#StartupTicker
+++ #StartupTicker +++ Unicorn time: Already seven new unicorns this year +++ GovTech – the state remains a difficult customer +++ High-tech start-up fund: Axel Nitsch and Johannes Weber are rising +++ Speedinvest and the big AI boom +++
What’s up New? In ours #StartupTicker we provide a compact overview of the most important startup news of the day (Wednesday, July 1st).
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STARTUPLAND – one day, unlimited opportunities
+++ Secure your place in the STARTUPLAND community now! With the Super Early Bird tickets you can secure your place for our fourth STARTUPLAND Conference on March 10, 2027 in Cologne at the lowest price.
Unicorn
+++ Unicorn time! After five new unicorns in 2025, the German startup scene is upping the ante again in 2026. With Finn (Munich), Neura Robotics (Metzingen), Focused Energy (Darmstadt, Berlin, Austin, San Francisco), CMBLU (Alzenau), Dash0 (Solingen, New York), Strong (Berlin) and osapiens (Mannheim), seven companies have already made the leap to billion dollar valuations – even though the year is only half over. Striking: The new unicorns no longer only come from the AI environment. DefenseTech, robotics, fusion energy, ClimateTech, enterprise software and mobility are now equally responsible for billion-dollar success stories. The regional distribution is also remarkable: billion-dollar startups are now emerging all over Germany – from Darmstadt and Metzingen via Alzenau, Solingen and Mannheim to Munich and Berlin. The German unicorn club is also growing faster than it has in years. As a reminder: 2025 rose Black Forest Labs, n8n, Isar Aerospace, Quantum Systems and Parloa into the billion dollar club, it was only 2024 EGYM and Autodoc. More about German unicorns
GovTech
+++ The state remains a difficult customer! Although 78% of GovTech startups see great market potential in the public sector, only 11% currently consider the state to be more attractive than private sector companies – this is according to the new report GovTech Startup Monitor 2026 from the Startup Association, Accenture and the Hertie School. The founders cite complicated procurement procedures, long decision-making processes and hard-to-find contacts as the biggest hurdles – not cultural differences. At the same time, 86% of the startups surveyed see more startup-friendly public procurement as an important building block for Germany’s digital sovereignty. The monitor makes it clear: It is less the technologies than the existing procurement structures that are slowing down the digitalization of the state. The GovTech ecosystem has been growing continuously for years. Startups like GovRadar, Polyteia and SUMM AI show what innovation potential is now available for the public sector. (Startup Association, PDF) More about GovTech
High-tech start-up fund
+++ Rise! The Bonn early-stage investor High-tech start-up fund (HTGF) expands its circle of partners: Axel Nitsch and John Weber rise up. Nitsch will take over the “Digital Tech & AI” division, Weber the “Industrial, Climate & Deep Tech” segments. Both have been part of the investment team of Germany’s most active early-stage investor for years. With the two appointments, the HTGF is strengthening its investment expertise in the most important future areas. More about the HTGF
Speed Invest
+++ Worth reading! In an interview with brutkasten speaks Oliver Hollefounder of the Vienna investor Speed Investabout the AI boom, the increased competition for the best startups and the changes in the venture capital market. “Artificial intelligence is still an underestimated pivot that is reorienting the entire industry – including the venture industry,” says Holle. The lender recently made headlines with job cuts. (incubator) More about Speedinvest
Homestead
+++ “Hundreds of small towns and villages are facing massive vacancy and aging problems,” says Daniel Ehlersfounder of Homestead. The startup therefore connects communities with young families who want to move to the countryside. More about Heimstatt
Startup Radar
+++ It’s time for new startups again! Here are some very fresh companies that everyone should know. Today we introduce these young companies: peeps, Zelara, MARIMET, encosa and Whaaat AI. More on the startup radar
#DEALMONITOR
Investments & Exits
+++ PropTech Theo raises 25 million +++ DeepTech startup Fusion Bionic receives 8.2 million +++ FinTech Nomerra raises 2 million +++ Entryzero raises capital +++ KoRo takes over seedtrace +++ Rauch saves Kloster Kitchen. More in the deal monitor
#JOBS
MySecondEar
+++ Our job of the day! MySecondEar Audiology Group is looking for a Digital Content Manager (m/f/d). At MySecondEar, we’re reimagining the process of helping people have a better listening experience. Founded in Berlin, we are now Germany’s leading digital hearing aid provider and combine professional expertise with the latest technology and personal support – online and on site in our specialist stores.
What else happened recently? That’s always in the #StartupTicker