Industrial Tech

Together we are changing the world of industrial tech

As a seed investor, we support industrial tech founders with our technological expertise, financing know-how and exclusive access to a unique network in both industry and academia. 

The success of your start-up is our mission. Industrial Tech is our passion. We combine academic experience with an entrepreneurial spirit and draw from our learnings as founders. 

Our focus lies on technology fields such as energy, mechanical engineering, robotics, automation, quantum computing, optical technologies, industrial software and related areas. 

We invest in people

We know how financing works. But we also understand your individual needs and know the special challenges that await founders of Industrial Tech start-ups. 

Help to get started – Take off successfully with us

  • Fast, flexible and straightforward initial financing 
  • Identification of suitable co-investors from our network 

Learn more about our investment criteria

Growth – We help you to scale your business

  • Opening doors to customers & supporting the product-market fit 
  • Exchange and cooperation with founders and our partners from academia and industry 
  • Support in raising growth financing 

Learn more about our Added Value

Support during crises – when things just don’t work out…

  • Evaluating alternative forms of financing 
  • Consulting a network of experts for operational support 
  • Providing hands-on support and sparring during the restructuring process

Learn more about our Added Value

Who we are  

Industrial Tech Team

Dr. Markus Kückelhaus – Partner

Dr. Markus Kückelhaus

Partner
Klaus Lehmann – Partner

Klaus Lehmann

Partner
Jens Baumgärtner – Principal / Authorized Signatory

Jens Baumgärtner

Principal / Authorized Signatory
Yann Fiebig – Principal / Authorized Signatory

Yann Fiebig

Principal / Authorized Signatory
Gregor Haidl – Principal / Authorized signatory

Gregor Haidl

Principal / Authorized signatory
Dr. Andreas Olmes – Principal / Authorized Signatory

Dr. Andreas Olmes

Principal / Authorized Signatory
Christian Ziach – Principal / Authorized Signatory

Christian Ziach

Principal / Authorized Signatory
Dr. Gernot Berger – Senior Investment Manager

Dr. Gernot Berger

Senior Investment Manager
Dr. Olaf Joeressen – Senior Investment Manager

Dr. Olaf Joeressen

Senior Investment Manager
Johannes Weber – Senior Investment Manager

Johannes Weber

Senior Investment Manager
Dr. Anne Umbach – Investment Manager

Dr. Anne Umbach

Investment Manager
Timo Bertsch – Investment Manager

Timo Bertsch

Investment Manager
Dr. Koen Geurts – Investment Manager

Dr. Koen Geurts

Investment Manager
Dr. Nils Lang – Investment Manager

Dr. Nils Lang

Investment Manager
Anna Stetter – Investmet Analyst

Anna Stetter

Investmet Analyst
Felix Neubeck – Investment Analyst

Felix Neubeck

Investment Analyst

What you can expect from us:

  • We think like you do and understand your needs 
  • We have an entrepreneurial mindset and have founded our own companies 
  • We not only offer technological excellence, but also business know-how and a sales perspective  
  • We know how to finance 
  • We think outside the box and find new ways to provide you the best-possible support 
  • We have experience in launching products and support the product-market fit  
Prior(!) to the product-market fit, work needs to be performed in an agile and capital-efficient way.
Illustration based on Steve Blank’s “The Four Steps to the Epiphany”, 2020 fifth edition, page 25.

In Industrial Tech, we invest in these areas, among others:

  Hardware

  Automation

  Optical Technologies

  Robotics

  Energy

  Industrial Software

  Quantum computing

and related technology fields

Our Industrial Tech Portfolio 

Together with you, we will change the world of industrial tech.  

Germany has a unique opportunity to redefine industry. Building on a long tradition of industrial achievements and innovations, now is the time to bring these assets into the digital age. To remain competitive among the top international players, we now must rethink and take charge of the future. 

We already have a solid foundation in place, with a diverse range of universities and world-leading institutes such as Fraunhofer providing a cornerstone for a better future.  

Your innovative hardware and software solutions can help to shape the future and the German entrepreneurial landscape.  

Let’s create a digital and sustainable future for our planet!  

You want to start a business? You can contact our team here.

Contact us

Is your pitch deck already finished? You can upload it here!

Send us your Pitch Deck

Topics that might interest you

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10. April 2024

Proxima Fusion Raises €20M Seed to Accelerate Timeline to Fusion Power

Less than one year from its €7.5M pre-seed round, the first Max Planck fusion spin-out has delivered on its vision of simulation-enabled stellarator design. New funding supports expansion of the world-class team in Munich and its public-private partnerships in Europe to build on existing momentum. Proxima Fusion directly builds on €1.3B of public investment in the ground-breaking W7-X experiment in Germany. Munich, Germany, April 10, 2024 – Proxima Fusion, the first spi
 
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20. March 2024

graswald.ai raises $3.3M seed round to scale the way brands create 3D content with AI

The Hannover-based start-up has secured seed funding to build Canva for 3D, leveraging generative AI to transform 3D creative processes for 3D product visualisation. Hannover, 20 March 2024 – graswald.ai announced the close of a $3.3 million seed round led by existing investor Lakestar as well as Supernode Global with continued support from existing investor HTGF and further participation from Spatial Computing expert FOV Ventures, Robin Capital, Angel Invest Ventures and Notion Sc
 
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27. February 2024

Successful Exit for HTGF: Valispace Joins Forces with Altium in a Strategic Acquisition 

Altium and Valispace are joining forces to accelerate the execution of a shared vision for empowering engineers.  HTGF was the first institutional investor and led the seed round in 2018 and has closely supported Valispace throughout all phases of their growth journey. As part of the deal HTGF will sell its shares.  Louise Lindblad, co-founder of Valispace: “We’re now excited to, together with Altium, continue our mission of empowering engineers to build great products,
 
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toolify founders
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€1.6 million investment for XITO: Seed funding for easily accessible robotics

With the completed seed financing, XITO now has €1.6 million to expand sales and product development. Toolify Robotics GmbH enables companies to implement robots independently with its XITO solution platform. Thanks to their product XITO, especially SMEs can get started with automation at low cost – without programming knowledge and without external specialists. Ulm, 22. February 2024 – The start-up Toolify Robotics, founded by the three robotics experts Dr. Dennis S
 
Blog
10. January 2022

“Industrial tech harbours a wealth of innovation potential”

Markus Kückelhaus has spent over 25 years driving innovation, strategy and financial topics for corporations – and has worked with many start-ups in the process. The 53-year-old has now joined High-Tech Gründerfonds as a partner. In this interview, he outlines the opportunities that arise when corporations and start-ups cooperate, takes a look at industrial tech trends, and reveals what he expects from start-ups in Germany. Welcome to HTGF, Markus. We’re delighted to have you
 
Blog
4. March 2020

How scientists become successful entrepreneurs 

Interview with Klaus Lehmann, Partner Successful industrial technology start-ups – Klaus Lehmann has helped scientists and researchers to found successful start-ups on behalf of the High-Tech-Gründerfonds since 2014. Now the industrial technology expert has been appointed partner of the HTGF. In an interview he explains what start-ups from the world of science and academia need to bear in mind and why the HTGF is great partner for them in particular. Robotics, lasers, sensory,