#StartupTicker
+++ #StartupTicker +++ Software giant SAP is completely into German startups +++ Dance docks with Swapfiets +++ Roll-up boom: Aretea Group collects cybersecurity companies +++ ZOHO.VC relies on these startups +++ StartupsToWatch: Sereact +++
What’s up New? In ours #StartupTicker we provide a compact overview of the most important startup news of the day (Thursday, May 21st).
#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
#STARTUPTICKER
SAP
+++ Advance into the future! Like no other German company, SAP is an important contact point for domestic startups. First of all, the German startup scene would be several billion dollars poorer without SAP. In the past, the Walldorf-based software group took over German companies LeanIX as well as Signavio – and spent around 2 billion on it. Most recently, the company founded in 1972 struck again – and bought the young AI startup Prior Labs. In addition, the software giant is currently investing heavily in up-and-coming startups – most recently in Avelios Medical as well as the two AI unicorns n8n and Parloa. In addition, SAP continues to be the former AI model startup Aleph Alpha (most recently with political support with the Canadian AI startup Cohere merged). And internationally, SAP is currently actively searching for suitable takeover candidates and investments. The people of Walldorf are serious and are making the many large German companies look old when it comes to startup strategy. More about SAP
Dance
+++ Exit for the next chapter! The young Berlin e-bike growup Dance moves under the umbrella of the Dutch bike rental company Swapfiets. “By joining the Swapfiets family, Dance can continue growing with the right partner – one that understands subscriptions, service, and the future of urban mobility,” it says about the takeover. Dance, founded in 2020 by Alexander Ljung, Eric Quidenus and Christian Springub, has raised around 50 million in recent years – including from Winthrop Square Capital, HV Capital and Eurazeo. After the takeover, Christian Springub will remain in office as Dance CEO. In 2024, Dance generated sales of around 8 million (previous year: 6.2 million). The annual deficit was 11.9 million (previous year: 17.2 million). The average number of employees was 53 (previous year: 92). The company – like many other startups – has recently made massive job cuts. The goal was clearly defined: the team wanted to be in the black by 2025. It is not known whether this worked. Financially, the company recently considered itself sufficiently financed until the end of December 2026. In a sense, the exit comes at the right time. With Swapfiets at your side, the lengthy search for additional capital is no longer necessary. More about dance
Aretea Group
+++ Investors who have fallen for the roll-up boom! The Berlin one is one of the roll-ups in the country that are currently really stepping on the gas Aretea Group. The Berlin start-up company, 2025 by Maximilian Brückner and Maximilian Blome (most recently both with the Berlin early-stage investor Cherry Ventures active) wants to unite “highly specialized, successful cybersecurity companies in a strong group”. “A sale to Aretea does not mean the end, but the beginning of an even greater success story – with immediate liquidity and long-term prospects,” the website says. The team is supported in particular by Cherry Ventures and the busy roll-up investor Tengelmann Ventures supports. More about the roll-up boom
ZOHO.VC
+++ Support in the very early phase! The portfolio of the young Nuremberg investor ZOHO.VC, the investment arm of the ZOLLHOF – Tech Incubator (Startup Factory: ZOHO Factory), has been growing significantly since its official launch. The team around Benjamin Bauer and Dennis Kirpensteijn, which initially invested 200,000 euros, is now involved in seven startups. These include dehaze, Neuramancer, Merge Labs, Munich Quantum instruments and Scavengers. Two other investments are not yet official. According to our information, the lender is also on All About Accuracy from Potsdam involved. The startup develops position sensors. ZOHO.VC invests in “DeepTech companies and university spin-offs, in both the software and hardware sectors”. The investor is targeting 10 million euros for the first fund. The firnst closing was at the beginning of the year. More about ZOHO.VC
Sereact
+++ StartupsToWatch! Sereact should be on the agenda for anyone interested in emerging startups. The company from Stuttgart, founded in 2021, is developing “AI-supported software that fully automates the pick-and-pack process in warehouses and production.” In short: It’s about the two trend topics AI and robotics. Berlin investor Headline, Bullhound Capital, Daphni and Felix Capital as well as existing investors such as Air Street Capital, Creandum and Point Nine recently invested $110 million in the company. The fresh capital will flow into US expansion, among other things. Around 30 million had already flowed into Sereact. More about Sereact
HealthTech
+++ Community is not a nice-to-have, but an important basis and often the decisive success factor. Or to put it another way: The future of HealthTech will not emerge where decisions are made in isolation. More in the guest article by Lucanus Polagnoli (Calm/Storm Ventures)
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 startups: Bonice, KothonTech, Connectome Health, Inclusys and swipesign. More on the startup radar
#DEALMONITOR
Investments & Exits
+++ AI startup Unframe receives 50 million – FinTech Bunch collects 35 million +++ Agri-PV startup Feldwerke receives 12 million +++ Qurie receives 2.2 million +++ Financial injection for allseven +++ Swapfiets takes over Dance. More in the deal monitor
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