#DealMonitor
+++ #DealMonitor +++ Parloa collects 350 million (valuation: 3 billion)+++ Financial injection for lytra +++ talents&company receives capital +++ viboo receives money +++ EGYM and Playlist merge +++ Flix takes over Flibco +++
In the #DealMonitor For January 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: SAVE THE DATE
The next unicorn? You’ll meet it at STARTUPLAND
+++ Did you miss our second STARTUPLAND? Then put our new date in your calendar now: STARTUPLAND 2026 will take place on March 18th. More about Startupland
INVESTMENTS
Parloa
+++ The American venture capitalist General Catalyst, EQT Ventures, Altimeter Capital, Durable Capital Partners and Mosaic Ventures are investing $350 million in the Berlin AI unicorn Parloa. The valuation rises to $3 billion. Durable Capital Partners, Altimeter Capital and General Catalyst as well as EQT Ventures, RPT Capital, Senovo and Mosaic Ventures invested a significant $120 million in the company as recently as May 2025. As part of the investment round, the company was valued at more than $1 billion for the first time and thus achieved the coveted unicorn status. Parloa, founded in 2017 by Malte Kosub and Stefan Ostwald as Future of Voice, is a “conversational AI platform” that automates customer service. A total of around $570 million has already flowed into the company, which is also financially supported by the two soccer world champions Mario Götze and Bastian Schweinsteiger. EQT Ventures recently held almost 17.8% of Parloa. More about Parloa
lytra
+++ The Bonn-based financier High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and other unnamed investors are investing an undisclosed sum in lytra. The startup from Munich, founded in 2024 by Etienne Fieg and Hendrik Hagendorn, wants to establish itself as an “AI operating system for mechanical engineering services”. “Various AI agents enable the automation of service processes such as ordering spare parts, planning on-site deployments of service technicians or answering technical questions,” says the concept. More about lytra
talents&company
+++ The Linz early-stage investor VGW (Simon Andreas Wendelin) and business angels such as Kambis Kohansal, Firas Saedaddin and Florian Gschwandtner are investing a six-figure sum in talents&company – see incubator. The Linz-based HR startup, founded in 2023 by Mario Derntl and Fabian Dopler, is committed to improving apprentice training. “Take new paths in apprentice training – digital, in real time and data-supported. Get a control tool for your company to finally make your training measurable and visible,” is the startup’s idea. More about talents&company
viboo
+++ The Belgian Prop and ConTech investor Rise PropTech is investing an undisclosed sum in viboo. The Swiss ClimateTech startup, founded by Felix Buenning, Benjamin Huber and Matthias Sulzer, wants to “make buildings more energy efficient through its Predictive Control as a Service platform”. Realyze Ventures, Zürcher Kantonalbank and “other new and existing investors” are investing 3.3 million euros in viboo. In addition, the High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), Swisscom Ventures and Rainmaking Impact previously pumped 1.5 million francs into the company. More about viboo
MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
EGYM – Playlist
+++ The Munich fitness unicorn EGYM and the American fitness and wellness unicorn Playlist (Mindbody, Booker and ClassPass) are merging. The joint company is valued at $7.5 billion. EGYM was probably valued at 2.5 billion as a result of the merger – see Handelsblatt. “The transaction also brings in $785 million in new capital. Affinity Partners is leading this new financing. A consortium of existing investors including Vista Equity Partners, Temasek and L Catterton are also participating,” the company said. L Catterton and Meritech Capital invested around 180 million euros in EGYM at the end of 2024. The company’s pre-money valuation rose to over 1 billion euros. EGYM, founded in 2010 by Philipp Roesch-Schlanderer and Florian Sauter, has been digitizing the fitness world for years. One focus now is eGym Wellpass, a “subscription-based health and wellness solutions for companies”. In recent years, EGYM acquired the American company FitReserve, the English corporate fitness company Hussle and the French competitor Gymlib. EGYM’s most important competitor is the Berlin company Urban Sports Club (USC), which has been part of the well-being unicorn Wellhub (formerly known as Gympass) since last year. Wellhub put $600 million (cash and shares) on the table for USC. The consolidation in the hyped fitness segment is therefore still in full swing. More about EGYM
Flix – Flibco
+++ The Munich mobility unicorn Flix is taking over the majority of the bus shuttle platform Flibco. “The investment lays the foundation for Flix’s further expansion in the airport transfer segment and strengthens its position in the European travel market, while Flibco can accelerate its growth as part of the Flix Group,” the company said. Flibco, founded in Luxembourg in 2005, was most recently part of the SLG group. More about Flix
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