#StartupTicker
+++ #StartupTicker +++ Live in STARTUPLAND: Podcast legend Sven Schmidt (Machineseeker) +++ Mozart Bett grows to 37.5 million in sales +++ waterdrop achieves profitability +++ Startups To Watch: heyData +++ This is how Alexander Emeshev converted Vivid +++
What’s up New? In ours #StartupTicker we provide a compact overview of the most important startup news of the day (Thursday, February 5th).
#STARTUPLAND
Every unicorn has a beginning. Start yours at STARTUPLAND.
+++ Our third STARTUPLAND Conference will take place on March 18th 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
Live at STARTUPLAND: Podcast legend Sven Schmidt (Machineseeker Group)
+++ Over the past 20 years, Sven Schmidt has had a significant impact on the digital industry: as founder of the ticketing platform getgo.de (taken over by CTS Eventim), as venture partner at Accel Partners in London, as managing partner and investor at ICS (Internet Consumer Services) and as co-CEO of the Essen-based Machineseeker Group. He is also known in the digital scene through his podcast appearances on OMR and deutsche-startups (Insider Podcast). With his experience, Schmidt delivers STARTUPLAND at his Roast my startup-Session again open feedback, sharp analyzes and clear recommendations. It is a unique opportunity for founders to gain real learning from an honest reality check.
#STARTUPTICKER
Mozart bed
+++ Number check! The Nordhorn-based e-commerce company Mozart Bett, which relies on box spring beds, is growing to an impressive 37.5 million euros in sales in the generally difficult e-commerce year of 2025. “In 2024 we had 25 million euros with the goal of breaking 35 million euros in 2025. This makes us incredibly proud, especially in such a crisis year in e-commerce,” writes founder Andre Jonker on Linkedin. Mozart Bett, founded in 2021, is completely bootstrapped so far. “We didn’t want any money from third parties. That was the right decision for us. Anyone who is financially independent can decide freely,” wrote founder Jonker in a recent guest article. (Linkedin) More about Mozart bed
Water drop
+++ waterdrop achieves profitability! The Viennese scaleup waterdrop is in the black for the first time. “We grew by around 20 percent in 2025 and were able to operate EBITDA profitably across the group for the first time,” the incubator says. Sales were around 150 million euros. The Vienna-based company, founded by Martin Murray in 2016, relies on “small, compact cubes that transform pure water into a refreshing drink in no time.” Temasek and existing investors such as Bitburger Ventures and Founders Future recently invested 60 million euros in Waterdrop. (incubator) More about Waterdrop
heyData
+++ Startups To Watch: heyData. The Berlin startup, founded in 2020 by Daniel Deutsch, Milos Djurdjevic and Martin Bastius, relies on compliance-as-a-service and therefore on a huge boom topic. “The digital all-in-one compliance solution, which is provided as software-as-as-service, supports companies in keeping track of their data protection obligations and fulfilling them efficiently,” says the concept. Growth investor Riverside Acceleration Capital and Co. recently invested $16.5 million in the emerging company. Ten VC, Patrice Deckert, Stefan Tietze, Martin Ostermayer, Dirk Freise and Picea Capita previously invested 3.3 million euros in the young company. Riverside now currently holds 22% of heyData. More about heyData
Vivid Money
+++ Worth a listen! In the Finance Forward podcast, Alexander Emeshev, founder of the Berlin neobank Vivid, talks about how he radically restructured his company last year. “It is now aimed at business customers and is not afraid of a price war in order to assert itself against billion-dollar competitors.” In recent years, around 200 million euros have flowed into the neobank – particularly from Greenoaks Capital, Ribbit Capital and Softbank. The company was most recently valued at around 750 million. (Manager Magazine) More about Vivid Money
Navy team principle
+++ The pressure to grow big quickly is omnipresent in the startup world. But lasting success rarely occurs where structures are inflated early on. It arises where teams work in a focused manner. More in the guest article by Markus Hetzenegger (NYBA)
Venture capital
+++ The capital pots of many German investors are filling up again! In the past few weeks, both young and established VCs have launched new funds again – including DTCP (500 million), seed+speed Ventures (90 million) and Ananda Impact Ventures (73 million). More in the deal monitor
What else happened recently? That’s always in the #StartupTicker
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