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A New Schedule for Our Radio Station — Founder Interview
Image by Republica from Pixabay What Is This About? Startuprad.io announces a new fall 2022 schedule for its internet radio station, adding shows like the Cleantech podcast with David Hunt and The Failure Guy to the lineup. This episode previews the expanded programming and explains the vision behind building the world's first tech entrepreneurship radio station. This article is part of our coverage of Scaleup Founder Interviews from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This bl
Jörn Menninger
Mar 154 min read


Startuprad.io Reaches #18 in iTunes’ Global Entrepreneurship Podcast Charts — Founder Interview
This blog post first appeared first on old medium publication (https://medium.com/startuprad-io), and was moved to this blog with the relaunch of our website in summer 2024. What Is This About? Startuprad.io reached #18 on Apple iTunes' global entrepreneurship podcast charts — a milestone for the DACH startup ecosystem's leading English-language podcast. This episode celebrates the achievement and reflects on what it means for the show's growing international audience. This a
Jörn Menninger
Mar 154 min read


Startups in Greater Frankfurt/Rhine-Main-Area Raised in H1 2022 more Funding Than in All of 2021
This blog post first appeared first on old medium publication (https://medium.com/startuprad-io), and was moved to this blog with the relaunch of our website in summer 2024. What Is This About? Startups in the greater Frankfurt/Rhine-Main area raised more venture capital in the first half of 2022 than in all of 2021. Large deals drove the numbers despite a worsening funding environment in Q2, signaling that the region's startup ecosystem continues to mature beyond Berlin's sh
Jörn Menninger
Mar 158 min read


Meet Byways — The Startup of Sennder’s Former Head of Product — And They Have the US in Sight — Founder Interview
This blog post first appeared first on old medium publication (https://medium.com/startuprad-io), and was moved to this blog with the relaunch of our website in summer 2024. What Is This About? Byways is a logistics SaaS platform founded by Sennder's former Head of Product, connecting warehouses, clients, and logistics companies to schedule transportation on demand. With the US market in their sights, the startup brings tech-driven efficiency to freight coordination. This art
Jörn Menninger
Mar 157 min read


Berlin-based Crypto Bank Nuri (Formerly Known as Bitwala) With 500.000 Clients Has to File for In... — Founder Interview
Image by WorldSpectrum from Pixabay What Is This About? Berlin-based crypto bank Nuri, formerly known as Bitwala, served 500,000 clients before filing for insolvency. After cutting 20% of its workforce and failing to secure a €30-40M funding round, the collapse became a cautionary tale about the crypto winter's impact on European fintech. This article is part of our coverage of Scaleup Founder Interviews from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This blog post first appeared fi
Jörn Menninger
Mar 155 min read


Save Now Buy Later Fintech Monkee Raises 1.5 m € — Founder Interview
Hintertux Glacier in Tyrol by Markus Fischer via Pixabay What Is This About? Austrian fintech Monkee raised €1.5 million for its "Save Now, Buy Later" model — the opposite of buy-now-pay-later. The app helps users set savings goals and build financial discipline, returning to Startuprad.io after their first appearance in September 2021 to share their funding news. This article is part of our coverage of Scaleup Founder Interviews from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This b
Jörn Menninger
Mar 154 min read


IDnow Raising Funds — Shelving Germany’s Largest Fintech Exit For Now
This blog post first appeared first on old medium publication (https://medium.com/startuprad-io), and was moved to this blog with the relaunch of our website in summer 2024. What Is This About? Identity verification giant IDnow shelved what would have been Germany's largest fintech exit at $1 billion, instead raising €60 million in debt from BlackRock. The decision signals how the 2022 market correction forced even the strongest German fintechs to pivot from exit plans to sur
Jörn Menninger
Mar 155 min read


Neobank Deal Week: Qonto Confirms Buying Penta — Kontist Is Selling As Well At Discounted Price — Founder Interview
This blog post first appeared first on old medium publication (https://medium.com/startuprad-io), and was moved to this blog with the relaunch of our website in summer 2024. What Is This About? In a single week, two major neobank deals reshaped the German fintech landscape: French unicorn Qonto confirmed its acquisition of Berlin-based Penta, while freelancer neobank Kontist sold at a steep discount for an estimated €10 million — highlighting the consolidation wave hitting Eu
Jörn Menninger
Mar 158 min read


French Neobank Unicorn Qonto in Advanced Talks to Buy Berlin-Based Neobank Penta
This blog post first appeared first on old medium publication (https://medium.com/startuprad-io), and was moved to this blog with the relaunch of our website in summer 2024. What Is This About? French neobank unicorn Qonto entered advanced talks to acquire Berlin-based business banking startup Penta — a deal confirmed on July 22nd, 2022. The acquisition marks Qonto's aggressive push into the German market, the largest SME banking opportunity in Europe. This article is part of
Jörn Menninger
Mar 155 min read


Instigo Started on its Way to Become an Autonomous Growth Hacking Ad Platform for Digital Marketers — Founder Interview
This blog post first appeared first on old medium publication (https://medium.com/startuprad-io), and was moved to this blog with the relaunch of our website in summer 2024. What Is This About? Vienna-based Instigo is building an autonomous growth hacking platform for digital marketers — a multi-platform advertising tool that automates campaign optimization across channels. The startup aims to make performance marketing accessible to businesses without dedicated growth teams.
Jörn Menninger
Mar 157 min read


Samsung Buys IP of German Startup Cynora for 300 m $ — All Employees Are Fired
Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay What Is This About? Samsung acquired the intellectual property of German deep tech startup Cynora for $300 million — but fired all employees in the process. The deal, reported by Bloomberg, highlights the harsh reality of IP-focused exits where the technology survives but the team and company do not. This article is part of our coverage of Startuprad.io Knowledge Graph: The DACH Startup Ecosystem. This blog post first appeared first on old
Jörn Menninger
Mar 155 min read


Solarisbank is Exploring All Options From Fundraising to a Sale to a PE Fund — Founder Interview
Brandenburger Tor in Berlin via Pixabay What Is This About? Solarisbank, the Berlin-based banking-as-a-service platform, is exploring all options from raising new capital to a potential sale to a private equity fund. Driven by deteriorating market conditions for privately held tech companies, the move highlights the funding pressure facing even major German fintechs. This article is part of our coverage of Scaleup Founder Interviews from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Thi
Jörn Menninger
Mar 155 min read


Germany has approved Cannabis For Medical Use, and Legalization for Recreation Is Next — Founder Interview
This blog post first appeared first on old medium publication (https://medium.com/startuprad-io), and was moved to this blog with the relaunch of our website in summer 2024. What Is This About? Germany's coalition government approved cannabis for medical use and is moving toward recreational legalization — creating significant startup opportunities. This episode explores what legalization means for the emerging German cannabis industry, from cultivation and distribution to fi
Jörn Menninger
Mar 158 min read


Meet AlpahaQ — They Are on their way to becoming a One Billion Euros Fund of VC Funds — Founder Interview
This blog post first appeared first on old medium publication (https://medium.com/startuprad-io), and was moved to this blog with the relaunch of our website in summer 2024. What Is This About? AlphaQ is a Berlin-headquartered fund of VC funds on its way to becoming a one-billion-euro vehicle. By investing in top-performing venture capital funds rather than directly in startups, AlphaQ offers institutional investors diversified exposure to the European startup ecosystem at sc
Jörn Menninger
Mar 157 min read


Munich-Based e-bot 7 Was Acquired for More Than 50 m US$
What Is This About? Munich-based conversational AI startup e-bot7, a former Startuprad.io guest, was acquired for more than $50 million. The exit — with the exact price undisclosed — demonstrates that German AI startups can deliver meaningful returns even in a challenging market for tech M&A. This article is part of our coverage of Scaleup Founder Interviews from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This blog post first appeared first on old medium publication (https://medium.
Jörn Menninger
Mar 155 min read


Endosane Brings New Hope For Patients With Mental Health Conditions — Founder Interview
This blog post first appeared first on old medium publication (https://medium.com/startuprad-io), and was moved to this blog with the relaunch of our website in summer 2024. What Is This About? Endosane is pioneering a new approach to drug development for mental health conditions, targeting the endocannabinoid system to treat depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The startup brings fresh hope to an area where traditional pharmaceuticals have stagnated for decades. This article is pa
Jörn Menninger
Mar 156 min read


This Is the Start of Something New — Founder Interview
This blog post first appeared first on old medium publication (https://medium.com/startuprad-io), and was moved to this blog with the relaunch of our website in summer 2024. What Is This About? This episode marks the start of new programming on Startuprad.io, exploring the world of startup employment and career opportunities. The show examines what it takes to work at a startup, how the job market is evolving, and what founders and employees alike should expect. This article
Jörn Menninger
Mar 155 min read


FQX Brings Companies’ Debt Funding to the Blockchain
This blog post first appeared first on old medium publication (https://medium.com/startuprad-io), and was moved to this blog with the relaunch of our website in summer 2024. What Is This About? Zurich-based FQX is bringing corporate debt funding to the blockchain — enabling companies to issue, trade, and settle debt instruments using distributed ledger technology. The fintech aims to make capital markets more accessible and efficient for mid-market companies across Europe. Th
Jörn Menninger
Mar 156 min read


An English World Premiere: Meet Kranus Health the Startup Behind Germany’s Most Successful Digita... — Founder Interview
This blog post first appeared first on old medium publication (https://medium.com/startuprad-io), and was moved to this blog with the relaunch of our website in summer 2024. What Is This About? In this English-language world premiere, Kranus Health reveals the digital health startup behind Germany's most successful prescription app for men's health. Published on Father's Day, the interview covers how the company navigated Germany's digital health regulations to build a clinic
Jörn Menninger
Mar 157 min read


ROWS brings Spreadsheets to the Age of APIs — Founder Interview
This blog post first appeared first on old medium publication (https://medium.com/startuprad-io), and was moved to this blog with the relaunch of our website in summer 2024. What Is This About? ROWS is reinventing spreadsheets for the API age. Founded by Torben after stints in consulting across Germany and Brazil, the startup connects spreadsheets directly to live data sources and APIs — turning a familiar tool into a powerful no-code platform for data-driven workflows. This
Jörn Menninger
Mar 156 min read
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