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This Month in DACH Startups - October 2025 | Deep Dive

Cover graphic for Startuprad.io’s ‘This Month in DACH Startups – Summer Wrap-Up 2025’ featuring illustrated portraits of the podcast hosts, highlighting startup news from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland


Welcome back to Part Two of our October 2025 startup coverage, where we look beyond the unicorn headlines to the deeper structural shifts shaping Europe’s tech economy. In Part One, we chronicled the surge of billion-euro stories — Enpal’s €700 million climate-tech financing, Tubulis’s record-breaking €308 million Series C, and n8n’s €180 million automation round that crowned Berlin as Europe’s AI-automation capital. We also saw DeepL edging toward a U.S. IPO and Quantum Systems targeting a $3 billion valuation as defense-tech momentum accelerated across DACH.


Now, Part Two dives into the connective tissue of the ecosystem — where industrial AI meets energy optimization, and sovereign infrastructure takes shape beneath the radar. This month brought Etalytics’s Series A extension with Microsoft’s M12, Nexos AI’s €30 million raise to build Europe’s “Switzerland for LLMs,” and a series of strategic mid-stage financings in robotics, compliance, and automation. These aren’t splashy unicorn rounds; they’re the signal beneath the noise, revealing where capital still flows when valuations cool — into energy efficiency, trusted AI, and dual-use autonomy.


Because in October 2025, the real story isn’t who raised the biggest check, but who’s building the most defensible foundation for Europe’s next innovation cycle — where deep tech, data sovereignty, and industrial resilience quietly converge.



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The Video Podcast Will Go Live on Monday November 3rd 2025


Watch Part 1 of Startuprad.io’s DACH Startup News Summer 2025 Wrap-Up on YouTube



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The Audio Podcast Will Go Live  Monday November 3rd 2025


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Housekeeping & Time to Brag


We found a way to keep you updated with substack notes. We wrote early about the hand off of Aleph Alpha’s CEO, how Heilbronn is build into an AI powerhouse by the billionaire behind retail giant Lidl/Kaufkland and about the stuck fibre connection building in Germany with one of the major companies here cutting back and letting people go: https://startupradio.substack.com/notes 



Top Startup News


Ecosystem


World


Crunchbase data shows AI and data infrastructure dominating global Q3 2025 VC deals, with Europe’s share climbing amid U.S. slowdown. For DACH founders, the cycle favors deep-tech value chains over consumer apps. [Source]: Crunchbase News — https://news.crunchbase.com/venture/global-vc-funding-biggest-deals-q3-2025-ai-ma-data/


Europe



Germany 

Austria


Switzerland


  • And yes, also some monster fundings for Swiss startups as well. stay tuned. 



General News / Tech News / Companies News Section 


VC News and New Funds, in case you are looking for money (also only a selection):


FTD reports a slowdown in private-equity deals through H1 2025 amid high rates and valuations. For DACH founders, this means longer exit timelines and tougher secondary markets. [Source]: FTD — https://www.ftd.de/boerse/maerkte/weniger-private-equity-deals-im-ersten-halbjahr/


EQT Ventures, the startup arm of Sweden’s private-equity giant, saw key personnel departures, raising questions about its long-term DACH investment continuity. Portfolio founders are watching whether the reshuffle signals a strategic slowdown in late-stage funding. [Source]: Manager Magazin — https://www.manager-magazin.de/unternehmen/tech/eqt-ventures-private-equity-gigant-entlaesst-schluesselpersonen-im-start-up-team-a-3247336e-c5b1-4552-8529-1ba31534f382


Handelsblatt reports LP withdrawals and fundraising stress across European VC funds as interest-rate regimes shift. For DACH GPs, maintaining dry powder increasingly depends on measurable exits and sovereign-fund partnerships. [Source]: Handelsblatt — https://www.handelsblatt.com/technik/forschung-innovation/start-up-branche-wagniskapitalfonds-laufen-die-geldgeber-davon/100156043.html


Austrian VC Calm/Storm Ventures closed a €30 million health-tech fund to back early-stage well-being and digital-medicine startups. Vienna’s fund ecosystem continues to mature as Central Europe’s health-innovation hub. [Source]: Trending Topics — https://www.trendingtopics.eu/calm-storm-oesterreichischer-healthtech-fonds-sammelt-30-millionen-euro-ein/


Lifeline Ventures launched a €400 million Fund VI, one of Northern Europe’s largest early-stage vehicles, targeting AI, climate, and frontier tech—good news for DACH founders seeking cross-Nordic syndicates. [Source]: Tech Funding News — https://techfundingnews.com/lifeline-ventures-400m-fund-europe-startup-scaleup/


468 Capital’s future looks uncertain after leadership turbulence, per Manager Magazin, stirring debate about continuity at one of Germany’s flagship investors. The episode underscores succession risks in Europe’s concentrated venture landscape. [Source]: Manager Magazin — https://www.manager-magazin.de/unternehmen/tech/start-ups-zukunft-des-vorzeigeinvestors-468-capital-ungewiss-a-c822c54e-2b92-4591-aeeb-ae978de22e4e


Sequoia is hiring aggressively in Europe, signaling long-term commitment to the region’s AI and infra plays. For DACH founders, this increases competition for top deals—and raises expectations on data advantage, go-to-market, and unit economics. [Source]: Sifted — https://sifted.eu/articles/sequoia-hiring-europe


IBB Ventures announced the bsharp fund (10 M €), adding fresh early-stage capital to Berlin’s ecosystem. Expect a focus on software, AI, and climate-tech—complementing federal and EU funds. [Source]: IBB Ventures — https://www.ibbventures.de/de/news/bsharp-fund-announcement


Spex Capital launched a $100M healthtech fund, backing clinical-grade digital health across Europe. The vehicle adds non-U.S. growth paths for DACH founders navigating MDR and payer integration. [Source]: Tech Funding News — https://techfundingnews.com/spex-capital-100m-healthtech-fund-launch/


Maia Ventures unveiled a €55M agrifoodtech fund, spotlighting EU priorities from soil to shelf. DACH bio- and food-tech startups gain another specialist partner for pilots and scale-up. [Source]: Tech Funding News — https://techfundingnews.com/maia-ventures-55m-agrifoodtech-fund-europe/


Deep Tech News


Aleph Alpha founder Jonas Andrulis stepped down as CEO, marking a leadership shift at Germany’s flagship AI company amid strategic realignment with industrial partners. Deeper analysis on Startuprad.io Substack: https://substack.com/@startupradio/note/c-168581791. [Source]: Manager Magazin — https://www.manager-magazin.de/unternehmen/aleph-alpha-gruender-jonas-andrulis-verlaesst-den-chefsessel-a-532ed134-e57f-46e1-9840-6794329a161c

This piece of news should surprise no one - after our continuous coverage of Aleph Alpha over the last year. 


FAZ warns of a growing dispute around Nexperia, as EU and German officials weigh export controls on “systemrelevant” chips. The outcome will shape DACH’s semiconductor sovereignty strategy. [Source]: FAZ — https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/unternehmen/kampf-um-nexperia-systemrelevante-chips-von-lieferstopp-bedroht-accg-110739381.html


Defense Tech News 


This news piece only makes it into the defense tech news and not in the headlines, because not a lot of funds will go to startups: Defense Minister Pistorius announced a €3.5 billion space security budget, launching Germany’s “Space Architecture” initiative to boost satellite resilience and dual-use R&D — a new frontier for DACH aerospace startups in ISR and AI-driven orbital tech. [Source]: Founders Magazin — https://founders-magazin.de/2025/09/26/pistorius-35-mrd-weltraumsicherheit-space-architektur/


Helsing AI unveiled its CA-1 combat drone, Europe’s first AI-enabled system for defense applications, underscoring Germany’s rising strategic-tech ambitions. The launch aligns with DACH dual-use momentum and European sovereignty goals. [Source]: FAZ — https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/unternehmen/ruestungs-start-up-helsing-enthuellt-ki-kampfdrohne-ca-1-europa-110703218.html


Veteran VC Uwe Horstmann has become CEO of Stark, while continuing as an active investor. The dual role demonstrates the increasing crossover between venture operatorship and leadership in the DACH startup scene. [Source]: Business Insider — https://www.businessinsider.de/gruenderszene/business/uwe-horstmann-wird-ceo-bei-stark-und-bleibt-trotzdem-vc/


Biotech News


ForTra (Else-Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung) launched funding of up to €4m to support GMP manufacturing for new gene & cell therapies—bridging translational teams toward first-in-human readiness. DACH university spin-outs and biotech startups can de-risk CMC and accelerate clinical entry. [Source]: transkript — https://transkript.de/advertorial/2025/4-mio-euro-fuer-neue-gen-und-zelltherapeutika/ |transkript


HeartBeat.bio and Boehringer Ingelheim formed a cardiomyopathy-focused gene-therapy alliance leveraging organoid discovery—another Austria/Germany axis validating DACH’s cardio-therapeutics pipeline. Expect partnering read-through for adjacent organoid and gene-editing platforms. [Source]: transkript — https://transkript.de/artikel/2025/heartbeat-bio-und-boehringer-schmieden-gentherapie-allianz/ |transkript


Biontech may acquire CureVac, says German competition authority Bundeskartellamt, with green-light reported, consolidating German mRNA IP and talent—potentially streamlining oncology and vaccine pipelines. Expect ripple effects across DACH biotech hiring and partner ecosystems. [Source]: n-tv — https://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Biontech-darf-Konkurrenten-Curevac-uebernehmen-article26095990.html n-tv

We already talked about the potential deal in our September news. Now it is moving closer to a final close


Fintech News


Sifted reports Scalable Capital has obtained a banking licence, allowing direct deposit and lending services beyond investment accounts. The move cements Munich’s status as Europe’s fintech capital for wealth management. [Source]: Sifted — https://sifted.eu/articles/scalable-capital-banking-licence


SumUp’s German founders are preparing a potential IPO, underscoring maturation in European payments and expanding the public tech peer group. Internal backlink: September 2024 Startup News in 10 Minutes — https://www.startuprad.io/post/september-2024-startup-news-in-10-minutes-intel-halts-30b-project-magic-ai-raises-320m-flink-ex. [Source]: Business Insider — https://www.businessinsider.de/gruenderszene/fintech/sumup-deutsche-gruender-wollen-mit-ihrem-fintech-an-die-boerse/ https://+1


A Manager Magazin comparison shows Revolut now surpassing N26 in Germany by user count and transaction volume. The result intensifies competition in neobanking and pressures N26’s long-delayed profitability push. [Source]: Manager Magazin — https://www.manager-magazin.de/unternehmen/revolut-haengt-n26-ab-in-deutschland-ab-onlinebanken-im-vergleich-a-b60dd6cd-16fb-42ff-ac4a-5583b7c16206


Green Tech News


1Komma5° filed a competition complaint with the EU, accusing the German government of disadvantaging distributed-energy players through subsidy design. The case could redefine solar-market incentives across the DACH region. [Source]: Silicon Canals — https://siliconcanals.com/1komma5-files-eu-complaint-against-government/


General News


UnternehmerTUM’s Women Startup initiative launched a dedicated program to increase female founder representation across Munich’s innovation ecosystem, offering mentorship, funding access and visibility. It aims to close the DACH gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. [Source]: UnternehmerTUM — https://www.unternehmertum.de/landingpages/women-startup


Six German billionaires to know: Business Insider’s primer reinforces the concentration of private capital shaping later-stage deals and industrial pivots. For DACH founders, relationships with family offices remain a decisive edge in downcycles. [Source]: Business Insider — https://www.businessinsider.de/gruenderszene/perspektive/jeder-sollte-diese-6-deutschen-milliardaere-kennen/


Bitkom reports two-thirds of Germans want public-sector applications handled by AI, indicating broad citizen openness to automation in administration. That’s a green light for DACH GovTech startups offering compliant copilots, case-routing and workflow engines. [Source]: Bitkom — https://www.bitkom.org/Presse/Presseinformation/Digitale-Verwaltung-Zwei-Drittel-moechten-Antraege-von-KI-bearbeitet-werden Bitkom e. V.


Germany’s antitrust office opened proceedings against Temu, scrutinizing potential abuses in online retail. Marketplace and D2C startups in DACH should watch remedies that might reshape acquisition and pricing dynamics. [Source]: ZEIT — https://www.zeit.de/wirtschaft/2025-10/bundeskartellamt-verfahren-online-haendler-temu DIE ZEIT


Reports indicate Meta & Apple are nearing an EU antitrust settlement related to DMA issues—potentially clarifying app-store and data-use rules. DACH app developers and adtech players could benefit from more predictable platform access. [Source]: Stadt-Bremerhaven — https://stadt-bremerhaven.de/meta-und-apple-vor-einigung-mit-eu-kartellbehoerden/ Stadt Bremerhaven


Half of Germans now read e-books, per Bitkom, signaling durable digital content demand. For DACH edtech and creator tools, this supports subscription and AI-recommendation models in publishing. [Source]: Bitkom — https://www.bitkom.org/Presse/Presseinformation/Trend-E-Book-Haelfte-liest-digital Bitkom e. V.


A new study in Forschung & Lehre found that 87 percent of German startup founders hold university degrees, underlining the academic bias in the DACH entrepreneurial pipeline. Calls for vocational routes and applied R&D bridges are gaining momentum to diversify founder backgrounds. [Source]: Forschung und Lehre — https://www.forschung-und-lehre.de/karriere/87-prozent-in-der-gruenderszene-haben-studiert-7313


Schumpeters Schöpferische Zerstörung ⇒ Creative Destruction (Layoffs insolvencies, layoffs and other bad news):


Heidelberg Pharma announced layoffs and pipeline cuts to conserve cash and refocus—highlighting public-biotech cyclicality and the shift toward partner-first development in DACH. Founders should plan financing with manufacturing and late-stage trial costs in mind. [Source]: transkript — https://transkript.de/artikel/2025/heidelberg-pharma-entlaesst-und-kuerzt-die-pipeline/ |transkript


Munich-base startup Fernride that recently closed a multi-million round is laying off 60 percent of staff, highlighting the funding-vs-sustainability tension as investors demand unit-economic discipline. Expect further right-sizing in German tech. [Source]: Merkur — https://www.merkur.de/wirtschaft/seiner-mitarbeiter-nach-millionenfinanzierung-dieses-muenchner-startup-entlaesst-60-prozent-zr-93984546.html


Sad news about our former guest: Pforzheim-based Casablanca, once featured on Höhle der Löwen, has filed for insolvency amid tightening SaaS margins. [Source]: PZ News — https://www.pz-news.de/wirtschaft_artikel-Bekannt-aus-Hoehle-der-Loewen-Pforzheimer-IT-Firma-Casablanca-meldet-Insolvenz-an-_arid,2276297.htm See our interview here: https://startupradio.substack.com/p/ai-unlocks-authentic-video-the-casablancaai 


End on a High Note: Successful Fundraisings and Exits:


Keep in mind this is a small selection. The news here and their total value show how resilient the startup scene is. We included only selected fundraisings above 10 million Euros, CHF or USD. We will only bring you highlights here.  


Energy Vault raised $300 million to build and operate gravity- and battery-based energy storage assets worldwide. Its Swiss roots anchor DACH’s renewables scale-up momentum toward long-duration solutions. [Source]: Startupticker — https://www.startupticker.ch/en/news/energy-vault-raises-usd-300-m-to-build-and-operate-energy-storage-assets


Switzerland’s Ecorobotix now totals €128 M to scale AI-guided precision spraying that cuts chemicals and costs—an agritech export from the DACH sphere with EU-wide regulatory tailwinds. Industrialized ag players across DE/AT/CH can integrate for compliance and yield. [Source]: EU-Startups — https://www.eu-startups.com/2025/10/swiss-agtech-scale-up-ecorobotix-raises-e128-million-in-total-to-scale-ai-driven-sustainable-farming/ EU-Startups


Zurich’s ANYbotics lifted total funding beyond €127m to scale its Ex-certified ANYmal inspection robots—another validation of DACH robotics for oil, gas, utilities and heavy industry. For German/Swiss industrials, standardized autonomous inspection de-risks safety and OPEX. [Source]: EU-Startups — https://www.eu-startups.com/2025/09/swiss-robotics-developer-anybotics-raises-over-e127-million-for-its-four-legged-workforce/ EU-Startups


Deal-Monitor (deutsche-startups): HYIMPULSE €45 M, Bees & Bears €5 M; plus Lilium asset sale highlights aerospace restructuring—evidence of capital flowing to space and early climate plays in DACH. Founders: align to hard-tech milestones. [Source]: deutsche-startups — https://www.deutsche-startups.de/2025/10/16/dealmonitor-hyimpulse-bees-bears-lilium/ deutsche-startups.de


enspired (Vienna) extended its Series B to €40M, fueling AI-powered power-market trading that unlocks flexibility from distributed assets. As DACH grids add storage and EV load, software-defined trading like enspired’s helps monetize flexibility and stabilize renewables-heavy systems. [Source]: Tech Funding News — https://techfundingnews.com/vienna-enspired-extends-series-b-to-40-million-eur-energy-transition/


Arbio (Germany) raised $36M Series A to build an AI-native holiday-rental platform—targeting Europe’s fragmented supply with verticalized tooling. DACH proptech continues professionalizing vacation rentals via data-driven pricing and ops. [Source]: Finsmes — https://www.finsmes.com/2025/10/arbio-raises-36m-in-series-a-funding.html


Dash0, a German AI-native observability startup, secured 35 M US$ Series A funding to make monitoring for ML and data workloads simpler and self-healing. With AI adoption rising, infrastructure-layer tools like Dash0 anchor DACH’s next dev-ops wave. [Source]: TechFundingNews — https://techfundingnews.com/dash0-ai-native-observability-series-a-funding/


Deskbird (St. Gallen) closed a €23 million Series B, pitching hybrid-work orchestration tools that optimize office use and employee experience. Its success signals continuing investor belief in workplace-analytics platforms beyond the pandemic hype. [Source]: Business Insider — https://www.businessinsider.de/gruenderszene/business/23-millionen-euro-in-series-b-fuer-deskbird-mit-diesem-pitchdeck/


BIOWEG closed a €16m Series A (lead: Axeleo Capital Green Tech Industry Fund) to scale bacterial-cellulose-based, biodegradable alternatives to microplastics, including a German production site—aligning with tightening EU restrictions. Manufacturing in DACH is a moat for EU buyers. [Source]: VC Magazin — https://www.vc-magazin.de/blog/2025/09/16/bioweg-erhaelt-series-a-finanzierung/ VC Magazin


Bastion closed a strategic fundraise (reported as $14.6m) to expand enterprise-grade stablecoin infrastructure for compliant issuance, reserves, liquidity and treasury workflows—useful for DACH banks and corporates piloting euro-stablecoins and tokenized cash settlement. Expect faster POC→production for cross-border receivables and payables once risk/compliance rails are standardized. [Source]: The Fintech Times — https://thefintechtimes.com/bastion-closes-strategic-fundraise-to-accelerate-global-enterprise-stablecoin-adoption/ The Fintech Times


Kertos raised €14m Series A to build “Europe’s Compliance Desk,” automating GDPR, ISO 27001/42001, NIS2, EU AI Act workflows for SMEs/scaleups—a direct productivity lift for sales-heavy DACH SaaS selling into regulated industries. Expect procurement pull where audit fatigue is acute. [Source]: Kertos — https://www.kertos.io/en/blog/announcing-kertos-series-a-to-build-europes-compliance-desk Kertos


PartSpace secured ~€13M to build a European marketplace for factory spare parts—attacking downtime costs and supply-chain fragmentation. Industrial Mittelstand in DACH is a natural buyer, where legacy ERP gaps leave money on the shop floor. [Source]: Starting-up — https://www.starting-up.de/news/news-investments/partspace-sichert-sich-rund-13-mio-euro-finanzierung.html


kiutra (Munich) secured €13 M to expand cryogen-free cooling systems enabling quantum and deep-tech R&D without scarce liquid helium—critical infrastructure for Europe’s quantum stack. Expect stronger DACH positioning in quantum hardware supply chains. [Source]: Finsmes — https://www.finsmes.com/2025/10/kiutra-raises-e13m-in-funding.html FinSMEs


StratifAI (Berlin) raised €12.5 M led by Picus Capital and Alven to scale its Polaris™ AI-biomarker platform that fuses histology and spatial mRNA with clinical outcomes—pushing AI diagnostics closer to routine oncology decision-making. For DACH healthtech, this is another proof that regulated, data-rich AI can attract growth capital even in tighter markets. [Source]: transkript — https://transkript.de/artikel/2025/stratifai-wirbt-125-mio-euro-ein/ |transkript


Clockin (Münster) secured €10 million Series A funding to expand its digital time-tracking and workforce-management platform for SMEs. With Germany tightening labor-compliance rules, efficient HR digitization remains a growth sector in DACH mid-market SaaS. [Source]: VC Magazin — https://www.vc-magazin.de/blog/2025/09/30/clockin-erhaelt-10-mio-eur-in-series-a-runde/


Scantinel Photonics (Ulm) announced a new strategic investor to save it from insolvency accelerate long-range LiDAR for autonomous driving. The deal strengthens Baden-Württemberg’s position as a photonics and ADAS innovation cluster. [Source]: B4B Schwaben — https://www.b4bschwaben.de/b4b-nachrichten/ulm-neu-ulm_artikel,-autonomes-fahren-scantinel-photonics-hat-einen-investor-gefunden-_arid,274078.html


M&A News

Sifted reports a fintech M&A comeback, with strategics buying AI-native and vertical finance platforms as VC funding stays tight. DACH founders should expect accelerated roll-ups and consolidation around compliance and infrastructure layers. [Source]: Sifted — https://sifted.eu/articles/fintech-ma-comeback


Funke Digital acquired Kitchen Stories from BSH, expanding its content and commerce play in food media. The move illustrates German publishers’ pivot to vertical video and first-party community data strategies. [Source]: Horizont — https://www.horizont.net/medien/nachrichten/kochplattform-funke-digital-uebernimmt-kitchen-stories-230949


Neura Robotics (near Stuttgart) announced the takeover of EK Robotics, creating a European automation powerhouse across AI cobots and intralogistics. This consolidation signals Germany’s push for scale in intelligent robotics exports. [Source]: MaschinenMarkt — https://www.maschinenmarkt.vogel.de/neura-robotics-uebernahme-ek-robotics-a-5c851f82f420e4ab333488a5773e71be/


Deutz AG is expanding into defense manufacturing through a new partnership, signaling diversification of Germany’s traditional industrial base into dual-use technology. The move reflects a broader shift as legacy firms integrate security-sector revenue streams. [Source]: Manager Magazin — https://www.manager-magazin.de/unternehmen/industrie/deutz-baut-ruestungsgeschaeft-durch-partnerschaft-aus-a-42dc6a4f-449a-4622-b315-01fe9d1955f6


Stay ahead of the curve


Tech Funding News explored why pattern-matching fails to predict unicorn success, arguing for new investor metrics around mission focus and adaptive leadership — insightful for DACH VCs re-tooling their thesis models. [Source]: TechFundingNews — https://techfundingnews.com/why-pattern-matching-fails-unicorn-traits/


Business Punk argues that AI—not austerity—is rewriting finance, from quant models to robo-advisory and tokenized assets. DACH fintechs leveraging AI analytics are best placed as capital markets modernize under regulatory clarity. [Source]: Business Punk — https://www.business-punk.com/anlagepunk/ki-statt-krise-warum-die-finanzwelt-gerade-neu-programmiert-wird/


ChemTherm, Syntinels, CampCruisers, H.E.A.T and CareerTune are five new German startups featured by deutsche-startups.de, spanning thermal tech, AI sensors, RV mobility, fitness, and career AI. The diversity of sectors underlines Germany’s continued early-stage vibrancy beyond Berlin. [Source]: deutsche-startups — https://www.deutsche-startups.de/2025/10/08/neue-startups-chemtherm-syntinels-campcruisers-h-e-a-t-careertune/


Q3 recap: Europe still minted mega-rounds (≥€100M) across AI, climate and deeptech, per Silicon Canals—despite tighter late-stage checks. For DACH founders, the bar is higher but category leaders with hard moats (IP, infra, regulated markets) continue to clear it. [Source]: Silicon Canals — https://siliconcanals.com/european-companies-raised-100m-and-more-in-q3/


Five fresh German startups—Athegus, Poma AI, Trace Mobility, Daylista, Fenka Robotics—illustrate steady seed formation across AI and robotics. Even amid funding caution, the pipeline of technical founders remains robust. [Source]: deutsche-startups — https://www.deutsche-startups.de/2025/10/13/neue-startups-athegus-poma-ai-trace-mobility-daylista-fenka-robotics/ 


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Automated Transcript

Jörn 'Joe' Menninger | Founder and Editor in Chief | Startuprad.io [00:00:00]:

Foreign Your podcast and YouTube blog covering the German startup scene with news interviews and live events.


Chris Fahrenbach | Co-Host Startup News [00:00:20]:

Hello and welcome back to our regular Startup news from the startup and tech entrepreneur scenes in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. This now is the day deep dive of our Startup News. It's the second part of our monthly news coverage. Our startup news is recorded with Joe joining from Frankfurt.


Jörn 'Joe' Menninger | Founder and Editor in Chief | Startuprad.io [00:00:39]:

Hey guys.


Chris Fahrenbach | Co-Host Startup News [00:00:41]:

And me still in my hotel room in Hanover. And still because we basically finished recording the first episode three minutes ago. Which you don't know because for you it's a couple of days later. Except if in the app you were listening to it after one after another and then also for you it's a couple of minutes later. Time is nothing but a construct. Today's News cut is October 27th. As always, all news not included will be in our next news wrap up to be published November 27th. Coming to you for Thanksgiving Day.


Chris Fahrenbach | Co-Host Startup News [00:01:13]:

Welcome Back to part two of the October 2025 startup coverage. In part one we looked at some billion euro stories, NTEL 700 million climate tech financing tubules, record breaking 308 million series and N8N's 180 million euro automation round. We saw deep l edging towards an IPO in the US quantum systems targeting a 3 billion valuation and in general we saw defense tech gaining momentum across the DACH region. Now part two is looking at topics like where industrial AI meets energy optimization, where sovereign infrastructure takes shape underneath or below the radius radar, beneath the radar. And we see athletic Series a extension with Microsoft's M12 Nexus has AI's 30 million euro raise to build Europe's Switzerland for LLMs and a series of strategic mid stage financing in robotics, compliance and automation. So because in October 2025 the story isn't who raised the biggest check, but who's building the most defensible foundation for the next innovation cycle on the continent. Before we dive into all of this, a quick word about our sponsor.


Jörn 'Joe' Menninger | Founder and Editor in Chief | Startuprad.io [00:02:38]:

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Jörn 'Joe' Menninger | Founder and Editor in Chief | Startuprad.io [00:03:32]:

Don't wait until your data shows up for sale. Visit northsteller.com startupradio code blackfriday20 now back to the show where I'll tell you a little bit about housekeeping and type to brag. I actually found it pretty good to write subsect notes because they they are somewhere between a Twitter X post and a long LinkedIn post, but actually only to the people who really subscribe to you. And I've been writing a lot of those substack notes. For example about the handoff of Alep Alpha CEO via how Heilbronn is building it into an AI powerhouse backed by the billionaire behind the retail giant Lille Kaufland. And about the stock fiber connecting buildings in Germany with one of the major companies here cutting back and letting people go. This time I take over from Chris the Ecosystem let's talk about the world. Crunch based data shows AI.


Jörn 'Joe' Menninger | Founder and Editor in Chief | Startuprad.io [00:04:34]:

No surprise here and data infrastructure are dominating global Q3 2025 VC deals with Europe share with Europe's share climbing amid US lowdown for their founders, the cycle favors deep tech value chains over consumer apps. Let's jump a little bit into Europe. Business Insider could not see the notes. Europe's mobility startup recently outraised their U.S. peer, signaling strong investor conviction in EV, micro mobility and logistics. Given Dach's OEM Tier 1 base, this capital can accelerate pilots and joint venture commercialization in the region. Also, EU founders urged Brussels to cut startup bureaucracy totally in favor of that. Arguing red tape hinders scale versus US and Asia and slows capital formation.


Jörn 'Joe' Menninger | Founder and Editor in Chief | Startuprad.io [00:05:30]:

Timely as Europe crafts its startup scale up agenda. Dach policy shifts here would directly affect talent, visas, stock option rules and late stage financing. You can learn more on Hans Butt and our friends at Tech EU list Q3 2025's largest European seed droughts spotlighting again deep tech and AI. No surprise there I think going to Germany Here our old friend the IFO Business Climate index rose to 88.4 points in October 2025, up from 87.7 in September, signaling a modest but consistent recovery in sentiment across German. Also, Germany's Made for Germany initiative announced 735 billion in planned investments, spending, infrastructure, energy and tech. Chris is already shaking his head. I think it's a lot of reclassification of already planned investments.


Chris Fahrenbach | Co-Host Startup News [00:06:31]:

That and I mean those numbers. Nothing means anything anymore. I'm sorry I sound like a very old person, but okay, sure, €735 billion.


Jörn 'Joe' Menninger | Founder and Editor in Chief | Startuprad.io [00:06:45]:

Chris, I do believe we're Both old an echo Arthur D. Little study warns Germany's Internet economy is booming, but data center capacity could become the bottleneck. The Frankfurt Frankfurter Algemeine Zeitung, one of the largest papers in Germany. FAZ says Germany startup scene sees opportunity and US turmoil but still faces competitiveness and financing hurdles, implying a window to capture talent customers if domestic reforms land. Katharina Reiche CDU outlines a scale up agenda Deutschland v Startup factories and deeper capital markets union also Germany's startup monitor we'll dive deeper into that of course shows every second startup touches AI underscoring the dominance in product roadmaps and investor thesis. Business Insider outlined eight urgent actions the German government must take to to boost startups from tax simplification to stock option reform and procurement access, handing over to.


Chris Fahrenbach | Co-Host Startup News [00:07:53]:

Austria and Chris yes Reploid joined the Guards based pet food company Herozan, signaling continued angel and strategic interest in Austrian alternative protein ventures. And there are large fundraisings to report from Asia from Austria later in the news and also some monster funding for Swiss startups as well. Stay tuned and I was given like I was dealt a bad hand with this part because we're already back to you.


Jörn 'Joe' Menninger | Founder and Editor in Chief | Startuprad.io [00:08:23]:

Oh Chris, don't worry. Go ahead, do some news. I take over Deep Tech yes so.


Chris Fahrenbach | Co-Host Startup News [00:08:29]:

VC news and new funds. In case you are looking for money, it's always a section a well liked section of the podcast.


Jörn 'Joe' Menninger | Founder and Editor in Chief | Startuprad.io [00:08:36]:

So Chris come on admitted you only want to have it because it's sexy.


Chris Fahrenbach | Co-Host Startup News [00:08:42]:

I want money. Money make it rain. FTD reports a slowdown in private equity deals through the first half of 2025amid high rates and valuations. That means longer exit timelines and tougher secondary markets for founders in the Dach region. EQT Ventures, it's the startup arm of Sweden's private equity giant, saw key personnel departures raising questions about their long term Dach investment continuity and now portfolio founders there are watching whether the reshuffle is signaling strategic slowdown in late stage funding. Handel's blood reports LP withdrawals and fundraising stress across European VC funds as interest rate regimes shift. Austrian VC Calm Storm Ventures closed a 30 million euro health tech fund to back early stage well being and digital medicine startups Lifeline ventures launched a 400 million euro fund six in the VI and the Latin VI for six, one of northern Europe's largest early stage vehicles targeting AI, climate and frontier tech. That is good news for daft founders seeking cross Nordic syndicates.


Chris Fahrenbach | Co-Host Startup News [00:10:00]:

468 Capital's future looks uncertain after leadership turbulence, says Manager magazine In general, stirring debate about continuity at one of Germany's flagships investors Sequoia is hiring aggressively in Europe, signaling long term commitment to the region's AI and infra plays. IBB Ventures announced the B Sharp fund so B not be just B and then sharp with 10 million euros adding fresh early stage capital to Berlin's ecosystem probably, well, most likely with the focus on software, AI and climate tech specs capital launched 100 million euro health tech fund Back in clinical grade digital health across Europe, Maya Ventures unveiled 55 million euros for an agro agri food tech fund spotlighting EU priorities from soil to shelf. And that's it with the sexy part of the show. But that's a lie because I'm giving it back to you.


Jörn 'Joe' Menninger | Founder and Editor in Chief | Startuprad.io [00:11:07]:

We have to admit it's after 10. I really had to laugh Chris over here when you said you're still wide awake and you had the agro food checkpoint here.


Chris Fahrenbach | Co-Host Startup News [00:11:19]:

Yeah, I'm very agro.


Jörn 'Joe' Menninger | Founder and Editor in Chief | Startuprad.io [00:11:21]:

Anyway, Deep Tech News Alep Alpha founder Junas and truly stepped down as CEO, marking a leadership shift at Germany's flagship A ICE company that actually is no surprise to everybody who has followed our continuous coverage of Alabalpha. FHZ again warns of a growing dispute around next period as EU and German officials weigh export controls on system relevant chips. By the way, that's a chip company in the Netherlands taken over control by the Dutch government and they are responsible for a lot of chips for the automotive industry. So that means that can lead to production stops at OEM and automotive companies. But the thing is, the company is owned by, I do believe, a Chinese investor. Chris okay, yeah, talking about defense tech news here. The news piece only makes it into the defense tech news and not in the headlines because not a lot of funds will go to startups. Defense Minister Pistorius announces 3.5 billion space security budget launching Germany's Space Architecture initiative to boost satellite resilience and dual use R and D.


Jörn 'Joe' Menninger | Founder and Editor in Chief | Startuprad.io [00:12:37]:

Helsing AI unveiled its CA1 combat drone veteran VC Uwe Hostman has become CEO of Stark defense tech startup while he continues to serve as an active investor. Let's go a little bit to Chris and the biotech news.


Chris Fahrenbach | Co-Host Startup News [00:12:59]:

Biotech Fortra the Else Kroener Fresenius foundation launched funding of up to 4 million euro to support GMP manufacturing for new gene and cell therapies. Also a topic we're talking about quite often here. Bridging translational teams toward first in human readiness, Heartbeat Bio and Behringer Ingelheim formed a cardiomyopathy focused gene therapy alliance leveraging organoid discovery. It's another Austria, Germany access validating the cardiotherapeutics pipeline in the region.


Jörn 'Joe' Menninger | Founder and Editor in Chief | Startuprad.io [00:13:38]:

Yeah, I may say that cardiomyopathy is basically when a part of the heart is not really properly functioned. Very serious condition there is.


Chris Fahrenbach | Co-Host Startup News [00:13:48]:

And then Biontech, still famous from the COVID vaccine and with deep pockets of money that make sure that they might acquire Curevac, which was also a player in the COVID vaccination field. That is the German competition authority Bundeskartelamt allowed them to acquire it. And so the green light here has been reported consolidating Germany's mRNA, IP and talent pipeline. Now looking forward, it's less Covid obviously and it's more oncology that they are looking into. We already talked about the potential deal in last month's news and now it's moving closer to a final close. And if this part now has been all the fireworks right now, we will still move on with the aftershock that moves markets. Right after the break we will unpack the quiet power plays of October. Microsoft and 12 backing analytics, Nexus, AI, robotics and defense.


Chris Fahrenbach | Co-Host Startup News [00:15:03]:

We see an IE4 uptick and 735 billion euros for the made for Germany plan. All of this after the break. Stay tuned.


Jörn 'Joe' Menninger | Founder and Editor in Chief | Startuprad.io [00:15:11]:

Taking over from Chris here now with the fintech news, sifted reports. Scalable capital, originally a broker ETF ETF saving, ETF savings plan ETF platform from Munich has obtained a banking license allowing direct deposit and lending service beyond investment accounts sum ups. German founders are preparing a potential IPO underscoring the maturity in Europe payment payments and expanding the public tech peer group. A managed magazine comparison shows revolut now surpassing N26 in Germany by user count and transaction volumes. The result intensifies competition in your banking and precious N26 long delayed profitability push green tech. Eins Kommer filed a competition complaint with the EU accusing the German government of disadvantaging distributed energy players through subsidy design. Chris, you want to do some general news?


Chris Fahrenbach | Co-Host Startup News [00:16:20]:

Yes, let's ride. Let's gallop through some of the general news. Unternementum, which kind of is like the German word for entrepreneurship but is also wordplay because the untanema is also like the founder. And Tum Tum is also the technical University of Munich Techno like the engineering university there. Anyway, Unternemetum's women's startup initiative launched a dedicated program to increase female founder representation across Munich's innovation ecosystem. They're offering mentorship, funding, access and visibility. Six German billionaires to know is an article that is on can be found at Business Insider. It's a little primer that reinforces the concentration of private capital shaping later stage deals and industrial pivots.


Chris Fahrenbach | Co-Host Startup News [00:17:10]:

Bitcoin reports two thirds of Germans want public sector applications handled by AI, indicating broad openness among German citizens for automation in administration. So I mean going back to what you said, like, I mean everyone likes the claim that bureaucracy will be like red tape might be cut, bureaucracy might.


Jörn 'Joe' Menninger | Founder and Editor in Chief | Startuprad.io [00:17:30]:

Be reduced and actually the big advantage would be you could do your filings also Saturday evening from the couch when you just have time, the AI processes it and says okay, you're good.


Chris Fahrenbach | Co-Host Startup News [00:17:43]:

Sure, in a perfect world. Germany's antitrust office opened proceedings against Temu, scrutinizing their potential abuses in online retail marketplace and D2C startups in D should watch remedies that might reshape acquisition and pricing dynamics on the trading platform. Reports indicate Meta and Apple are nearing an EU antitrust settlement related to DMI DMA issues potentially clarifying the store and data use rules. Half of Germans now read ebooks says bitcon, signaling durable digital content demand. And a new study in Forschung und Lehrer Research and teaching found that 87% of German startup founders hold university degrees, underlining the lining the academic bias in the dark region's entrepreneurial pipeline. So yeah, that's it with the general news now some creative destruction before we end on a high note.


Jörn 'Joe' Menninger | Founder and Editor in Chief | Startuprad.io [00:18:49]:

Let's do this fast. Heidelberg Pharma announces layoffs and pipeline cuts to conserve cash and refocused highlighting public biotech cyclicity and the shift towards partner first development in Dach Mini based startup Fan right that recently closed a multi million round is laying off 60% of its staff highlighting the fund versus sustainability tension as investors demand unit economic discipline. Sad news about our former guest Forzheim based Casablanca AI once featured in Hula Deluven has fight for insolvency amid tightening SAS margins and Chris, you want to end on a high note? I think there there's a lot. Maybe you just skim the highlights.


Chris Fahrenbach | Co-Host Startup News [00:19:40]:

Exactly. I mean as always we always say it. Keep in mind this is a small selection. This is just a couple of news where companies were able to attract some money and let me rattle off some of those energy vault raised US$300 million to build and operate gravity and battery based energy storage assets worldwide. Switzerland's Eco Robotics now totals 128 million euros to scale AI guided precision spraying that cuts chemicals and cost. It's an agritech export not an agrotech export as we have learned, Xeric's Anybotics lifted total their total funding beyond 127 million euros to scale its X certified any mal inspection robotics for oil, gas, utilities and heavy industries Deal monitor says that high impulse that is H Y impulse 45 million euros BEES and bears 5 million euros plus Lilium asset sales highlights Aerospace restructuring Evidence of a capital flowing to space in early climate plays in the dark region Inspired in Vienna not inspired but inspired with an E in the beginning extended its series B to 40 million euros fueling AI powered power market trade trading. RBO From Germany raised $36 million in a Series A funding round to build an AI native holiday rental platform. Dash Zero, a German AI native observability startup secured US$35 million in Series A funding to make monitoring for MLA and data workload simpler and self healing.


Chris Fahrenbach | Co-Host Startup News [00:21:31]:

RBO From Germany raised 31 million euros Desk Bird from Zangalin closed a 23.3 million euro Series B funding round pitching hybrid work orchestration tools that optimize office use and employee experienced a 16 million euro Series A LED by Axelio Capital Green Tech Industry Fund to scale bacterial cellulose based biodegradable alternatives to microplastics including even a German production site. So that's an interesting founding story. Bastion Bastion closed a strategic Fundraise reported as $14.6 million to expand enterprise grade stablecoin infrastructure. Cartos raised 40 million euros in a series A to build Europe's compliance desk automating all those pesky standards that you've heard about. GDPR ESO, NIS2EU AIX for SMEs and scale ups. Part space secured around 13 million euro to build a European marketplace for factory spare parts. Kiyutra from Munich K I U T r A secured 13 million euros to expand Cryogen free cooling systems enabling quantum and deep tech research and development. Stratif AI Strat not Stratify but Stratif AI raised 12.5 million euros led by Picos Capital to scale its Polaris AI biomarker platform.


Chris Fahrenbach | Co-Host Startup News [00:23:09]:

Kloken for Munster secured 10 million euros in a series A funding to expand its digital time tracking so it's not your clocking in but your clot clock in without the g in the end and Scantinal Photonics from ULM announced a new strategic investor to save it from insolvency in order to accelerate their long range leader for autonomous driving. Especially important since Ulm is in V in southwestern Germany which is also kind of the birthplace of the automobile. That's it with the exit rounds. And now just a tiny bit M and A before we wrap it up.


Jörn 'Joe' Menninger | Founder and Editor in Chief | Startuprad.io [00:23:51]:

Yes, sifted reports a Fintech and M and a comeback with strategics buying AI native and vertical finance platforms. Funke Digital acquired kitchen stories from BH Exp panning its content and commerce play in food media. Neura Robotics near Stuttgart announced the takeover of EK Robotics, creating a European automation powerhouse across AI cobots and intra logistics Deuts. Agen, known as a very traditional producer of tractors, is expanding into defense manufacturing through a new partnership signaling diversification of Germany's traditional industry base into dual use technology. Chris, there is still a lot stay ahead of the curve but I think we're done for the month, don't you think?


Chris Fahrenbach | Co-Host Startup News [00:24:43]:

Yeah, yeah, I feel behind the Curve.


Jörn 'Joe' Menninger | Founder and Editor in Chief | Startuprad.io [00:24:46]:

24 pages of startup news pressured into your brain via our voices in less than one hour in two episodes. Guys, it was a pleasure. Thank you very much. Leave us feedback. How you like it, what we can do better. And yes, we'll try our best to read our scripts better but actually cut us some slack, please. Please. It' now almost.


Jörn 'Joe' Menninger | Founder and Editor in Chief | Startuprad.io [00:25:11]:

It's now almost 23 hours here and we're both tired.


Chris Fahrenbach | Co-Host Startup News [00:25:17]:

Sometimes you need to cut a corner to stay ahead of the curve.


Jörn 'Joe' Menninger | Founder and Editor in Chief | Startuprad.io [00:25:21]:

Totally, guys. Be back on Thanksgiving. Bye bye.


Chris Fahrenbach | Co-Host Startup News [00:25:25]:

Bye bye.


Jörn 'Joe' Menninger | Founder and Editor in Chief | Startuprad.io [00:25:31]:

That's all folks. Find more news streams, events, events and interviews@www.startuprad IO. Remember, sharing is car.

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