Mobility Signage raises €1.8M to fix public transport’s fragmented IT infrastructure
Munich-based mobility tech start-up Mobility Signage secures €1.8 million in pre-seed funding from HTGF and 2bX to replace fragmented legacy IT systems in public transport with a unified data architecture.
The platform connects existing operator systems, standardises interfaces, and delivers consistent real-time passenger information across all channels — without costly system replacements.
Already adopted by some of Germany’s largest operators: BVG Berlin, SSB Stuttgart, Deutsche Bahn, and RSAG Rostock.
Mobility Signage, a Munich-based start-up for digital infrastructure in public transport founded in 2023, has closed a €1.8 million pre-seed round. High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) led the round, with 2bX participating as co-investor. The capital will be used to grow the team and accelerate development of the company’s Data Hub and application layer.
Public transport operators face a dual challenge: decades of fragmented, siloed IT infrastructure collide with rising passenger expectations for real-time information and seamless digital experience.
Mobility Signage tackles this head-on with a central data architecture that integrates existing systems rather than replacing them. As a unified data and integration layer, the platform structures data flows, standardises interfaces, and enables consistent information delivery across every output channel — from departure boards and apps to public address systems.
“Transport operators don’t need yet another standalone tool — they need a unifying system logic. We replace the patchwork of one-off solutions with an integrated, scalable platform.” — Stefan Rademacher, Co-Founder, Mobility Signage
“Our goal is to connect fragmented IT landscapes and create a reliable data foundation for real-time information — without forcing operators to rip out their existing systems.” — Dominik Nouri, Co-Founder, Mobility Signage
Strong traction with Germany’s largest operators
The platform is already live with a broad range of operators — from regional networks to some of Germany’s largest transit authorities, including Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen (SSB), Deutsche Bahn, and Rostocker Straßenbahn (RSAG). The breadth of the customer base demonstrates that the modular architecture scales across operator sizes.
Leading hardware manufacturers have also signed on as development partners, a signal that the open, integrable architecture resonates across the industry. The result: less operational complexity, better passenger information.
Mobility Signage is building a vertical operating system for public transport. Its first modules automate key processes including construction site notifications and real-time disruption management.
A growing market for intelligent transport systems
The global Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) market is a multi-billion-dollar opportunity, with bus and tram systems in Europe alone representing a significant and growing segment.
“Public transport operators are under pressure from skills shortages, ageing IT systems, and growing ridership. Mobility Signage addresses exactly these pain points with a modular, AI-native solution. The team has already proven real-world traction, with some of Germany’s largest operators as customers. The central data architecture is the key to making public transport fit for the future.” — Tizian Hoppen, Senior Investment Manager, HTGF
About Mobility Signage Mobility Signage develops a central passenger information system for public and long-distance transport operators, cities, and rail companies. The platform connects fragmented IT landscapes, standardises interfaces, and enables reliable real-time information across all channels — modular, scalable, and hardware-independent. Founded in Munich in 2023, the company counts BVG, SSB, Deutsche Bahn, and RSAG among its customers. More information: mobilitysignage.com
About 2bX 2bX is a Berlin-based venture capital fund specialising in UrbanTech. The fund backs early-stage European start-ups tackling the defining urban challenges of our time: climate change, increasing urban density, circular economy, and quality of life in cities. Beyond capital, 2bX acts as an active strategic and operational partner to its founders. More information: 2bx.vc
mbiomics Announces Third Closing of Series A, Reaching €30 Million to Advance Microbiome Therapeutics
mbiomics GmbH, a pioneering techbio company advancing scalable microbiome-based therapeutics for severe and chronic diseases, today announced the successful third closing of its Series A round at €12 million, bringing the total round size to €30 million. The financing round includes participation from existing investors including MIG Fonds and Bayern Kapital.
mbiomics Founders (photo: mbiomics)
The new capital will be used to further strengthen the IND-enabling pharmacological data sets and to accelerate GMP development and manufacturing. This comes as mbiomics prepares for the clinical evaluation of its lead candidate MBX-116 as an immune checkpoint inhibitor co-therapy in advanced melanoma. The financing marks the company’s transition from platform building into clinical execution, as it advances its techbio platform into scalable manufacturing and clinical translation.
“While the clinical potential of the gut microbiome is well understood, transforming microbiome-based therapeutics into a scalable product has remained a significant engineering challenge. At mbiomics, we are solving this challenge by building the full technology stack for the design, analysis, screening, and manufacturing of complex microbial consortia. We are now focused on advancing our lead candidate MBX-116 towards clinical evaluation,” said Dr. Johannes B. Woehrstein, CEO and Co-Founder of mbiomics.
mbiomics develops Live Biotherapeutic Products (LBPs), which are oral therapeutics composed of live bacterial strains. These products are designed to restore the functional and metabolic potential of the gut microbiome in a scalable, pharmaceutical-grade format. Fecal Microbiota Transplants (FMTs) have demonstrated clinical efficacy across multiple indications and validated microbiome modulation as a therapeutic strategy. This approach is inherently variable and non-scalable. By contrast, mbiomics’ proprietary platform enables the rational design of defined, large, and complex microbial consortia. The platform combines AI/ML-driven consortia design, proprietary analytical technology, large consortium co-cultivation, and screening capabilities.
Dr. Matthias Kromayer, Managing Partner of MIG Capital, commented: “We are pleased to continue our support of mbiomics in this financing round. Since our initial investment, the team has made impressive progress in translating microbiome science into a scalable therapeutic approach. The company is heading into clinical validation and continuing to build its broader therapeutic pipeline with great momentum.”
In oncology, clinical evidence has shown that modulating the gut microbiome can significantly enhance response rates to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Based on this rationale, mbiomics is initially focusing on second-line melanoma to evaluate the potential of its lead candidate MBX-116 as a co-therapy. The goal is to improve treatment outcomes in this setting, with the start of a Phase 1B study planned for 2027. Beyond oncology, the company is advancing a broader pipeline of microbiome-based therapeutics. This pipeline could support expansion into additional indications where the gut microbiome plays a central role, such as autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.
About mbiomic mbiomics designs and develops complex microbiome-based therapeutics to change the treatment paradigm of severe and chronic diseases. Bringing together proprietary precision analytics and patient insights, we are building a pipeline of rationally selected microbial communities to achieve indication-specific activity and address patient heterogeneity. Our goal is to access the gut microbiome’s full immunological and metabolic potential to restore healthy microbial ecosystems and thereby overcome disease. For more information, please visit www.mbiomics.com or follow mbiomics on LinkedIn.
First HTGF Exit to Japan: Shimadzu Corporation Acquires Plasmion and Its Pioneering SICRIT® Ion Source Technology
Shimadzu Corporation acquires a 75% stake in Plasmion GmbH, making the company a subsidiary, to obtain its SICRIT® ion source technology for next-generation mass spectrometers
SICRIT® enables high-sensitivity real-time analysis without complex sample pretreatment with applications in healthcare, environmental monitoring, and food & beverage analysis
The transaction marks the first-ever exit of a HTGF portfolio company to a Japanese acquirer
HTGF backed the Augsburg-based deeptech startup since its first financing round in January 2019
Shimadzu Corporation, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of analytical instruments, has acquired a 75% stake in Plasmion GmbH (headquartered in Augsburg, Bavaria), making the company a subsidiary. The acquisition aims to obtain Plasmion’s SICRIT® (Soft Ionization by Chemical Reaction In Transfer) ion source technology and integrate it into Shimadzu’s mass spectrometry platform.
Plasmion founders (photo: Plasmion)
For HTGF, this marks the first exit of a portfolio company to a Japanese corporation. It is also a prime example of what HTGF has been doing since 2005: identifying deep technology with global potential at the earliest stage and supporting founders all the way to a successful exit. HTGF invested in Plasmion in January 2019 alongside Bayerische Beteiligungsgesellschaft (BayBG).
Deep Tech Made in Germany — Ready for Global Markets
SICRIT® represents a significant advance over widely used ionization methods such as APCI in liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Its key advantage is the ability to directly ionize analytes with high sensitivity without complex sample pretreatment, enabling real-time analysis that was previously difficult. The technology is already being applied in the search for disease markers in exhaled breath, the monitoring of trace hazardous substances in the environment, and the non-destructive analysis of aroma compounds in food and beverages. Shimadzu and Plasmion have been collaborating since 2019 through technical exchanges and joint application development.
Founders Remain on Board
Plasmion’s founders, CEO Dr. Thomas Wolf and CTO Dr. Jan-Christoph Wolf, will retain a 25% stake in the company and remain actively involved in management. Shimadzu plans to develop next-generation mass spectrometers by integrating SICRIT® with its own MS-related technologies, targeting global markets in analytics, quality control, pharma, and food & beverage.
“This exit is a perfect example of what HTGF stands for: a high degree of innovation, an ambitious founding team, a focused group of investors, and close hands-on support throughout the journey. We are proud that Plasmion becomes the first HTGF portfolio company to be acquired by a Japanese corporation, a testament to the global appeal of deep tech Made in Germany,” said Dr. Nikolaus Raupp, Partner at HTGF.
“We’re very grateful for the continued support received during our journey. It is amazing that we have institutions like HTGF in Germany who are dedicated to identify and support promising deep tech startups with resources, knowledge, and the necessary patience and stamina that is crucial to succeed in these areas,” said Dr. Thomas Wolf, CEO of Plasmion.
About Plasmion GmbH Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Augsburg, Bavaria, Plasmion GmbH develops, manufactures, and sells ion sources for mass spectrometers as well as industrial mass spectrometers. The company employs 15 people. www.plasmion.com
Primogene Raises €4.1 Million to Bring Nature’s Complex Bioactive Molecules to Industrial Scale
Leipzig-based biotech start-up Primogene GmbH has secured €4.1 million in funding to bring complex bioactive molecules to market at scale. Using proprietary enzymatic platform technology, the company produces biomolecules that are identical to their natural counterparts, sustainably, cost-efficiently, and at industrial scale. Primogene serves diverse markets from infant nutrition and adult health to pharmaceutical raw materials and personal care.
The seed round is led by High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) with additional investors including Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen (TGFS), better ventures, Sächsische Beteiligungsgesellschaft (SBG), Golzern Holding GmbH, FS Life Science Investment GmbH, and Dr. Marc Struhalla (founder and CEO of c-LEcta GmbH). The new capital will be used to expand the IP portfolio, strategic partnerships, and production capacities.
Photo: Primogene
The Starting Point: Human Milk as a Blueprint
Around 13 million infants are born prematurely worldwide each year. Breast milk — refined through millions of years of evolution — is the gold standard for infant nutrition, supporting immune system development, cognitive growth, and microbiome establishment.
However, the nutritional needs for premature infants are more acute: clinical evidence has demonstrated the critical role of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), in particular disialyllacto-N-tetraose (DSLNT), a structurally complex HMO with significant clinical benefits for premature infants. Primogene’s enzymatic platform solves the problem of producing these molecules at scale by addressing the inherent limits of established fermentation-based approaches, which require significant capital investment, are operationally cost-intensive, and face biological constraints on the complexity of molecules that can be efficiently produced. Enzymatic processes overcome these constraints, enabling the production of structurally complex molecules at scale, identical to their natural equivalents. Primogene has developed scalable processes for DSLNT and a family of fucosylated lacto-N-tetraose molecules, including difucosyllacto-N-tetraose I (LNDFH I), the HMO with the second-highest concentration in breast milk. The commercial momentum is compelling: the global HMO market is growing at approximately 18 – 20% annually, and over 65% of newly launched infant formula products in 2023 featured one or more HMOs.
A Platform Technology With Applications Across the Human Lifespan
The application of Primogene’s technology extends well beyond infant nutrition. Many of the bioactive molecules produced by the company play important roles across different stages of life: supporting gut health in adults, enhancing cognitive function in seniors, and serving as functional ingredients in personal care products.
Primogene also supplies high-quality raw materials for the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries, contributing to supply chain resilience through domestic European production in one of the most critical sectors.
The entire production process — from enzyme development and production through biotransformation and downstream processing — is managed at Primogene’s facility in Leipzig, Germany. The technology and process are underpinned by a strong IP portfolio spanning multiple product categories.
Commercial Traction and Research Collaborations
Primogene has established commercial partnerships in the personal care sector, and its active ingredients are already commercially available. The company’s pharmaceutical raw materials are actively being evaluated by customers, with partnerships in advanced stages of development. Primogene is actively seeking joint development partners among infant formula producers and functional food manufacturers to bring its complex HMOs, including DSLNT, to market at scale.
In partnership with the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI) in Leipzig, Primogene is exploring the potential of its ingredients for the prevention of infectious diseases. In parallel, the company is collaborating with neonatal intensive care units to monitor HMO concentrations in breast milk of mothers who have given preterm birth, helping define clinically relevant dosing and application in neonatal care.
Scaling in Leipzig
Primogene was founded in Leipzig in 2023 by Dr.-Ing. Reza Mahour, Valerian Grote, and Linda Karger. With the new funding, Primogene aims to scale its vision to produce bioactive ingredients that support human health across all stages of life.
The capital will enable the company to expand its production capacity in Leipzig, strengthen its IP portfolio, and grow its team. Primogene plans to broaden its customer base and establish additional strategic partnerships. The company is actively seeking partners in the field of infant nutrition.
“Primogene combines deep scientific excellence with strong industrial relevance. They address a core challenge: the inefficient, expensive, and technically limited production of complex biomolecules using chemical or traditional fermentation methods. Their multi-enzyme platform unlocks complex biomolecules which were previously too costly or difficult to produce at scale. The team executes fast, listens to customer feedback, and already shows great traction. We are very happy about the financing round and look forward to the next steps,” says Dr. Stephan Ruck, Investment Analyst at HTGF.
Enzymatic synthesis is the key to unlocking the next generation of complex bioactive molecules and Primogene has developed concepts to efficiently produce several high-potential products. This is why I am excited to be part of this journey and to contribute to Primogene’s success.” says Dr. Marc Struhalla, founder and CEO of c-LEcta GmbH.
“The capital will enable us to build the next phase of Primogene by scaling production, growing the team, and accelerating the industrial launch of our products.” says Dr.-Ing. Reza Mahour, CEO and Co-founder of Primogene. “Our goal is to make complex ingredients accessible at scale and thereby support human health at every age,” adds Linda Karger, COO and Co-Founder of Primogene.
“Primogene is exemplary of the strength of Leipzig’s life sciences ecosystem. The company addresses a clearly defined bottleneck in industrial biotechnology and has a scalable technology platform with broad application potential. We see significant growth potential across several attractive markets and look forward to accompanying Primogene on this journey,” says Oliver Latz, Senior Investment Manager at TGFS.
“Primogene’s success as an innovative Saxon biotech company is also a result of the strong life sciences ecosystem,” explains Frank Tappert, Managing Director of Sächsische Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH. “The team has convinced us, and together with the other investors we trust in their expertise to implement the technology at industrial scale.”
“Primogene addresses a real gap in the market for nature-identical ingredients with a technology that significantly facilitates the economical production of complex molecules. The team combines biotechnological depth with a clear product and execution perspective. This combination convinced us,” says Tina Dreimann, founder and Managing Director of better ventures.
About Primogene Primogene GmbH is a biotechnology start-up founded in 2023 by Dr.-Ing. Reza Mahour, Valerian Grote and Linda Karger based in Leipzig, Germany. The company specializes in the development of enzymatic biomanufacturing processes for the production of functional ingredients for nutrition and personal care in addition to pharma raw materials. Primogene’s technology enables the sustainable and scalable manufacturing of complex, high-value molecules.
Media contact: Primogene GmbH Linda Karger, Co-Founder & COO linda.karger@primogene.bio
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. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed around 800 startups and achieved 200 successful exits. HTGF has a fund volume of over 2 billion euros.
Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices.
For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn.
About TGFS – Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen TGFS Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen provides technology-oriented founders with equity capital for the seed and start-up phases. The fund was first launched in 2008 by the Free State of Saxony (including ERDF funds) and Saxon financial institutions and has since supported over 100 start-ups. In 2023, TGFS launched its third fund generation. TGFS focuses on young, innovative, technology-oriented companies in the ICT, semiconductor and microsystems technology, medical technology, life sciences, environmental and energy technology, and new media sectors that are based or have operations in Saxony.
For more information, please visit TGFS.de or follow us on LinkedIn.
About SBG – Sächsische Beteiligungsgesellschaft SBG has been a reliable partner of Saxon SMEs for over 28 years and additionally supports young, innovative companies. It currently holds stakes in around 80 companies. As a subsidiary of Sächsische Aufbaubank – Förderbank, SBG supports companies in
Saxony with equity capital for founding, innovation, growth, transformation, or succession. Further information at www.sbg.sachsen.de. and on LinkedIn
About better ventures better ventures is Europe’s leading alliance of entrepreneurial angel investors. With over 250 members – from serial founders to family entrepreneurs – better ventures has invested in over 65 startups shaping the next economy. The focus is on scalable solutions in areas such as climate, health, education, and AI. More at: www.betterventures.io
Verovaccines Announces EU-Wide Market Authorization for VeroBlue-3 and Strategic Out-Licensing Agreement
Verovaccines GmbH today announced that the European Commission has granted EU-wide market authorization for its VeroBlue-3 bluetongue vaccine, following the positive EMA opinion issued on March 12, 2026. The decision, granted under exceptional circumstances, marks the most significant milestone in the company’s history.
VeroBlue-3 is the first product developed on Verovaccines’ proprietary platform to receive regulatory approval, establishing the company as a fully integrated vaccine developer and marketing authorization holder (MAH) compliant with EMA standards. The authorization represents a major de-risking event, validating the platform’s regulatory pathway, GMP scalability, and suitability as a novel vaccine development engine.
In parallel, Verovaccines has entered into its first out-licensing agreement with an undisclosed top-10 global animal health company, covering manufacturing and EU-wide commercialization. The partnership enables rapid market access while confirming strong industry demand for the platform.
VeroBlue-3 leverages Verovaccines’ technology enabling rapid, cost-efficient vaccine development, low cost of goods, thermostability, and flexible combination with existing vaccines – key advantages for addressing fast-mutating pathogens such as bluetongue virus.
Building on its recent momentum, Verovaccines is engaging at the corporate level with several leading pharmaceutical organizations to evaluate broader applications of its validated platform technology across an expanded set of vaccine opportunities. These engagements encompass potential extensions into combination products and programs addressing rapidly evolving pathogens. Through selective external alignment, Verovaccines is positioned to unlock additional value from its platform while offering industry counterparts access to a rapid, scalable, and regulatory-proven pathway for vaccine development and commercialization.
Dr. Hanjo Hennemann, Managing Director and Co-founder of Verovaccines, said: “The EU authorization of VeroBlue-3 and our first out-licensing agreement validate both our technology and business model. We are now well positioned to scale, expand our pipeline, and unlock the full value of our platform.”
Dr. Ulrike Diesterbeck, DVM, Managing Director of Verovaccines, added: “This approval affirms the robustness and scalability of our platform and reinforces its capacity to support accelerated product development across a growing range of vaccine opportunities.”
About Verovaccines Verovaccines GmbH is a Germany-based biotechnology company developing next-generation vaccines or animal health. Its proprietary platform enables rapid, cost-efficient development of scalable vaccines targeting a broad range of pathogens (and in particular highly variable types), with advantages including low cost of goods, thermostability, and combination flexibility.
Following its first EU market authorization and validation of GMP manufacturing through a strategic partner, Verovaccines is positioning itself as a high-impact vaccine platform company with strong partnering potential and a scalable development model.
Berlin, April 23 2026 – Berlin-based climate tech startup VREY (RE Joule GmbH) has successfully closed a €3.3 million seed funding round, which was signed by Rubio Impact Ventures, High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and Kopa Ventures. . VREY enables property owners to deploy solar in multi-family buildings and supply the generated electricity directly to tenants, without taking on the role or regulatory burden of an energy supplier.
VREY founders Cedric Jaeger and Julius Pahmeier (photo: VREY)
As a certified smart metering operator and billing partner, VREY provides an end-to-end solution tailored to tenant electricity models and “Gemeinschaftliche Gebäudeversorgung”, a new regulatory framework. The company currently has a three-digit number of projects across all 16 German federal states, serving private landlords, housing cooperatives, project developers, and large real estate companies. For installations, they work directly with their customers’ preferred installation partners.
A structural gap in the energy transition Nearly half of Europeans share their roofs, but these roofs are rarely covered in solar. In Germany alone, there are close to 20 million rental units in multi-family buildings, with fewer than 2% powered by on-site solar. Adoption has historically been complex and economically unattractive. The only legal option for property owners was to act as (and take on the responsibility of) energy suppliers in order to pass solar power on to tenants. In practice, this was a burden most were not willing to take on. A recent change in German regulation removes that requirement for the first time, opening up a new, simpler structure (called “Gemeinschaftliche Gebäudeversorgung”).
Metering and billing infrastructure for solar in multi-family buildings VREY provides the technology to turn this simpler structure from regulation to reality. The company operates as a certified smart metering operator and handles all billing via its software: measuring each tenant’s share of solar output and invoicing them directly. Property owners do not take on the responsibilities of energy suppliers, and tenants do not need to switch provider.
“The majority of property owners want to future-proof their buildings, but until now, practical solutions were missing. With VREY, we make solar in multi-family buildings simple and economically viable for the first time,” says Julius Pahmeier, Co-Founder and Managing Director of VREY.
The result is a genuine triple win: property owners earn a return on their solar investments, tenants pay lower electricity bills, and carbon emissions from residential power supply come down. VREY’s platform also supports the integration of batteries, heat pumps, and EV charging, and works with local installation partners for system deployment. VREY positions itself as the EnergyOS for multi-family buildings – a central infrastructure layer for measuring, billing, and managing energy flows.
Capital to scale team and platform The €3.3M round is led by Rubio Impact Ventures, with participation from High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and Kopa Ventures. With this investment, VREY plans to expand its team of around 20 employees and further develop its platform. The goal is to strengthen its position as a leading provider of energy solutions for multi-family buildings and unlock additional energy use cases for property owners. The company currently has a three-digit number of projects across all 16 German federal states, serving private landlords, housing cooperatives, project developers, and large real estate companies. For installations, they work directly with their customers’ preferred installation partners.
“Shared roofs have long been one of the “impossible-to-go-solar” segments in the residential market. VREY has built a rapidly scalable solution in which everybody wins: tenants reduce their energy bills, property owners make more money without the liabilities of an energy supplier and everyone benefits from reduced carbon emissions. What convinced us to lead this round was not just the model, but the speed and clarity with which Julius and Cedric have executed it. We look forward to being part of what comes next,” says Helmer Schukken, Partner at Rubio Impact Ventures.
Jan Kätker, Investment Manager at HTGF, adds: “”Solar for multi-family buildings belongs on every property owner’s roadmap today. The key is a solution that can be implemented without significant effort. VREY closes this gap and creates the foundation for broad scaling in both existing buildings and new construction. It’s impressive what the team led by Julius Pahmeier and Cedric Jaeger has already built — we look forward to supporting them on the next steps.””
“The introduction of GGV (gemeinschaftliche Gebäudeversorgung) marks a meaningful regulatory breakthrough in Germany, creating a new market environment that requires both expertise and execution. This is where the Vrey team stands out, combining deep expertise, pragmatism, and speed to navigate and shape this landscape. With our experience from multiple real estate investments, we see strong demand for solutions like Vrey and look forward to supporting the team as they scale.”, says Marius Weckel, Principal at Kopa Ventures.
About VREY (RE Joule GmbH) VREY is a leading provider of solar solutions for multi-family buildings. The company enables collective building supply (“gemeinschaftliche Gebäudeversorgung” and tenant electricity models (“Mieterstrom”) through a combination of certified smart metering operations and automated billing software. Founded in 2024 by Cedric Jaeger and Julius Pahmeier in Berlin, VREY has quickly become a pioneer of the new regulatory framework in Germany. With a team of around 20 employees and a three-digit number of projects across all 16 federal states, the company serves private landlords, housing cooperatives, project developers, and large real estate companies. For more information, visit www.vrey.io.
About Rubio Impact Ventures Rubio is a leading European impact venture capital firm managing €250 million across three funds. Rubio invests in early and growth-stage companies creating scalable solutions for urgent global challenges, from climate and circularity to education and well-being. The firm uniquely links 100% of its carried interest to independently verified impact results, ensuring financial success and positive impact go hand in hand. Learn more at rubio.vc
About HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) is one of the leading early-stage investors in Germany and Europe. HTGF finances startups across Climate Tech, Deep Tech, Industrial Tech, Digital Tech, Life Sciences, and Chemistry, supporting them on their journey to becoming international market leaders. With over €2 billion in assets under management and more than 770 funded startups, HTGF is among the most active seed investors in Europe.
About Kopa Ventures kopa ventures is an established early-stage impact investor with a focus on European climate tech startups in the fields of Energy, Mobility, Nature and Carbon Tech. Notable investments include 1KOMMA5, ecoworks, Green Fusion, and LIMATICA. The kopa ventures team, located in Berlin, Munich, Mainz, and London, combines exceptional domain expertise, entrepreneurial acumen, and access to an extensive investment and expert network to support early-stage startups in achieving substantial positive financial and ecological impacts. For more information: www.kopa.vc
Pressekontakt Kopa Marius Weckel (Principal) marius@kopa.vc
ATMOS Space Cargo Raises €25.7 Million in Series A to Build Europe’s Orbital Return Infrastructure
ATMOS Space Cargo, a European company developing orbital transport and re-entry vehicles, has closed a €25.7 million Series A financing round. The funding will support an initial three-vehicle PHOENIX 2 fleet, the launch of ATMOS WORKS for governmental and defence customers, and development of PHOENIX 3, the company’s next-generation orbital return vehicle.
(photo: ATMOS Space Cargo)
The round is co-led by Balnord and Expansion, and joined by Keen Defence and Security. The European Innovation Council (EIC) participates through its Accelerator programme via blended financing, combining grant and equity components. Additional investors include OTB Ventures, High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), APEX Ventures, Seraphim, Faber, E2MC, Kirch Ventures, Lennertz & Co., Mätch VC, MBG Baden-Württemberg, and Tech Horizons.
PHOENIX 2 Fleet: Three-Flight Campaign
Following its PHOENIX 1 demonstration flight in April 2025, the company is now moving from demonstration to routine operations. Three PHOENIX 2 orbital transfer and return vehicles (OTRVs) will be constructed and operated as a phased operational mission campaign, servicing institutional and commercial clients across a range of payload and mission profiles.
(photo: ATMOS Space Cargo)
PHOENIX 2 is a free-flying spacecraft equipped with integrated propulsion and power systems, capable of mission durations from hours to several months in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The vehicle performs autonomous de-orbit, controlled atmospheric re-entry using ATMOS’ Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD) technology, which serves as both heat shield and aerodynamic brake. Its non-ablative design minimizes material loss and environmental impact while maximizing payload-to-mass efficiency and re-entry precision for rapid payload recovery.
Initial recovery operations are being prepared near Santa Maria in the Azores, under Portugal’s ANACOM-09/2026-AE licence enabling commercial orbital re-entry operations under a continental European Union member state’s jurisdiction.
The three-flight campaign creates an initial operational cadence, reduces programme risk, and gives research institutions, industrial customers, and government users a clear path to fly missions. In doing so, it begins to turn orbital return into a repeatable European service rather than a one-off demonstration.
(photo: ATMOS Space Cargo)
ATMOS WORKS: A Dedicated Entity for European Governmental and Defence Institutions
ATMOS Space Cargo is launching ATMOS WORKS, a dedicated business focused on space logistics and operational capabilities for European governmental and defence customers. The PHOENIX platform’s dual-use architecture supports mission profiles including in-orbit demonstration and validation (IOD/IOV) , secure and sovereign return of sensitive hardware and data, and responsive time-critical operations. Further details on ATMOS WORKS will be announced separately.
(photo: ATMOS Space Cargo)
PHOENIX 3: Next-Generation Orbital Return Vehicle Development
ATMOS has begun development of PHOENIX 3, a next-generation orbital transfer and re-entry vehicle designed for a payload capacity of approximately one metric tonne – roughly ten times that of the PHOENIX 2.
The vehicle is being designed to address larger payload classes, aggregated multi-customer missions, and future institutional and security requirements.
PHOENIX 3 is intended to meet the needs of Europe’s evolving space economy, supporting sovereign access to and from orbit, independent technology validation, and the long-term needs of European industry, government, and security users.
Further details on the PHOENIX 3 programme will be announced in the coming weeks.
“This financing allows us to move to regular operational service. A structured campaign of three vehicles establishes Europe’s first routine orbital return infrastructure. PHOENIX 2 is the first step to build a scalable European return infrastructure that will demonstrate our ability to access, operate, and return materials, data, and hardware from orbit independently. With ATMOS WORKS and PHOENIX 3, we are building the full architecture – commercial, institutional, and defence-capable – in parallel.” Sebastian Klaus, CEO and Co-Founder, ATMOS Space Cargo
“ATMOS is building a missing piece of Europe’s space infrastructure: reliable, sovereign return from orbit. With PHOENIX moving from demonstration to an operational fleet and the next-generation roadmap already underway, the team is turning orbital return into repeatable capability—relevant for commercial innovation and for European institutional and defence needs alike.” Christian Ziach, Principal at HTGF
“ATMOS is building exactly the kind of dual-use capability Europe needs more of: sovereign access not only to orbit, but back from orbit. We believe ATMOS can become a crucial part of the logistics backbone of a real European space industrial base — one built on operational services, strategic autonomy, and the ability to serve commercial, institutional, and defence customers from the same platform.” Aleksander Dobrzyniecki, General Partner, Balnord
“ATMOS is building a capability Europe critically lacks: a sovereign, repeatable ability to return payloads from orbit. This investment supports the emergence of orbital return as essential infrastructure for Europe’s commercial, institutional, and security needs.” Ted Elvhage, Founding Partner, Expansion Ventures
“Europe’s strategic autonomy in space depends on sovereign, end-to-end access to orbit, including the ability to return. ATMOS Space Cargo is addressing an important capability gap in Europe’s space infrastructure. This investment reflects the EIC Fund’s commitment to supporting deep tech companies that strengthen European competitiveness, technological sovereignty, and the long-term development of the European space economy.” Svetoslava Georgieva, Chair of the EIC Fund Board, European Innovation Council
About ATMOS Space Cargo ATMOS Space Cargo is a European space company with facilities in Lichtenau (Germany) and Strasbourg (France), developing lightweight, reusable orbital transportation vehicles to transport, operate and return payloads across a broad range of mass classes and mission profiles from Low Earth Orbit.
The PHOENIX vehicle family comprises reusable orbital transfer and return vehicles (OTRVs) for autonomous cargo operations. Equipped with an Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD) serving as both heat shield and aerodynamic brake, its non-ablative design minimizes material loss and environmental impact while maximizing payload-to-mass efficiency and re-entry control.
By closing the loop of space logistics, ATMOS supports in-orbit manufacturing, advanced materials, and microgravity research, and contributes to building a sustainable and reliable European space infrastructure that enhances access to space and strengthens long-term technological sovereignty. https://atmos-space-cargo.com/
Press Contact ATMOS Krystian Bandzimiera, Head of Communications ATMOS Space Cargo krystian.bandzimiera@atmos-space-cargo.com
About Balnord Balnord is a high-conviction early-stage investor in frontier and dual-use technologies. Focused primarily on founders from the Baltic Sea and Northern Europe (Nordics, Baltics, Poland, Germany), Balnord backs companies solving the hardest problems in critical industries – laying the foundation for Europe’s re-industrialization in the real economy across sectors such as space, healthcare, industrial resilience, and more. With the team’s former entrepreneurial and operational backgrounds, Balnord helps founders scale from the first round through exit and beyond.
About Expansion Ventures Expansion Ventures is a pan-European independent venture capital firm with presence in Paris, Stockholm and Luxembourg, investing in Sustainable Aerospace and Defence strategic technologies with a focus on Europe’s industrial and defense sovereignty. Backed by both public and private stakeholders, Expansion Ventures supports early stage deeptech ventures building the foundations of resilient European infrastructure.
VisioLab Raises $11M Series A to Scale AI-Powered Self-Checkout Across U.S. Sports Venues and Global Food Service
Round co-led by eCAPITAL Entrepreneurial Partners and Simon Capital backs stadium-wide deployments at Orlando Magic and Inter Miami CF, and a new all-in-one checkout-to-payment platform
VisioLab, a pioneer in AI-powered visual self-checkout for food service, today announced the close of its $11 million Series A financing round. The round was co-led by eCAPITAL Entrepreneurial Partners and Simon Capital, with continued participation from existing investors High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), zwei.7 and Heartfelt (formerly APX).
The funding positions VisioLab for its next phase of global expansion – building on stadium-wide deployments at the Orlando Magicʼs Kia Center and Inter Miami CFʼs Nu Stadium – while launching a fully integrated all-in-one checkout and payment platform for food service operators.
VisioLabʼs iPad-based checkout system uses real-time edge AI to identify packaged and unpackaged food items at the point of sale, eliminating barcode scanning and reducing average transaction times by up to 70% based on operator-reported data. Unlike camera-array or overhead-sensor approaches, the system requires no venue infrastructure modifications and can be deployed by existing staff in 10 minutes. It is already operational across corporate dining, higher education, and professional sports venues in Europe and the United States, with initial deployments in Asia-Pacific.
Iwo Gernemann (President & COO of VisioLab) and Tim Niekamp (CEO of VisioLab) (photo: VisioLab)
Landmark Venue Deployments
VisioLab has secured a series of high-profile partnerships that mark an inflection point for AI checkout adoption in live sports and entertainment:
Orlando Magic – Kia Center: A stadium-wide rollout of 43 VisioLab units, operated by Levy, making the Kia Center one of the most comprehensively AI-enabled food service venues in professional sports.
Inter Miami CF – Nu Stadium: 30 units deployed in partnership with Delaware North as part of the food service technology infrastructure at Inter Miamiʼs new purpose-built stadium.
Atlanta Falcons & Atlanta United – Mercedes-Benz Stadium: Deployment with Levy at one of the NFLʼs flagship venues, home to both the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United of Major League Soccer. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is a designated FIFA World Cup 2026™ host venue.
Carolina Panthers & Charlotte FC – Bank of America Stadium: Expanding VisioLabʼs NFL and MLS presence at the home of the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC in Charlotte, North Carolina, together with Levy.
These deployments join an existing operator base that includes Compass Group/Levy, Aramark, and Delaware North, with additional venues at the University of Central Florida, Clemson University, Vegas Golden Knightsʼ T-Mobile Arena, and the Minnesota Wildʼs Grand Casino Arena.
(photo: VisioLab)(photo: VisioLab)
All-in-One Checkout: From Item Recognition to Payment
Alongside the funding round, VisioLab is launching a fully integrated checkout-to-payment platform that combines AI-powered item recognition, point-of-sale software, and payment processing in a single system. By embedding payment acceptance directly into the checkout flow, VisioLab eliminates the need for operators to source and integrate separate payment terminals – reducing hardware complexity, lowering total cost of ownership, and delivering a seamless experience for both staff and guests.
The all-in-one platform is complemented by a new B2B e-commerce channel that enables operators to configure and order VisioLab systems directly online, streamlining procurement for multi-site rollouts.
Series A Positions VisioLab for Accelerated Scale
The $11 million round positions VisioLab to deepen its presence across its four core verticals: Sports & Entertainment, Business & Industry, Higher Education, and Travel & Leisure. The company is actively hiring across engineering, product, sales, and operations, with approximately 15 open positions at its headquarters in Osnabruck, Germany and its U.S. office in Boston. Open roles are listed at visiolab.io/careers.
Leadership Commentary
“The food service industry doesnʼt need another point solution – it needs a new standard for how checkout works,ˮ said Tim Niekamp, CEO and Co-Founder of VisioLab. “With this round, weʼre delivering exactly that: a single system that handles everything from item recognition to payment, deployed on an iPad, with no infrastructure changes required. Thatʼs what building a category looks like.ˮ
“The U.S. sports and entertainment market is the toughest proving ground in food service – peak volume, zero margin for error. Weʼre now live across NFL, NBA, MLS, and NHL venues and major NCAA programs with the largest food service operators in North America. Thatʼs the market choosing a new standard,ˮ said Iwo Gernemann, Co-Founder & President, VisioLab Inc.
“VisioLab stands out for turning a complex operational challenge into a simple, scalable product. Their ability to drive real ROI for operators while expanding across demanding, high-throughput environments like U.S. stadiums convinced us. We believe they are building a durable platform at the intersection of AI and physical commerce.ˮ – Lucas Merle, Partner, eCAPITAL
“VisioLab is exactly what our ‘For the next generation’ thesis is about: rethinking the point-of-sale experience from the ground up with edge AI that makes operators dramatically more productive. Their traction in the US confirms what we saw early on – this technology has the potential to redefine how food service checkout works, globally.ˮ – Nico Heinz, Principal, Simon Capital
About VisioLab Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Osnabruck, Germany with a U.S. office in Boston, VisioLab builds AI-powered visual self-checkout for food service. The companyʼs iPad-based system uses computer vision and edge AI to recognize packaged and unpackaged food items at the point of sale – enabling fast, accurate, fully integrated checkout and payment with no barcode scanning and no venue infrastructure changes required. VisioLab serves operators across corporate dining, higher education, sports and entertainment, and travel and leisure in Europe and the United States, with initial deployments in Asia-Pacific. For more information, visit visiolab.io.
brainjo extends mental healthcare with Virtual Reality solutions and secures €2 million seed funding
brainjo develops VR-based solutions that complement traditional psychotherapy where it reaches its limits. The Regensburg-based digital health startup has closed a €2 million seed round led by High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF)
With this funding, brainjo is advancing its clinical study and regulatory approval of its first VR-based DiGA for children with ADHD, in collaboration with MEDICE – The Health Family
Founders Christian Gnerlich (left) and Markus Wensauer (right) (photo: brainjo)
Too few therapy slots, long waiting lists, and too many people without access to mental care: the Regensburg-based digital health startup brainjo aims to change this, by using Virtual Reality (VR) as a prescribable therapy extension with high adherence. The company has successfully closed a €2 million seed funding round. The round is led by High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), with additional participation from strategic partners and business angels, including Andreas Weinhut (Regensburg) and better ventures (Munich).
VR bridges the gap where traditional therapy falls short
brainjo develops digital health applications (DiGA) that can be prescribed by therapists or physicians and reimbursed by health insurance. The goal is not to replace traditional psychotherapy, but to close critical gaps in the system. Patients gain access to an immersive, individualized, and scalable form of therapy – complementing existing treatment options and available directly from home.
“We have been in exchange with the agile and dynamic team at brainjo for quite some time. In particular, the strategic fit of VR therapy is an ideal addition to our therapeutic portfolio.“ — Dr. Felix Lambrecht, MEDICE – The Health Family
brainjo Team (photo: brainjo) (photo: brainjo) (photo: brainjo) (photo: brainjo)
Funding for the next major milestone
The seed funding marks the beginning of the next phase: brainjo will use the capital to finance its clinical study and regulatory approval of its first VR-based DiGA – a digital therapy application specifically designed for children with ADHD, developed together with MEDICE – The Health Family. Market approval is planned for 2028.
„We were convinced from the very beginning by the team, the technology, and the market. Digital therapies in psychotherapy are still in their early stages, but the potential is enormous. What differentiates brainjo from purely software-based solutions is the depth of immersion enabled by Virtual Reality, a clinically relevant approach that we will substantiate with study data and use to improve adherence. “ – Dr. Jörg Traub, Principal at HTGF
„With a strong network of business angels, MEDICE – The Health Family as a strategic partner, and HTGF as a leading European seed investor, we are ideally positioned to bring our solutions into healthcare and establish multimodal therapy offerings for patients.“ Markus Wensauer, Co-Founder and CEO of brainjo
About brainjo brainjo GmbH is a digital health startup founded in 2022 and based in Regensburg, Germany. The company develops VR-based digital health applications (DiGA) for psychotherapy. Its mission is to create evidence-based, immersive therapy solutions that complement and scale existing treatment approaches. The interdisciplinary team currently consists of 10 employees, combining expertise in technology, psychology, and healthcare. brainjo is about to launch its first clinical study. More information: brainjo.de
Press Contact Markus Wensauer m.wensauer@brainjo.de
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. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed over 800 startups and achieved more than 200 successful exits. HTGF has a fund volume of over 2 billion euros. Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices.
C-mo Medical Solutions Receives CE Mark for Its Novel AI-Powered Cough Monitoring Solution
Regulatory milestone supports broader adoption of C-mo’s privacy-preserving technology in clinical research and medical practice
Approval covers the biosensor, automated cough monitoring algorithms and software platform
C-mo allows precise, objective monitoring of cough frequency and intensity across multiple indications
C-mo Medical Solutions, a leading provider of next-generation cough monitoring technology, today announced that it has received CE Mark for C-mo System, its AI-powered cough monitoring solution.
C-mo System is a non-invasive, Class IIa medical device, now CE-marked under EU MDR 2017/745, for monitoring cough in patients across a broad range of indications. The certification covers the biosensor, the automated cough monitoring algorithms and the software platform. This solution objectively measures cough frequency, cough bouts and cough intensity, and is indicated for use across pediatric, adult and elderly patient populations (i.e. any patients aged > 5 years old).
The C-mo system (Photo: C-mo Medical Solutions)
Strong clinical and regulatory validation support broader adoption
The milestone marks an important step in the Company’s commercial development and supports broader adoption of its privacy-preserving technology in both clinical trials and medical practice.
Building on its ISO 13485 certification, the CE Mark further reinforces C-mo’s commitment to meeting high regulatory and quality standards. To date, C-mo System has been validated in more than 180 subjects in three clinical studies, demonstrating a median sensitivity of 95.0% and median specificity of 99.9% in cough event detection, with consistently strong performance across age groups, diseases, cough rates and BMI.
C-mo System combines a robust wearable biosensor, sophisticated AI-driven cough analysis and an intuitive digital platform. The technology provides a comprehensive, unbiased and privacy-preserving approach to next-generation cough monitoring, enabling pharmaceutical companies, CROs, researchers and healthcare providers to assess cough with clinical precision. Unlike conventional cough monitoring systems, C-mo System is designed to generate precise, longitudinal cough data and clinically meaningful endpoints without recording private conversations.
Respiratory diseases: Significant unmet medical need
Respiratory diseases are a growing healthcare challenge, driven by a substantial unmet need in diagnosis, available treatments, disease monitoring and long-term management. Chronic cough further adds to this burden, affecting approximately 9.6% of adults worldwide and carrying a substantial personal and healthcare burden[1]. It is associated with substantial impairment in quality of life, including sleep disruption, anxiety, and depression, as well as repeated healthcare utilization and high resource burden. Chronic cough is a key symptom in several diseases, including refractory chronic cough, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), COPD, asthma, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and cystic fibrosis.
Providing actionable insights for clinical trials and medical practice
C-mo’s initial commercial focus is the clinical trials market, where pharmaceutical companies, biotechs and research institutions are increasingly seeking robust and objective cough endpoints. At the same time, the approval also supports future adoption in medical practice and hospital settings.
“This important regulatory milestone reinforces confidence in the quality, safety and performance of our technology,” said Diogo Tecelão, Chief Executive Officer of C-mo Medical Solutions. “We believe C-mo can set a new standard for objective assessment of cough by enabling precise monitoring of cough across its different dimensions. With CE Mark now in place, we are well positioned to support pharmaceutical companies, researchers and healthcare professionals in clinical trials and in medical practice.”
“In recent years, precise and reliable cough analysis has emerged as an important biomarker in respiratory research,” said Prof. Surinder Birring, Consultant Respiratory Physician at King’s College Hospital, London, UK. “However, only a few solutions are currently capable of delivering accurate cough monitoring suitable for everyday clinical use. The validation results generated with the C-mo System show that cough can be assessed objectively across multiple key dimensions, including frequency and intensity, while maintaining strong performance across diverse patient characteristics. This is particularly relevant for clinical trials, where robust and reproducible endpoints are essential. With CE Mark approval, an important step has been taken towards making C-mo widely available for clinical use.” The CE Mark is expected to support the Company’s commercial momentum as it expands engagement with pharmaceutical partners, CROs, eClinical partners, researchers and healthcare professionals. C-mo has developed its solution as a new benchmark for objective cough assessment, bringing digital precision to an area of care that has long relied on subjective reporting or limited objective tools.
About C-mo Medical Solutions
C-mo Medical Solutions is a pioneering medtech company focused on developing innovative solutions that improve respiratory care. Its mission is to address a significant unmet need in the monitoring and management of cough, an important clinical symptom and biomarker across multiple respiratory and other medical conditions.
The Company’s C-mo System is a next-generation cough monitoring platform designed for modern clinical trials and use in medical practice. Combining a wearable biosensor, AI-powered algorithms and software, the platform delivers automated, scalable and privacy-preserving assessments of cough. C-mo System is the first solution to combine objective measurement of cough frequency and cough intensity while avoiding the recording of private conversations.
C-mo Medical Solutions is ISO 13485-certified, compliant with EU MDR 2017/745 and has a Class IIa CE-marked product. The Company is also aligned with GDPR, HIPAA and state-of-the-art cybersecurity standards.
C-mo Medical Solutions is backed by leading investors including Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, High-Tech Gründerfonds, Novalis and Portugal Ventures.
Media Inquiries C-mo Medical Solutions Diogo Tecelão, Chief Executive Officer press@c-mo.solutions
From Lab to Market: Pixel Photonics Secures €13.5 Million in Funding
The Münster-based deep-tech company combines a €5 million seed round with a highly competitive €8.5 million EIC Accelerator grant. The funding strengthens Europe’s position in the global race for quantum technologies.
As the United States and China continue to invest heavily in quantum technologies, a young company from Westphalia is sending a strong signal for Europe’s innovation landscape: Pixel Photonics, a pioneer in superconducting single-photon detectors, has announced total funding of €13.5 million. The amount consists of a first closing of a €5 million seed round and €8.5 million from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator – including €2.5 million in grants and €6 million in equity investment.
The Pixel Phototonics Team (photo: Pixel Photonics)
The seed round is led by Futury Capital. Additional investors include the Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation (SPRIND), Kensho Ventures, and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) – forming a consortium that reflects the strategic importance of this technology for Germany and Europe. In particular, the participation of SPRIND underscores the recognition of high performance photodetection as a key component for Europe’s technological sovereignty.
For CEO Nicolai Walter, the funding marks a turning point: “This financing is a major milestone for Pixel Photonics. It enables us to transform what has so far been a highly specialized quantum technology into robust, scalable industrial products. Our goal is to make the most powerful light detection as reliable and accessible as today’s semiconductor components – and to bring it into real industrial systems. We are excited to take this step together with strong partners and establish this key technology in the market.”
Applications range from quantum computing and quantum key distribution (QKD) to microscopy, metrology, medical diagnostics, and defense—fields in which Europe and Germany benefit from strong research infrastructure and industrial capabilities.
CTO Dr. Wladick Hartmann sees a fundamental shift underway: “Pixel Photonics is transforming superconducting light detectors from complex laboratory instruments into scalable chip solutions. In doing so, we are delivering the ‘silicon transistor’ of the quantum era—enabling the transition from niche applications to mass markets and opening entirely new horizons in secure communication and imaging technologies.”
Validation Through the EIC Accelerator
The European Union’s recognition of this potential is reflected in the company’s selection for the EIC Accelerator – the EU’s most competitive funding instrument for breakthrough innovation. Pixel Photonics was chosen as one of only 61 companies out of approximately 1,000 applicants. The funding will significantly accelerate market entry and firmly anchor the technology within Europe’s innovation ecosystem. Crucially, the detectors are designed for a broad range of applications that extend far beyond purely quantum use cases.
“We founded Pixel Photonics to overcome a fundamental bottleneck in photon detection. With the EIC Accelerator, we can bring our platform to market faster and scale it across broader application fields,” said Nicolai Walter. At a time when quantum technologies are increasingly taking on geopolitical significance – from secure communications to high-performance sensing and next-generation cryptographic infrastructure – Pixel Photonics is positioning itself as a key player in securing Europe’s technological independence.
About Pixel Photonics
Founded in 2021 as a spin-off from the University of Münster, Pixel Photonics specializes in high-performance single-photon detection technology. The company’s patented WI-SNSPDs combine scalability, ultra-fast detection rates, and exceptional sensitivity – enabling breakthroughs in quantum computing, quantum key distribution, microscopy, and metrology.
Gilead to Acquire HTGF-Backed Biotech Tubulis for up to $5 Billion
Gilead will acquire all of the outstanding equity of Tubulis for $3.15 billion in upfront cash consideration on a cash-free, debt-free basis and up to $1.85 billion in contingent milestone payments
HTGF engaged during pre-founding phase, co-led Series A in 2020, and remained committed through clinical development including largest-ever HTGF Opportunity Growth Fund investment
The transaction marks HTGF’s highest-valued exit to date and the third unicorn exit in HTGF’s life sciences portfolio
Bonn/Munich, 7 April 2026 – HTGF today announced that Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire HTGF portfolio company Tubulis, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), building on Gilead’s oncology pipeline, focused on addressing areas of high unmet need. Gilead will acquire all of the outstanding equity of Tubulis for $3.15 billion in upfront cash consideration on a cash-free, debt-free basis, subject to customary adjustments, which is payable at closing, and up to $1.85 billion in contingent milestone payments.
HTGF, one of Europe’s leading and most active seed investors, has backed Tubulis from its pre-founding phase to clinical development. HTGF co-led the Series A in 2020 and supported Tubulis’ growth as a trusted partner and investor in follow-on rounds including the largest-ever HTGF Opportunity Growth Fund investment to date. The transaction marks HTGF’s highest-valued exit to date and the third unicorn exit in HTGF’s life sciences portfolio.
The acquisition significantly expands Gilead’s ADC capabilities by adding next-generation assets and platforms designed to more selectively deliver diverse payloads to tumors and maximize patient benefit. Tubulis’ lead asset, TUB-040, a NaPi2b-directed topoisomerase-I inhibitor (TOPO1i) ADC, is currently in Phase 1b/2 development for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Gilead will also acquire TUB-030, a 5T4 targeted ADC, which has demonstrated promising initial clinical data across various solid tumor types as well as Tubulis’ next-generation ADC platform and a promising early pipeline. Tubulis’ programs and platforms have broad potential across multiple tumor types, complementing Gilead’s existing development and commercialization expertise in oncology.
“From the outset, we believed our conjugation technology platforms could have broad impact across the ADC field and the initial data from TUB-040 have reinforced that conviction,” said Dr. Dominik Schumacher, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Tubulis. “Joining Gilead allows us to build on this foundation within an organization that brings deep scientific expertise, global development capabilities, and the scale needed to translate innovation into medicines for patients worldwide. Through our existing collaboration, Gilead has already seen the potential of our technologies and together, we are well positioned to accelerate the development of our ADC pipeline. I’m deeply grateful to the Tubulis team, our Board of Directors, investors, and partners for their commitment and helping make this milestone possible.”
Following the closing of the transaction, Tubulis will operate as a dedicated ADC research organization within Gilead, with the Munich site serving as a hub for ADC innovation, building on its integrated discovery, manufacturing and clinical capabilities to advance next generation ADCs.
Tubulis as a Textbook Case of HTGF’s Investment Approach
HTGF recognized Tubulis’s transformative potential very early, engaging with the founding team during the pre-founding phase. HTGF co-led the Series A round in 2020 and supported Tubulis’ journey from early-stage platform development to clinical validation. With its largest growth investment to date via the HTGF Opportunity Growth Fund in the Series C in 2025, HTGF underscored its strong belief in the team’s innovative strength and global impact. This successful acquisition is a prime showcase of HTGF’s approach: early conviction, patient capital, and long-term partnership turning scientific vision into reality creating value for patients and investors.
Dr. Dominik Schumacher, CEO and Co-Founder of Tubulis: “HTGF was one of our earliest investors and supported us in shaping Tubulis during its formative years. Their continued partnership through all phases reflects the shared conviction in our mission and trusted relationship we have built. Investors who engage at such early stages and remain committed long-term are essential for the German and European biotech ecosystem.”
Dr. Frank Hensel, Principal at HTGF: “We started our relationship with Tubulis when the renaissance of the ADC-field had just started and always believed in the potential of the Tubulis platform. When we co-led the Series A in 2020, we saw exceptional science and a bold vision. Today’s acquisition by Gilead validates both the platform’s strength and the team’s strong execution. We are incredibly proud of what the Tubulis Team has achieved.”
Dr. Bernd Goergen, Partner at HTGF: “Considering Tubulis’ fantastic development leading to this acquisition, our claim ‘We believe in tech. We invest in people.’ has received the nicest validation possible. From pre-founding conversations to this milestone, it has been a privilege to accompany this exceptional team. Thank you for letting us be part of this journey.”
Dr. Achim Plum, Managing Director at HTGF: “Tubulis is a prime example of our investment philosophy: building strong partnerships with exceptional founders and staying with them for the long run. This unicorn exit shows what happens when scientific excellence meets entrepreneurial drive. Real impact is created. We believe stories like Tubulis inspire founders across Europe to pursue bold scientific visions. It also gives us strong momentum as we prepare HTGF V, our next seed fund generation. Congratulations to the entire team on this outstanding achievement.”
Terms of the Transaction
Under the terms of the sale and purchase agreement, Gilead will acquire all of the outstanding equity of Tubulis for $3.15 billion in upfront cash consideration on a cash-free, debt-free basis, subject to customary adjustments, which is payable at closing, and up to $1.85 billion in contingent milestone payments. Closing of the transaction is subject to expiration or termination of certain regulatory filings and other customary conditions. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026. Gilead plans to finance the transaction with a combination of cash on hand and senior unsecured notes.
About Tubulis Tubulis generates uniquely matched antibody-drug conjugates with superior biophysical properties that have demonstrated durable on-tumor delivery and long-lasting anti-tumor activity in preclinical models and first clinical proof-of-concept in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The two lead programs from its growing pipeline, TUB-040, targeting NaPi2b, and TUB-030, directed against 5T4, are being evaluated in the clinic in high-need solid tumor indications. Tubulis will solidify its leadership position by continuing to innovate on all aspects of ADC design leveraging its proprietary platform technologies. Tubulis’ goal is to expand the therapeutic potential of this drug class for its pipeline, partners and patients. Visit www.tubulis.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
Tubulis Media Contact Stephanie May, PhD, Trophic Communications tubulis@trophic.eu
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 the pre-seed and seed phase and can participate significantly in further financing rounds, since 2024 with the HTGF Opportunity growth fund. HTGF has a fund volume of over 2 billion euros. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed more than 800 startups and successfully sold shares in over 200 companies.
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, KfW Capital and numerous companies are invested in the HTGF seed funds. Investors in the HTGF Opportunity growth fund include the ERP Special Fund and KfW with the resources of the Zukunftsfonds (“Future Fund”). Further information can be found at HTGF.de or on LinkedIn and on the Zukunftsfonds page.
Covalo, the leading data platform for the personal care industry, announces a €3.5M funding round led by Hi inov
From Ingredients Marketplace to Industry Data Backbone: Covalo secures a funding round led by Hi inov with existing investors HTGF and seed + speed Ventures participating to Accelerate AI-Enabled Innovation Across 145+ Countries
Covalo, the leading ingredients discovery and data platform for the personal care industry, today announced a €3.5 million funding round led by Hi inov, with participation from existing investors HTGF and seed+speed Ventures. The round will fund Covalo’s evolution from marketplace pioneer to the industry’s trusted data infrastructure. Already, the platform connects more than 1,500 suppliers and 6,000+ brands, including leading names such as Givaudan, Symrise, PUIG, and La Prairie, and partners with organizations such as Reed Exhibitions, TraceOne, and the B Corp Beauty Coalition.
Covalo founders Timo von Bargen and Yann Chilvers (photo: covalo)
An industry running on fragmented data
Innovation in personal care depends on ingredient data – yet that data remains scattered across organizations, systems, and formats. A single product such as a facial cream can require 35-40 raw materials, each with approximately 20 associated documents covering safety, regulatory compliance, sustainability claims, and technical specifications. These documents come in different structures, from different suppliers, using different nomenclature – with no standardized way to connect them.
The result is that R&D, regulatory, and procurement teams across the industry spend significant time on compliance, as well as the continuous collection, updating, and processing of technical data required across product development and regulatory workflows. With new regulations accelerating – including the EU Green Deal, microplastics ban, and packaging reform – approximately 80% of products are expected to require reformulation by 2030, further increasing the volume and complexity of ingredient data that companies must manage.
This fragmentation limits the industry’s ability to effectively adopt AI and advanced digital workflows, because there is no shared, structured foundation to build on.
From discovery platform to data backbone
Covalo is addressing this challenge by building a secure, neutral platform that connects directly into suppliers’ product information management (PIM) systems and brands’ R&D and PLM workflows – replacing the emails, PDFs, and spreadsheets that still dominate how ingredient data moves across the industry. When a supplier updates a compliance certificate on Covalo, every brand using that ingredient will see the change immediately. When a brand qualifies a new ingredient, the structured data feeds directly into its formulation and procurement processes.
Yann Chilvers, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, commented: “On average, it takes 3-5 years to bring a product to market. At the end of this process, 50% of product launches fail, costing the industry hundreds of billions every year. Much of this inefficiency stems from how information is managed and shared throughout the product lifecycle; product data is the one data that flows across the entire process. The problem is that this process is highly fragmented and inefficient on an industry level. With new regulation, constant supply chain disruption, sustainability pressure, and fast changes in consumer demand, the pace of change has never been so high and companies struggle to keep up. Many companies are trying to find internal solutions to address these challenges, but what they truly need is one common data backbone that powers the industry and allows for seamless data flows across teams and partners. Covalo is that backbone.”
Timo von Bargen, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, added: “Five years ago, we built the world’s largest ingredient discovery platform. What we’ve learned is that discovery is just the beginning – what the industry needs is a shared system of record where ingredient data is structured once, governed once, and reused everywhere. Our largest customers are expanding their use of the platform two- to three-fold year over year, not because we’re selling harder, but because once data is structured on Covalo, teams across R&D, regulatory, and procurement all want access. That compounding effect is something no standalone tool can replicate.”
Scale, adoption, and deepening engagement
Covalo’s position is validated by its scale, the depth of its customer relationships, and accelerating platform engagement. Platform engagement grew 84% in 2025, with 1.3 million monthly interactions and net revenue retention exceeding 145% – reflecting deepening adoption as customers expand across divisions, modules, and use cases.
Covalo partners with key industry organizations including TraceOne for regulatory data integration, Reed Exhibitions for industry event connection, and the B Corp Beauty Coalition for sustainability initiatives, among several leading industry associations. These partnerships reinforce Covalo’s role as a neutral, trusted platform at the center of the personal care ecosystem.
Wolfgang Krause, Managing Partner at Hi inov, commented: “Yann, Timo and their team are on the forefront of creating the new ingredient data infrastructure layer for the personal care industry. At Hi inov, we are impressed by Covalo’s up to date achievement in defining this emerging market and we are proud to add them to our Hi inov family.”
Alexander Kölpin, Managing Partner at seed + speed Ventures, commented: “Covalo recognized early that the biggest barrier in the personal care industry isn’t access to single ingredients, but the lack of a reliable data flow between suppliers, brands, and internal systems. Instead of getting stuck at search and visibility, Covalo is building a neutral and structured data foundation for the industry. This accelerates development, makes collaboration more efficient, and enables new AI applications in the first place.”
What’s next
The new funding will enable Covalo to scale its enterprise offering in key markets, launch new industry-specific AI-agents – including conversation analytics, RFI/RFP workflow automation, data extraction and enrichment, and regulatory compliance checks – and deepen its data platform with full product information management (PIM) and master data management (MDM) capabilities. The company is committed to anchor its leadership into Personal Care ahead of a future expansion into adjacent segments.
The company’s mission is clear: to make the personal care industry’s data connected, accessible, and future-ready.
Kupando Secures Additional €10 Million in Series A Financing to Advance Novel Immuno-Oncology and Infectious Diseases Programs
Kupando raised an additional €10 million in Series A financing, bringing the total Series A funding to €23 million.
Investment again led by Remiges Ventures, co-led by LifeCare Partners, with participation from all existing investors and new investor Carma Fund.
Proceeds will be used to fund the Phase 1b clinical study of KUP101 in advanced solid tumors and to accelerate preclinical programs in infectious diseases.
KUP101 is a differentiated dual TLR 4 and 7 agonist, harnessing innate immune stimulation and trained innate immunity.
Kupando, a pioneering biopharmaceutical company developing a TLR 4/7 agonist that stimulates innate immunity and induces trained immunity for use in oncology and infectious diseases, today announced that it has secured an additional €10 million in Series A financing. This latest investment brings Kupando’s total Series A funding to €23 million.
The investment was again led by Remiges Ventures, co-led by LifeCare Partners, with additional investments by all other existing investors, among them Brandenburg Kapital, High-Tech Gründerfonds and Ventura Biomed Investors. Carma Fund joined as a new investor. The proceeds will be used to fund the Phase 1b clinical study of Kupando’s lead candidate, KUP101, in advanced solid tumors and to accelerate its preclinical programs in infectious diseases.
Kupando’s disruptive approach harnesses the power of innate immune stimulation and induction of trained innate immunity by dual Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) agonists. Its lead candidate, KUP101, is a differentiated dual TLR 4 and 7 agonist with a robust preclinical profile approaching clinical development. KUP101 is ideally suited for the systemic treatment of solid tumors (tissue agnostic), and the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, including antimicrobial-resistant infections. Its AMR program is being sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.
“We are incredibly grateful for the continued strong support from our existing investors and excited to welcome Carma Fund to the Kupando family,” said Johanna Holldack, MD, Founder and CEO of Kupando. “This additional funding is a testament to the potential of our innovative dual TLR agonist platform and will be instrumental in advancing KUP101 into clinical studies for solid tumors and accelerating our crucial work in infectious diseases. Our mission is to leverage the natural resilience of the innate immune system to deliver truly transformative therapies for patients in critical need.”
New investor Martin Raditsch, PhD, Managing Partner of Carma Fund, commented, “Kupando’s unique approach to leveraging innate immunity holds immense promise across oncology and infectious diseases. This successful funding round, especially in the current challenging financial climate, underscores the confidence we, as investors, have in Kupando’s science, team, and potential to deliver impactful solutions for unmet medical needs.”
Kazuhiko Nonomura, PhD, Partner of Remiges Ventures and member of Kupando’s Advisory Board, added, “Remiges Ventures is proud to continue leading the investment in Kupando. We believe Kupando’s dual TLR 4 and 7 agonist technology, particularly KUP101, has the potential to redefine treatment paradigms in both cancer and infectious diseases. We are excited to see the company transition to the clinical stage and unlock the full potential of its pipeline.”
Kupando was founded by its CEO Johanna Holldack, MD, driven by the natural resilience observed in animals relying solely on innate immunity. Recognizing the historically undervalued yet critical role of this system, especially with the new understanding of innate and trained immunity, Kupando has made it the core of its therapeutic approach.
About Remiges Ventures Based in Seattle and Tokyo, Remiges Ventures is a US-Japan cross-border venture capital firm focused on therapeutics. Remiges Ventures takes a lead position for the syndication of Series A or later stage of investment rounds globally and actively creates new companies based on innovative assets discovered at academic institutions. Remiges Ventures’ team is connected with serial entrepreneurs, KOLs in various therapeutic areas, key consultants and major large pharmaceutical companies in the globe. The team actively participates in the value creation for its portfolio companies.
www.remigesventures.com
About LifeCare Partners LifeCare Partners is an independent investment advisory firm providing financing to private and public life science companies. LifeCare Partners targets the entire life science industry with special focus on medical technology, diagnostics, biopharmaceuticals, food & nutrition, industrial biotechnology, biomaterials, e-health and bioenergy. Based in Basel, the LifeCare Partners team has successfully invested in more than 50 life science companies over the last years, of which a large number have already been listed on the stock exchange or have been acquired by leading players in the life science industry.
For more information, please visit: www.lifecare.partners
About Brandenburg Kapital Brandenburg Kapital GmbH is a subsidiary of the Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg (ILB). As the venture capital arm of ILB, it has been supporting companies in Brandenburg since 1993 by acquiring equity and quasi-equity investments. As a public venture capital company, experienced lead investor and active partner, Brandenburg Kapital ensures a strong equity base for start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises in the State of Brandenburg on the basis of a stable group environment. The equity fund, which currently amounts to around 100 million euros, is available for this purpose. The funds for the Brandenburg Kapital fund, which was set up on behalf of the Brandenburg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor and Energy, are currently provided by the European Regional Development Fund and ILB’s own resources.
With a total of eleven funds, financed by the state, the EU, KfW and ILB’s own funds amounting to around 350 million euros, around 300 Brandenburg-based companies have been supported with venture capital and/or mezzanine financing over the last 32 years.
Further information can be found at: www.brandenburg-kapital.de
About Carma Fund CARMA FUND I is an early-stage investment fund for advancing Life Science and Healthcare technologies. The fund started off with a First Closing in June 2022 and has €50M under management. It is based in Munich and Frankfurt am Main.
For more information: www.carma-fund.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. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed around 800 startups and achieved 200 successful exits. HTGF has a fund volume of over 2 billion euros.
Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices. For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn.
About Ventura Biomed Investors Ventura Biomed Investors invest in early-stage life science companies developing pioneering technologies and innovative therapies. As serial entrepreneurs with many years of experience, we help shape the long-term development of our portfolio companies and provide them access to our broad investor and business network.
For more information: www.ventura-biomed.com
About Kupando KUPANDO is a pioneering biotech company focused on developing innovative therapies to address critical unmet medical needs in cancer and infectious diseases. Its disruptive approach harnesses the power of innate immune stimulation and induction of trained innate immunity by dual Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) agonists. This unique modality underpins the Company’s pipeline of first-in-class, differentiated small molecules with the potential to transform the management of these challenging diseases. Its lead candidate, KUP101, is a differentiated dual TLR 4 and 7 agonist with a robust preclinical profile and a clear path to the clinic.
Kupando is headquartered in Schönefeld, Germany and is backed by specialist institutional investors including Remiges Ventures, LifeCarePartners, Brandenburg Kapital, High-Tech Gründerfonds, Ventura Biomed Investors, Carma Fund Management and undisclosed family offices.
RAYDIAX secures €7.5 million for first-in-human studies and market entry of the therapy assistance CT “TACT”
RAYDIAX secures €5 million in venture capital from existing business angels, current investor bmp Ventures with the IBG funds, and the newly investing GETEC Family Office of Dr. Karl Gerhold.
In addition, the company receives €2.5 million in funding from the European Commission’s EIC Accelerator program.
The capital will be used for first-in-human studies, further development of the TACT system toward series maturity, and the establishment of sales, production, and quality structures.
With the market launch of the therapy assistance CT “TACT,” RAYDIAX aims to significantly expand the use of minimally invasive cancer therapies, thereby addressing demographic challenges in healthcare.
Compared to surgical procedures, minimally invasive cancer therapies in many cases offer the potential to shorten procedure times, reduce complication rates, and enable faster recovery.
RAYDIAX, a spin-off of the STIMULATE research campus/Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, has secured €7.5 million for first-in-human studies and the market entry of its therapy assistance CT “TACT.” The round includes €5 million in venture capital from existing business angels, current investor bmp Ventures with the IBG funds, as well as a new investment from the GETEC Family Office of Dr. Karl Gerhold.
In addition, the company has been awarded €2.5 million from the European Commission’s EIC Accelerator program – one of the most prestigious funding instruments for deep-tech innovation in Europe.
With the newly raised capital, RAYDIAX will implement the first-in-human application of its therapy assistance CT scanner “TACT” to generate early clinical evidence. In parallel, the company will advance development toward series maturity and expand its organizational structures in sales, production, and quality management. The goal is to systematically prepare for the first commercial installations.
Dr. Thomas Hoffmann, CEO and Co-Founder of RAYDIAX: “With the successful closing of our Series A1, we have reached a decisive milestone on our path toward clinical application. Following the successful seed phase and the development of our preclinical prototype, we are now focusing on generating early clinical evidence as part of the planned first-in-human studies. At the same time, we are establishing the organizational foundations for market entry. The continued trust of our existing investors, along with the support of new strategic partners, confirms the technological maturity and market potential of our approach.”
The clinical phase now commencing marks a significant value-creation step in the development of the system and lays the foundation for regulatory approval and commercial scaling.
Establishment of a new product category in interventional oncology
With TACT, RAYDIAX is developing a dedicated therapy assistance CT scanner for minimally invasive cancer treatments. The system supports therapy planning, execution, and monitoring within an integrated platform specifically optimized for interventional applications.
Minimally invasive therapies are gaining increasing importance in light of an aging population and rising cancer incidence. In many cases, they enable a less invasive treatment compared to open surgical procedures, potentially shorten procedure and hospital stay times, and help reduce complication rates. This can create additional treatment capacity and relieve pressure on hospital structures.
With the market launch of the TACT system, RAYDIAX aims to significantly expand the range of applications for minimally invasive cancer therapies.
European innovation funding as a strategic lever
The support from the European Union through the EIC Accelerator program underscores the strategic importance of the technology at the European level. The funding program specifically supports companies with disruptive innovations and high scaling potential.
Steffen Schmidt, CFO of the GETEC Group: “As the GETEC Group, we are pleased to invest in innovative technologies at our locations. After investing in new technological approaches in the field of magnetic resonance imaging through Neoscan Solutions, we became aware of RAYDIAX in the CT sector. With its innovative technology, RAYDIAX enables focused live CT imaging that reduces radiation exposure for both patients and physicians, as well as procedure time in the operating room. In addition to increasing efficiency in medical processes, RAYDIAX has also made a larger CT gantry opening possible, which will enable new surgical methods in the future, such as the use of robotics. Altogether, this convinced us.”
Klemens Gutmann, Founder of Regiocom and Business Angel: “As an engineer, I am particularly interested in complex technical systems. The strong scientific foundation and the outstanding technical expertise of the founding team convinced me. The TACT system fills a functional gap in operating room workflows – specifically in interventional radiology.”
Dr. Jan Alberti, Managing Partner at bmp Ventures: “With the successful closing of the Series A1, RAYDIAX reaches a decisive turning point from technology development to clinical application and market entry. TACT addresses a clearly defined clinical need in interventional oncology and has the potential to establish a new device category for minimally invasive cancer therapies. We see RAYDIAX as being exceptionally well positioned to establish an international presence in this growing market segment.”
Dr. Jan Engels, Senior Investment Manager at High-Tech Gründerfonds: “RAYDIAX is developing a technology with the potential to significantly improve the care of cancer patients. We are proud to see the strong progress the team has made since our seed investment – culminating in the recently closed Series A1 and the prestigious EIC Accelerator grant. Since the early stages, Thomas and his team have consistently taken the right steps toward achieving clinical relevance, and we look forward to continuing to support them closely on their journey.”
Knowledge transfer through long-term research funding
RAYDIAX is a spin-off of the Magdeburg-based STIMULATE research campus. This internationally renowned research center for minimally invasive image-guided therapies provides an ideal environment for device and company development.
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Georg Rose, Chairman of the Board of the STIMULATE Research Campus: “The EIC Accelerator is one of the most selective funding programs for deep-tech innovation in Europe. That RAYDIAX has successfully passed this highly competitive process and closed its Series A1 financing round is an outstanding achievement. It confirms the scientific excellence, the technological and clinical differentiation of the TACT system, as well as the entrepreneurial maturity of the team. For the STIMULATE Research Campus at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, this sends a strong signal: long-term medical technology research conducted here is giving rise to internationally competitive high-tech companies with clinical and economic relevance.”
The RAYDIAX founding team (photo: RAYDIAX)
About RAYDIAX The company was founded in 2022 and is headquartered in the Magdeburg Science Harbor. The scientific spin-off was established by researchers from Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg and the STIMULATE research campus. Its technical development focuses on both hardware and software for computed tomography systems.
Press contact Dr. Thomas Hoffmann, CEO RAYDIAX GmbH +49 391 67 57027 pr@raydiax.com
About bmp Ventures bmp Ventures is one of the most experienced venture capital investors in Germany, with a track record of more than 250 investments across nearly all technology segments, the majority of which are in the early stage. In addition to direct investments, bmp has also managed venture capital funds for the KfW Banking Group and DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft. Currently, bmp manages the IBG funds in Saxony-Anhalt and employs around 20 people at its offices in Berlin and Magdeburg.
About the IBG Funds The IBG Funds, based in Magdeburg, are the venture capital funds of the State of Saxony-Anhalt. They provide equity financing to young, innovative technology companies with above-average growth potential that are headquartered in Saxony-Anhalt. At the end of 2023, the new venture capital fund RKF IV was launched with a total volume of €63 million. It is financed by the State of Saxony-Anhalt and the European Union and invests in startups in the seed, early-stage, and growth phases. The IBG Funds are managed by bmp Ventures AG.
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. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed around 800 startups and achieved 200 successful exits. HTGF has a fund volume of over 2 billion euros. Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices. For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn.
About the STIMULATE Research Campus At the STIMULATE Research Campus, interdisciplinary teams from hospitals, companies, and academic institutions work hand in hand to research and develop solutions and technologies for highly innovative therapeutic and diagnostic procedures in image-guided minimally invasive medicine. The innovative medical technology is designed for specific applications to improve the treatment of cancer and vascular diseases. STIMULATE is a public-private partnership between Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Siemens Healthineers, and the STIMULATE Association. The research campus is funded under the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research’s “Research Campus” initiative, complemented by support from the European Regional Development Fund (EFRE) in Saxony-Anhalt.
Media contact STIMULATE Research Campus Dr. Jasmin Lother +49 391-67-57276 Jasmin.Lother@ovgu.de
emproof Appoints Marc Schieder as CEO and Closes Funding Round with European Investor Consortium
Bochum-based deep-tech specialist for embedded security launches international scaling – Auriga Cyber Ventures leads the round, Dutch SecFund joins as new investor, HTGF and TIN Capital expand their commitments
emproof, a specialist in protecting embedded systems at the binary level, has appointed Marc Schieder as CEO and successfully closed a funding round with a European investor consortium. With the fresh capital, the company is accelerating its international expansion and further professionalizing its sales, compliance, and product development functions.
Marc Schieder, CEO of emproof (photo: Petra Homeier Fotografie)
Experienced technology executive takes the helm
Schieder joined the company in early January 2026 and, as CEO, is responsible for transforming emproof from a research-driven start-up into a scalable enterprise SaaS organization. Previously, he served as Managing Director at DRACOON (now Kiteworks), where he was responsible for building and expanding the company.
“Companies invest years and millions in developing their firmware and algorithms – and lose that know-how within minutes through reverse engineering. We make sure that doesn’t happen: Your genius. Preserved,” says Schieder.
Binary-level security – without access to source code
emproof protects embedded systems against attacks, tampering, and reverse engineering – directly at the binary level. Its minimally invasive approach enables legacy systems to be hardened retrospectively, even without access to the original source code. The company thus addresses two key market needs: protecting intellectual property in algorithms and firmware, and meeting increasing regulatory requirements such as the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and NIS2.
The company operates in three strategic areas: the civilian market (automotive, industrial, and medical technology), the protection of legacy devices, and the defence & aerospace sector, where emproof collaborates in EDF-funded projects with European system integrators such as Kongsberg and Rheinmetall.
European investor consortium secures growth
The funding round is led by Auriga Cyber Ventures. Dutch SecFund joins as a new investor. Existing investors including High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and TIN Capital have significantly expanded their commitments.
The capital will be invested in building the international sales team, expanding compliance frameworks – including ISO 27001:2022 certification – and further developing the product platform.
Lead investor Auriga Cyber Ventures’ Managing Partner Geoffroy Rosset explains: “Our decision to reinvest and lead this round reflects our strong conviction in emproof’s exceptional technology and team. With Marc Schieder joining as CEO, a new chapter begins — focused on accelerating commercial growth and scaling internationally. We are proud to support emproof as it builds a global leader in embedded security.”
About emproof emproof is a deep-tech company based in Bochum, originating from Ruhr University Bochum (RUB), the Max Planck Institute, and the Horst Görtz Institute for IT Security (HGI). The company develops technologies to protect embedded systems at the binary level and is backed by a European investor consortium from Germany, France, and the Netherlands. For more information, visit www.emproof.com.
Press Contact Kafka Kommunikation Regina Urich & Cathrin Bauer emproof@kafka-kommunikation.de
