRW.BANK, eight savings banks (Sparkassen) from western NRW and more than 15 successful entrepreneurs.
The TVF supports start-up teams with proximity, network and expertise and paves the way for them to become the next international industry leader. Through the S-UBG Group network, the TVF offers unique access to over 150 successful companies in various industries and establishes contacts between start-ups and their first customers, partners and consultants.
TVF – Brain | Cash | Proximity
Find out more at www.tvf.vc

About D11Z. Ventures
D11Z. Ventures is a dynamic early-stage investor specializing in digital and AI startups across Germany and Europe. As a single-family-office VC, D11Z. Ventures pursues the vision of shaping the digital future as a leading European investor in AI, IoT, and SaaS. With deep experience, expertise, and agility, D11Z. Ventures drives digital transformation and maintains strong ties to tech-focused SMEs and global market leaders. At its core, the D11Z. Ventures seeks out founders with visionary ideas to sustainably shape the digital future. True to its motto “Shaping Tomorrow, Today,” D11Z. Ventures brings visionary ideas to life today.
Learn more at https://d11z.com/

About HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds  
HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing start-ups in the fields of Deep Tech, Industrial Tech, Climate Tech, Digital Tech, Life Sciences and Chemistry. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports start-ups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in pre-seed and seed phases and can participate significantly in later-stage financing rounds. Across its funds, HTGF has over 2 billion euros under management. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed more than 770 start-ups and achieved almost 200 successful exits.   
Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices.   
For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn.    

Media contact  
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH  
Tobias Jacob, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager   
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 121 
t.jacob@htgf.de    

DXI takes customer interaction to a new level: Pre-seed financing secures AI leadership in the field of “digital customer twins” 

• DXI GmbH secures significant pre-seed financing from HTGF and business angels to scale its PersonaX® AI platform.  
• The platform enables realistic, interactive “digital customer twins” based on LIA technology and >70% cost savings in market research. 
• With PersonaX®, companies can act proactively, realistically, and in real time from the customer’s perspective – a milestone for customer experience and insights.  
• “Our vision is a realistic dialogue with every digital B2B or B2C customer twin,” say founders Frank Rauchfuß and Stefan Trebbin.  

The Munich-based deep tech startup DXI GmbH has received strong funding in a pre-seed financing round. Investors include the High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) as well as several renowned business angels from the AI and SaaS sectors. The VentureCon networking event organized by BayStartUP brought the founding team and investors together. With the fresh capital, DXI plans to further develop its AI platform PersonaX®, which enables companies for the first time to engage in dialogue with dynamic, adaptive “Digital Customer Twins” at any time. These Customer Twins can support in conducting A/B tests,  develop marketing campaigns, or optimize sales and support processes – in real time and based on deep customer insights. In doing so, it anticipates customer reactions, reflects authentic user behavior, and helps companies make decisions consistently from the customer’s perspective. The DXI team is pursuing a radical change in perspective: true customer centricity means consistently thinking and acting from the customer’s point of view. What if the customer could develop go-to-market measures, product ideas, or user-specific operating instructions themselves? It’s possible with digital technology, and that’s where DXI comes in with PersonaX®. 

“We wanted to keep customer knowledge available at all times and make it accessible for dialogue so that it can be used realistically in digital applications and scaled easily,” says Stefan Trebbin, co-founder and CAIO (Chief AI Officer) of DXI GmbH.  

The solution: a digital customer twin that not only observes but also actively shapes the process. PersonaX® takes on real use cases, generates deep customer insights in real time, and can take on assigned tasks—for example, as an “AI advisor” in product development, marketing, or customer success. Based on the proprietary AI Latent Insights Amplifier (LIA) platform, leading AI technologies are combined with an excellent user experience, enabling companies to make decisions from the customer’s perspective – at any time, based on data, and with empathy. “Thanks to its proprietary LIA technology, PersonaX® delivers models that are up to 20 times more efficient with over 90% accuracy – a technological quantum leap compared to conventional simulation tools,” explains Stefan Trebbin.  

In addition to digital customer twins, PersonaX® also maps expert twins and enables the automation of entire processes in B2B and B2C application areas – from innovation management to CRM and customer support.  

“Our vision is to use PersonaX® to create lifelike, adaptive B2B and B2C customer twins that enable companies not only to better understand customer expectations, but also to optimize their offerings and anticipate behavior,” says Frank Rauchfuß, co-founder and CEO of DXI GmbH. “By using digital customer twins, we are able to reduce costs by more than 70% and reduce time-to-insight by 90%.”  

Johannes Dierkes, Investment Manager at HTGF, comments: “At DXI, a very well-connected, experienced, and technically knowledgeable founding team has found an attractive market. The possible applications of this solution are enormously diverse. We see great potential for DXI’s digital twins to become a must-have tool in a wide range of business areas.”  

According to Gartner Inc., the market for digital customer twins is on the verge of a major transformation: within the next five to ten years, almost all companies are expected to use digital twins of their customers. As the recent winner of Startup of the Week 2025, the iF Design Award 2024 and the AI Paper Award from TU Dresden, DXI confirms its role as a technological innovation leader – also in a European comparison.  

With this pre-seed financing, DXI plans to take the next step toward fully autonomous customer twins, setting new standards for digital customer dialogue with a unique comination of real-time capability, dialogue depth and technological maturity.  

Dr. Carsten Rudolph, Managing Director at BayStartUP, comments: “The DXI team combines entrepreneurial experience with a clear eye for digital efficiency levers. Their solution has the potential to become the standard for data-driven optimization in companies – a real toolkit for the future of digital transformation. We are delighted to have HTGF on board as an experienced investor who will now play a key role in driving the growth of this promising start-up.”  

About DXI GmbH 
DXI GmbH was founded on October 1, 2024, in Munich and specializes in AI-driven customer twins. With its PersonaX® platform, the startup offers companies a revolutionary way to interact with digital representations of their customers on eye level – dynamically, realistically, and in real time. The company’s proprietary Latent Insight Amplifier (LIA) technology combines deep data analysis with intuitive UX and leading AI. In addition to customer twins, the platform also trains expert twins and automates complex business processes. DXI has been honored with the iF Design Award 2024, among other awards, and is one of the innovation leaders in the field of “digital customer twins.” Frank Rauchfuß and Stefan Trebbin are AI pioneers with experience from over 800 projects in the B2B/B2C sector. 

Media contact 
DXI GmbH 
Frank Rauchfuß, CEO  
Email: founder@dx-i.com 
Website: www.dx-i.com 
Taufkirchen near Munich, Germany 

About HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds  
HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing start-ups in the fields of Deep Tech, Industrial Tech, Climate Tech, Digital Tech, Life Sciences and Chemistry. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports start-ups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in pre-seed and seed phases and can participate significantly in later-stage financing rounds. Across its funds, HTGF has over 2 billion euros under management. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed more than 770 start-ups and achieved almost 200 successful exits.   
Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices.   
For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn.    

Media contact  
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH  
Tobias Jacob, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager   
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 121 
t.jacob@htgf.de    

ATMOS Space Cargo Conducts First Re-Entry Mission from Space early on its way to building a leading return logistics platform with its Innovative Return Capsule

• ATMOS Space Cargo meets critical mission objectives during first flight of its PHOENIX 1 prototype, launched as part of SpaceX’s Bandwagon-3 mission.
• ATMOS tested its innovative Inflatable Heat Shield technology early under realistic flight conditions, as part if its rapid prototyping approach.
• This mission marks a significant step forward to efficient and sovereign European return capacities.
• PHOENIX 2 development is underway, with a test flight planned for 2026.

A European Milestone in Re-Entry Technology

This flight establishes ATMOS as the fastest-moving private space logistics company in Europe to conduct an orbital return mission. It also demonstrates that sovereign return capabilities are within reach – and that private industry is ready to lead in building Europe’s independent space infrastructure.

“PHOENIX 1 delivered on its objectives and our roadmap. Dedicated people show up, go to work and get results – we are not here to guess. Completing this mission with a flight-ready capsule in such a short time frame is a major validation of our design and approach under real conditions,” said Sebastian Klaus, CEO and Co-Founder of ATMOS.

“As a side effect it gave proof that we are able to conduct a multinational operation to create a valuable and inspiring outcome across the entire team and beyond.  We’re on track to build PHOENIX 2 – a next gen capsule capable of setting its own return trajectory, unlocking the most flexible, cost-efficient and reliable end-to-end space logistics platform in the space industry.”

Mission Summary

Launch & De-Orbit Maneuver

PHOENIX 1 launched into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40), Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida at 20:48 local time, as part of the Bandwagon-3 rideshare mission.

Following injection into a 45° inclination orbit, the capsule completed one full orbit.

A planned de-orbit burn by the Falcon 9 upper stage over Los Angeles, California, then placed PHOENIX 1 on its return trajectory.

Re-entry & Data Recovery

Following upper stage separation, PHOENIX 1 began its return trajectory, transmitting critical system and payload data to ground stations the ATMOS ground segment team set up across South America.

As planned, the capsule performed initial inflation of its heat shield before entering Earth’s atmosphere at the Entry Interface Point (EIP) approximately two hours post-launch south-east of the Brazilian coast.

Due to a recent trajectory update and extended splashdown distance (~2,000 km off the coast), recovery was not planned – effected by the increased distance from  available marine infrastructure.

ATMOS’ current roadmap for PHOENIX 2 confirms to feature its own propulsion system, enabling the capsule to choose its re-entry trajectory and splashdown zone, enabling swift recovery.

“We designed PHOENIX 1 to move fast without compromising core reliability, fundamental for any spacecraft. Thanks to the experience and fast problem solving skill set our team brings to the workshop, we achieved flight qualification in record time. Building and launching a space-ready capsule in under a year required tight iteration and testing, good communication, and a team spirit beyond expectations. This flight – and the engineering process that led us here – taught us valuable lessons on the design of the next iteration, PHOENIX 2” says Christian Grimm, Lead Systems Engineer and Co-Founder at ATMOS Space Cargo.

Christian Ziach, Principal at HTGF and board member at ATMOS, commented: “Watching the launch of the first demonstration flight of Atmos Space Cargo live in Cape Canaveral, seeing how the spacecraft is separated and then looking at the first telemetry data was pure goosebumps. Congratulations to the entire team of Atmos Space Cargo. You have done a great job!”

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About ATMOS Space Cargo
ATMOS Space Cargo GmbH develops cutting-edge technology to enable the return of cargo from space. Its services encompass microgravity experiments, commercial payloads and support for spacecraft reusability. ATMOS bridges the gap between Earth and low Earth orbit, driving industrial innovation with sustainable solutions.

The PHOENIX capsule represents a groundbreaking platform for Earth-to-Space-to-Earth logistics, designed for a wide variety of applications.

About HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds 
HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing start-ups in the fields of Deep Tech, Industrial Tech, Climate Tech, Digital Tech, Life Sciences and Chemistry. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports start-ups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in pre-seed and seed phases and can participate significantly in later-stage financing rounds. Across its funds, HTGF has over 2 billion euros under management. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed more than 770 start-ups and achieved almost 200 successful exits.  
Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices.  
For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn.   

Media contact 
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH 
Tobias Jacob, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager  
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 121
t.jacob@htgf.de   

node.energy raises €15 million in Series B financing

The Frankfurt-based software company node.energy has raised €15 million in an oversubscribed Series B financing round. The company enables medium-sized companies to cover their electricity needs with direct supply contracts or so-called direct PPAs from wind farms and solar power plants.

With this fresh capital, node.energy plans to become the leading platform for green electricity in the business customer segment in Germany. This mission has convinced renowned investors. The billion-euro DeepTech & Climate Fund (DTCF) and eCAPITAL ENTREPRENEURIAL PARTNERS led the round. eCAPITAL has been financing technology companies in the early to growth phase since 1999 and has also supported energy unicorn 1KOMMA5° at an early stage. Existing investors such as High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), Bitstone Capital and BonVenture also confirmed their confidence in the company and participated in the financing.

Investment Director Torsten Löffler is delighted that the DeepTech & Climate Fund is further expanding its ClimateTech portfolio with this attractive growth company: “node.energy impressively demonstrates that the energy transition is opening up new business models and growth prospects for start-ups and investors. Node.energy’s medium-sized customers benefit from very attractive electricity prices thanks to direct procurement from PV plants and wind farms, enabling them to increase their competitiveness.”

Strengthening Germany’s reputation as a business location

The company has now expanded its offering for the next phase of the energy transition. The cost of wind and PV power has been falling for years and is now the cheapest source of electricity, according to a study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE). More and more companies are looking to capitalise on this cost advantage and are switching their energy procurement to direct supply contracts with wind and PV plants, known as Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Due to the complex processes involved in the energy industry, this type of electricity procurement was previously only available to very large consumers such as BASF or Amazon. node.energy is now offering PPAs, which are concluded directly with the power plant operators, to medium-sized companies for the first time. The customised combination of green energy producers and consumers is only the first step. The software platform will also be used to manage supply processes, invoicing and the transparent provision of energy data for reporting and controlling purposes. The average savings compared to conventional electricity contracts are between 10 and 25 percent of the actual energy costs. node.energy thus helps their customers to remain competitive and contributes to securing Germany as a relevant business location.

“We are removing bureaucracy and complicated business processes in the supply chain for domestic green electricity. This makes cheap wind and PV power a locational advantage for the German economy,” says Matthias Karger, founder and CEO of node.energy.

Hannes Schill, Managing Partner of eCapital, confirms: “node.energy creates a new basis for SMEs to use cost-effective and sustainable electricity. With direct PPAs, SMEs can counteract the increasing price volatility on the energy markets and reliably plan their energy costs. Thanks to its established software business for wind and solar park operators, node.energy is well positioned to meet the needs of SME customers in the PPA-as-a-Service segment and to secure a significant market share in this future field”.

For black figures with green electricity

With the Series B funding, node.energy will continue to invest in the development of its platform and the integration of storage solutions within the near future. This expansion will not only create new revenue streams for wind and solar project operators but will also help make the energy transition more cost-effective and sustainable overall.

“Digitalisation and the integration of storage solutions are crucial for a sustainable energy supply,” says Karger. “Storage technologies make it possible to use wind and solar power more efficiently, ensuring stable prices and a reliable supply even in times of fluctuating generation.”

Since its founding in 2016, node.energy has become the leading software provider for professional operators of wind farms and solar power plants. Independent power producers such as wpd windmanager GmbH and PNE AG use the opti.node Cockpit software platform to manage and optimise wind and solar projects. The software is currently used by more than 14,000 wind and PV plants, which generate around one-third of Germany’s green electricity.

Contact
Kira Lichte
Marketing, press and PR
Mobile: +49 160 407 17 31
Mail: kira.lichte@node.energy
www.node.energy

About HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds 
HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing start-ups in the fields of Deep Tech, Industrial Tech, Climate Tech, Digital Tech, Life Sciences and Chemistry. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports start-ups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in pre-seed and seed phases and can participate significantly in later-stage financing rounds. Across its funds, HTGF has over 2 billion euros under management. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed more than 770 start-ups and achieved almost 200 successful exits.  
Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices.  
For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn.   

Media contact 
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH 
Tobias Jacob, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager  
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 121
t.jacob@htgf.de   

Successful exit for HTGF: German Medical Engineering joins the Thomas Group 

The Erlangen-based MedTech company German Medical Engineering (GME) is as of now a subsidiary of the Herdorf-based Thomas Group, a leading manufacturer of innovative actuator and hydraulic solutions.

Together, the companies aim to strategically develop GME’s business with its innovative therapeutic laser and light systems. HTGF was one of the first institutional investors and has closely supported GME since the seed financing in 2011. As part of the dealtransaction, HTGF is selling its shares. 

With the acquisition of the HTGF portfolio company GME, Thomas is entering a new business segment. From being a provider of mechatronic solutions for the mobility and off-highway markets, the portfolio is now expanding to include innovative solutions for laser and light therapy under the still independent GME brand.  

GME, founded in 2011, also expects great benefits from the acquisition by Thomas. With its market-relevant products, GME is firmly established in the healthcare sector. The company’s therapeutic light systems are used worldwide for the professional treatment of acute skin conditions such as rosacea, acne or alopecia areata, as well as for scar correction and other dermatological treatments. GME’s products are also used to treat autoimmune skin diseases such as psoriasis, neurodermatitis or vitiligo, as well as actinic keratoses – precursors of non-melanoma skin cancer. The collaboration will create synergies that will enable GME to grow sustainably and organically, while maintaining the pace of innovation and expanding its core competences. 

“As part of the Thomas Group, we benefit from the global presence of a renowned high-tech supplier, be able to tap into new markets and invest more time and energy in the further development of our product portfolio,” said Stefan Schulze, Managing Director of GME. ”Furthermore, we are a very good fit as companies. Like us, the Thomas Group develops technologies designed to improve people’s lives, with a focus on defined values. We are pleased that in the future, Thomas’ therapeutic solutions will provide relief or even healing to even more people.” 

Stefan Schulze remains in his role as managing director of German Medial Engineering GmbH, while co-founder Dr. Dietmar Fischer will continue to contribute his many years of experience in the field of laser and light systems as technical director of the development department. The renowned Harvard professor Dr. Dieter Manstein will also continue to support GME with his expertise as a clinical consultant. 

“I would like to express my sincere thanks to HTGF for the constructive and trusting collaboration. HTGF has been a reliable partner for us over many years, providing us with advice and support as a company,” says Stefan Schulze. ”In this context, my special thanks go to Martin Pfister, who unfortunately passed away much too soon. Over the years, he became not only a valued contact but also a friend.” 

Jan Engels, Investment Manager at HTGF, says: “We are very pleased to have been able to support GME on its journey from its beginnings to a successful exit. We are convinced that GME will continue its growth strategy as part of the Thomas Group, a strong partner from the German Mittelstand.” 

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About GME – German Medical Engineering GmbH 
German Medical Engineering was founded in 2011 by respected experts with many years of experience in the laser industry. Since then, GME has established itself as a leading expert in the market for medical laser and light systems. The research and development department has developed numerous dermatological laser devices. The MultiLite® PDT lamp and the FlexSys® modular laser platform are among the best-known GME products. GME products are available in over 50 countries worldwide. For more information, please visit:

www.gmeonline.de 

About the Thomas Group 
Our vision is: Fluid Control Solutions for a better Life: Healthy, safe and comfortable – we want our solutions to contribute to making people’s lives healthier, safer and more comfortable. 

With around 900 employees, our family-owned company develops and manufactures electromagnetic and fluid actuator systems for the off-highway and mobility markets. Our aspiration to support our customers with the products we develop has allowed us to grow into a leading supplier with four international offices. 

We follow a zero-error quality philosophy in the development and production of our products. Our customers include premium manufacturers in the automotive industry, leading international manufacturers of vehicles and mobile machines, as well as system suppliers. For decades, they have benefited from the advantages of our innovative products and trusted in their quality and performance. 

The main key to our success is our highly qualified and motivated employees, who are treated with respect and responsibility by Thomas. The family business code of conduct stipulates that the well-being of the company and thus also of its employees comes first. 

About HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds  
HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing startups in the fields of Deep Tech, Industrial Tech, Climate Tech, Digital Tech, Life Sciences and Chemistry. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports startups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in pre-seed and seed phases and can participate significantly in later-stage financing rounds. Across its funds, HTGF has over 2 billion euros under management. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed more than 770 startups and achieved almost 200 successful exits.   

Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices.   
For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn.    

Press contact
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH  
Tobias Jacob, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager  
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 121  
t.jacob@htgf.de 

mo:re launches lab platform to set a new standard in animal-free drug development

• mo:re introduces a laboratory platform to automate the planning, culture, and analysis of complex 3D cell culture models. The user-friendly platform enables verifiable, standardized results without requiring expertise in specific organ systems.
• The Hamburg-based life science start-up mo:re announced the launch of their first product at the SLAS 2025 in San Diego, the world’s leading trade show in laboratory automation
• The commercialization is backed by a seed financing round of €2.3 million from international investors, led by HTGF.

mo:re, a German Life Science startup, has raised €2.3 million in seed funding to accelerate the commercialization of its lab platform for complex cell culture workflows. High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) led the round, with participation from Innovationsstarter Fonds Hamburg (IFH), Gilson Inc., NEDGEX, Nidobirds Ventures, and Private Investors R&R Medical and Martin Blüggel.

There is much agreement in the scientific community that organoids represent a significant step in the evolution to more representative disease modelling. The path to faster approval of more relevant drugs includes modern organoid models. This has been recognized by the FDA as well with their new guidelines clearing the path to replacing animal experiments with relevant organoid models. The field is missing the means for broad application of organoids in higher throughput that achieves reproducible results in a standardized environment.

mo:re has developed a groundbreaking lab platform, combining automation and software for planning, executing, and analysis of cell culture studies. The user-friendly platform aims to simplify cell culture, making organoids accessible as a standard lab technique and providing verifiable results. The lab automation device covers all relevant process steps, setting a new benchmark for scalability, reproducibility, and standardization of 3D cell culture models.

“With this funding, we want to establish our presence in the market and continue building our team. Now it is time to focus our resources on developing further scientific applications to unlock the potential our platform has to offer together with our customers as well as our internal R&D lab.”

Lukas Gaats , CEO at mo:re

“The Team of mo:re is poised to execute on its vision to provide easy access to a standardized way of performing 3D cell culture and obtain reproducible results for researchers worldwide.”

Dr. Christian Kannemeier, Senior Investment Manager at HTGF

“Our investment in mo:re reflects our confidence in their visionary product to tackle cell culture challenges. Their platform can redefine the landscape of non-animal methods in the Life Science Industry.”

Stefanie Höhn , Senior Investment Manager at IFH

“Verifiable data in drug discovery and development are crucial for accelerating creation of new and effective pharmaceuticals. mo:re’s innovative technological approach provides an important step toward standardizing organoid growth, significantly enhancing their quality. This will not only improve the speed and reliability of drug discovery but also deliver more consistent results for research, ultimately reducing the reliance on animal testing.”

Dirk Freystadt, SVP Corporate Development at Gilson Inc

Contact mo:re
Lukas Gaats, CEO
Mo:re GmbH
contact@more.science
www.more.science
+49 40 23834412

About IFH – Innovationsstarter Fonds Hamburg
The Innovationsstarter Fonds Hamburg GmbH invests venture capital in young, innovative companies to strengthen the startup scene in Hamburg and contribute to the development of promising businesses. The fund provides open participations of up to a maximum of EUR 1.5 million per company. Investors in the fund include the city of Hamburg and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The fund is managed by IFB Innovationsstarter GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Hamburg Investment and Development Bank. For more information, visit www.innovationsstarter.com.

About Gilson
Gilson is a family-owned global manufacturer specializing in sample management, purification, and extraction solutions for the life sciences industry. We support researchers in accelerating the pace of discovery by providing easy-to-use lab devices that enhance reproducibility and traceability. By collaborating closely with the scientific community, we have created a trusted portfolio of essential laboratory tools, automated pipetting systems, and automated sample separation instruments. Supported by worldwide research and development, service, and support, Gilson is dedicated to enabling verifiable science and making laboratory work easier for our customers.

About Nedgex
NEDGEX is the investment arm of the NETZSCH Group, aiming to build a portfolio of innovative early stage B2B deep tech startups. The NETZSCH Group is a globally operating, family-owned manufacturing company headquartered in Germany. Their three business units – Analyzing & Testing, Grinding & Dispersing, Pumps & Systems – stand for custom solutions at the highest level. More than 4,600 employees in 36 countries, over 1,800 registered patents and a global sales and service network guarantee customer proximity and competent service since 1873. The company operates across various sectors, including Chemicals & Minerals, Food & Pharma, Environment & Energy Solutions, and Material Analytics.
As a strategic partner, besides financial investment, NEDGEX offers unique operational support to enable startups to scale effectively. Together with NETZSCH, we provide industry insights, access to costumers, and critical resources such as software development capabilities, cutting-edge equipment, and technical expertise to grow, innovate, and achieve enduring success.
For further information about our investment opportunities, visit nedgex.com or contact Felix Schachi, Head of Corporate Venturing & Investments.

About Nidobirds
Nidobirds Ventures invests in seed-stage startups, building long-term partnerships with companies led by strong founding teams and offering differentiated technology-driven products. As value investor, Nidobirds Ventures focuses on the DACH region and the United Kingdom.

About HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds
HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing startups in the fields of Deep Tech, Industrial Tech, Climate Tech, Digital Tech, Life Sciences and Chemistry. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports startups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in pre-seed and seed phases and can participate significantly in later-stage financing rounds. Across its funds, HTGF has over 2 billion euros under management. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed more than 770 startups and achieved almost 200 successful exits.  
Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices.  
For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn.   

Medienkontakt
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Tobias Jacob, Senior Manager Marketing & Communications
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 121
t.jacob@htgf.de  

AICA closes a Seed investment round – Bringing real-time intelligence to industrial control

AICA, a Swiss innovator transforming industrial automation with Al-powered force adaptation technology, has secured a strategic investment led by Momenta, the leading venture capital firm specializing in Industrial Impact®. This investment, made through Momenta’s Industry 5.0 Fund, will propel AICA’s global expansion and enhance its Al-driven automation capabilities. Existing investors Spicehaus, HTGF, and Schaeffler have reaffirmed their confidence in AICA by participating in this round. 

Solving a Major Bottleneck in Industrial Automation 

Robotics programming is complex & costly, often doubling hardware costs. AICA System integrates Al with real-time, sensor-driven control to simplify deployment and reduce development costs. Used by industry leaders like Schaeffler, it enables tasks like assembly, polishing, and battery disassembly. 

What sets AICA apart? 

• Real-time sensor driven control to bring more flexibility in the way robots are programmed and in how they perceive & interact with the production environment
• Connection of diverse hardware, sensors, and Al software to bring innovation faster into production. 
• Faster deployment from prototyping to production through AICA Studio, AICA’s modular GUI. 

Bringing Al-Driven Intelligence to Robotics 

Industrial robotics has long been limited by poor communication interfaces and the lack of standardized programming. As a result, most applications remain restricted to simple pick-and-place tasks. AICA revolutionizes this space with a real-time control framework that seamlessly integrates impedance control, motion generation, and force compliance, making advanced robotics more accessible. 

Al is the future of industrial automation, enabling robots to learn tasks instead of being manually programmed. While simulation platforms like Nvidia Omniverse train thousands of agents, deploying these learned models onto real hardware remains a challenge due to the absence of control standards. AICA bridges this gap by providing a universal control framework that ensures safe, real-time adaptation of Al-trained robotic systems, bringing Al-driven intelligence to industrial robotics. 

“Robotics has been stuck in outdated programming methods for too long. At AICA, we’re making automation more flexible and intelligent-helping robots adapt in real-time and work the way industries actually need them to,” said Baptiste Busch, Co-founder and CEO of AICA. 

Advancing Automation Across Industries and Applications 

Automation is transforming every industry, and AICA is at the forefront of this shift. While the company has gained strong traction in the automotive industry, the AICA System is simultaneously hardware, industry, and application agnostic, enabling flexible automation across diverse use cases. For example, in the LAMBDA Project, a Eurostars-backed initiative, AICA applies its expertise to the automated disassembly of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, driving smarter resource recovery and strengthening circular economy efforts in the EV supply chain. Furthermore, in the life sciences and chemical industries, AICA is also seeing a strong appetite for more flexible and autonomous laboratory  automation. 

“The confidence of investors and clients in AICA’s technology validates and emboldens our ambitious long-term vision,” said Enrico Eberhard, Co-founder and CTO of AICA. “I am equally confident in our uniquely talented team and world-class partners to continue bridging the gaps between research and industry, between software and hardware, and ultimately between robots and the people they empower.” 

Visionary Leadership Driving Innovation 

AICA’s rapid growth is led by Baptiste Busch, Co-founder and CEO, a PhD in Robotics and Machine Learning, and Enrico Eberhard, Co-founder and CTO, a PhD in Control with previous experience in software development for robotics. Both are recognized leaders in Al-driven automation. Their combined expertise in advanced control systems and machine learning has successfully translated cutting-edge research into scalable industrial solutions, attracting major industry players to AICA’s mission. 

Fueling the next phase of growth 

This investment marks a significant milestone for AICA, expanding into new markets, forging partnerships with industrial leaders, and advancing Al-powered robotic control. 

“Momenta invests in disruptive technologies that deliver tangible industrial benefits,” started Miroslav Kriz, Principal Partner at Momenta. “AICA’s advanced software for autonomous adaptation and force control simplifies what has long been one of the most challenging aspects of robotic automation. We’re proud to support AICA as they help manufacturers build more capable and flexible systems across diverse hardware platforms.” 

Gregor Haidl, Principal at HTGF adds: “We firmly believe in AICA’s potential, as the company addresses a critical challenge in industrial robotics—one that is essential for enabling more complex and AI-driven applications. We are pleased with the successful completion of this financing round and look forward to collaborating closely with the AICA team, Momenta, and the existing investors to shape the future of robotics.”

About AICA 
AICA is a robotics software company that spun out of the EPFL LASA lab, focused on revolutionizing industrial automation. By bridging Al software and real-time sensor control with industrial hardware, AICA simplifies the deployment and programming of robotic systems. AICA’s goal is to make automation more accessible and intelligent, enabling complex automation and driving productivity across industries. (www.aica.tech) 

AICA is excited to announce its participation in the NVIDIA GTC Al Conference in San Jose this March 2025. Building on strong, strategic partnerships with industry leaders, AICA will showcase its solutions across two booths at the event. AICA will demonstrate a dual-arm screwing application with one partner, and, in collaboration with another partner, highlight AICA’s simultaneous orchestration of foundation pose, learning from demonstration, and obstacle avoidance technologies. This participation marks a significant milestone for AICA, further solidifying the growing demand for its solutions in the market. As new partnerships continue to unfold, AICA’s presence at NVIDIA GTC highlights the company’s role at the forefront of Al-driven automation, bringing real-time intelligence to industrial control.

About HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds
HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing start-ups in the fields of Deep Tech, Industrial Tech, Climate Tech, Digital Tech, Life Sciences and Chemistry. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports start-ups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in pre-seed and seed phases and can participate significantly in later-stage financing rounds. Across its funds, HTGF has over 2 billion euros under management. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed more than 770 start-ups and achieved almost 200 successful exits.  
Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices.  
For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn.  

Media contact
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Tobias Jacob, Senior Marketing & Communications
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 121
t.jacob@htgf.de

doinstruct Raises €16.5M Series A to Transform Frontline Operations with AI-Powered Compliance Software.

• doinstruct, an AI-powered platform for frontline compliance training, raises a €16.5M Series A led by HV Capital with participation from existing investors including Creandum, HTGF, D11Z and others.
• doinstruct’s compliance software helps companies increase knowledge retention rate by 60% and lower training management costs by 53%, enabling European manufacturers to stay competitive during economic headwinds.
• In a global market of 2.8 billion frontline workers, where inadequate training causes $46B revenue loss in the US alone, doinstruct addresses critical skill gaps by making safety and compliance accessible in 25+ languages.
• The funding will be used to further expand the company’s offering across key European markets.

doinstruct, the leading compliance platform for frontline worker training, announces €16.5M in Series A funding led by HV Capital, with participation from existing investors including Creandum, High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), D11Z and others. This marks the company’s third consecutive year of successful fundraising, bringing its total investment to €26M to help companies navigate growing regulatory complexity with an AI-powered compliance platform.

“Companies are drowning in regulatory requirements while simultaneously dealing with staff shortages and pressure to increase efficiency,” said Charlotte Rothert, CEO and Co-founder of doinstruct. “The frontline workforce – from food processors to construction workers, from logistics operators to manufacturers – lacks the basic tools that office workers take for granted. Over 1 billion of these workers face language or literacy barriers, yet they must navigate increasingly complex regulations daily. Traditional compliance approaches are failing both workers and companies, creating unsustainable burdens on operations.”

doinstruct has evolved from a training solution to an AI-powered compliance and operational excellence platform that makes safety and regulatory compliance effortless. The platform rebuilds their clients’ workplace structure, automatically identifies risks, generates documentation, and delivers engaging, bitesized training content in workers’ native languages – all without requiring app downloads, passwords, or email addresses.

“We’re witnessing a paradigm shift in how industrial companies approach compliance and operational excellence,” said Mona Feder, CPO and Co-founder of doinstruct. “For many of our clients, doinstruct represents their first meaningful implementation of AI. We’re not just solving compliance challenges – we’re democratizing AI access for the backbone of our economy.”

“Compliance and safety management have long been major bottlenecks for industrial companies. doinstruct is changing that by streamlining the process, helping companies maintain top-tier safety standards more efficiently. Their impressive growth shows a clear demand for smarter compliance solutions.” – David Fischer, Partner at HV Capital

As Europe faces economic headwinds, employers are increasingly focused on operational efficiency and cost optimization. “In the current economic climate, our platform isn’t just a nice-to-have – it’s becoming essential for maintaining competitiveness,” said Rothert. “We’re seeing our clients achieve 60% increase in knowledge retention rate and 53% lower training costs, which directly impacts their bottom line during these challenging times.”

Simultaneously, as Europe implements measures to attract skilled foreign workers to address significant labor shortages, doinstruct’s multilingual solution is proving crucial for workplace integration. The platform automatically handles documentation and training in over 25 languages, enabling companies like Do&Co, Wiesenhof, Voelkel, Schmitz Feuerwehrtechnik, and Echterhoff to rapidly and safely integrate international workers while maintaining strict compliance standards. Several leading manufacturers report reducing new worker integration time from weeks to days using doinstruct.

The company plans to expand its presence across key European markets while continuing to invest in its AI capabilities to further streamline frontline operations.

About doinstruct
doinstruct is the leading AI-powered training platform for frontline workers, enabling companies to achieve effortless compliance and operational excellence. By leveraging advanced AI technology, doinstruct removes traditional barriers to workplace safety and compliance, helping organizations reduce costs, improve safety standards, and increase productivity across their frontline operations. Visit the website for more information: www.doinstruct.com.

Media contact
Tom Oechel
tom.oechel@doinstruct.com
www.doinstruct.com

About HV Capital
HV Capital is one of the leading early-stage and growth investors in Europe. With nine fund generations in 24 years and €2.8 bn in managed assets, HV Capital is one of the continent’s most active investors. The investment team has many years of experience in identifying European startups with great potential for success. In addition to international success stories like Flix, Zalando, Delivery Hero, Sumup, and Depop, innovation leaders such as Marvel Fusion, Sennder, Neura Robotics, Enpal, and Isar Aerospace are also part of the portfolio. HV Capital has invested in more than 250 internet and technology companies, supporting startups with ticket sizes ranging from €0.5m to €60m. It is one of Europe’s few venture capital firms that can finance startups through all growth phases. HV Capital has a team of more than 60+ investment and operations professionals who provide a variety of perspectives and expertise across the venture capital landscape.

Media contact
Kasey Davies
kasey.davies@hvcapital.com
www.hvcapital.com

About HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds 
HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing startups in the fields of Deep Tech, Industrial Tech, Climate Tech, Digital Tech, Life Sciences and Chemistry. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports startups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in pre-seed and seed phases and can participate significantly in later-stage financing rounds. Across its funds, HTGF has over 2 billion euros under management. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed more than 770 startups and achieved almost 200 successful exits.  
Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices.  
For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn.   

Media contact 
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH 
Tobias Jacob, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager  
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 121 
t.jacob@htgf.de 

Successful exit for HTGF: Hprobe joins Mycronic to strengthen leadership in magnetic device testing

HTGF portfolio company Hprobe, a leading provider of turnkey semiconductor Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) for magnetic devices, today announced its acquisition by Mycronic, a Swedish high-tech company specializing in precision production equipment for the electronics industry. The integration represents a strategic move to enhance Hprobe’s technological and market leadership in MRAM and magnetic sensor testing, supporting the transition to high-volume manufacturing, and enhancing reliability and performance for end-users.

As an early backer of Hprobe, HTGF, one of Europe’s leading seed investors, led a significant financing round in 2019 and has closely supported the successful development of the startup. As part of the transaction, HTGF has sold its stake.

By leveraging Mycronic’s global infrastructure, Hprobe will expand its presence across Asia, North America, and Europe while accelerating its technology and product roadmaps to meet growing demand for wafer testing of advanced MRAM and next-generation TMR sensors. Hprobe will operate as a new business line within Mycronic’s Global Technologies division.

“Joining Mycronic marks a significant milestone for Hprobe. This acquisition will enable us to scale operations, accelerate innovation, and better serve our customers worldwide,” said Laurent Lebrun, CEO of Hprobe. “With Mycronic’s global reach and resources, we are well-positioned to drive the future of magnetic device testing.”

“Mycronic sees semiconductor testing, particularly for MRAM and magnetic sensors as a key growth area, and Hprobe’s expertise is a perfect fit for our strategy,” said Magnus Marthinsson, Senior Vice President of Global Technologies at Mycronic. “Together, we will advance MRAM and sensor testing to support industry growth.”

Christian Ziach, Principal at HTGF, said: “After leading the seed round with strong international investors at the end of 2019, I am very pleased that with the sale of Hprobe to Mycronic we have not only found a strong partner for further global growth, but also a buyer from Europe.”

About Mycronic
Mycronic is a Swedish high-tech company engaged in the development, manufacture and marketing of production equipment with high precision and flexibility requirements for the electronics industry. Mycronic’s headquarters are located in Täby, north of Stockholm and the Group has subsidiaries in China, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam. Mycronic is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.

About Hprobe
Founded in March 2017 and based in Grenoble (France), Hprobe is a spin-off company of SPINTEC (one of the leading spintronics research laboratories worldwide). The company designs, manufactures, and markets equipment for wafer-level testing of magnetic devices in the semiconductor industry, which serves consumer, communication, industrial and automotive customers.

Media Contact (Hprobe)
Camille Dufour
International PR Consulting
camille.dufour@hprobe.com
Mobile : +33 (0) 6 79 49 51 43

About HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds
HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing start-ups in the fields of Deep Tech, Industrial Tech, Climate Tech, Digital Tech, Life Sciences and Chemistry. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports start-ups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in pre-seed and seed phases and can participate significantly in later-stage financing rounds. Across its funds, HTGF has over 2 billion euros under management. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed more than 770 start-ups and achieved almost 200 successful exits.  
Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices.  
For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn.  

Media contact
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Tobias Jacob, Senior Marketing & Communications
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 121
t.jacob@htgf.de

Alpine Eagle raises €10.25 million led by IQ Capital to develop AI-powered counter-drone defence system

• Alpine Eagle is building the software layer to power defence drones, amidst the growing threat of autonomous warfare
• The company’s hardware-agnostic platform can work with off-the-shelf and bespoke UAVs to detect and neutralise offensive drones
• Customers already include the German military (Bundeswehr) and other government agencies

Munich, 6^th March 2025: Alpine Eagle – a pioneering European defence tech startup – is announcing it has raised €10.25 million in seed funding led by IQ Capital. HTGF, Expeditions Fund and Sentris Capital also participated in the round, along with previous investors General Catalyst and HCVC, which led Alpine Eagle’s pre-seed. The funding will be used to develop its flagship Sentinel product, scale its commercial teams and lay the groundwork for international expansion to defend against the growing threat of autonomous warfare.

Founded in 2023 by CEO Jan-Hendrik Boelens (former Airbus chief engineer, Volocopter CTO, Quantum Systems CTO) and Director Timo Breuer (former Microsoft Research, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft scientist), Alpine Eagle has developed the world’s first air-to-air counter-drone system. Its software uses cutting-edge technologies, including machine learning, advanced sensors and computer vision, to detect, classify and neutralise hostile drones, including small drones and loitering munitions. 

Addressing the growing drone threat

Military drone use has surged in recent years against a resurgence of global conflicts, including the Ukraine war. The market is on track to more than double from $21.8 billion in 2024 to $56.69 billion by 2033, driven by the massive shift in the operation of war from the battlefield to autonomous, drone-based warfare. Recent events, such as suspected Russian drone sightings over a key German military base and drone incidents near US Air Force bases in the UK, have also underscored the need for countermeasures for non-military use such as protecting critical national infrastructure and global supply chains.

Alpine Eagle’s Sentinel-OS Counter-UAS software stack offers a unique, agnostic platform that integrates seamlessly with both off-the-shelf and bespoke hardware, allowing for rapid deployment and customisation to specific needs. The full-stack platform provides early warning capabilities and is designed for operation in contested environments. Its superior detection and classification, alongside defensive swarm capabilities, are enabled through a number of active and passive sensors that can be fully scaled to the operator’s needs and different threat scenarios. Alpine Eagle is also developing the ability to intercept drones at a stand-off distance as part of its mission to build defences against the rise of low-cost drones to protect human lives not only in war but in peace time as well.

Supercharged growth

Since launching, Alpine Eagle has brought on customers, including the German military (Bundeswehr) and achieved 7-digit revenues in the first 12 months of operation. The new funding will enable hiring key talent, with the team set to increase to over 40 people across product, engineering, business development and sales. The funding will also expand the company’s product portfolio and support Alpine Eagle’s expansion outside Germany.

Jan-Hendrik Boelens, co-founder and CEO of Alpine Eagle, said: “It took around 50 years to get from the biplanes used in WW1 to modern fighter jets. Yet, with the development of technology and low-cost hardware, it will take less than five years before we see fully automated drone-on-drone engagements. With the rapid evolution of drone warfare, we see an enormous demand for systems to provide affordable and scalable defensive capabilities. In the rapidly changing geopolitical environment, Europe needs innovation in defence more than ever. We are the European defence tech startup that will provide the technological means to ensure the security and stability of our continent, and I’m delighted that our new and previous investors share that vision with us.”

Archie Muirhead, Partner at IQ Capital, said: “Jan-Hendrik and Timo are rare founders with a combination of research excellence, engineering pragmatism, and absolute customer focus evident in the products they build. What the Alpine Eagle team has managed to deliver in under 18 months is extraordinary and with this additional capital we look forward to supporting them to provide further resilience capacity to allied nations and organisations threatened by unmanned systems.”

Contact: Antonella Scimemi / antonella@burlington.cc

About Alpine Eagle
Founded in 2023, Alpine Eagle is a team of machine learning practitioners and aeronautical engineers building the world’s first airborne counter-drone system. The company’s Sentinel Counter-UAS System detects and classifies small drones. Its Sentinel-OS software platform can be integrated into various hardware to protect military and national assets and infrastructure. Backed by leading investors including IQ Capital, General Catalyst and HCVC, Alpine Eagle has raised over €10M in funding. https://alpineeagle.com/

About IQ Capital
IQ Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm dedicated to backing Europe’s most ambitious deep tech entrepreneurs. Since 2005, they have partnered with more than 100 founding teams on their path to turning breakthrough technologies into long-lasting businesses, supported by an experienced team of investors, advisors and an extensive global network.

About HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds 
HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing start-ups in the fields of Deep Tech, Industrial Tech, Climate Tech, Digital Tech, Life Sciences and Chemistry. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports start-ups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in pre-seed and seed phases and can participate significantly in later-stage financing rounds. Across its funds, HTGF has over 2 billion euros under management. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed more than 770 start-ups and achieved almost 200 successful exits.  
Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices.  
For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn.   

Media contact 
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH 
Tobias Jacob, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager  
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 121
t.jacob@htgf.de