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This Month in German, Swiss, and Austrian (GSA) Startups — June 2022

Jörn Menninger
Mar 15
16 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

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?

The June 2022 DACH startup news roundup wraps up the first half of the year with updates from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland — covering funding activity, ecosystem developments, and the stories shaping the startup landscape as it heads into summer amid growing economic uncertainty.

This article is part of our coverage of Monthly Startup News from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

  • This blog post first appeared first on old medium publication (https://medium.

  • We recorded this new episode on Monday, June 27th, 2022.

  • As always: All news not yet included here will be published in our next news episode in September.

  • We will also slightly change our publication schedule for this July and August, mostly going to one publication every two weeks.

  • Startups in GSA also shedding headcount, including unicorns that recently raised money.



New Blog


This Month in German, Swiss, and Austrian (GSA) Startups — June 2022 Startuprad.io brings you independent coverage of the key developments shaping the startup and venture capital landscape across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

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.


Dunes in Germany in Summer via Pixabay



We recorded this new episode on Monday, June 27th, 2022. Keep in mind, that we will have a summer break and be back for you with another news episode on Labor Day, which is September 5th, 2022. In this episode, we will wrap up July, and August.


As always: All news not yet included here will be published in our next news episode in September.


We will also slightly change our publication schedule for this July and August, mostly going to one publication every two weeks. You can keep up to date with our Google Calendar for all publications:


Our highlights:


Startups in GSA also shedding headcount, including unicorns that recently raised money. All signs point towards them extending their runway, expecting a recession. Some startups face a challenging fundraising environment, but others like WeFox want to almost double their valuations. Also, Personio and Trade Republic raise additional funds.


In our “stay ahead of the curve” section, we have a lot of articles an entrepreneur should read to prepare for the potential downturn.

German economic minister Habeck is unveiling his new startup strategy, considering even a minimum investment in VC Funds for German insurers and pension funds.


The fast delivery startups seem to hit a wall and even formerly mighty Gorillas now explores strategic options.


Let’s talk startups:


Tune in to our Internet Radio Station here:


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Our Enablers


Invest-in-Hessen

This show was made possible by Hessen Trade and Invest with their brand Invest-in-Hessen. You can learn more about them here (https://www.invest-in-hessen.com/). We also run a dedicated sub-podcast with all interviews and news in cooperation with them. Find it all here: https://techstartups.sounder.fm/



Top News


Tech Layoffs

This is just a selection of the current bloodshed going on in listed and non-listed tech around the world. Again we are focusing on the GSA market, but this is currently a big thing, especially for the workers fired.


Fast Delivery Startups in Trouble

Berlin’s Gorillas lays off 300 and exits four markets Berlin's Gorillas lays off 300 exits four markets They are not the only ones, Getir (also active in Germany) is also shedding headcount https://techcrunch.com/2022/05/25/getir-the-12b-instant-delivery-startup-plans-to-axe-14-of-staff-globally-and-cut-aggressive-expansion-plans/ They are also reportedly in search for other options, which may include a merger or acquisition as well. Read more here: Gorillas Burns 80 m US$ a Month. Now Explores Options, Weighed Deals With Delivery Rivals Gorillas Explores Options With Delivery Rivals - Bloomberg

Instant delivery firm Jokr is leaving the US Instant delivery firm Jokr leaving US | Grocery Dive Its founder — Ralf Wenzel — is also known as the founder of Foodpanda and helped Softbank with the reorganization of WeWork

Related:


Challenging Fundraising Environment

But Some persevere for example

And others start to think about all options


Plusdental

Plusdental is a Berlin-based startup working on mouthguards. In March 2021 said they were looking at a unicorn valuation. Now they exit for a mere 131 m € to a swiss based company Plusdental blamiert sich mit 131-Millionen-Exit


Wingcopter

Wingcopter receives 42 m US$ new funding, plans expansion Wingcopter receives new funding plans expansion - Vertical Mag They are building a unique drone, that combines vertical lift-off capabilities with wing-assisted flight for long distances (much like a V 22 Osprey), already working in the Pacific on remote atolls and in Africa. You can more about the company here: Meet Wingcopter – The startup that develops drones for UPS - YouTube

This brings the total investments tracked by RhineMain.vc in 2022 so far to 460+ m €

After The Downturn on the Horizon…

Germany has a new startup strategy — Which is still in the making, and far from final yet, BUT here are the first hints in the German press:

There May be a much better fundraising environment for German startups in the future, if the German minister of economics Habeck gets his will. He wants to make it easier for German startups to raise venture capital. German insurers and pension funds should get a minimum VC investment quota Habeck: Deutsche Startups sollen leichter an Wagniskapital kommen

Right now their investments are minimal. Just to give you an idea of what is in the making here, the German insurers had at the end of 2020 more than 3 trillion Euros (3.17 trn US$) in assets. If the quota would have been set to 1%, there would be 30 bn € additional LP funding for VCs.

The overall strategy has 10 points. You can learn more here:

German Federal Ministry of Economics presents plans for strengthening the startup scene So sieht die Startup-Strategie des Wirtschaftsministeriums aus - Business Insider


Delivery Hero Leaves DAX

After a regular review by Deutsche Börse, they decided that delivery hero has to leave Germany’s leading stock market index and be replaced by Beiersdorf (known for care brand nivea). DH will also not be able to join DAX for the next two years. Also, with new rules in place, they have to be profitable in order to have a chance of joining the index again. Börse: Delivery Hero fliegt aus dem Dax | FAZ Delivery Hero found a new home in Germany’s MDAX, the little brother of the DAX index.


Housekeeping & Time to Brag

  • You guys know that we changed our hosting service? We are heard each week in (as of June 27th) more than 90 countries across the world (it was actually 94).

  • Also, we passed in June the 2 m views mark on Youtube!

Thank you guys, we are very happy to have you as an audience.


Ecosystem


Hubs

There are many deserving startups, cities, and entrepreneurs who will never get any English coverage, would it not be for us. This is why this section exists. This time Chris is channeling his inner geography teacher and has his own order :-)


Frankfurt


Bonn


Munich


Hannover


Braunschweig (not too far from Hannover)


Austria


Switzerland


General News / Tech News / Companies News Section

Investors


Fintechs


New VC funds


A very very few selected VC fundings


Some Startups Did Not Make It …


Other News


Stay ahead of the curve


Back on September 5th with the summer wrap-up.



What Happened in GSA Startups in June 2022?

June 2022 marked the beginning of major tech layoffs hitting the DACH ecosystem. Global startup job cuts reached 17,000 people, with Berlin Brands Group among those shedding staff. Gorillas laid off 300 and exited four markets, Jokr left the US, while Personio bucked the trend by raising $200M at $8.5B valuation. The episode covered a challenging fundraising environment with unicorns recently funded now cutting headcount.

Introduction

Recorded on June 27th, 2022, this monthly wrap-up captured a pivotal shift in the DACH startup ecosystem. Tech layoffs were accelerating with global startup cuts reaching 17,000 people and DACH unicorns that had recently raised money now shedding headcount. Berlin's Gorillas laid off 300 employees and exited four markets, while Jokr (founded by German entrepreneur Ralf Wenzel) left the US entirely. Not all news was negative: Personio raised $200M at an $8.5B valuation for its SME HR platform. The episode noted a transition to a bi-weekly summer schedule.

June 2022 represented a turning point for the DACH startup ecosystem as the tech layoff wave hit in earnest. Global startup cuts reached 17,000 with Berlin Brands Group, Gorillas, and other unicorns reducing headcount despite recent fundraises. The rapid delivery sector was particularly affected, with Gorillas exiting four markets and Jokr abandoning the US. Personio provided a bright spot by raising $200M at $8.5B, becoming one of Germany's most valuable startups. The challenging fundraising environment was forcing startups to consider all options. Hessen Trade and Invest enabled the coverage.

  • Global startup job cuts reached 17,000 people by June 2022, with DACH unicorns including Berlin Brands Group cutting staff.

  • Gorillas laid off 300 employees and exited four markets, signaling the end of the rapid delivery boom.

  • Instant delivery startup Jokr, founded by German entrepreneur Ralf Wenzel, left the US market entirely.

  • Personio raised $200M at an $8.5B valuation, making it one of Germany's most valuable HR tech companies.

  • The overall fundraising environment was becoming increasingly challenging, forcing startups to explore all options.

Entities Referenced in This Episode

Startups

  • Gorillas — Berlin rapid delivery, laid off 300, exited 4 markets

  • Personio — HR platform for SMEs, $200M raise at $8.5B valuation

  • Jokr — Instant delivery, left US market (founder: Ralf Wenzel, German)

  • Berlin Brands Group — Unicorn shedding headcount

People

  • Ralf Wenzel — German entrepreneur, Jokr founder

  • Jörn "Joe" Menninger — Startuprad.io host

Organizations

  • Hessen Trade and Invest / Invest-in-Hessen — Episode sponsor

Topics

  • Tech layoffs 2022, rapid delivery collapse, startup funding downturn, HR tech, unicorn headcount cuts

Relationship Map

  • Gorillas → laid off 300 → exited 4 markets

  • Jokr (Ralf Wenzel) → left → US market

  • Personio → raised → $200M at $8.5B valuation

  • Global startup layoffs → reached → 17,000 people

Quote Highlights

  • On the episode: The June 2022 DACH startup news roundup wraps up the first half of the year with updates from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

  • On recording: Recorded on Monday, June 27th, 2022, with a summer break planned until the next news episode on Labor Day.

  • On coverage: Covers funding activity, ecosystem developments, and key stories shaping the DACH startup landscape in H1 2022.

  • On format: Monthly DACH startup news roundup co-hosted by Joe and Chris, part of a recurring series.

Related Episodes on Startuprad.io

Partner with Startuprad.io

Startuprad.io is the leading independent media platform covering startups, venture capital, and innovation across the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and Europe. We offer B2B partnership opportunities for companies looking to reach startup decision-makers, founders, and investors.

Subscribe to the Podcast

How many people were laid off from startups in 2022?

By June 2022, global startup job cuts had reached approximately 17,000 people. In the DACH region, even unicorns that had recently raised significant funding were cutting headcount, including Berlin Brands Group and Gorillas.

What happened to Gorillas in 2022?

Berlin-based rapid delivery startup Gorillas laid off 300 employees and exited four markets in June 2022 as the rapid delivery sector faced a dramatic correction. The company was eventually acquired by Getir later that year.

How much is Personio worth?

Personio reached an $8.5 billion valuation in June 2022 after raising $200 million. The Munich-based HR platform for small and medium businesses became one of Germany's most valuable tech companies.

About the Host

Joern "Joe" Menninger is the host of the Startuprad.io podcast and covers founders, investors, and policy developments across the DACH startup ecosystem. Through more than 1,300 interviews and nearly a decade of reporting, he documents the evolution of the European startup landscape. Follow Joern on LinkedIn.

Support Startuprad.io

From unicorn layoffs to new funding rounds and HR tech milestones, the DACH startup ecosystem keeps evolving. Startuprad.io partners with a select number of companies seeking high-trust visibility among founders, investors, and operators. Explore partnership options here: Partner with Startuprad.io

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