MetisMotion accelerates the growth of its actuator business with a strengthened capital base and 3 million Euro investment round by BORN2GROW, High-Tech Gründerfonds and Siemens Technology Accelerator

January 19, 2022

Munich/Bonn/Heilbronn, January 19, 2022 – The Munich-based deep-tech venture MetisMotion further strengthens its capital base for accelerated growth. Following a previous financing round in spring 2021, the current investors BORN2GROW, High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and SIEMENS Technology Accelerator (STA) are investing an additional 3 million Euros. Following the successful launch of the patent-protected actuator platform naXture in August 2021, the focus will be on developing smart functions for industry 4.0 applications as well as the scaling of in-house manufacturing. 

MetisMotion’s core technology is naXture, an actuator platform for highly dynamic, efficient, and lightweight high force actuators targeted at automation tasks. naXture enables previously unthinkable solutions:

Imagine replacing your current high force pneumatic or hydraulic actuators in existing design spaces with highly efficient, electric drives! This is typically not possible with current electromagnetic solutions.

Patrick Fröse, one of the three founders of MetisMotion

The flexible actuation toolbox naXture was launched in August 2021 together with the first product family naXture go. The exceptional force density, robustness, and efficiency of naXture have already attracted renowned national and international pilot customers to drive the sustainable electrification of actuation challenges.

To keep up with the rapidly increasing demand, MetisMotion will increase its in-house manufacturing capacity for pilot as well as series products by a factor of three.

MetisMotion products have already proven in everyday operation in customer systems what will be possible in the future with intelligent, electric actuators, under the harshest environmental conditions – for example in the process industry. naXture allows customers to access their specific solution easier and in the shortest timeframes. This represents the crucial step towards a scalable platform technology.

Dr. Rudolf Freytag, CEO of Siemens Technology Accelerator

From an investor perspective, MetisMotion is a great example for successful deep-tech ventures in the heart of Europe. Not limited to implementing incremental improvements for customers, but radically creating new opportunities for customers – that is the mindset and goal for the founding team. This is fully aligned with the mindset and interest of HTGF and its portfolio.

Jens Baumgärtner, Senior Investment Manager of High-Tech Gründerfonds

In addition to scaling manufacturing, the current investment round will be used to boost the development of intelligent functions. naXture’s inherent sensory capabilities allow customers to simplify their systems and eliminate the need for additional sensors in many cases. A significant share of the financing round thus will be allocated to expand the software and IIOT (industrial internet of things) development team in order to unlock a wider range of smart functions for customers.

As a result, MetisMotion expects to present a second product family as early as the beginning of Q3. This new product family will provide extended features for the smart electrification of actuation tasks.

The launch of the first product family naXture go provides only a little taste of the disruption potential of the naXture platform. Pilot customers from the Heilbronn region, an area known for its Hidden Champions, confirm our intuition. We are excited to be part of the further roll-out.

Thomas R. Villinger, Chair of the MetisMotion Board and Member of the supervisory board of Born2Grow GmbH & Co. KG.

About MetisMotion
Actuating Innovations – Following the Genius of Nature. Bringing this guiding principle to life, MetisMotion has been developing bio-inspired actuation systems since 2018. Following the carve-out from Siemens, the company sets new standards for the sustainable electrification of actuators with highe energy efficiency. Using highly integrated microhydraulic circuits, MetisMotion actuators combine highest force density, dynamics, and accuracy in the smallest of design spaces. At the same time, they help to save more than 75% of energy compared to existing pneumatic solutions. Customers include national and international manufacturers of factory and process automation systems as well as the mobility, robotics and MedTech industry.

The Munich site hosts in-house research, development, manufacturing, marketing, sales, and service.

Contact
MetisMotion GmbH
Patrick Froese
T: +49 176 73 24 13 43
info@metismotion.com
www.metismotion.com

About BORN2GROW
Since its founding in 2013, BORN2GROW GmbH & Co. KG has supported innovative tech companies in the seed-funding and start-up phase. The Heilbronn-based seed fund assists young companies by guiding them from the proof-of-concept stage to market launch. This early-stage financing enables rapidly growing tech-oriented start-up companies to develop their ideas and concepts. BORN2GROW, a subsidiary of ZFHN Zukunftsfonds Heilbronn, works with other venture capital funds and business angels, making quick and transparent financing decisions.

Contact
Born2Grow GmbH & Co. KG
Andrea Muth
T: +49 7131 87 31 83 23
am@zf-hn.de
www.born2grow.de

About Siemens Technology Accelerator
Siemens Technology Accelerator GmbH is a subsidiary of Siemens AG and has successfully been commercializing innovative Siemens technologies in applications outside the strategic focus of the Siemens business units for more than 15 years. This is done either by founding start-up companies financed by venture capital or by selling or licensing them to established companies.

Contact
Siemens Technology Accelerator GmbH
Dr. Rudolf Freytag
T:  +49 152 55 46 20 19
rudolf.freytag@siemens.com
www.siemens.com/sta

About High-Tech Gründerfonds
High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) is a seed investor that finances high-potential, tech-driven start-ups. With around EUR 900 million in total investment volume across three funds and an international network of partners, HTGF has already helped forge more than 650 start-ups since 2005. Driven by their expertise, entrepreneurial spirit and passion, its team of experienced investment managers and start-up experts help guide the development of young companies. HTGF’s focus is on high-tech start-ups in the fields of digital tech, industrial technology, life sciences, chemistry and related business areas. To date, external investors have injected more than EUR 3.5 billion into the HTGF portfolio via more than 1,800 follow-on financing rounds. HTGF has also successfully sold interests in more than 150 companies. 

Investors in this public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital, and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft e.V., as well as the companies ALTANA, BASF, BAYER, B.Braun, Boehringer Ingelheim, Robert Bosch, BÜFA, CEWE, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Post DHL, Dräger, 1+1 AG, EVONIK, EWE AG, FOND OF, Haniel, Hettich, Knauf, Körber, LANXESS, media + more venture Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, PHOENIX CONTACT, QIAGEN, RWE Generation SE, SAP, Schufa, Schwarz Gruppe, STIHL, Thüga, Vector Informatik, WACKER and Wilh. Werhahn KG.

Media Contact
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Stefanie Grüter, Head of Marketing & Communications
T.: +49 228 82300 188
s.grueter@htgf.de

Investor Contact
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Jens Baumgärtner, Senior Investment Manager
T: +49 228 82300 138
j.baumgaertner@htgf.de