#DealMonitor
+++ #DealMonitor +++ Founders buy Ankerkraut back from Nestlé +++ Uplane raises 4.5 million +++ belaubigt.de parent Openlaw receives 3.3 million +++ Financial injection for SportsTech Smash +++ Hot Boys Cry raises capital +++
In the #DealMonitor For April 16th we’ll take a look at the most important, exciting and interesting investments and exits of the day in the DACH region. All deals from the previous days are available in a large and clear format #DealMonitor Archives.
STARTUPLAND 2027: SAVE THE DATE
The next unicorn? You’ll meet it at STARTUPLAND
+++ Did you miss our phenomenal third STARTUPLAND? Then put our new date in your calendar now: The next STARTUPLAND will take place on March 10, 2027. More about Startupland
MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
Anchor herb
+++ Almost four years after exiting Nestlé, Ankerkraut founders Anne Lemcke and Stefan Lemcke are buying their company back from the food giant. Nestlé most recently held 95% of the spice Grownup, which was founded in 2013. “The goal is to develop the brand independently again in the future and to particularly build on its original identity and entrepreneurial roots: passion for spices, hands-on mentality and a close connection to the community,” say the Lemckes. It was agreed not to disclose the financial details of the transaction. Around 160 employees currently work for Ankerkraut. The team recently achieved “sales in the mid double-digit million range”. Nestlé is said to have put a three-digit million sum on the table for Ankerkraut four years ago. More in the StartupTicker
INVESTMENTS
Uplane
+++ Play Ventures, Y Combinator, 20VC, Multimodal Ventures and Rebel Fund invest $4.5 million in Uplane. The German-American startup, founded in 2025 by Julius Korfgen, Lukas Vollmer and Marvin Massih, would like to establish itself as a “full funnel AI marketing automation platform”. The motto is: “AI should run campaigns, so that marketers can run marketing.” Deutsche Bahn is already relying on the company. More about Uplane
Openlaw
+++ YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim (Y Ventures), Moonfire Ventures (Mattias Ljungman), Zeno Ventures, Combination VC, Orange Collective and numerous business angels are investing $3.3 million in Openlaw. LegalTech from Munich, founded in 2024 by Alexander Sporenberg and Felix Gerlach, positions itself as a “European platform for digital legal and notary infrastructure”. In Germany, the young company operates with belaubigt.de. “The platform digitally maps the entire founding process, from the founding documents to the notary appointment to the HRB entry and transparency register registration,” says the concept. The company would like to use the fresh capital to “specifically expand the product range of the German platform”. More about Openlaw
smash
+++ The Munich family office KT Ventures, ex-tennis star Dominic Thiem, ex-professional soccer player Guido Burgstaller, the two soccer professionals Marco Grüll and Maximilian Hofmann, the PlanRadar founders Sander Van de Rijdt and Ibrahim Imam, Leo Hillinger, Johannes Meran, Paul Fattinger and Meinhard Platzer are investing an undisclosed sum in Smash – see incubator. The Viennese startup, founded in 2025 by Alexander Sommer-Fein, Ricardo Theiner, Philip Mader and Franz Schall, focuses entirely on the trend sport of padel. “smash combines real estate expertise with a passion for sports and an uncompromising focus on player experience. We build and operate our courts as we would expect as players ourselves,” says the team. The company wants to operate 40 courts by the end of 2026. Expansion into Germany is also already planned. More about Smash
Hot Boys Cry
+++ The Berlin investor IBB Ventures, Fleetlery founder Timo Kerzel and Philipp Buddemeier (Better Earth) are investing an undisclosed sum in Hot Boys Cry. The startup from Berlin, founded in 2025 by Alexander Nicolaus and Patrick Conrad, wants to establish “emotional streetwear”. “Hot Boys Cry is a movement and lifestyle brand challenging the stigma around men’s emotional vulnerability,” it says in its self-description. In addition to clothes, there are also community events that are intended to spread the message. TV presenter Joko Winterscheidt is also involved in the young company. More about Hot Boys Cry
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