Latest / Deep Tech Germany – AI, Robotics & Frontier Innovation by Startuprad.io™ / DeepTech Moats: Building Defensible Foundations — October 2025 Deep Dive
Transcript
- WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:00.400 Foreign 2 00:00:09.280 --> 00:00:12.800 Your podcast and YouTube blog covering the German 3 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:16.480 startup scene with news interviews and 4 00:00:16.560 --> 00:00:17.840 live events. 5 00:00:20.240 --> 00:00:23.880 Hello and welcome back to our regular Startup news from the startup and 6 00:00:23.880 --> 00:00:27.680 tech entrepreneur scenes in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. This now is 7 00:00:27.680 --> 00:00:31.440 the day deep dive of our Startup News. It's the 8 00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:34.840 second part of our monthly news coverage. Our startup news 9 00:00:34.920 --> 00:00:38.440 is recorded with Joe joining from 10 00:00:38.440 --> 00:00:42.040 Frankfurt. Hey guys. And me 11 00:00:42.040 --> 00:00:45.800 still in my hotel room in Hanover. And still because 12 00:00:45.880 --> 00:00:49.560 we basically finished recording the first episode three minutes ago. Which 13 00:00:49.560 --> 00:00:53.280 you don't know because for you it's a couple of days later. Except 14 00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:56.480 if in the app you were listening to it after one after another and then 15 00:00:56.480 --> 00:01:00.290 also for you it's a couple of minutes later. Time is nothing 16 00:01:00.290 --> 00:01:03.570 but a construct. Today's News cut is October 17 00:01:03.570 --> 00:01:07.410 27th. As always, all news not included will be in our next news wrap up 18 00:01:07.410 --> 00:01:10.810 to be published November 27th. Coming to you for 19 00:01:11.050 --> 00:01:14.810 Thanksgiving Day. Welcome Back to part 20 00:01:14.810 --> 00:01:18.450 two of the October 2025 startup 21 00:01:18.450 --> 00:01:22.010 coverage. In part one we looked at 22 00:01:22.250 --> 00:01:26.090 some billion euro stories, NTEL 700 million climate tech 23 00:01:26.090 --> 00:01:29.770 financing tubules, record breaking 308 million series 24 00:01:30.150 --> 00:01:33.870 and N8N's 180 million euro automation 25 00:01:33.870 --> 00:01:37.270 round. We saw deep l edging towards an 26 00:01:37.270 --> 00:01:40.670 IPO in the US quantum systems targeting a 3 billion 27 00:01:40.670 --> 00:01:44.390 valuation and in general we saw defense 28 00:01:44.390 --> 00:01:47.750 tech gaining momentum across the DACH region. 29 00:01:48.550 --> 00:01:52.310 Now part two is looking at 30 00:01:53.350 --> 00:01:56.590 topics like where industrial AI meets energy 31 00:01:56.590 --> 00:02:00.150 optimization, where sovereign infrastructure takes shape 32 00:02:00.310 --> 00:02:04.130 underneath or below the radius radar, beneath the radar. And 33 00:02:04.530 --> 00:02:07.970 we see athletic Series a extension with Microsoft's M12 34 00:02:08.050 --> 00:02:11.690 Nexus has AI's 30 35 00:02:11.690 --> 00:02:15.410 million euro raise to build Europe's Switzerland for 36 00:02:15.490 --> 00:02:19.130 LLMs and a series of strategic mid stage financing in 37 00:02:19.130 --> 00:02:22.970 robotics, compliance and automation. So because 38 00:02:22.970 --> 00:02:26.770 in October 2025 the story isn't who raised the biggest 39 00:02:26.770 --> 00:02:30.300 check, but who's building the most defensible foundation 40 00:02:30.540 --> 00:02:34.380 for the next innovation cycle on the continent. Before 41 00:02:34.460 --> 00:02:37.900 we dive into all of this, a quick word about our sponsor. 42 00:02:38.780 --> 00:02:42.300 Yes, a quick break for something every founder should 43 00:02:42.300 --> 00:02:46.060 hear. 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IO listeners get 53 00:03:20.120 --> 00:03:23.880 a 20% discount for PLEG Friday go to 54 00:03:23.880 --> 00:03:27.100 northsteller.com startup radio and use 55 00:03:27.100 --> 00:03:30.860 code blackfriday20 all in small letters, one word 56 00:03:31.020 --> 00:03:34.780 before December 10th. Don't wait until your data shows 57 00:03:34.780 --> 00:03:37.897 up for sale. Visit northsteller.com startupradio 58 00:03:38.103 --> 00:03:41.900 code blackfriday20 now back to the 59 00:03:41.900 --> 00:03:45.460 show where I'll tell you a little bit about housekeeping and type to 60 00:03:45.460 --> 00:03:48.620 brag. I actually found it pretty good 61 00:03:49.180 --> 00:03:53.020 to write subsect notes because they they are somewhere between 62 00:03:53.660 --> 00:03:57.430 a Twitter X post and a long 63 00:03:57.430 --> 00:04:01.070 LinkedIn post, but actually only to the people who really 64 00:04:01.070 --> 00:04:04.350 subscribe to you. And I've been writing a lot of those 65 00:04:04.350 --> 00:04:07.830 substack notes. For example about the handoff of Alep 66 00:04:07.830 --> 00:04:11.430 Alpha CEO via how Heilbronn is building 67 00:04:11.430 --> 00:04:15.110 it into an AI powerhouse backed by the billionaire behind the 68 00:04:15.110 --> 00:04:18.910 retail giant Lille Kaufland. And about the stock 69 00:04:18.990 --> 00:04:22.590 fiber connecting buildings in Germany with one of the major companies 70 00:04:23.070 --> 00:04:26.910 here cutting back and letting people go. This 71 00:04:26.910 --> 00:04:29.670 time I take over from Chris the Ecosystem 72 00:04:30.630 --> 00:04:34.150 let's talk about the world. Crunch based data shows AI. 73 00:04:34.550 --> 00:04:38.390 No surprise here and data infrastructure are dominating global 74 00:04:38.470 --> 00:04:41.910 Q3 2025 VC deals with Europe 75 00:04:42.150 --> 00:04:45.590 share with Europe's share climbing amid US 76 00:04:45.670 --> 00:04:49.310 lowdown for their founders, the cycle favors deep tech 77 00:04:49.310 --> 00:04:53.060 value chains over consumer apps. Let's 78 00:04:53.060 --> 00:04:56.820 jump a little bit into Europe. Business Insider could not 79 00:04:56.820 --> 00:04:59.660 see the notes. Europe's mobility startup recently 80 00:05:00.220 --> 00:05:03.660 outraised their U.S. peer, signaling strong 81 00:05:03.980 --> 00:05:07.820 investor conviction in EV, micro mobility and logistics. 82 00:05:07.820 --> 00:05:11.620 Given Dach's OEM Tier 1 base, this 83 00:05:11.620 --> 00:05:15.380 capital can accelerate pilots and joint venture 84 00:05:15.380 --> 00:05:18.990 commercialization in the region. Also, 85 00:05:19.070 --> 00:05:22.310 EU founders urged Brussels to cut startup 86 00:05:22.310 --> 00:05:26.150 bureaucracy totally in favor of that. Arguing red tape 87 00:05:26.150 --> 00:05:29.950 hinders scale versus US and Asia and slows capital formation. 88 00:05:30.590 --> 00:05:33.909 Timely as Europe crafts its startup scale up 89 00:05:33.909 --> 00:05:37.750 agenda. Dach policy shifts here would directly 90 00:05:37.750 --> 00:05:41.470 affect talent, visas, stock option rules and 91 00:05:41.710 --> 00:05:45.440 late stage financing. You can learn more on 92 00:05:45.440 --> 00:05:48.720 Hans Butt and our friends at Tech EU list 93 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:52.360 Q3 2025's largest European seed 94 00:05:52.360 --> 00:05:55.880 droughts spotlighting again deep tech and AI. No 95 00:05:55.880 --> 00:05:59.040 surprise there I think going to Germany Here our 96 00:05:59.440 --> 00:06:02.440 old friend the IFO Business Climate index rose to 97 00:06:02.440 --> 00:06:05.520 88.4 points in October 2025, 98 00:06:05.920 --> 00:06:09.280 up from 87.7 in September, 99 00:06:09.520 --> 00:06:12.800 signaling a modest but consistent recovery in 100 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:16.060 sentiment across German. Also, 101 00:06:16.060 --> 00:06:19.900 Germany's Made for Germany initiative announced 735 102 00:06:20.380 --> 00:06:23.900 billion in planned investments, spending, infrastructure, energy 103 00:06:23.980 --> 00:06:27.700 and tech. Chris is already shaking his head. I think it's a 104 00:06:27.700 --> 00:06:31.420 lot of reclassification of already planned investments. That 105 00:06:31.420 --> 00:06:35.100 and I mean those numbers. Nothing means anything 106 00:06:35.100 --> 00:06:38.700 anymore. I'm sorry I sound like a very old 107 00:06:38.700 --> 00:06:41.100 person, but okay, sure, 108 00:06:43.030 --> 00:06:46.550 €735 billion. Chris, I do believe 109 00:06:46.550 --> 00:06:50.310 we're Both old an echo Arthur D. Little study warns 110 00:06:50.310 --> 00:06:54.150 Germany's Internet economy is booming, but data center capacity 111 00:06:54.470 --> 00:06:58.230 could become the bottleneck. The Frankfurt 112 00:06:58.310 --> 00:07:02.150 Frankfurter Algemeine Zeitung, one of the largest papers in Germany. 113 00:07:02.710 --> 00:07:06.310 FAZ says Germany startup scene sees opportunity 114 00:07:06.390 --> 00:07:09.480 and US turmoil but still faces 115 00:07:09.480 --> 00:07:13.240 competitiveness and financing hurdles, implying a window 116 00:07:13.240 --> 00:07:16.520 to capture talent customers if domestic 117 00:07:16.520 --> 00:07:19.960 reforms land. Katharina Reiche 118 00:07:19.960 --> 00:07:23.360 CDU outlines a scale up agenda Deutschland v 119 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:27.160 Startup factories and deeper capital markets union also 120 00:07:27.160 --> 00:07:30.840 Germany's startup monitor we'll dive deeper into that 121 00:07:30.840 --> 00:07:34.120 of course shows every second startup touches AI 122 00:07:34.120 --> 00:07:37.580 underscoring the dominance in product roadmaps and investor 123 00:07:37.580 --> 00:07:41.420 thesis. Business Insider outlined eight 124 00:07:41.580 --> 00:07:45.420 urgent actions the German government must take 125 00:07:45.420 --> 00:07:49.180 to to boost startups from tax simplification 126 00:07:49.180 --> 00:07:52.979 to stock option reform and procurement access, handing over 127 00:07:52.979 --> 00:07:56.740 to. Austria and Chris yes Reploid joined the 128 00:07:56.740 --> 00:08:00.340 Guards based pet food company Herozan, signaling 129 00:08:00.340 --> 00:08:03.700 continued angel and strategic interest in Austrian 130 00:08:03.940 --> 00:08:07.620 alternative protein ventures. And there are large 131 00:08:07.620 --> 00:08:10.860 fundraisings to report from Asia from 132 00:08:10.860 --> 00:08:14.500 Austria later in the news and also some monster funding 133 00:08:14.660 --> 00:08:18.300 for Swiss startups as well. Stay tuned and I was 134 00:08:18.300 --> 00:08:22.020 given like I was dealt a bad hand with this part because 135 00:08:22.020 --> 00:08:25.620 we're already back to you. Oh Chris, don't worry. Go ahead, 136 00:08:25.700 --> 00:08:29.220 do some news. I take over Deep Tech yes so. 137 00:08:29.220 --> 00:08:32.820 VC news and new funds. In case you are looking for money, it's always 138 00:08:32.820 --> 00:08:36.380 a section a well liked section of the 139 00:08:36.380 --> 00:08:40.100 podcast. So Chris come on admitted you only want to 140 00:08:40.100 --> 00:08:43.380 have it because it's sexy. I want money. 141 00:08:43.620 --> 00:08:46.940 Money make it rain. FTD reports a 142 00:08:46.940 --> 00:08:50.580 slowdown in private equity deals through the first half of 143 00:08:50.580 --> 00:08:54.180 2025amid high rates and valuations. That 144 00:08:54.180 --> 00:08:57.900 means longer exit timelines and tougher secondary markets for founders in the 145 00:08:57.900 --> 00:09:01.600 Dach region. EQT Ventures, it's the startup 146 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:05.200 arm of Sweden's private equity giant, saw key personnel 147 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:08.680 departures raising questions about their long term Dach investment 148 00:09:09.320 --> 00:09:12.920 continuity and now 149 00:09:12.920 --> 00:09:16.680 portfolio founders there are watching whether the reshuffle is signaling strategic 150 00:09:16.680 --> 00:09:19.720 slowdown in late stage funding. Handel's blood reports 151 00:09:20.200 --> 00:09:23.640 LP withdrawals and fundraising stress across European 152 00:09:23.640 --> 00:09:26.760 VC funds as interest rate regimes shift. 153 00:09:27.820 --> 00:09:31.100 Austrian VC Calm Storm Ventures 154 00:09:31.580 --> 00:09:35.220 closed a 30 million euro health tech fund 155 00:09:35.220 --> 00:09:38.780 to back early stage well being and digital medicine startups 156 00:09:40.140 --> 00:09:43.420 Lifeline ventures launched a 400 million euro fund 157 00:09:43.980 --> 00:09:47.580 six in the VI and the Latin 158 00:09:47.660 --> 00:09:51.340 VI for six, one of northern Europe's largest early stage 159 00:09:51.340 --> 00:09:54.540 vehicles targeting AI, climate and frontier tech. 160 00:09:57.170 --> 00:10:00.530 That is good news for daft founders seeking cross Nordic syndicates. 161 00:10:00.930 --> 00:10:04.450 468 Capital's future looks uncertain after leadership 162 00:10:04.450 --> 00:10:08.010 turbulence, says Manager magazine In general, 163 00:10:08.010 --> 00:10:11.730 stirring debate about continuity at one of Germany's flagships investors 164 00:10:12.130 --> 00:10:15.850 Sequoia is hiring aggressively in Europe, signaling long term commitment 165 00:10:15.850 --> 00:10:19.570 to the region's AI and infra plays. IBB 166 00:10:19.570 --> 00:10:22.710 Ventures announced the B Sharp fund 167 00:10:23.350 --> 00:10:27.190 so B not be just B and then 168 00:10:27.190 --> 00:10:31.030 sharp with 10 169 00:10:31.030 --> 00:10:34.710 million euros adding fresh early stage capital to Berlin's ecosystem 170 00:10:36.150 --> 00:10:39.830 probably, well, most likely with the focus on software, AI and climate tech 171 00:10:40.070 --> 00:10:43.830 specs capital launched 100 million euro health tech fund Back in 172 00:10:44.070 --> 00:10:46.790 clinical grade digital health across Europe, 173 00:10:47.430 --> 00:10:50.590 Maya Ventures unveiled 55 million 174 00:10:50.830 --> 00:10:54.430 euros for an agro agri food tech fund 175 00:10:54.910 --> 00:10:58.350 spotlighting EU priorities from soil to shelf. 176 00:10:58.910 --> 00:11:02.590 And that's it with the sexy part of the show. 177 00:11:03.390 --> 00:11:06.590 But that's a lie because I'm giving it back to you. 178 00:11:07.230 --> 00:11:10.590 We have to admit it's after 10. I really 179 00:11:11.470 --> 00:11:14.990 had to laugh Chris over here when you said you're still 180 00:11:14.990 --> 00:11:18.550 wide awake and you had the agro food checkpoint 181 00:11:18.550 --> 00:11:22.170 here. Yeah, I'm very agro. Anyway, 182 00:11:22.810 --> 00:11:26.250 Deep Tech News Alep Alpha founder Junas and 183 00:11:26.250 --> 00:11:29.810 truly stepped down as CEO, marking a leadership 184 00:11:29.810 --> 00:11:32.970 shift at Germany's flagship A ICE company 185 00:11:33.610 --> 00:11:37.329 that actually is no surprise to everybody who has followed our 186 00:11:37.329 --> 00:11:41.090 continuous coverage of Alabalpha. FHZ again warns of 187 00:11:41.090 --> 00:11:44.770 a growing dispute around next period as EU and 188 00:11:44.770 --> 00:11:48.410 German officials weigh export controls on system 189 00:11:48.570 --> 00:11:51.930 relevant chips. By the way, that's a chip company in the 190 00:11:51.930 --> 00:11:55.490 Netherlands taken over control by the Dutch government 191 00:11:55.730 --> 00:11:59.450 and they are responsible for a lot of chips for 192 00:11:59.450 --> 00:12:03.130 the automotive industry. So that means that can lead to production 193 00:12:03.130 --> 00:12:06.850 stops at OEM and automotive companies. 194 00:12:07.330 --> 00:12:10.810 But the thing is, the company is owned by, I do believe, a Chinese 195 00:12:10.810 --> 00:12:13.730 investor. Chris okay, yeah, 196 00:12:14.610 --> 00:12:18.290 talking about defense tech news here. The news piece only makes it 197 00:12:18.290 --> 00:12:22.120 into the defense tech news and not in the headlines because not a lot of 198 00:12:22.270 --> 00:12:24.830 funds will go to startups. Defense Minister 199 00:12:25.150 --> 00:12:28.910 Pistorius announces 3.5 billion space 200 00:12:28.990 --> 00:12:32.670 security budget launching Germany's Space Architecture 201 00:12:32.670 --> 00:12:36.430 initiative to boost satellite resilience and dual use R 202 00:12:36.430 --> 00:12:39.550 and D. Helsing AI unveiled its 203 00:12:39.550 --> 00:12:43.390 CA1 combat drone veteran 204 00:12:43.390 --> 00:12:46.790 VC Uwe Hostman has become CEO of 205 00:12:46.790 --> 00:12:50.640 Stark defense tech startup while he continues to 206 00:12:50.640 --> 00:12:53.120 serve as an active investor. 207 00:12:54.320 --> 00:12:57.520 Let's go a little bit to Chris and the biotech news. 208 00:12:59.040 --> 00:13:02.640 Biotech Fortra the Else Kroener Fresenius 209 00:13:02.640 --> 00:13:06.480 foundation launched funding of up to 4 million euro to 210 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:09.840 support GMP manufacturing for new gene and cell 211 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:12.960 therapies. Also a topic we're talking about quite often here. 212 00:13:13.520 --> 00:13:17.310 Bridging translational teams toward first in human readiness, 213 00:13:17.790 --> 00:13:21.630 Heartbeat Bio and Behringer 214 00:13:21.870 --> 00:13:25.150 Ingelheim formed a cardiomyopathy 215 00:13:25.310 --> 00:13:28.350 focused gene therapy alliance 216 00:13:28.750 --> 00:13:32.190 leveraging organoid discovery. It's another 217 00:13:32.190 --> 00:13:34.430 Austria, Germany access validating the 218 00:13:34.670 --> 00:13:38.350 cardiotherapeutics pipeline in the region. 219 00:13:38.990 --> 00:13:42.790 Yeah, I may say that cardiomyopathy is basically when 220 00:13:42.790 --> 00:13:46.510 a part of the heart is not really properly functioned. Very 221 00:13:46.510 --> 00:13:49.690 serious condition there is. And then Biontech, 222 00:13:51.450 --> 00:13:54.650 still famous from the COVID vaccine 223 00:13:55.690 --> 00:13:58.650 and with deep pockets of money that 224 00:13:59.450 --> 00:14:03.210 make sure that they might acquire Curevac, which was 225 00:14:03.210 --> 00:14:06.570 also a player in the COVID vaccination field. 226 00:14:07.610 --> 00:14:10.570 That is the German competition 227 00:14:10.890 --> 00:14:14.470 authority Bundeskartelamt allowed them to 228 00:14:14.630 --> 00:14:18.390 acquire it. And so the green light here has been reported 229 00:14:19.030 --> 00:14:20.950 consolidating Germany's 230 00:14:22.230 --> 00:14:25.830 mRNA, IP and talent pipeline. 231 00:14:26.870 --> 00:14:30.670 Now looking forward, it's less Covid obviously and it's 232 00:14:30.670 --> 00:14:34.470 more oncology that they are looking into. We 233 00:14:34.470 --> 00:14:38.110 already talked about the potential deal in last month's news and now it's moving 234 00:14:38.110 --> 00:14:40.990 closer to a final close. And 235 00:14:41.630 --> 00:14:45.070 if this part now has been all the fireworks 236 00:14:46.990 --> 00:14:50.710 right now, we will still move on with the 237 00:14:50.710 --> 00:14:54.470 aftershock that moves markets. Right after the break we will unpack 238 00:14:54.470 --> 00:14:57.870 the quiet power plays of October. Microsoft and 12 239 00:14:57.950 --> 00:15:01.550 backing analytics, Nexus, AI, 240 00:15:01.950 --> 00:15:05.550 robotics and defense. We see an IE4 uptick and 241 00:15:05.550 --> 00:15:09.290 735 billion euros for the made for Germany plan. 242 00:15:09.290 --> 00:15:12.970 All of this after the break. Stay tuned. Taking over from Chris 243 00:15:12.970 --> 00:15:16.130 here now with the fintech news, sifted reports. 244 00:15:16.530 --> 00:15:19.650 Scalable capital, originally a 245 00:15:20.450 --> 00:15:23.730 broker ETF ETF saving, 246 00:15:23.890 --> 00:15:27.490 ETF savings plan ETF platform from Munich has 247 00:15:27.490 --> 00:15:30.930 obtained a banking license allowing direct deposit and 248 00:15:31.010 --> 00:15:34.610 lending service beyond investment accounts sum ups. 249 00:15:34.610 --> 00:15:38.290 German founders are preparing a potential IPO underscoring 250 00:15:38.290 --> 00:15:41.910 the maturity in Europe payment payments and 251 00:15:41.910 --> 00:15:45.670 expanding the public tech peer group. A 252 00:15:45.670 --> 00:15:49.150 managed magazine comparison shows revolut 253 00:15:49.550 --> 00:15:53.310 now surpassing N26 in Germany by user count 254 00:15:53.470 --> 00:15:56.910 and transaction volumes. The result intensifies 255 00:15:56.910 --> 00:16:00.510 competition in your banking and precious N26 256 00:16:00.830 --> 00:16:03.390 long delayed profitability push 257 00:16:04.430 --> 00:16:07.930 green tech. Eins Kommer filed a competition 258 00:16:07.930 --> 00:16:11.170 complaint with the EU accusing the German government of 259 00:16:11.410 --> 00:16:15.010 disadvantaging distributed energy players 260 00:16:15.170 --> 00:16:18.890 through subsidy design. Chris, you want to do 261 00:16:18.890 --> 00:16:22.290 some general news? Yes, let's ride. 262 00:16:22.450 --> 00:16:25.090 Let's gallop through some of the general news. 263 00:16:25.410 --> 00:16:28.490 Unternementum, which kind of is like the German word for 264 00:16:28.490 --> 00:16:31.650 entrepreneurship but is also wordplay because the 265 00:16:31.650 --> 00:16:35.410 untanema is also like the founder. And Tum Tum is also 266 00:16:35.410 --> 00:16:38.350 the technical University of Munich 267 00:16:38.590 --> 00:16:41.390 Techno like the engineering 268 00:16:42.350 --> 00:16:46.070 university there. Anyway, Unternemetum's women's startup initiative 269 00:16:46.070 --> 00:16:49.910 launched a dedicated program to increase female founder representation 270 00:16:49.910 --> 00:16:53.510 across Munich's innovation ecosystem. They're 271 00:16:53.510 --> 00:16:57.070 offering mentorship, funding, access and visibility. Six 272 00:16:57.230 --> 00:17:00.790 German billionaires to know is an article that is 273 00:17:00.790 --> 00:17:04.230 on can be found at Business Insider. It's a little primer that 274 00:17:04.230 --> 00:17:07.910 reinforces the concentration of private capital shaping later stage 275 00:17:07.910 --> 00:17:11.210 deals and industrial pivots. Bitcoin 276 00:17:11.530 --> 00:17:15.010 reports two thirds of Germans want public sector applications 277 00:17:15.010 --> 00:17:18.570 handled by AI, indicating broad openness among 278 00:17:18.570 --> 00:17:21.530 German citizens for automation in administration. 279 00:17:22.250 --> 00:17:25.890 So I mean going back to what you said, like, I mean everyone likes the 280 00:17:25.890 --> 00:17:29.690 claim that bureaucracy will be like red tape might 281 00:17:29.690 --> 00:17:32.970 be cut, bureaucracy might. Be reduced and actually the big 282 00:17:32.970 --> 00:17:36.490 advantage would be you could do your filings also Saturday 283 00:17:36.730 --> 00:17:40.090 evening from the couch when you just have time, the AI 284 00:17:40.090 --> 00:17:43.510 processes it and says okay, you're good. Sure, 285 00:17:44.070 --> 00:17:47.750 in a perfect world. Germany's antitrust office 286 00:17:47.990 --> 00:17:50.310 opened proceedings against Temu, 287 00:17:51.030 --> 00:17:54.790 scrutinizing their potential abuses in online retail marketplace 288 00:17:54.790 --> 00:17:58.510 and D2C startups in D should 289 00:17:58.510 --> 00:18:02.310 watch remedies that might reshape acquisition and pricing dynamics 290 00:18:02.310 --> 00:18:05.990 on the trading platform. Reports indicate Meta and 291 00:18:05.990 --> 00:18:09.430 Apple are nearing an EU antitrust settlement related to 292 00:18:09.430 --> 00:18:13.090 DMI DMA issues potentially clarifying the store 293 00:18:13.090 --> 00:18:16.890 and data use rules. Half of Germans 294 00:18:16.890 --> 00:18:20.290 now read ebooks says bitcon, signaling 295 00:18:20.930 --> 00:18:24.690 durable digital content demand. And a new study 296 00:18:24.770 --> 00:18:28.530 in Forschung und Lehrer Research 297 00:18:29.730 --> 00:18:33.450 and teaching found that 87% 298 00:18:33.450 --> 00:18:37.250 of German startup founders hold university degrees, underlining the 299 00:18:37.330 --> 00:18:40.690 lining the academic bias in the dark region's 300 00:18:40.690 --> 00:18:44.440 entrepreneurial pipeline. So yeah, that's it with the general 301 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:48.240 news now some creative destruction before we end on 302 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:51.880 a high note. Let's do this fast. Heidelberg Pharma 303 00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:55.320 announces layoffs and pipeline cuts to conserve cash 304 00:18:55.480 --> 00:18:59.000 and refocused highlighting public biotech 305 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:02.840 cyclicity and the shift towards partner first 306 00:19:02.840 --> 00:19:06.360 development in Dach Mini based startup Fan 307 00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:10.080 right that recently closed a multi million round 308 00:19:10.080 --> 00:19:13.560 is laying off 60% of its staff highlighting the fund 309 00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:17.540 versus sustainability tension as investors 310 00:19:17.540 --> 00:19:21.220 demand unit economic discipline. Sad news 311 00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:24.860 about our former guest Forzheim based Casablanca 312 00:19:24.860 --> 00:19:28.540 AI once featured in Hula Deluven has 313 00:19:28.540 --> 00:19:32.260 fight for insolvency amid tightening SAS 314 00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:36.340 margins and Chris, you want to end on a high note? I think 315 00:19:37.060 --> 00:19:40.270 there there's a lot. Maybe you just skim the highlights. 316 00:19:40.820 --> 00:19:44.060 Exactly. I mean as always we always say it. Keep in mind this is a 317 00:19:44.060 --> 00:19:47.660 small selection. This is just a couple of news where companies were able to 318 00:19:47.660 --> 00:19:51.460 attract some money and let me rattle off some of those 319 00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:55.660 energy vault raised US$300 million to 320 00:19:55.660 --> 00:19:59.380 build and operate gravity and battery based energy storage assets 321 00:19:59.380 --> 00:20:03.020 worldwide. Switzerland's Eco Robotics 322 00:20:03.020 --> 00:20:06.540 now totals 128 million euros to scale AI 323 00:20:06.540 --> 00:20:09.880 guided precision spraying that cuts chemicals and cost. 324 00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:14.280 It's an agritech export not an agrotech export 325 00:20:14.280 --> 00:20:16.520 as we have learned, Xeric's 326 00:20:18.840 --> 00:20:22.520 Anybotics lifted total their total funding beyond 327 00:20:22.520 --> 00:20:26.040 127 million euros to scale its X 328 00:20:26.120 --> 00:20:29.640 certified any mal inspection robotics 329 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:35.140 for oil, gas, utilities and heavy industries 330 00:20:36.410 --> 00:20:40.170 Deal monitor says that high impulse that is H Y 331 00:20:40.330 --> 00:20:43.850 impulse 45 million euros BEES and 332 00:20:43.850 --> 00:20:47.050 bears 5 million euros plus Lilium asset sales 333 00:20:47.370 --> 00:20:51.090 highlights Aerospace restructuring Evidence of a 334 00:20:51.090 --> 00:20:54.850 capital flowing to space in early climate plays in the 335 00:20:54.850 --> 00:20:58.210 dark region Inspired in Vienna not 336 00:20:58.210 --> 00:21:01.290 inspired but inspired with an E in the beginning 337 00:21:01.530 --> 00:21:04.810 extended its series B to 40 million euros fueling 338 00:21:04.970 --> 00:21:07.590 AI powered power market trade trading. 339 00:21:09.190 --> 00:21:11.990 RBO From Germany raised $36 million 340 00:21:12.950 --> 00:21:16.390 in a Series A funding round to build an AI native holiday 341 00:21:16.470 --> 00:21:20.270 rental platform. Dash Zero, a German 342 00:21:20.270 --> 00:21:23.910 AI native observability startup secured US$35 343 00:21:23.910 --> 00:21:27.550 million in Series A funding to make monitoring for MLA 344 00:21:27.550 --> 00:21:30.470 and data workload simpler and self healing. 345 00:21:31.190 --> 00:21:34.990 RBO From Germany raised 31 million euros Desk 346 00:21:34.990 --> 00:21:37.830 Bird from Zangalin closed a 347 00:21:38.390 --> 00:21:42.050 23.3 million euro Series B funding 348 00:21:42.050 --> 00:21:45.890 round pitching hybrid work orchestration tools that optimize office 349 00:21:45.970 --> 00:21:47.250 use and employee 350 00:21:47.250 --> 00:21:51.930 experienced 351 00:21:51.930 --> 00:21:55.770 a 16 million euro Series A LED 352 00:21:55.770 --> 00:21:59.010 by Axelio Capital Green Tech Industry Fund to scale 353 00:21:59.090 --> 00:22:02.730 bacterial cellulose based biodegradable alternatives to 354 00:22:02.730 --> 00:22:06.570 microplastics including even a German production site. So that's an 355 00:22:06.570 --> 00:22:10.180 interesting founding story. Bastion Bastion 356 00:22:11.780 --> 00:22:14.500 closed a strategic Fundraise reported as 357 00:22:15.060 --> 00:22:18.700 $14.6 million to expand enterprise grade stablecoin 358 00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:22.340 infrastructure. Cartos raised 40 million 359 00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:25.860 euros in a series A to build Europe's compliance 360 00:22:25.860 --> 00:22:29.620 desk automating all those pesky 361 00:22:29.780 --> 00:22:32.500 standards that you've heard about. GDPR ESO, 362 00:22:32.900 --> 00:22:36.260 NIS2EU AIX for 363 00:22:36.900 --> 00:22:40.580 SMEs and scale ups. Part space secured around 364 00:22:40.580 --> 00:22:44.420 13 million euro to build a European marketplace for factory spare parts. 365 00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:48.100 Kiyutra from Munich K I U T r A 366 00:22:48.260 --> 00:22:52.100 secured 13 million euros to expand Cryogen 367 00:22:52.100 --> 00:22:55.940 free cooling systems enabling quantum and deep tech research and development. 368 00:22:57.860 --> 00:23:01.100 Stratif AI Strat not Stratify but 369 00:23:01.100 --> 00:23:04.880 Stratif AI raised 12.5 million euros 370 00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:07.960 led by Picos Capital to scale its Polaris AI 371 00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:11.160 biomarker platform. Kloken for Munster 372 00:23:12.760 --> 00:23:16.360 secured 10 million euros in a series A 373 00:23:16.360 --> 00:23:19.880 funding to expand its digital time tracking so it's not your 374 00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:23.600 clocking in but your clot clock in without the 375 00:23:23.600 --> 00:23:25.960 g in the end and Scantinal 376 00:23:26.760 --> 00:23:30.560 Photonics from ULM announced a new strategic investor to save it from 377 00:23:30.560 --> 00:23:34.200 insolvency in order to accelerate their long range leader for 378 00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:37.700 autonomous driving. Especially 379 00:23:37.700 --> 00:23:41.340 important since Ulm is in V in southwestern 380 00:23:41.340 --> 00:23:44.900 Germany which is also kind of the birthplace of the automobile. 381 00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:49.460 That's it with the exit rounds. And now just a tiny bit 382 00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:53.260 M and A before we wrap it up. Yes, sifted reports a 383 00:23:53.260 --> 00:23:56.740 Fintech and M and a comeback with strategics 384 00:23:57.300 --> 00:24:00.580 buying AI native and vertical finance 385 00:24:00.580 --> 00:24:04.020 platforms. Funke Digital acquired 386 00:24:04.100 --> 00:24:07.680 kitchen stories from BH Exp panning its content 387 00:24:07.840 --> 00:24:11.320 and commerce play in food media. Neura 388 00:24:11.320 --> 00:24:15.160 Robotics near Stuttgart announced the takeover of EK Robotics, 389 00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:18.400 creating a European automation powerhouse across 390 00:24:18.560 --> 00:24:21.920 AI cobots and intra logistics 391 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:25.640 Deuts. Agen, known as a very traditional producer of 392 00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:29.320 tractors, is expanding into defense manufacturing through 393 00:24:29.320 --> 00:24:33.080 a new partnership signaling diversification of 394 00:24:33.080 --> 00:24:36.880 Germany's traditional industry base into dual use technology. 395 00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:41.820 Chris, there is still a lot stay ahead of the curve but I think 396 00:24:41.820 --> 00:24:45.540 we're done for the month, don't you think? Yeah, yeah, I 397 00:24:45.540 --> 00:24:48.860 feel behind the Curve. 24 pages of startup news 398 00:24:49.340 --> 00:24:53.180 pressured into your brain via our voices in 399 00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:57.020 less than one hour in two episodes. Guys, it was 400 00:24:57.020 --> 00:25:00.820 a pleasure. Thank you very much. Leave us feedback. How you like it, what 401 00:25:00.820 --> 00:25:04.300 we can do better. And yes, we'll try our best to 402 00:25:04.620 --> 00:25:08.300 read our scripts better but actually cut us some slack, please. 403 00:25:08.300 --> 00:25:12.120 Please. It' now almost. It's now 404 00:25:12.120 --> 00:25:15.560 almost 23 hours here and we're both 405 00:25:15.560 --> 00:25:19.360 tired. Sometimes you need to cut a corner to stay 406 00:25:19.360 --> 00:25:22.600 ahead of the curve. Totally, guys. 407 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:26.040 Be back on Thanksgiving. Bye bye. Bye bye. 408 00:25:31.080 --> 00:25:34.680 That's all folks. Find more news streams, 409 00:25:34.760 --> 00:25:35.890 events, events and 410 00:25:35.890 --> 00:25:39.490 interviews@www.startuprad 411 00:25:39.730 --> 00:25:42.610 IO. Remember, sharing is car.