#StartupTicker
+++ #StartupTicker +++ VC crisis +++ Berlin investor 468 Capital is no longer launching a new fund +++ Number of active VCs in Germany falls to the level of 2020 +++ This is how Quantum Systems saved the startup Fernride +++ KRUU – a real hidden champion +++
What’s up New? In ours #StartupTicker we provide a compact overview of the most important startup news of the day (Tuesday, January 6th).
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468Capital
+++ A really big setback! The busy Berlin investor 468 Capital, which launched in 2020, is no longer launching any further funds in the wake of the general VC crisis. The team around Alexander Kudlich, Ludwig Ensthaler and Florian Leibert will go their separate ways in the future. “Specifically, the former Rocket Internet investor Ensthaler and the former Twitter manager Leibert will now continue to look after the existing companies of the first two funds, while the former Rocket Internet board member Kudlich will be responsible for the smaller 468 Global Opportunities (GO) fund, which focuses on emerging markets,” writes the Handelsblatt. 468 Capital recently failed to set up a billion-dollar growth fund. The team previously raised more than $600 million across its two classic funds. In addition, there is 468 Capital GO with around 60 million dollars. In recent years, the 468 team has invested in more than 240 companies – including many well-known names but also a few flops. Since 2020, Kudlich have been moving at an enormous pace. At the same time, we also brought the radio play box manufacturer Tonies public via SPAC. All in all, a bitter setback for the German VC scene. Unfortunately, this is everyday life in an environment in which IPOs and exits are missing. (Handelsblatt) More about 468 Capital
Venture Capital – VC crisis
+++ VC crisis! “The number of active venture capitalists in Germany has fallen to the level of 2020” – reports the Handelsblatt. Specifically, the number of active venture capitalists fell by a fifth. “Across Europe, the number of active VCs even fell by almost 22%. This is the lowest level since 2019,” it continues. The reason for the lull is simple: there is a lack of IPOs and exits. The lenders can therefore hardly transfer any returns to their lenders. (Handelsblatt)
Long distance ride
+++ Worth reading! At the end of December, the Munich mobility startup Fernride, which had recently raised 18 million, moved under the umbrella of the multi-million dollar Munich DefenseTech Quantum System, which relies on electrically powered drones with multi-sensor technology. Now there is some unconfirmed background to the deal! “Around 15 million euros. That is the price that the Munich drone company Quantum Systems is supposed to pay for the start-up Fernride, according to insiders. This means that the specialist for remote-controlled trucks is worth less when it is sold in December than investors invested in it in the summer,” reports the Handelsblatt. Fernride, founded in 2019, recently announced its focus on the defense business. The startup recently tested autonomous trucks together with the Bundeswehr. A total of around 75 million euros have flowed into Fernride in recent years. Since part of the Fernride purchase price was paid for with Quantum Systems shares, there is at least hope that the deal will pay off at some point. The English investor Balderton Capital and Co. recently invested 180 million euros in Quantum Systems. The company’s valuation rose to 3 billion. (Handelsblatt) More about Quantum Systems
KRUU
+++ KRUU from Bad Friedrichshall near Heilbronn is and remains a real hidden champion. The team, which relies on photo boxes, was recently aiming for around 20 million euros in sales by 2025. The company would like to continue writing this success story in 2026. More about KRUU
Startup Radar
+++ The startup world never sleeps! Time to take a look at some brand new companies that should definitely be on your radar. We are introducing these young companies to you today: Cellbyte, Cynrise, teamcare, Loosh and Mietzekater. More on the startup radar
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