#StartupTicker
+++ #StartupTicker +++ Emma founders invest in D2C startups via Syntropy +++ Flink founder starts again with blocks +++ Langdock grows to 25 million ARR +++ Storebox is repositioning itself +++ This is how SEAL Robotics works +++
What’s up New? In ours #StartupTicker we provide a compact overview of the most important startup news of the day (Wednesday April 15th).
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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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Syntropy
+++ This is where capital meets knowledge! The Emma founders Dennis Schmoltzi and Manuel Müller are now investing in up-and-coming consumer startups with Syntropy. The duo makes it clear: “Syntropy is not a classic family office or a classic VC. Syntropy sees itself as a system that specifically brings together capital, operational knowledge and network.” Syntropy provides “10 million euros for D2C investments from the seed phase onwards”. The mattress startup Emma launched in 2013. In 2020 the exit to the Duisburg investment holding Haniel took place. Schmoltzi and Müller continue to run the company and each still hold a 20.9% stake in Emma. In 2024, Emma generated sales of 845 million euros (previous year: 952 million). “We have sold with Emma in over 30 countries and made every mistake you can make. This knowledge is not in a drawer now, it becomes part of every founder relationship we enter into. Our goal is to show founders the shortcuts that didn’t exist for us,” says Syntropy creator Müller. More about Emma
blocks
+++ Official starting signal for blocks! Since last year, Flink founder Oliver Merkel has been working on Blocks together with series founder Andreas Schroeter (Joonko, wywy, bab.la). The Berlin startup positions itself as a “digital platform for optimizing cloud costs for companies”. “Blocks addresses a structural issue in modern software companies: while cloud infrastructure is one of the largest cost drivers, it is rarely managed with the same rigor as other core expenses,” says the concept. Merkel, who most recently built the flash supermarket Flink, said of the official launch: “Our goal is to make cost efficiency a default, not a trade-off.” The Viennese investor Speedinvest, Caesar Ventures and business angels – including the Flix founders – have already invested $6 million in blocks. More about blocks
Longdock
+++ Turbo mode continues! The young Berlin AI startup Langdock, founded in 2023, is growing to 25 million annual recurring revenue (ARR). The team only announced 20 million ARR in March. The startup positions itself as an “AI platform for companies”. “The Langdock platform is the only tool you need in your company to explore all the possibilities of generative AI,” it says about the concept. General Catalyst, La Famiglia, Y Combinator, Rolf Schroemgens (trivago), Hanno Renner (Personio) and Erik Muttersbach (Forto) recently invested $3 million in Langdock. (LinkedIn) More about Longdock
Storebox
+++ Course towards profitability! The Viennese scaleup Storebox, a self-storage provider that has recently been focusing more and more on the B2B segment, is closing its branches in Switzerland and the Netherlands – as Brutkasten reports. In the future, Storebox will rely on franchise partners in both markets. The German subsidiary is being restructured in a “protective shield procedure”. The measures are intended to take the important step towards profitability. The existing investors are supporting this path with a seven-figure financial injection. Investors such as Hansi Hansmann, Senger-Weiss Family Office, Wille Finance and Co. recently invested 15.5 million euros in Storebox. In total, the company raised around 67.5 million (equity and debt capital) in Series B. (incubator) More about Storebox
SEAL Robotics
+++ The Munich-based startup SEAL Robotics builds mobile robots that can be used in ports or freight stations. “Our goal is to make dangerous work safer and to ease the burden on people,” says founder Daniel Leidner. More about SEAL Robotics
Startup Radar
+++ Once again, promising new companies are enriching the startup scene. Below we introduce these young companies: Noxon, Janus, B2B Hero, PlayAce and Finto. More on the startup radar
#DEALMONITOR
Investments & Exits
+++ Schwarz Group relies on 1Global +++ Nesto receives 11 million +++ XO Life receives 4 million +++ Peak Quantum collects 2.2 million +++ SchuBu receives millions +++ Lucy Group buys Nuventura +++ AlphaPet Ventures takes over animal lovers. More in the deal monitor
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