#StartupTicker
+++ #StartupTicker +++ Earlybird launches eighth fund (360 million) +++ BMW i Ventures launches third fund (300 million) +++ Syngroh Capital (Hansgrohe) makes startup investment for the first time +++ 4tiitoo (eye control of computers) is insolvent +++
What’s up New? In ours #StartupTicker we provide a compact overview of the most important startup news of the day (Thursday, April 30th).
#STARTUPLAND
STARTUPLAND: Founders. VCs. Visionaries
+++ Our fourth STARTUPLAND Conference will take place on March 10, 2027 at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne. A fascinating journey into the startup scene awaits you again – with lectures from successful founders, educational interviews and pitches that inspire. More about STARTUPLAND
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Earlybird
+++ New fund, new bosses! The Berlin investor Earlybird announces the final closing of its eighth fund (360 million euros). Despite the current difficult situation, it is the “largest fund to date” in the investor’s history, which was launched in 1997. There were 350 million in the fifth fund (2022). The team now manages a total of 2.5 billion. With the new fund, Earlybird has already invested in startups such as Black Forest Labs, SpAItial AI, Sintra AI, Arago, Porters and Rivia. The team is planning around 35 investments with the fresh money. As a rule, Earlybird initially invests between 1 and 12 million (pre-seed, seed, series A). As part of the new fund, the long-standing financier once again announced the change in leadership: “Nearly three decades after founding Earlybird, co-founders Hendrik Brandis and Christian Nagel, and the partners Paul Klemm, Tim Rehder, and Andre Retterath, have implemented a novel partnership model: perpetual active ownership. Only active partners will own Earlybird; ownership will always be transferred to active partners.” A good concept to position the investor for the long term – without suffering in the event of future management changes. More about Earlybird
BMW i Ventures
+++ BMW is now investing millions in AI! BMW i Ventures, the investment subsidiary of the car manufacturer BMW, is launching its third fund ($300 million). “Fully supported by the BMW Group, Fonds-III focuses on physical AI, agentic AI, industrial software, manufacturing and supply chain technologies as well as advanced materials. Investments are made in North America and Europe, from the seed phase to Series B,” it said in a press release. BMW i Ventures now manages a total of $1.1 billion. BMW i Ventures, headquartered in Silicon Valley (Mountain View), has been supporting young and aspiring startups since 2011. The financier’s portfolio includes companies such as Lime, RideCell, Parkopedia, Tekion, Solid Power and AutoBrains. BMW i Ventures will initially invest up to $10 million. More about BMW i Ventures
Syngroh Capital
+++ Hansgrohe family is now also into startups! Syngroh Capital, the investment company of the Hansgrohe founding family, is investing in the Leipzig-based GreenTech PolymerActive and is thus making a startup investment for the first time. More to come! “In the startup sector, Syngroh Capital primarily deals with the topics of sustainable technology and resource efficiency, an area in which the family can contribute its management experience from the family business Hansgrohe,” it says about the first venture capital investment. To date, Syngroh Capital has focused on investing in established medium-sized companies. In addition to capital, the Grohe family “also wants to contribute experience and know-how to all investments and shareholdings and thus deliver entrepreneurial added value”. More about Syngroh Capital
4tiitoo
+++ Bankruptcy! The Munich startup 4tiitoo (forty two), which deals with AI-supported gaze and voice control of computers, is insolvent. Attorney Thomas Klöckner is appointed as the provisional insolvency administrator. The company, founded in 2013 by Tore Meyer and Stephan Odörfer, has raised around 5.5 million euros in recent years – including from the High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF). According to its annual financial statements, the company most recently planned another round of investment in 2023. Which, as we know, hasn’t been easy lately. More about 4tiitoo
LLM Visibility
+++ Startups that now measure and specifically manage their LLM visibility are gaining a competitive advantage – before the established companies’ large budgets flow into this channel. The first step is not expensive. Above all, it requires attention. More in the guest article by Julian Gottke (blinq)
Startup Radar
+++ It’s that time again – new startups are in the starting blocks! Here are some exciting young companies you should know about. Today we take a look at these new startups: Backsleepers, LeadRep, PAVE Space, FREI and lowcloud. More on the startup radar
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Investments & Exits
+++ IndustrialTech Spread AI receives 30 million +++ BioTech Primogene collects 4.1 million +++ HealthTech dehaze receives 3.2 million +++ Financial injection for HealthTech odacova +++ ECD International takes over SC Media House. More in the deal monitor
What else happened recently? That’s always in the #StartupTicker
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