#StartupTicker
+++ #StartupTicker +++ STARTUPLAND: Building a Team Without HR Screw-Ups +++ N26 makes a loss of 42 million +++ Spanish early-stage investor Samaipata relies on Germany +++ Lack of capital is and remains a perennial issue +++ This is how Flexvelop went for expansion +++
What’s up New? In ours #StartupTicker we provide a compact overview of the most important startup news of the day (Thursday March 12th).
#STARTUPLAND – 6 more days!
STARTUPLAND: Founders. VCs. Visionaries
+++ 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
Masterclass at STARTUPLAND: Dream Team Instead of Drama: Building a Team Without HR Screw-Ups
Every startup talks about the dream team – but many pay the hard way through bad appointments, high early fluctuation and chaotic processes. In this session we analyze the typical patterns and show how HR work becomes a stable foundation for scaling. Using real Fuck-Up practical examples, we show how recruiting can be realistically implemented in under 30 days – and how hiring is made so that new employees stay, are satisfied and grow productively into the team in the first 90 days. Dr. Simon Kentsch is the founder of scaleyo HR GmbH and has a doctorate in human resources. He supports startups in transferring the desire for A-players into high-performing teams that become productive quickly and stay long-term. With his own HR maturity analysis, tried-and-tested plug-and-play methods and clear implementation, he shows: Good HR work is not an administrative act, but a real growth engine.
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N26
+++ Number check! The Berlin smartphone bank N26 also made a massive loss in 2024 (42 million euros). But at least things are going up: last year there were 102.4 million. “From the management’s perspective, business development in 2024 was satisfactory and within expectations,” it says in the new annual financial statements. The company was able to increase its income from interest and commission income. “Net interest income rose by 16% to 144 million euros in 2024, which the bank explains with the ‘new product offerings’. Net commission income increased by almost 6% to 136 million euros,” writes the Handelsblatt about the N26 figures. For 2025, the company expects net interest and commission income of 385 million euros. The team also assumes “sustainable profitability in the second half of 2025”. The unicorn seems to be firmly on track. The goal is profitability. (Handelsblatt) More about N26
Samaipata
+++ Millions from Spain! The Spanish early-stage investor Samaipata, which has recently increased its investments in Germany, is launching its third fund (target volume: 110 million euros). The team has already raised 70 million – including from KfW and the Spanish Society for Technological Transformation (SETT). The investor plans to use the money to “invest in 25 to 30 early-stage startups in Germany and other European markets.” Samaipata has already invested in emerging companies in this country such as Konvo, Synthavo and retraced. Samaipata, launched in 2016 by the successful founders José del Barrio and Eduardo Díez-Hochleitner, has so far managed 150 million euros in two funds. The funder is particularly interested in “digital businesses with network effects”. Samaipata initially invests 1 to 6 million per startup (Seed to Series A). More about Samaipata
Lack of capital
+++ Millions are missing! Lack of capital is and remains a long-running issue in the German startup scene. This has now been proven again by a survey by the digital association Bitkom. “Almost every second startup (48%) is planning to raise capital this year. At the same time, every fourth startup (25%) is considering leaving Germany due to a lack of capital, and only 17% feel that the venture capital offering in this country is sufficient,” says a press release. An impressive 74% of founders in the country “would, if possible, satisfy their capital needs with investors from Germany”. Around 52% prefer investors from other EU countries, only 13% prefer US investors. At the end of the day it becomes clear again: We need even more venture capital in Germany. (Bitkom) More about Bitkom
expansion
+++ Expansion is often described as a process: roles, playbooks, KPIs. What gets lost is trust. In a new market it often arises analogously: through discussions, commitment, short distances. More guest article from Hans-Christian Stockfisch (Flexvelop)
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Investments & Exits
+++ FinTech finperks receives 4 million +++ BioTech PerioTrap receives 2.9 million +++ Superhuman takes over Rows +++ DHDL: Klemab, supernutural, BackDani. More in the deal monitor
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