Energy, Mobility & Infrastructure Startups Guide: Germany, Austria & Switzerland
- Jörn Menninger
- Mar 10
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Energy, mobility, and infrastructure innovation in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) spans electrified aviation, EV charging networks, battery storage, autonomous robotics, and grid integration technology. Key developments include Lilium and Volocopter insolvencies, 1KOMMA5° distributed energy integration, and ANYbotics autonomous robotics funding. This page is part of the Startuprad.io Knowledge Center, within the ClimateTech, Energy & Sustainability pillar.
In Short
DACH startups are reshaping energy, mobility, and infrastructure through electrified transport, smart grid systems, autonomous robotics, and distributed energy platforms — despite high-profile insolvencies in the eVTOL sector.
Executive Summary
The DACH region is navigating a historic transition in transportation and energy infrastructure. Germany's eVTOL sector faced significant setbacks in 2024 when Lilium Aviation filed for insolvency after the federal government declined a €50M loan guarantee, and Volocopter applied for insolvency proceedings at Karlsruhe court. Meanwhile, energy infrastructure companies like 1KOMMA5° are integrating solar, storage, and EV charging at the distributed level. In autonomous robotics, Zurich-based ANYbotics raised $50M in Series B funding in March 2024, with an additional $60M Series C by January 2025, demonstrating strong investor confidence in industrial automation. Urban mobility platforms like Tier Mobility continue operating shared scooter services across European cities.
Key Takeaways
Germany's eVTOL sector experienced major setbacks: Lilium filed for insolvency after a declined €50M government guarantee, and Volocopter applied for insolvency proceedings at Karlsruhe court.
1KOMMA5° integrates solar, storage, and EV charging at the distributed level, representing the shift toward decentralized energy infrastructure.
ANYbotics raised $50M Series B (March 2024) and $60M Series C (January 2025), signaling strong investor appetite for autonomous industrial robotics.
Battery storage, EV charging networks, hydrogen systems, and grid management technology remain core investment themes across the region.
Urban mobility platforms like Tier Mobility continue scaling shared scooter services across European cities.
eVTOL and Advanced Mobility Challenges
Germany's advanced mobility ambitions faced headwinds in 2024 as two prominent eVTOL startups encountered financial difficulties. Lilium Aviation filed for insolvency after the German federal government declined to provide a €50M loan guarantee, marking the end of one of Europe's most high-profile urban air mobility ventures. Volocopter applied for insolvency proceedings at Karlsruhe court around the same period. These developments highlight the capital-intensive nature of electrified aviation and the challenges of securing sustained public and private funding for pre-revenue deeptech ventures in the DACH region.
Battery, Charging, and Grid Integration
Energy infrastructure represents a more mature and diversified segment within DACH innovation. Companies are addressing battery storage, EV charging networks, hydrogen systems, and grid management technology. 1KOMMA5° stands out by integrating solar, storage, and EV charging at the distributed level, enabling households and businesses to manage energy generation and consumption locally. This decentralized approach aligns with European policy goals for energy independence and grid resilience, and has attracted significant investor interest as the energy transition accelerates across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Autonomous Robotics and Industrial Automation
ANYbotics, a Zurich-based startup founded to commercialize robotics research from ETH Zurich, raised $50M in Series B funding in March 2024. By January 2025, the company secured an additional $60M in Series C funding, bringing total investment well above $100M. ANYbotics develops autonomous inspection robots for industrial environments, including oil and gas facilities, manufacturing plants, and infrastructure sites. The rapid back-to-back fundraising underscores growing enterprise demand for autonomous systems that reduce human risk and operational costs in hazardous environments.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Germany's eVTOL startups in 2024?
Germany's eVTOL sector faced major setbacks: Lilium Aviation filed for insolvency after the federal government declined a €50M loan guarantee, and Volocopter applied for insolvency proceedings at Karlsruhe court. These events highlight the capital-intensive challenges of electrified aviation in the DACH region.
Which DACH startups lead in energy infrastructure innovation?
1KOMMA5° integrates solar, storage, and EV charging at the distributed level, enabling decentralized energy management. Other companies in the region address battery storage, hydrogen systems, and grid management technology as the energy transition accelerates.
How much funding has ANYbotics raised for autonomous robotics?
Zurich-based ANYbotics raised $50M in Series B funding in March 2024, followed by $60M in Series C by January 2025. The company develops autonomous inspection robots for industrial environments including oil and gas, manufacturing, and infrastructure.
What are the key investment themes in DACH energy and mobility?
Key investment themes include electrified aviation (despite recent setbacks), distributed energy integration, battery storage and EV charging, autonomous industrial robotics, hydrogen systems, and grid management technology. Urban mobility platforms like Tier Mobility also continue scaling across European cities.
About the Host
Joern "Joe" Menninger is the host of the Startuprad.io podcast and covers founders, investors, and policy makers shaping the startup ecosystem in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
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