Category: Press

Augsburg Corrmoran start-up company develops corrosion monitoring system for large combustion plants. The Corrmoran GmbH is an Augsburg University spin-off company that is specialized in analyzing corrosion in waste incineration plants. To ease the market entry of the company, High-Tech Gründerfonds and Seedfonds Bayern engage in financing the considerable initial investments. “We are very glad about this financial backing that we take as a sign of confidence in our economic success and our positive future prospects”, announced Dr. David Schrupp-Heidelberger, CEO of the Corrmoran company.

Corrosion of heat exchangers is one of the main reasons for the limited energetic efficiency of large combustion plants. Furthermore, corrosion damage causes high maintenance costs, especially in waste incineration plants. “The probe developed by Corrmoran GmbH enables the operators of large combustion plants to reduce costs. Therefore, it promises a high additional benefit. We are convinced that the competent Corrmoran management team will succeed in transferring this technology into the market”, said Andreas Quauke, analyst with High-Tech Gründerfonds.
Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Haider, Dr. Barbara Waldmann, Berhard Stöcker, all scientists of the department for Experimental Physics of Augsburg University / Anwenderzentrum Material- und Umweltforschung (AMU), have developed an early stage of the prototype probe. This new kind of probe with its rod shaped sensor head allows monitoring corrosion online while operating the plant. That offers valuable insights on the time-based correlations between process parameters and the corrosive attack. Plant manufacturers as well as operators can now optimize maintenance costs and energetic efficiency.

The probe is the result of an AMU project about the characterization and analysis of coverings of superheaters in waste incineration plants and of the corrosive attack. The project had been financed by the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Public Health / Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt, Gesundheit within the framework of European structural fund programs (EFRE).

“As corrosion is still one of the most challenging problems waste incineration plants have to deal with, our concept immediately aroused expert interest”, said Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Haider, scientific advisor of the Corrmoran GmbH.
The company’s name CORRMORAN is the acronym of “CORRosion MOnitoring and ANalysis”. Corrmoran was founded in April 2008 as an Augsburg University spin-off company with the aim to transfer the prototype probe into the market by developing a version for its industrial application.
“The great demand of operators and manufacturers of waste incineration plants for corrosion measurement clearly showed us the high potential of our new probe”, explained Schrupp-Heidelberger. Together with Dr. Barbara Waldmann and Bernhard Stöcker, he founded the Corrmoran company.

By now, the Corrmoran probe is being successfully utilized within several plants, in Germany as well as in other European countries. “So far, we are providing the service of measurements to incineration related companies. Up from 2010, we are going to offer the probe as a purchasable product together with a service contract”, said CMO Dr. Barbara Waldmann. ”In both ways, we help our clients to make the operation of their plants safer and more energy-efficient”.

Due to the grant EXIST-Gründerstipendium, it was possible to found the Corrmoran company and to develop the early stage of to prototype probe up to a level that allowed its commercial use. Augsburg University helped to turn the theoretical concept into a real business plan by providing office and infrastructure. “Furthermore, the scientific advice and consulting by Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Haider and Prof. Dr. Siegfried Horn of the department of Experimental Physics I and II were of particular importance for us”, said Schrupp-Heidelberger and added: “It would have been nearly impossible to achieve our goal without the competent advice of Enthart Consulting GmbH on financial, administrative and business plan matters.

The next big step for our company is its entry into the market. That’s why we are proud to announce the joint venture of High-Tech Gründerfonds and the Seedfonds Bayern. Numerous demands by our customers ask for high financial initial investments that enable us to produce our Corrmoran probes. Together with our two strong partners, High-Tech Gründerfonds and Seedfonds Bayern, we will succeed in entering into the market and in expanding our company as far as possible.”

“We are glad that once more, we could support the establishment of a promising Bavarian high-tech start-up. This is a way to provide new sustainable jobs in the region of Augsburg”, explained Brigitte Linseis, investment manager with Seedfonds Bayern.

Contact:
Corrmoran GmbH
Sommerstr. 6
86179 Augsburg
Tel.: +49 821 598 3589
Fax: +49 821 598 3599
info@corrmoran.de
www.corrmoran.com

About High-Tech Gründerfonds
The High-Tech Gründerfonds invests venture capital in young technology companies that transform promising scientific research into business enterprises. The seed financing of up to 500 T€ shall result in a technical prototype, a proof of concept or a proof of market. High-Tech Gründerfonds has access to a fund volume of around 272,0 million Euro. Investors in this public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economy and Technology, the KfW Banking Group as well as the six industry companies BASF, Robert Bosch, Carl Zeiss, Daimler, Deutsche Telekom and Siemens.

Contact:
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2
53175 Bonn
Tel: +49 228 – 965685-00
Fax: +49 228 – 965685-50
info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de

About Seedfonds Bayern managed by Bayern Kapital
The Seedfonds Bayern was started in 2003. With a fund size of 22 million Euro it is focused on investments in early stage technology companies in Bavaria. The fund is managed by Bayern Kapital which was founded in 1995 by the Bavarian Government as part of the campaign “Initiative Bavarian Future” and to provide young and innovated Bavarian companies with venture capital. Up to date Bayern Kapital has invested in over 165 innovative high-tech companies with a total investment volume of about 135 million Euro. Overall, Bayern Kapital now manages a fund volume of almost 190 million Euro and implement the Clusterfonds Bayern concept with a fund volume of furthermore 75 million Euro.

Contact:
Bayern Kapital GmbH
Ländgasse 135a
84028 Landshut
Tel: +49-871-923 25 0
info@bayernkapital.de
www.bayernkapital.de

The start-up company make.tv was founded in 2007 and opens up new horizons in the web-tv sector. It enables everyone to produce their own live-show alone or in a team – without the need to invest in conventional broadcasting technology. The virtual studio is operated from the computer, user-friendly and does not require prior installation as make.tv is run by the internet browser. Thus, it is possible to broadcast shows at almost no cost – from each place in the world.

“’We are looking forward to the great opportunities that make.tv provides for the television and IP-TV sector“, states Simon Schneider, Investment Director at High-Tech Gründerfonds. “With the opportunity to produce own live-shows make.tv is a pioneer of its kind“. Andreas Meyer (beforehand founder of fotocommunity.de) and Georg Lenzen, founder and Executive Director of make.tv, announced the investment of High-Tech Gründerfonds this week. “High-Tech Gründerfonds constitutes an enrichment for our shareholder base. Thus, a new and exciting network is available“, explains Andreas Meyer.

Andrin Bachmann (co-founder of Glocalnet AB, venture partner of M/C Venture Partners and investor in QXL), Greg Lockwood (formerly Chairman of betfair.com) as well as other international private investors invested in make.tv GmbH just after the foundation in November 2007. High-Tech Gründerfonds as well as existing shareholders now invest in the second financing round. The transaction was accompanied by Dr. Schwarz-Schilling & Partners (Arno Nonnen).

Contact:
make.tv GmbH
Richard Laaser
Schanzenstr. 22
51063 Cologne
Phone: +49 176 1230 50
rlaaser@make.tv
https://make.tv/presse

About High-Tech Gründerfonds:
High-Tech Gründerfonds invests venture capital in young technology companies that transform promising scientific research into business enterprises. The seed financing of up to 500 T€ shall result in a technical prototype, a proof of concept or a proof of market. High-Tech Gründerfonds has access to a fund volume of around 272.0 million Euro. Investors in this public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economy and Technology, the KfW Banking Group as well as the six industry companies BASF, Robert Bosch, Carl Zeiss, Daimler, Deutsche Telekom and Siemens.

Contact:
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2
53175 Bonn
Phone: +49(0)228 / 965685-00
Fax: +49(0)228 / 965685-50
info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de

Manfred, Rietzler, High-Tech Gründerfonds, the Swiss based investor Mountain Super Angel AG (Open Market Frankfurt, ISIN: CH0033050961) and KfW invest in the fourth financing round in Public Solution GmbH.

With its brand “Yvio” Public Solution is the leading the market for RFID based board games. “Applying industrial strength RFID technology to board games offers new possibilities for board games. Now it is possible for the games and its figures not only to interact among themselves but also to interact with their players. We are combining the best of classical board and computer games”, says Robert Wilm, founder and CEO of Public Solution GmbH. “We are delighted to see Public Solution positioned itself to land a big hit in this year‘s Christmas Season”, confirms Ingo Drexler, investment manager of Mountain Super Angel AG. “Two and a half years after our initial seed investment Public Solution has grown to a company that now is positioned to become the world market leader with board games, says Alex v. Frankenberg, managing director of the High-Tech Gründerfonds.

Contact:
PublicSolution GmbH
Grenzstr. 18
01109 Dresden
Tel: 0351/ 7958244
Fax: 0351/ 7958245
info@public-solution.de
www.public-solution.de

About High-Tech Gründerfonds:
High-Tech Gründerfonds invests venture capital in young technology companies that transform promising scientific research into business enterprises. The seed financing of up to 500 T€ shall result in a technical prototype, a proof of concept or a proof of market. High-Tech Gründerfonds has access to a fund volume of around 272.0 million Euro. Investors in this public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economy and Technology, the KfW Banking Group as well as the six industry companies BASF, Robert Bosch, Carl Zeiss, Daimler, Deutsche Telekom and Siemens.

Contact:
Dr. Alex von Frankenberg
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2
53175 Bonn
Tel: +49 228 – 965685-00
Fax: +49 228 – 965685-50
info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de

About MOUNTAIN SUPER ANGEL AG:
MOUNTAIN SUPER ANGEL AG is a public Swiss investment company based in St. Gallen. The corporation was initiated by the Mountain Partners Group and draws upon the group’s widespread network. The company considers itself as an ´institutional investor with business angel character´. Thus, Mountain Super Angel AG invests in companies and in return offers market expertise and management-know-how to support growth potential.
The investment focus is on technology-driven markets with a high growth potential – primarily in German speaking countries. The equity is mainly invested into early-stage financing, restructuring and pre-IPO transactions. MOUNTAIN SUPER ANGEL AG shares are traded under 4MS (ISIN: CH0033050961) on the Open Market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

Contact:
Ingo Drexler
Mountain Super Angel AG
Dufourstrasse 121
9001 St. Gallen
Tel: +41 44 783 80 37
Fax: +41 44 783 80 40
id@mountain-partners.ch
www.super-angel.ch

About KfW
KfW gives impulses for the economy, society and ecology in Germany, Europe and the world over. It supports change and promotes promising ideas. Start-ups, tech companies and established SMEs can find tailor-made transparent offers of equity finance products.
In the area of early stage financing you will find suitable financing offers, for both the start-up and the seed phase. The ERP Start Fund provides equity finance for the start-up phase of young technological companies. The Start Fund leverages private equity since it only provides capital if a co-investor is involved. In this way, it creates incentives for private investors to enter the market. The participations by KfW and co-investor are subject to the same economic conditions.
In the later stage segment, the ERP Participation Programme offers equity finance to established SMEs. In addition, under the initiative ‘equity for the SME sector at large‘ KfW is attempting to close the ‘equity gap‘ that has been identified for participations ranging between EUR 1-5 million.

Contact:
Carsten Gellermann
KfW
Ludwig-Erhard-Platz 1-3
53179 Bonn
Tel: +49 228 8317400
Fax: +49 228 8317493
carsten.gellermann@kfw.de
www.kfw.de

High-Tech Gründerfonds named as number one “Equity Gap Fund” at the 2008 „Investor AllStars Awards“ in London

The leading European venture capital investors meet annually at the „Investor AllStars Venture Capital Awards” to celebrate the winners of ten investment categories. This year, the German based High-Tech Gründerfonds was able to claim the number one spot in the category “Equity Gap Fund of the Year” ahead of ten other nominees mainly from the UK. The jury considered in their decision mainly the criteria deal flow generation, active management of the portfolio and cooperation with other players in the venture capital industry.

Mansih Madhvani, partner with the investment bank GP Bullhound and moderator of the evening emphasized in his key note speech how important it is for investors and entrepreneurs to maintain their course despite the challenging and difficult environment. He stressed how the High-Tech Gründerfonds with its high number of seed investments fills the gap between young start-ups and venture capitalists. Dr. Alex v. Frankenberg, managing director of the High-tech Gründerfonds points out: “We are very happy that our activities are being recognized beyond Germany. This award is a great opportunity for us and our portfolio companies to intensify our contacts to European investors.

Link to the award: www.investorallstars.co.uk/allstars

About the High-Tech Gründerfonds:
The High-Tech Gründerfonds invests venture capital in young technology
companies that transform promising scientific research into business
enterprises. The seed financing of up to 500 T€ is intended to result in a
technical prototype, a proof of concept or a proof of market. High-Tech
Gründerfonds has access to a fund volume of around 272,0 Million Euro.
Investors in this public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry
for Economy and Technology, the KfW Banking Group as well as the six
industry companies BASF, Robert Bosch, Carl Zeiss, Daimler, Deutsche
Telekom and Siemens.

Contact:
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2
53175 Bonn
Tel.: 0228 / 965685-00
Fax: 0228 / 965685-50
info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de

The High-Tech Gründerfonds and Sirius Seedfonds, Düsseldorf are funding together with a group of private experts in different industries the ILIAS-medical GmbH, Bochum. Due to the good reputation and professionalism the High-Tech Gründerfonds and SSFD were the 4 founders first choice.

ILIAS-medical is developing the smallest artificial lung worldwide. Based on the Exist-Seed scholarship the company was founded in December 2007 in Cologne, Germany by Albert Großer, Hayat Koubaa, Philipp Mayer and Andreas Strauß. In June 2008 ILIAS-medical moved as one of the first companies to the recently finished BioMedizinZentrum, Bochum. Patients with heavy lung damage are threatened with a high mortal danger. As a last means extra corporal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is often applied to these patients. But ECMO systems are very scarce and very difficult to transport.

The total weight of the ILIAS system is only 1/20th of the weight of standard ECMO systems and fits with 5kg into small standard emergency cases. It is therefore very suitable for intensive care transport with ambulances or helicopters. The system can be self sufficient operated by batteries. “The ILIAS system is more efficient in the elimination of carbon dioxide and by using the warmth of the integrated pump, for which reason no heat exchanger is required. Therefore the system is more efficient compared to others.” Andreas Strauß, technical director of ILIAS-medical, quotes. The very priming volume is adequate to supply even small children and babies with oxygen.
“The ILIAS system is easier to use and much cheaper than any other system on the market. A decisive decrease of the total cost of treatment will be achieved for the operators using the system.” states Philipp Mayer, financial director of ILIAS-medical. Worldwide more than 2 Mio. patients will have the chance to benefit from the high mobility and decreasing costs of this form of therapy in the future.

“The simple and promising idea of ILIAS-medical will provide patients quicker and more efficient with the vital oxygen exchange on the site of accident.” quotes Simon Schneider, senior investment manager at the High-Tech Gründerfonds.

„Due to its modular design as well as its compact and easy system, ILIAS-medical is very feasible. Consequently the product has good prospects to prevail in the strongly growing market of medical technologies“, argues Analyst David Jetel of the Sirius Seedfonds Düsseldorf. This requires a balanced and talented team combining the core competences. „The realization of the idea and the resulting success illustrate that the founders of ILIAS-medical do possess these skills.”

Contact:
ILIAS-medical GmbH
Philipp Mayer, Andreas Strauß
Universitätsstr. 136
44977 Bochum
Tel: +49 234 810505 50
Fax: +49 234 70894 11
www.ilias-medical.de

About High-Tech Gründerfonds:
The High-Tech Gründerfonds invests venture capital in young technology
companies that transform promising scientific research into business
enterprises. The seed financing of up to 500 T€ is intended to result in a
technical prototype, a proof of concept or a proof of market. High-Tech
Gründerfonds has access to a fund volume of around 272,0 Million Euro.
Investors in this public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry
for Economy and Technology, the KfW Banking Group as well as the six
industry companies BASF, Robert Bosch, Carl Zeiss, Daimler, Deutsche
Telekom and Siemens.

Contact:
Ansprechpartner: Marco Winzer
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2
53175 Bonn
Tel.: 0228 / 965685-00
Fax: 0228 / 965685-50
info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de

About Sirius Seedfonds Düsseldorf:
The Sirius Seedfonds Düsseldorf has assets under management of 10 Mio. Euro. It invests in emerging companies located in the Düsseldorf region, focussing on the Lifescience and ICT sector as well as on industrial productions.
The funds’ share averages 500.000 Euro, whereby also higher amounts can be provided. The fund was initiated in the beginning of 2007 by the Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf, the NRW.Bank, private investors and Sirius Venture Partners. Currently the Portfolio consists of 7 technology ventures, which all have promising growth prospects in attractive markets.

Contact:
Ernst G. Mayer
Sirius Venture Partners
Merowingerplatz 1
40225 Düsseldorf
Tel.: 0211 / 542153-10
Fax: 0211 / 542153-90
info@sirius-venture.com
www.seedfonds-duesseldorf.de

Regensburg-based biotech company to receive 600,000 euros venture capital for the development of novel diagnostic tools to detect infectious and autoimmune diseases

Lophius Biosciences GmbH (Regensburg) has successfully closed its first financing round. High-Tech Gründerfonds (Bonn, Germany) and Bayern Kapital (Landshut, Germany) invest a total 600,000 euros in the young Biotech company. The funding will be used for the development of novel diagnostic tools for rising diseases such as tuberculosis, the world‘s greatest infectious killer of women of reproductive age and the leading cause of death among people with HIV/AIDS.
Lophius Bioscience is accompanied by netzwerk|nordbayern since its participation to the Nordbayern Business Plan Competition (BPWN) in 2006.

Proprietary technology
Lophius Biosciences owns a unique and patented technology, named Reverse T-cell Technology (RTT) for the fast and reliable detection of activated T helper cells and its target structures. T helper cells play a crucial role in the control of acute microbial infections and the onset of autoimmune diseases. Using RTT will allow for the first time an accurate discrimination between active and latent tuberculosis infections. Furthermore, RTT-based diagnostics are under development to identify the beginning of autoimmune diseases even before clinical symptoms become manifest. Consequently, an early diagnosis is of major importance to prevent and to selectively treat autoimmune diseases.

Growth potential
With its proprietary RT-technology, Lophius Biosciences has excellent growth opportunities. Already today, Lophius Biosciences is developing tailor made cell-based bioassays e.g. to test the biological activity and quality of protein-based therapeutics and vaccines in charge of international pharmaceutical partners. With the growing amount of registered biopharmaceuticals on the market, specialized contract research gains more and more importance.

About Lophius Biosciences:
Lophius Biosciences GmbH is a spin-off of the Institute for Medicinal Microbiology and Hygiene and the Department of Internal Medicine I at the University Hospital of Regensburg located in Regensburg, the south-east of Germany. The young biotechnology company offers services to assess the safety, quality and efficacy of biological agents.

The company’s service portfolio includes:
• Determination of toxicity and immunomodulatory properties of test substances in cell cultures and in animal models.
• Development and qualification of cell based assays to control biological activity and safety of protein based drugs and vaccines.
• Detection und quantification of specific antibodies as well as T-cells mapping of B- and T-cell epitopes.
• Evaluation of the immunogenicity of active ingredients in animal models.

In addition, Lophius Biosciences is developing innovative technologies for the diagnosis of acute infectious and autoimmune diseases as well as the rapid and efficient identification of novel T-cell epitopes (epitope database).

Contact:
Lophius Biosciences GmbH
Ludwig Deml, PD Dr.
Josef-Engert-Straße 9
D-93053 Regensburg
Germany
Tel: +49 941 944-4637
Fax: +49 721 151 397 812
info@lophius-biosciences.de
www.lophius-biosciences.de

About High-Tech Gründerfonds:
The High-Tech Gründerfonds invests venture capital in young technology companies that transform promising scientific research into business enterprises. The seed financing of up to 500 T€ shall result in a technical prototype, a proof of concept or a proof of market. High-Tech Gründerfonds has access to a fund volume of around 272,0 million Euro. Investors in this public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economy and Technology, the KfW Banking Group as well as the six industry companies BASF, Robert Bosch, Carl Zeiss, Daimler, Deutsche Telekom and Siemens.

Contact:
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2
53175 Bonn
Tel: +49 228 – 965685-00
Fax: +49 228 – 965685-50
info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de

About:
The Seedfonds Bayern was started in 2003. With a fund size of 22 million Euro it is focused on investments in early stage technology companies in Bavaria. The fund is managed by Bayern Kapital which was founded in 1995 by the Bavarian Government as part of the campaign “Initiative Bavarian Future” and to provide young and innovated Bavarian companies with venture capital. Up to date Bayern Kapital has invested in over 165 innovative high-tech companies with a total investment volume of about 135 million Euro. Overall, Bayern Kapital now manages a fund volume of almost 190 million Euro and implement the Clusterfonds Bayern concept with a fund volume von furthermore 75 million Euro. Seedfonds Bayern managed by Bayern Kapital:

Contact:
Bayern Kapital GmbH
Ländgasse 135a
84028 Landshut
Tel: +49-871-923 25 0
info@bayernkapital.de
www.bayernkapital.de

Start-up from Gera offers high-efficiency processes for purification of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients

The shareholders and staff of HAPILA GmbH, a provider of sophisticated pharmaceutical and chemical development services located in Gera, are delighted to announce that the High-Tech Gründerfonds has invested in their company. “With this engagement by the HTGF, the ideal foundations have been laid to commercialize our high-tech crystallization technology” – said CEO, Dr. Uwe Müller.

The requirements for achieving the required quality and especially purity of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients are increasing continuously. To meet these advanced challenges of modern pharmaceutical development, different purification principles such as crystallization, chromatography and membrane-based technoloies are used. However, these procedures are expensive and have the disadvantage of wasting expensive material and so contribute significantly to the costs of production.

HAPILA has developed a continuous crystallisation process to achieve high purity combined with high yield making the process of pharmaceutical development highly cost-effective. Another advantage of the HAPILA process is its good “scalability” allowing HAPILA to develop and run the procedure from gram scale to commercial amounts very efficiently. In addition to the quality of API, this process also allows a significant upgrade in the quality of fine chemicals. HAPILA’s technology is qualified for strict GMP compliance and for handling high active substances safely.

The business unit for purification is sustained by two other business units – chemical synthesis and particle design.

HAPILA GmbH, founded in 2007, won second-place at the prestigious Thuringian Business Plan Contest with their business concept as well as with their innovative technology at the Mitteldeutscher IQ-Innovationswettbewerb. „This shows the high innovative and entrepreneurial potential of the start up and the great professionalism of the management“ is highlighting Dr. Merle Fuchs, holder of TechnologieContor and coach of HAPILA.

Dr. Bernd Goergen, Investmentmanager of the High-Tech Gründerfonds, summarises the reasons for the fund’s engagement: „HAPILA serves multiple trends in the pharmaceutical industry with its innovative counter current crystallization technology and its broad service portfolio, especially outsourcing and increased API development by biotech companies, who lack of in-depth experience in synthesis and production methods. Here we see a big opportunity and we are sure, that the highly professional and experienced mangagement team of HAPILA will be able to benefit“.

Contact:
HAPILA GmbH
Dr. Uwe Müller
Otto-Schott-Straße 9
D-07552 Gera
Tel.: +49 365 20 58 69 30
Fax: +49 365 20 58 69 39
Web: www.hapila.de
e-mail: uwe.mueller@hapila.de

About High-Tech Gründerfonds:
The High-Tech Gründerfonds invests venture capital in young technology
companies that transform promising scientific research into business
enterprises. The seed financing of up to 500 T€ is intended to shall result in a
technical prototype, a proof of concept or a proof of market. High-Tech
Gründerfonds has access to a fund volume of around 272,0 million Euro.
Investors in this public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry
for Economy and Technology, the KfW Banking Group as well as the six
industry companies BASF, Robert Bosch, Carl Zeiss, Daimler, Deutsche
Telekom and Siemens.

Contact:
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2
D-53175 Bonn
Tel: +49 228 – 965685-00
Fax: +49 228 – 965685-50
E-Mail: info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de

About TechnologieContor:
TechnologieContor organises innovative start ups and technology oriented entrepreneurs in business development and financing.

Contact:
TechnologieContor
Zeitzer Str. 94
D-07552 Gera
Tel: +49 171 – 4542042
E-Mail: fuchs@technologiecontor.de
www.technologiecontor.de

The biotech company Corimmun GmbH has successfully closed a series A financing with EUR 5 million.

The company which is specialized in inflammatory mechanisms in cardiovascular diseases received seed-financing from High-Tech Gründerfonds and Bayernkapital in 2006. This current investment will enable Corimmun to develop the lead product COR-1 until proof of principle in man in phase II. The product pipeline will be further expanded and developed. COR-1 is a peptide-drug, which inhibits the auto-antibody-mediated myocardial damage in heart failure. COR-1 is the first drug which targets this important mechanism and therefore addresses an unmet medical need in an important indication.

The lead investor in this series A round is MIG AG Munich, Germany. Co-investors in the investor consortium are GC Fund, Bayern Kapital and KfW Bank. The shareholders High-Tech Gründerfonds, Bio-M AG and SeedFonds Bayern also participated in this round. Corimmun was supported by Matthias Guth Corporate Finance Consulting in the preparation and closing of this financing round.

„We are delighted that we could attract MIG AG as lead investor and experienced and reliable partner. With this solid financial basis we can concentrate on the best value generation by a successful clinical development of the lead project COR-1 “, comments Corimmun´s CEO Dr. Götz Münch the closing.

„Besides the attractive market potential and innovative product concept of Corimmun we are pleased by the experienced management. Moreover, we were convinced by the scientific basis of Corimmun´s projects which were awarded in two „GoBio“ grants. The successful tech transfer out of outstanding German research institutes into a private company is an excellent example for the economical power and value generation potential“, says MIG member of the executive board Michael Motschmann.

About Corimmun GmbH:
Corimmun GmbH is a private biotechnology company located in Martinsried near Munich, Germany. Corimmun was founded in 2006 as a spin-off from the Universities Würzburg and Tübingen and is developing drugs with focus on inflammatory mechanisms in heart failure and atherosclerosis. The company applies several technologies in the development of innovative peptide and biological drugs. A seed financing led by Hightech Gründerfonds was closed in 2006.

Contact:
Corimmun GmbH
PD Dr. Götz Münch
Am Klopferspitz 19
D-82152 Martinsried
Telefon +49-89-7006-5557
Email info@corimmun.com

About MIG AG:
MIG Verwaltungs AG with operations in Munich, Germany is the initiator of the MIG funds, a series of venture-capital funds for private investors with the investment focus in German speaking countries. MIG was founded end of 2004 by successful entrepreneurs and has more then EUR 250 million under management in their funds. With the trade sale of the medtech company etkon AG to the swiss Straumann AG MIG fund had already the first successful exit.

Contact:
MIG Verwaltungs AG
Michael Motschmann
Ismaninger Straße 102
D-81675 München
Telefon +49-89- 98 57 06
Email info@mig.ag

About High-Tech Gründerfonds:
High-Tech Gründerfonds invests venture capital in young technology companies that transform promising scientific research into business enterprises. The seed financing of up to 500 T€ shall result in a technical prototype, a proof of concept or a proof of market. High-Tech Gründerfonds has access to a fund volume of around 272.0 million Euro. Investors in this public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economy and Technology, the KfW Banking Group as well as the six industry companies BASF, Robert Bosch, Carl Zeiss, Daimler, Deutsche Telekom and Siemens.

Contact:
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2
53175 Bonn
Tel.: +49 (0)228 96568500
Fax: +49 (0)228 96568550
E-Mail: info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
Web: www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de

Unique in the world: „Extend 7000“ for mobile access to industrial controls via BlackBerry

SCHAD GmbH developed „Extend 7000“ – a mobile innovative SCADA system, which for the first time offers mobile and direct access (worldwide) to programmable logic controllers via BlackBerry mobile devices. The access to automation technology is realized by using public mobile networks complying with the highest security standards. Thus mobile operation of all plant functions is possible for customers without having to enter the control room: values, conditions or malfunction notifications can be received wirelessly. With “Extend 7000” SCHAD GmbH revolutionizes automation technology and provides unforeseen opportunities for improving efficiency: reduction of running costs, economy of time and material and therefore for increasing corporate success – quantifiable.

“Up to now”, Christian Schad says, “it was only possible to access programmable logic controllers of machines from the central control room or via cable-connected programming devices. “Extend 7000” is the innovative key to mobile independence and thus to greater productivity and higher quality.”

Especially industries with complex production cycles will benefit from using Extend 7000, for example the industries of food and beverage, pharma, automotive, cement, chemical, paint, oil and gas and the sector of renewable energy.

Christian Schad, founder and CEO: “With the financing of High-Tech Gründerfonds start-ups like ours have the chance to develop marketable technologies and to achieve a remarkable market entry. We have so far realized numerous pilot projects in different industries, and we can rely on a number of international sales partners.”

From High-Tech Gründerfonds’ point of view the company bears great potential: “We consider “Extend 7000” as a convincing innovation for the industry promising fast growth – because this system simply connects to the existing infrastructure and offers true added value”, says Dr. Alexander von Frankenberg, managing director of High-Tech Gründerfonds.

About Schad:
The SCHAD GmbH was founded by Mr. Christian Schad (41), Business Administration Manager, in Hamburg on November 01, 2007. With its 9 employees by now (upward trend) SCHAD GmbH is unique in the world in offering mobile systems for observing and operating machine and plant controls. The ambitious aim is to become global market leader in this emerging market.
“Extend 7000” developed by SCHAD GmbH is to be established as the standard for mobile access to programmable logic controllers.

Contact:
SCHAD GmbH
Conventstrasse 14
22089 Hamburg
Germany
Tel: +49 (0)40 3039891 0
Fax: + 49 (0)40 3039891 10
E-Mail: info@schad-automation.com
Web: www.schad-automation.com

Media contact: mix Gesellschaft für Marketing-
und Kommunikationswelten mbH
Mechtild Freiin v. Münchhausen
040 – 22 74 71 – 17
mvm@mixworld.de

About High-Tech Gründerfonds:
High-Tech Gründerfonds invests venture capital in young technology companies that transform promising scientific research into business enterprises. The seed financing of up to 500 T€ shall result in a technical prototype, a proof of concept or a proof of market. High-Tech Gründerfonds has access to a fund volume of around 272.0 million Euro. Investors in this public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economy and Technology, the KfW Banking Group as well as the six industry companies BASF, Robert Bosch, Carl Zeiss, Daimler, Deutsche Telekom and Siemens.

Contact:
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH

Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2

53175 Bonn

Tel.: +49 (0)228 96568500

Fax: +49 (0)228 96568550

E-Mail: info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
Web: www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de

Heilbronn-based start-up develops mobile fuel cell systems as self-sufficient power supply for recreational applications.

Enymotion’s fuel cell system allows spatiotemporally independent usage of electricity consumers. It uses the caloric equivalent of conventional fuel or liquid gas to provide the power. Equal-zero-emission of noise and exhaust permit the service in almost all areas of life, where other techniques are inadequate in compliance with requirements. This lightweight energy source will initially come into operation as a battery backup in motor homes, sailing boats and utility vehicles.

The automatic operation mode in recourse to available fuel provides a comfortable and unlimited usage of the fuel cell capacity. Enymotion’s first fuel cell system will work with a mixed operating fluid of propane and butane. Dr. Steffen Wieland and Dominic Schluessel, founders of enymotion, state: “The customer’s benefit rises by using existent fuel and infrastructure. The valuable support and partnership of High-Tech Gruenderfonds and Zukunftsfonds Heilbronn, enables enymotion to approach this fascinating market.”

René Apitz, High-Tech Gruenderfonds Consultant, has an analogue estimation: “The customer’s value is obvious and easy to explain. Enymotion convinced us particularly with regard to the dedicated team and the excellent preliminary work.” Guenther Steffen, CEO of Zukunftsfonds Heilbronn, adds: “We see an enormous potential of fuel cells in the long run, in particular with combustibles like lpg, petrol or diesel. Enymotion is perfectly positioned and meets an emerging and dynamic market.”

Enymotion GmbH
Dominic Schlüssel
Wannenäcker Strasse 71
74078 Heilbronn
Tel.: +49 7131 123 3890
Fax: +49 7131 123 3889
E-Mail: investors.relation@enymotion.com
www.enymotion.com

About High-Tech Gruenderfonds:
High-Tech Gründerfonds invests venture capital in young technology companies that transform promising scientific research into business enterprises. The seed financing of up to 500 T€ shall result in a technical prototype, a proof of concept or a proof of market. High-Tech Gründerfonds has access to a fund volume of around 272.0 million Euro. Investors in this public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economy and Technology, the KfW Banking Group as well as the six industry companies BASF, Robert Bosch, Carl Zeiss, Daimler, Deutsche Telekom and Siemens.

High-Tech Gruenderfonds Management GmbH
Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2
53175 Bonn
Tel: +49 228 – 965685-00
Fax: +49 228 – 965685-50
E-Mail: info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de

About Zukunftsfonds Heilbronn:
As a regional private equity group, Zukunftsfonds Heilbronn (ZFHN), accompanies the progression of start-ups all the way up from the invention to a successful and established company. ZFHN’s investment philosophy is easy: invest in a promising enterprise with great ideas, a high market potential and an excellent management team. The cooperation starts in an early stage from a seed investment over the start-up to the point of expansion, as long as it is reasonable for both parties. Assets under management in a double-digit million euro sum. Usually ZFHN invests as the lead investor or as the co-lead investor in a larger second round in a range of 0,5 to 5 million euro.

ZFHN Zukunftsfonds Heilbronn GmbH & Co.KG
Thomas R. Villinger MBA
Geschäftsfuehrer
Edisonstr. 19
74076 Heilbronn
Tel.: +49-7131-873183-0
Fax: +49-7131-873182-20
E-Mail: info@zf-hn.de
www.zf-hn.de

Sense Inside GmbH has finished its second round financing successfully during its development phase. A group of private investors certifies Sense Inside GmbH great impact on the field of medical engineering. Leading edge technology in diagnostics and therapy of teeth grinding (bruxism) developed by Sense Inside GmbH is now close to market launch. Sales and marketing as well as finalization of the product development stage are now financed.

A group of private investors made a seven-digit investment for the finalization of Sense Inside´s innovative medical product SensoBite as well as for sales and marketing activities. Three private investors made their commitment to Sense Inside GmbH to provide funds until a positive cash-flow is reached.

For the first time in dental medicine the innovative system developed by Sense Inside is able to provide a long-term diagnostic and therapy for bruxism. Around 10% of the population is suffering from bruxism better known as teeth grinding, which causes a high physiological strain among the people concerned. Due to the integration of this system in a bite guard splint the moments of occurrence of bruxism and its duration can now be monitored and diagnosed. Thereby, the cause of bruxism can be identified and alteration of the course of the disease can be turned into to a patient-specific therapy. Supported by a feedback mechanism the system is able to facilitate the cure of bruxism in a completely new way.

The development of this system was conducted in close cooperation with experts and opinion leaders in the dental field. Sense Inside´s President, Mr. Johannes Clauss states: “On tradeshows and congresses specialists approved Sense Inside’s system high medical benefit. Finally, accurate diagnosis and monitoring of the course of disease is now made possible. According to the dental doctors our product contributes great impact to the cure of bruxism-patients.”

The world-market for bite guard splints addressed by Sense Inside has a market potential in the range of billions and offers attractive margins. “We are very happy to welcome experienced and successful entrepreneurs as partners in our company. Now, we can focus on implementing a successful market launch”, announces Mr. Hans-Georg Gruber, Sense Inside´s Co-President.

“Sense Inside GmbH with its product addresses a high physiological strain common to a growing number of patients. The young and motivated founder-team of Sense Inside aims at a big market with an innovative and useful product”, emphasizes Mr. Dieter J. Vollstedt, member of the advisory board of Sense Inside GmbH.
About Sense Inside GmbH
Sense Inside GmbH is a spin-off from the Heinz-Nixdorf chair for Medical Electronics from the Technischen Universität München. Its main focus is the development of sensors with wireless communication especially in the field of dental medicine. Sense Inside´s core-product is a system to diagnose and monitor the occurrence of bruxism (teeth grinding), with high accuracy and quality to help its diagnosis and therapy.

High-tech startup from Jena fixes drawbacks of LEDs

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are considered to be the lightsource of the future. Under the keword of energy efficiency they allow energy saving yet powerful lighting. However, for their operation they request for special driver circuits. Conventional LED drivers control only groups of LEDs in order not to consume too much electrical energy. Moreover, the control of temperature-,
aging- and production-related fluctuations in light flux is not possible using these conventional drivers. So far, these inhomogeneities, which occur inevitably in each LED, can only be partially eliminated by binning the lightsources. “For many future applications of High-Brightness LEDs, such as pocket-projectors or TFT backlighting, conventional LED drivers deliver insufficient precision.”, said Gerrit Wächter, inventor of the controLED-technology and CTO of dilitronics GmbH.

For the first time the dilitronics controLED-technology allows the precise, parallel and individual control of up to 64 High-Brightness LEDs with only one driver. With an overall efficiency of up to 95%, now it is possible to operate the light sources extremely energy efficient.
Stephan Schulz, CEO of dilitronics GmbH, explains: “This technology allows entirely new applications: The spectrum ranges from architectural lighting to projection and metrology applications up to headlights for the automotive industry. In general, all battery- or solar-driven applications are pushed forward by this technology.”

Dr. Olmes, investment manager of the High-Tech Gründerfonds is
enthusiastic: “Together we will now roll out this technology to international markets. The goal for the next year is to completely integrate the technology in only one single microchip. Then, the market for consumer products will be taken by storm.”

About dilitronics GmbH:
As a development partner and OEM supplier dilitronics GmbH offers innovative solutions based on high-brightness Light Emitting Diodes. The increasing performance of those light sources in combination with dilitronic‘s unique control technology enables innovative products.
These include, for example, microprojectors with a high contrast picture, or background lights for TFT displays, which significantly increase the battery life time of mobile applications by their extremely low power consumption. In the business areas of projection, general lighting and sensors, those products are jointly developed with the customer.

Contact:
dilitronics GmbH
Stephan Schulz
Moritz-von-Rohr-Str. 1a
07745 Jena
Tel.: +49 (0)3641 8757570
web: www.dilitronics.com
email: s.schulz@dilitronics.com

About the High-Tech Gründerfonds:
The High-Tech Gründerfonds invests venture capital in young technology companies that transform promising scientific research into business enterprises. The seed financing of up to 500 T€ shall result in a technical prototype, a proof of concept or a proof of market. High-Tech Gründerfonds has access to a fund volume of around 272.0 million Euro. Investors in this public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economy and Technology, the KfW Banking Group as well as the six industry companies BASF, Robert Bosch, Carl Zeiss, Daimler, Deutsche Telekom and Siemens.

Contact:
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2
53175 Bonn
Tel.: 0228 / 965685-00
Fax: 0228 / 965685-50
info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de

nfon AG, developer of hosted PBX solutions and provider of integrated communication solutions wins High-Tech Gründerfonds as a lead investor. The patent pending technology and its integration into a coherent marketing concept convinces High-Tech Gründerfonds of the investment.

Jens Blomeyer, Director of Marketing at nfon AG comments „after a successful market launch, the planned investments into further extension of the platform and its usability will help us to extend our technical advantage. A significant part of the funding will also support nfon’s marketing and sales efforts.” Further Mr. Blomeyer explains „till today, the market doesn’t offer a fully integrated communication solution. In particular small medium enterprises with limited IT resources will benefit from the intuitive product usability.”While products and services of nfon AG focus on the needs of small medium enterprises, the features set is oriented on communication systems typically deployed in fortune 500 companies. All features of high end classical PBX system can be found in nfon’s solution. Functions like interactive voice response (IVR), call enter queues, mailboxes, full MS-Outlook and fax integration are part of the standard offering; saving users up to multiple ten thousand Euros in capital expenditure.

A high end private branch exchange (PBX) for the cost of an entry level solution:
By integrating wire line and mobile devices into one IP communication network, nfon introduces a paradigm change in enterprise communication. Communication in multinational organizations is henceforth available on the same high standards worldwide, eliminating all internal communication costs, even on international level, and providing global access to fax, voice mail and conferencing solutions.

With nfon’s products and services these features become affordable also for small organizations. All nfon services are based on a pay per use model, unburdening the enterprise form expensive investments. Marcus Otto, SVP of sales “We’re convinced that the software as a Service approach will be as successful in the communication world, as it has proven itself in i.e. CRM applications like Salesforce.com”. Enterprises will be able to save up to 50% of their communication cost, providing them with a significant competitive advantage.

nfon’s services and solutions are pure IP based, using established protocol standards only. The centrally administered and permanently updated system architecture ensures that customers have always access to the latest technology. Simple plug & play installation and intuitive web based administration guaranty for minimal operation expenses.

„nfon’s conclusive approach of combining open source technology with key self developed elements enables minimal production costs, providing nfon with a serious competitive advantage. We’re convinced the strong founders team with its complementary skills paired with outstanding market know-how, will succeed in building a highly competitive enterprise” comments Markus Kreßmann, investment manager at High-Tech Gründerfonds.

About nfon AG:
nfon AG with its office in Munich, Germany is a leading provider of telecommunications solutions for small and medium enterprises. The company offers high end communications products and services as complete solution. For further details visit www.nfon.net.

About the High-Tech Gründerfonds:
The High-Tech Gründerfonds invests venture capital in young technology companies that transform promising scientific research into business enterprises. The seed financing of up to 500 T€ shall result in a technical prototype, a proof of concept or a proof of market. High-Tech Gründerfonds has access to a fund volume of around 272.0 million Euro. Investors in this public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economy and Technology, the KfW Banking Group as well as the six industry companies BASF, Robert Bosch, Carl Zeiss, Daimler, Deutsche Telekom and Siemens.

The team of amedo smart tracking solutions GmbH is highly appreciating the investment of the High-Tech Gründerfonds and the ELS fund managed by enjoyventure.

“Now we can finally realize a technology platform which enables, similar to GPS, the wireless, sub-millimeter precise localisation and tracking for all types of minimally invasive surgical instruments,” stresses Volker Trösken, CEO of the young company with headquarters in Bochum Technology Centre.

Currently existing real time location systems usually provide a maximum accuracy in the meter range; under favourable conditions the accuracy is 30 cm. The team of amedo STS and its CTO Laszlo Hasenau are convinced to reach a sub-millimeter precise localisation – a quantum leap in wireless radio positioning.

amedo smart tracking solutions GmbH, founded in April 2008 being 2nd place winner of the Life Science Business Plan Competition “Startbahn Ruhr”, is developing a transponder-based tracking technology and a product family of trackable instruments & tools for image guided minimally invasive interventions. The market approvals are already obtained for Europe and the US for the first generation of trackable needles for biopsy, vertebroplasty and tumor therapy.

Currently, the main areas of application for medical tracking are in the hip or knee – endoprothetics, the spinal interventions, the craniofacial surgery or biopsy. The wireless cross-technology of amedo STS will revolutionize medical navigation and also will allow applications in areas for which existing tracking systems are not available today, as for example flexible instruments for cardiologic, neuroradiologic and other interventional procedures such as the soft tissue surgery.

“The cross-cutting tracking technology of amedo smart tracking solutions enables the penetration of new markets even outside the medical technology and leads to a very scalable business model. Convincing for us is that the implementation of the business concept lays in the responsibility of a complementary and well-experienced team in VC and exit” says Wolfgang Lubert, managing director of enjoyventure, commenting on the investment decision of his house.

Dr. Bernd Goergen, investment manager of the High-Tech Gründerfonds: “at amedo smart tracking solutions, everything just fits perfectly together: a technology which really could revolutionize navigated surgery, a competent and sector-experienced management team and well established relationships into the clinical community. I have great confidence in the future development of this investment. ”

Contact:
amedo smart tracking solutions GmbH
Dipl.-Ing. Volker Trösken
Dipl.-Betriebsw. Gunnar Mohnhaupt
Universitätsstr. 142
44799 Bochum
Germany
Tel.: +49-234-97072-0
Fax: +49–234-97072-670
E-Mail: info@amedo-gmbh.com
Web: www.amedo-gmbh.com

About enjoyventure:
enjoyventure is a privately held investment manager, focused on early stage investments in the seed and start-up phase, as well as further funding in the development phase. enjoyventure insvests in technology driven companies, especially in the fields of selected IT / software solutions, nano / micro-system technology, production & automatisation techniques, medical technology, and telecommunications. Enjoyventure has special expertise in the structuring and funding of spin-off‘s from corporations and technical-scientific institutions.

Active coaching, intensive contacts and network management, as well as monitoring belong to the self-understanding of enjoyventure as industrial adviser and investor. The partners of enjoyventure combine entrepreneurial, financial and industrial expertise as well and associated networks. Since its foundation in January 2000 enjoyventure has invested in in 16 companies. To date, enjoyventure manages three venture capital funds with a total volume of approx. € 40 million.

Contact:
enjoyventure Management GmbH
Mr. Wolfgang Lubert

Office Düsseldorf
GAP 15
(TCH)
Graf-Adolf-Platz 15
40213 Düsseldorf
Tel. +49 (0211) 239 551 70
Fax +49 (0211) 239 551 77

Main-Office Gelsenkirchen
Zeche Holland
Ückendorfer Strasse 237e
45886 Gelsenkirchen
Tel. +49 (0209) 957 185 00
Fax +49 (0209) 957 185 07

Office Hannover
Technologie-Centrum Hannover
Vahrenwalder Straße 7
30165 Hannover
Tel. +49 (0511) 300 333-22
Fax +49 (0511) 300 333-99

office@enjoyventure.de
www.enjoyventure.de

About ELS Fund:
ELS Fonds GmbH & Co. KG is a regional seed fund, initiated by the NRW.Bank and the local saving banks of Gelsenkirchen and Recklinghausen. Further institutional investors as well as a group of industrial entrepreneurs of the region have joined the fund as further investors. The total fund size is approximately € 12.5 millions.
ELS fund focuses on early-stage investments in technology driven companies in the fields of energy, health care, chemistry and associated system-, production-, IT- and surface technologies, which have a seat or principal place of business in the upper Ruhr or lower Rhein area.
The ELS fund is managed by enjoyventure.

About the High-Tech Gründerfonds:
The High-Tech Gründerfonds invests venture capital in young technology companies that transform promising scientific research into business enterprises. The seed financing of up to 500 T€ shall result in a technical prototype, a proof of concept or a proof of market. High-Tech Gründerfonds has access to a fund volume of around 272.0 million Euro. Investors in this public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economy and Technology, the KfW Banking Group as well as the six industry companies BASF, Robert Bosch, Carl Zeiss, Daimler, Deutsche Telekom and Siemens.

Contact:
Dr. Bernd Goergen
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2
53175 Bonn
Tel.: 0228 / 965685-00
Fax: 0228 / 965685-50
info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de

The Berlin-based company Qiro GmbH has, after its initial start-up phase, successfully completed the second financing round. A group of strong financial investors have acknowledged Qiro’s huge potential for future success in the fast growing market for mobile services. Since 2006 the company offers a unique combination between mobile community with the buddy finder service and the extensive range of event-listing and classified directories. With the help of the new funds, the application is to be further enhanced with interesting additional options for comprehensively attracting new users to the community.

In the second financing round of the Berlin-based start-up Qiro GmbH, a group of investors provided a 7-digit Euro amount for further developing the Qiro-mobile community. The financial backers are, among others, Michael W. Schwetje, the High-Tech Gründerfonds, VC Fonds Technologie Berlin and BBAF Business Angels Fondsgesellschaft mbH. All of the initial investors have, after their initial financial backing support of the start-up, provided additional funds due to the success of Qiro.

Convincing Level of Innovation and Positioning in a Growing Market
The investors were especially impressed with the attractive offering of the Qiro community. “I was immediately convinced by the level of innovation and the business model. The mobile communication market and mobile marketing have a great future ahead” explains Michael W. Schwetje his decision to invest in Qiro. And Holger Heinen, Senior Invest Manager of the High-Tech Gründerfonds adds that “we have invested again in Qiro as the start-up provides with its platform, its multiple services and the innovative and secure buddy finder concept an outstanding offering that is well positioned in this market environment”. For Clemens Kabel, Senior Invest Manager of the IBB Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH (holding company), the know-how within Qiro is the essential part: „The young, culturally-diverse team with its high technology expertise was the pivotal factor for our investment decision.”

Ever Increasing Amount of Users and Features
With the capital backing from the second financing round, the Qiro-platform is to be further enriched with many attractive features. Mrs. Suk-Hyon Paek, General Manager of Qiro GmbH, looks optimistically to the future: “Our financing is very well secured with the current investors. We will further enhance our position as innovation leader and thus accelerate the growth of the mobile community. It is in any case our long-term goal to become market leader in Germany.”

About Qiro:
Qiro is a new mobile service that for the first time enables a mobile community with a localization- and buddy finder-function as well as providing event-listing and classified directories. Community users benefit from a range of localization- and chat-functions plus an extensive spectrum of service information. Qiro offers business partners via its location based services an extensive and innovative level of advertising that can be distributed to customers pending on where they are about at the time. The offer from Qiro ranges from MapAds via push- & pull-couponing up to mobile ticketing. Some of the individual modules of the Qiro-application can also be used as “white label”-solution. For further information please go to www.qiro.de.

Media contact Qiro GmbH:
for further enquiries and to obtain image material please contact:

lauffeuer Kommunikation GmbH
Frau Katharina Brune
Bernstorffstraße 120
22767 Hamburg
Tel.: +49.40 68 987 68 17
Fax: +49.40 68 987 68 11
kb@lauffeuer-kommunikation.de

Short Profile of the Investors from the 2nd Financing Round:

Michael W. Schwetje:
Michael W. Schwetje is the founding shareholder of the OnVista AG and led the business as a board member until he left on the 30th June 2008. Henceforth Mr. Schwetje is dedicating himself to the role of investor and entrepreneur to innovative business models in the digital media industry.

About the High-Tech Gründerfonds:
The High-Tech Gründerfonds invests venture capital in young technology companies that transform promising scientific research into business enterprises. The seed financing of up to 500 T€ shall result in a technical prototype, a proof of concept or a proof of market. High-Tech Gründerfonds has access to a fund volume of around 272.0 million Euro. Investors in this public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economy and Technology, the KfW Banking Group as well as the six industry companies BASF, Robert Bosch, Carl Zeiss, Daimler, Deutsche Telekom and Siemens.

About the IBB Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH:
The financial aid for the investment of the IBB Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH originates from the VC Fonds Technologie Berlin, which is partly funded via the “Berliner Senatsverwaltung für Wirtschaft, Technologie und Frauen“ (Berlin senate administration for economy, technology and women) with EU-money for securing investment spending for the technology hub Berlin in the coming years.
Since November 2004 the IBB Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH (www.ibb-bet.de) administrates the VC Fonds Berlin and the VC Fonds Kreativwirtschaft Berlin. The three VC funds are financed by the Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) and the “Europäischer Fond für Regionale Entwicklung“ – EFRE (also known as “European Regional Development Fund“ – ERDF), administered by the federal state of Berlin. Since 1997 the IBB Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH has made available approx. € 470 million for Berlin-based technology companies via consortia with partners, of which IBB Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH has shouldered about € 66 million either as leading- or co-leading financier or as co-investor.

About BBAF Business Angels Fondgesellschaft mbH:
BBAF is an independent private equity firm founded by the Business Angels Club e.V. that is open for further investors and shareholders. The Business Angels Fonds take a holding in seed- and start-up periods as well as in the expansion phase of growth-orientated companies from the sectors bio-technology, micro-electronics, sensor technology, new materials, software, and IT- and communication technology.
The members of the Business Angel Club Berlin-Brandenburg e.V. are experienced and well-heeled entrepreneurs and managers from various business sectors and technology fields with international relationship networks.

Innovative wafer inspection system for the semiconductor industry
Largest Series B financing round to date of any company in the portfolio of the High-Tech Gruenderfonds

The „Deutsche Effecten- und Wechsel-Beteiligungsgesellschaft AG (DEWB)“ – Prime Standard, Securities No.: 804100 / ISIN: DE0008041005 – and Brains-To-Ventures AG (b-to-v), a business angel network, participated in the Series B financing round of Nanda Technologies. The lead investor DEWB jointly with the investors of the Swiss Business Angel network b-to-v led by Dr. Christian Reitberger is taking an active part in the further growth of Nanda. The financing round has a total volume of 8m USD (5m EUR). Other investors include the existing shareholders Ventegis Capital AG and Bayern Kapital as well as the business angel Alexander Bruehl. This transaction concludes the largest Series B financing round to-date of any company in the portfolio of the High-Tech Gruenderfonds.

Nanda was founded in 2006 to develop and manufacture optical, non-contacting inspection systems for the process control in semiconductor manufacturing. Semiconductor wafers are inspected for “macro defects” such as scratches, particles or other contaminants larger then 1 micron. Nanda uses a new optical design combined with innovative image processing to drastically increase the speed of inspection while maintaining high sensitivity. The result is a 10-fold decrease in inspection cost per wafer compared to existing tools. This and the compact design of Nanda’s inspection system make it attractive to integrate defect inspection directly into the production process. An industry first, Nanda enables the real-time, high sensitivity defect inspection of all wafers without reduction of the production throughput. Fast error-feedback permits accelerated process adjustments and thus increases process ramp-up speed, overall yield and process tool uptime significantly. Nanda’s first generation of inspection system is currently under evaluation with leading semiconductor manufacturers.

“Nanda’s revolutionary system design convinced us. The integration of its macro defect inspection directly into the semiconductor production process flow promises significant performance and cost improvements. Net savings for the manufacturers can be significant. We see excellent growth potential based on Nanda’s technological advantage and the experience of its management team. We expect good results from the evaluation process with leading semiconductor manufacturers and anticipate rapid market acceptance” comments Falk Nuber, member of the management board of DEWB.

„Nanda offers a large growth potential. With its innovative solution Nanda addresses the fastest-growing segment within the wafer inspection market. Our know-how and broad industry contacts will help Nanda develop into a sustainable success story”, says Dr. Christian Reitberger who invested in Nanda together with nine other co-investors of the b-to-v network and the b-to-v side fund.

“We are very pleased to have won DEWB, b-to-v and Alexander Bruehl as new investors in Nanda. They bring to the table their broad experience and important network within the semiconductor industry. The new investors join our existing shareholders Ventegis, Bayern Kapital and the High-Tech Gruenderfonds. We feel lucky to have a first-rate circle of European investors that will benefit the development of our company. Moreover, we feel reaffirmed in our conscious decision to build Nanda in Germany, despite our professional roots in the Silicon Valley” comments Dr. Lars Markwort, CEO. Johannes von Borries, CFO, adds: „The secured financial situation puts our market entry on solid grounds and provides us with an advantage in the search for talents. For the extension of our team we can offer potential candidates a very attractive package of an exciting work environment and excellent career opportunities. We are currently looking for experts in the area of optical and mechanical engineering as well as software development.”

About Nanda Technologies
Nanda Technologies offers its customers in the semiconductor industry a high throughput, high sensitivity defect inspection technology that can be directly integrated into process equipment. This makes it possible to inspect every wafer at full surface instead of just conducting statistical tests. The feedback cycle for process faults is reduced significantly and process equipment malfunctions are caught and identified at an early stage. Nanda Technologies was founded in Munich by seasoned executives of the capital metrology equipment industry and supplies to semiconductor manufacturers worldwide.

Contact
Johannes von Borries
Lise-Meitner-Str. 3
85716 Unterschleissheim
Tel: +49 89 4523558-21
Fax: +49 89 4523558-70
borries@nanda-tech.com
www.nanda-tech.com
About DEWB
Deutsche Effecten- und Wechsel-Beteiligungsgesellschaft AG (DEWB AG, Prime Standard, Securities No.: 804100 / ISIN: DE0008041005) is an investment company that specialises in young and established medium-sized companies. The focus of our investments is on strong growth companies from the areas of photonics and sensor systems for which we provide support through shareholders‘ equity, expertise in corporate development and our sector network. Our regional focus lies in the German speaking countries (D, A, CH). Since 1997 we have invested more than 300 million Euros in 55 companies and realized more than 400 million Euros through 35 exits, eight of which were in the form of IPOs. The company is located in Jena, one of the most successful technology and science regions in Germany, with a long tradition in the field of optical technologies and one of the most important European centres for photonics.

Contact:
Marco Scheidler
DEWB AG
Leutragraben 1
07743 Jena
Tel: +49 (0) 3641 573 3600
Fax: +49 (0) 3641 573 3610
E-Mail: ir@dewb-vc.com
www.dewb-vc.com

About b-to-v:
BrainsToVentures AG (b-to-v) is headquartered in St. Gallen, Switzerland. The company serves entrepreneurial private investors who invest their capital, network and expertise in fast-growing companies. By making this pool of capital, contacts and expertise available to portfolio companies, b-to-v has established a new business model in the venture capital and private equity industry. With over 50 members, the b-to-v Investors Circle is the most active club of entrepreneurial private investors in German-speaking Europe. Based on the members’ expertise, b-to-v’s scope of investment comprises more than 30 different industries. It is the goal of the Investors Circle to create value for its portfolio companies and generate significant profits from its investments. b-to-v’s Investors Circle invests about EUR 20m per year in early and expansion stage companies as well as buyout cases. At present, b-to-v is invested in about forty companies. Investments vary between EUR 500k and 3m per deal. www.b-to-v.com

About Ventegis Capital AG
Ventegis Capital AG is a listed venture capital company which invests nationally in high-growth companies from the early to the expansion stage. The focus of its investments lies in the areas of information and communication technology (ICT), industrial technologies and life science. Ventegis also provides advisory services in corporate finance. The main shareholder of the company with ca. 94.3 % is the Berliner Effektengesellschaft AG, which is listed on the official market (ISIN DE0005221303). www.ventegis-capital.de

About Seedfonds Bayern managed by Bayern Kapital:
The Seedfonds Bayern was started in 2003. With a fund size of 22m EUR it is focused on investments in early stage technology companies in Bavaria. The fund is managed by Bayern Kapital which was founded in 1995 by the Bavarian Government as part of the campaign „Initiative Bavarian Future“ and to provide young and innovated Bavarian companies with venture capital. Up to date Bayern Kapital has invested in over 160 innovative high-tech companies with a total investment volume of about 130m EUR. More information under: www.bayernkapital.de

About High-Tech Gruenderfonds
The High-Tech Gruenderfonds invests venture capital in young technology companies with high prospects that are transferring promising scientific research to business enterprises. The seed financing shall result in a technical prototype, a proof of concept or a market launch. High-Tech Gründerfonds has access to a fund volume of around 272,0 million Euro. Investors in this public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economy and Technology, the KfW Banking Group as well as the six industry companies BASF, Robert Bosch, Carl Zeiss, Daimler, Deutsche Telekom and Siemens. www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de