This Month in German, Swiss, and Austrian Startups - October 2023 | Startuprad.io E 400

Like what you hear? You can tip us here: <u><a href="https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Startuprad.io" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Startuprad.io</a></u></p> Welcome to our October 2023 wrap-up with vital news from the startup scenes in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland in 30 minutes or less 🙂.</p> This time we wrap up October 2023 in our 400th episode!</p> </p> <h1><strong>Our Highlights:</strong></h1>BioNTech is a very special case in Germany, but now one of their former Senior Vice Presidents (Katalin Karikó, has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine 2023 for her research in mRNA). Two German companies IPOed (yes, no startups, but still a good sign). Solar startup Nexwafe starts 120 M € funding, Black Semiconductor from Aachen is looking to raise 500 M €, and there is bad news about the former unicorn Infarm.</p> Let's talk startups:</p> </p> <h1><strong>Subscribe Here</strong></h1>Find all options to subscribe to our newsletter, podcast, YouTube channel, or listen to our internet radio station here: <u><a href="https://linktr.ee/startupradio" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://linktr.ee/startupradio</a></u></p> <h1><strong>Our Enablers</strong></h1><h2><strong>This recording is supported by HTAI and the Enterprise Europe Network Hessen</strong></h2>This recording was made possible by HTAI and the Enterprise Europe Network Hessen. Look for our dedicated sub-podcast in partnership with them: Tech Startups Germany on our <u><a href="https://linktr.ee/startupradio" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://linktr.ee/startupradio</a></u></p> <h2><strong>Startupraven.com</strong></h2>The best way to identify investors and cooperation partners for early-stage startups. Sign up for early access here: <u><a href="https://startupraven.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://startupraven.com/</a></u></p> </p> <h1><strong>Top News</strong></h1><h2><strong>Former Employee of BioNTech Receives as 13th Women Nobel Prize in Medicine</strong></h2>BioNTech is a very special case in the German startup world. During corona, they have been assumed to be responsible for 0.5% of GDP growth of all of Germany, one of the five largest economies in the world. Now they have another very unique distinction: A former Senior Vice President (2013–2022) of the company Katalin Karikó, has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine 2023 for her research in mRNA. Congratulations to her, being the 13th woman to have won a Nobel prize in medicine, she is sharing the prize with Drew Weissman.</p> </p> <h2><strong>Solar Startup Hunting for 100+ M € in Funding at 500 M Valuation</strong></h2>Freiburg, Germany-based solar startup Nexwafe starts new funding, aiming for 120 m € in Venture Capital at a valuation of up to 500 M €</p> </p> <h2><strong>Black Semiconductor 500 M € in Funding</strong></h2>Aachen, Germany-based chip startup Black Semiconductor about to close large funding of 500 M €, with up to 70% of government funding. The founders are looking to develop a new way to connect elements on semiconductors but may need up to 7 years for the technology to become viable on an industrial scale.</p> </p> <h2><strong>Bad News for former Unicorn Infarm</strong></h2>According to a blog post by Gründerszene, the German credit bureau Creditreform does score Infarm as "ausgefallen" (meaning defaulted). Local entities in the UK and Netherlands have filed for insolvency.</p> </p> Find all links and show notes here: <u><a href="https://medium.com/startuprad-io/this-month-in-german-swiss-and-austrian-startups-october-2023-startuprad-io-e-400-08d0c5322756" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://medium.com/startuprad-io/this-month-in-german-swiss-and-austrian-startups-october-2023-startuprad-io-e-400-08d0c5322756</a></u></p>

00:19:59

From the CTO of N26 to founding a non-profit online University | Startuprad.io

<strong>Executive Summary</strong></p> In today's episode, we have a very special guest joining us, Christian Rebernik, CEO & Co-Founder of Tomorrow University. We'll dive into Christian's journey, from his early days as a CTO of companies like Scout24 Group, dating Website Parship, World Food Program, bwin, or N26 to his current role in shaping the next generation of banking and now building a next-generation university. We'll explore how he's bridging the gap between technology and education, revolutionizing the way we learn and empowering future change-makers. Stay tuned for an engaging and enlightening conversation on the innovation landscape, the role of online learning, and the power of meaningful connections in business and personal relationships. Let's get started! </p> Like what you hear? You can tip us here: <a href="https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Startuprad.io" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Startuprad.io</a> </p> <strong>Our Sponsors </strong></p> <strong>This recording is supported by HTAI and the Enterprise Europe Network Hessen</strong> </p> This recording was made possible by HTAI and the Enterprise Europe Network Hessen. These organizations have made tremendous contributions to helping startup businesses succeed and thrive, providing a range of services from helping to find grants to ongoing partnerships. By taking advantage of these resources, startup companies can network and develop innovative strategies for success on the international stage. The dedicated support of HTAI and the Enterprise Europe Network Hessen is paramount in providing startup businesses with the tools for lasting success. Look for our dedicated sub-podcast in partnership with them: Tech Startups Germany on our <a href="https://linktr.ee/startupradio" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://linktr.ee/startupradio</a> </p> <strong>Startupraven</strong> </p> Sign up here: <a href="https://startupraven.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://startupraven.com/</a> </p> <strong>The Founder</strong> </p> Christian is the CEO and Co-Founder of Tomorrow University. He is a CTO with a strong technical background, but his key strength lies in his ability to understand and leverage technology for business growth. Christian believes that it is crucial for developers to have a clear understanding of the customer's needs and the reasons behind the work they do. In his past experiences, he noticed the negative impact of treating developers as mere "coding monkeys" without involving them in customer interactions. This motivated him to establish Tomorrow University, where developers are encouraged to engage with customers and align their work with business objectives. Christian's mission is to bridge the gap between business and technology, empowering developers to make a meaningful impact through their work. </p> <strong>The Startup</strong> </p> What sets Tomorrow University (<a href="https://www.tomorrow.university/)" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.tomorrow.university/)</a> apart from its competition is its unique approach to learning. They have developed a cutting-edge learning model that emphasizes real-world challenges and hands-on experiences, taking students out of their comfort zones. </p> <strong>All Links and Show Notes Here is our blog post:</strong> <a href="https://medium.com/startuprad-io/from-cto-of-n26-to-founding-a-non-profit-online-university-startuprad-io-0e68274207aa" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://medium.com/startuprad-io/from-cto-of-n26-to-founding-a-non-profit-online-university-startuprad-io-0e68274207aa</a></p>

00:42:42

From Berlin to Zurich: NGP Capital's Research on VC Funding in the DACH Region

Like what you hear? You can tip us here: <a href="https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Startuprad.io" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Startuprad.io</a> </p> <strong>Executive Summary</strong> </p> Welcome to Startuprad.io, the podcast that brings you the latest insights and stories from the world of startups. In today's episode, we have a special guest, Christian Noske, a Partner at NGP Capital in Berlin. Christian joins our host, Jörn "Joe" Menninger, to discuss their recent research on the startup ecosystem in the DACH region, which encompasses Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. They delve into the findings of NGP Capital's analysis, which explores the impact of COVID-19 on venture funding in the region and highlights some surprising facts about the different countries. Tune in to discover why Switzerland has emerged as a strong force in the startup scene, how Germany's diverse ecosystem mitigated the decline in funding, and the reasons behind France's larger drop in startup funding. If you want to uncover the hidden gems and thriving startups beyond the well-known hubs, this episode is a must-listen. Stay tuned for an in-depth conversation on the startup landscape in the DACH region with Christian Noske of NGP Capital. </p> Find all blog posts with all the links on our blog <a href="https://medium.com/startuprad-io/from-berlin-to-zurich-ngp-capitals-research-on-vc-funding-in-the-dach-region-startuprad-io-36553faace33" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://medium.com/startuprad-io/from-berlin-to-zurich-ngp-capitals-research-on-vc-funding-in-the-dach-region-startuprad-io-36553faace33</a></p> <strong>The Investor</strong></p> Christian is a Partner at NGP Capital in Berlin. In a recent study, Christian and his team examined the post-COVID landscape in their core region, which includes Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. They found that each region had its own unique characteristics. Germany, being the largest country, was not surprising in terms of its size and activity in various sectors. However, Switzerland was a pleasant surprise, as, despite its smaller size, it had managed to build a thriving ecosystem and was demonstrating significant growth in venture funding, new creation, and deep tech software. The findings were quite astonishing and revealed the diverse and dynamic nature of the region's entrepreneurial and innovation landscape. </p> <strong>Subscribe Here</strong> </p> We are always sharing new resources with you. Find all of our options below. <a href="https://linktr.ee/startupradio" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://linktr.ee/startupradio</a> </p> <strong>Our Sponsor Startupraven</strong> </p> A startup's journey can be a tough one, but it doesn't have to feel like you're alone on your quest! Invest in others' success with us by joining our community of entrepreneurs who are building amazing things every day - no matter how big or small their ideas may seem at first glance. The best way to find investors and cooperation partners for early-stage startups. Sign up here: <a href="https://startupraven.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://startupraven.com/</a> </p> <strong>Topics Discussed in this Episode:</strong></p> #startuppodcast #germany #austria #switzerland #founder #startupradio #ngpcapital #vc #venturecapital #berlin #newyork #globalbusiness #venturefund #paloalto #shanghai #helsinki #seriesa #seriesb #technology #entrepreneurship #techentrepreneurship #dach #research #venturefunding #deeptech #software #climatetech #robotics #fintech #ecosystem #food #travel #france #gsa #deutschland #oesterreich #schweiz</p>

00:25:52

Impact Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 - The Winner of the German Startup Awards | Startuprad.io

Like what you hear? You can tip us here: <a href="https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Startuprad.io" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Startuprad.io</a> </p> <h2>Executive Summary </h2>In this episode of Startuprad.io, host Jörn "Joe" Menninger interviews Gülsah Wilke, the winner of the Impact Entrepreneur of the Year Award, at the German Startup Awards. They discuss Gülsah's background, including her studies at a private university and her career in consulting and media. They also talk about her experiences in Montreal and her unique perspective as someone with a dual cultural identity. Throughout the conversation, the focus is on Gülsah's impact-focused work and her role in supporting entrepreneurs. </p> <h2>Subscribe Here</h2> <a href="https://linktr.ee/startupradio" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://linktr.ee/startupradio</a> </p> <h2>German Startup Awards 2023 </h2>This interview is in media partnership with the German startup association (Bundesverband Deutscher Startups <a href="https://deutschestartups.org/)." rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://deutschestartups.org/).</a> Their German Startup Awards #GSA23 honor each year outstanding female and male founders and investors in special categories. You can learn more about the winners in our interview and on this website: <a href="https://germanstartupawards.de/rueckblick/rueckblick-2023" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://germanstartupawards.de/rueckblick/rueckblick-2023</a> We already covered most winners of the #GSA21 and #GSA22 </p> <h2>Our Sponsor Startupraven </h2>The best way to find investors and cooperation partners for early-stage startups. Sign up here: <a href="https://startupraven.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://startupraven.com/</a> </p> <h2>Impact Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 - German Startup Awards </h2>Gülsah is a talented and highly intelligent individual who stumbled upon the world of private business schools during her high school years. While attending the Akademie Verbegartiungliche, she met a girl named Iman, who shared with her the wonders of a private university where one could learn various languages and travel extensively. Intrigued by the opportunity, Gülsah decided to explore this new path instead of pursuing her original plan to study law in Bonn. She attended an information day at the school with her father and became even more interested in the possibilities it offered. </p> <h2>2Hearts </h2>During the interview, Gülsah Wilke, the winner of the Impact Entrepreneur of the Year, discussed her startup called 2Hearts (<a href="https://www.2heartscommunity.com/)." rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.2heartscommunity.com/).</a> 2Hearts is a platform that aims to provide a home for individuals who have multiple cultural identities and want to connect with others who share similar experiences. </p> <h2>All Links and Show Notes </h2>Here is our blog post: <a href="https://medium.com/startuprad-io/impact-entrepreneur-of-the-year-two-hearts-two-cultures-german-startup-awards-startuprad-io-14cfc0739aa9" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://medium.com/startuprad-io/impact-entrepreneur-of-the-year-two-hearts-two-cultures-german-startup-awards-startuprad-io-14cfc0739aa9</a> </p>

00:23:24

This Month in German, Swiss, and Austrian (GSA) Startups - September 2023 | Startuprad.io E 397

Like what you hear? You can tip us here: <u><a href="https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Startuprad.io" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Startuprad.io</a></u></p> <strong>Our Sponsor Startupraven</strong></p> The best way to identify investors and cooperation partners for early-stage startups. Sign up for early access here: <u><a href="https://startupraven.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://startupraven.com/</a></u></p> Find all options to follow us and subscribe here: <u><a href="https://linktr.ee/startupradio" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://linktr.ee/startupradio</a></u></p> </p> <strong>Welcome</strong></p> Welcome to our summer 2023 wrap-up with vital news from the startup scenes in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland in 30 minutes or less 🙂.</p> This time we wrap up September 2023. There have been a lot of news sad (insolvencies, final closures, …), but also good ones (expansions, fundings, …) that we just had to make a selection in order not to bore you to death.</p> Our startup news is recorded with Chris live in New York City and Joe in Frankfurt. The recording date is September 26th and all news not included will be in our next news to be released on October 26th.</p> </p> <strong>Our Highlights:</strong></p> We track close to 500 mn Euros in newly announced investments in GSA. We have the first defense tech unicorn in Berlin and a lot of great news from Greentech startups in Germany. Some proptechs are not doing well, but not all startups associated with construction are performing poorly, as shown by the fundraising from Schüttfix. Long-distance trucking gets more autonomous with FERNRIDE and some bank news: Deutsche Bank uses Swiss DLT startup Taurus' technology and we learn more about JP Morgan's retail offering in Germany. Unicorn Flix already hired banks for their IPO in H1 next year. We also keep you updated on the bank holidays in Germany in the next weeks.</p> Let's talk startups:</p> </p> <strong>Find all links and show notes here:</strong> <u><a href="https://medium.com/startuprad-io/this-month-in-german-swiss-and-austrian-gsa-startups-september-2023-startuprad-io-e-397-40c9c7b5fa2c" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://medium.com/startuprad-io/this-month-in-german-swiss-and-austrian-gsa-startups-september-2023-startuprad-io-e-397-40c9c7b5fa2c</a></u></p>

00:25:39

From London to Lisbon: Uncovering Europe's Prominent Startup Scenes | Startuprad.io E 396

<h3>Executive Summary</h3>This is the one-year anniversary episode of our cooperation with DEEP Ecosystems in our Sub-Podcast European Startup Pulse. In this episode of Startuprad.io, host Jörn “Joe” Menninger and guest Thomas Kösters discuss recent developments in the European startup scene. They explore the growing preference of founders to stay in Europe and the prominence of certain European cities, such as Malaga and Lisbon, in attracting startups. They delve into the challenges of building a startup hub brand, the underrepresentation of female founders, and the importance of founder mobility in the European ecosystem. The episode also analyzes the impact of startups on regional development and debates whether startups can solve societal challenges like climate change.</p> </p> <h3>Follow Us on Social Media!</h3>If you are listening to our content for the 2nd time please consider following us on social media.</p> <strong><a href="https://linktr.ee/startupradio" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Startuprad.io — The Authority on German, Swiss, and Austrian Startups | Linktree</a></strong><a href="https://linktr.ee/startupradio" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"><br /> </a></p> <h3>Our Sponsor Startupraven</h3>A startup’s journey can be a tough one, but it doesn’t have ́to feel like you’re alone on your quest! Invest in others’ success with us by joining our community of entrepreneurs who are building amazing things every day — no matter how big or small their ideas may seem at first glance.</p> The best way to find investors and cooperation partners for early-stage startups. Sign up here:</p> <strong><a href="https://startupraven.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Startup Raven</a></strong><a href="https://startupraven.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"><br /> </a></p> <h3>About the Pulse of the European Startup Ecosystem</h3>The European startup scene is changing fast. There are new players, old ones fading away, and even more to come in their place- all vying for a piece of this growing pie! To avoid getting left behind, you need regular updates on what’s going on so that our entrepreneurs can stay one step ahead when building or investing in companies here. That’s why we started the “Pulse of the European Startup Ecosystem” which will provide you with quarterly podcasts chronicling different aspects related to startup activity across European Hubs, supported by the data from the specialized analytics company <a href="https://www.deepecosystems.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">DEEP Ecosystems</a>.</p> Thomas Kösters is a visionary leader and ecosystem builder at DEEP Ecosystems, a renowned accelerator for ecosystems. With a strong passion for supporting start-ups and promoting sustainability, Thomas strives to revolutionize the system in which entrepreneurs operate. Utilizing data-driven approaches, he tracks the growth of ecosystems and shares valuable insights with entrepreneurs worldwide. Through his collaboration with Joe for the past year, Thomas analyzes European startup policies to identify the next big challenge for entrepreneurs in Europe. His expertise and commitment make him a driving force behind the success of DEEP Ecosystems and the entrepreneurs it supports.</p> <h3>All Links and Show Notes</h3>Here is our blog post: <a href="https://medium.com/startuprad-io/from-london-to-lisbon-uncovering-europes-prominent-startup-scenes-startuprad-io-e-396-7e6003955376" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://medium.com/startuprad-io/from-london-to-lisbon-uncovering-europes-prominent-startup-scenes-startuprad-io-e-396-7e6003955376</a></p>

00:48:02

From Jimdo Founder to Green Tech VC: Winner of German Startup Awards 2023 Investor of the Year | Startuprad.io #395

Find all blog posts with all the links on our blog <a href="https://medium.com/startuprad-io/from-jimdo-founder-to-green-tech-vc-winner-of-german-startup-awards-2023-investor-of-the-year-9a86196ddabe" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://medium.com/startuprad-io/from-jimdo-founder-to-green-tech-vc-winner-of-german-startup-awards-2023-investor-of-the-year-9a86196ddabe</a></p> <h1>Executive Summary</h1>In episode 395 of Startuprad.io, host Jörn "Joe" Menninger interviews Fridtjof Detzner, Winner of the German Startup Awards 2023: Investor of the Year. Fridtjof discusses his journey from founding Jimdo, a website builder, to becoming a green tech venture capitalist. He shares his passion for simplifying complex problems and making technology accessible. Fridtjof also talks about his experience filming a documentary series and how it led him to focus on sustainability issues. The episode explores Fridtjof's entrepreneurial journey and his transition to investing in green tech startups.</p> <h2>Subscribe Here </h2><br /> We are always sharing new resources with you. Find all of our options below. <a href="https://linktr.ee/startupradio" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://linktr.ee/startupradio</a> </p> <h1>German Startup Awards 2023 </h1>This interview is in media partnership with the German startup association (Bundesverband Deutscher Startups <a href="https://deutschestartups.org/)." rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://deutschestartups.org/).</a> Their German Startup Awards #GSA23 honor each year outstanding female and male founders and investors in special categories. </p> We already covered most winners of the #GSA21 and #GSA22 look at our blog post.</p> <h1>Our Sponsor Startupraven </h1>The best way to find investors and cooperation partners for early-stage startups. Sign up here: <a href="https://startupraven.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://startupraven.com/</a> </p> <h1>The Investor of the Year 2023 </h1>Fridtjof's journey as an entrepreneur began unexpectedly at the age of 16. In 1999, a school friend approached him with the idea of starting a company, and without hesitation, Fridtjof agreed. </p> Together, they delved into the world of website development, initially offering services to clients. However, they soon realized that their true passion lay in empowering others to create and manage their own websites. Driven by this newfound goal, Fridtjof and his team pivoted from being an agency to a product-based company. They focused on building a platform that enabled customers to build and maintain their websites independently. This shift brought immense joy and fulfillment to the team as they witnessed their customers taking control of their online presence. </p> As time went on, Fridtjof's venture flourished, and they began to scale their operations. Alongside this growth came numerous learning experiences that further honed his entrepreneurial skills, including taking a trip with a German TV station and visiting entrepreneurs around the world. This showed him the scale of the problems we are facing, which in turn led him to start Planet A Ventures. </p> Planet A takes a double approach to investing, not only including business points of view for their investment decisions, but also the point of view of their scientist. You can learn more about their investment approach in our interview. Fridtjof's story serves as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide, proving that age is no barrier to success. With passion, determination, and a willingness to embrace change, he continues to make a lasting impact on the startup community. </p> #startuppodcast #startupradio #startup #greentechnology #greentech #venturecapital #greentechvc #sustainableinvesting #sustainableinvestment #germanstartupawards #gsa23 #berlin #investor #jimdo</p>

00:26:36

Balancing Freedom and Responsibility: The Story Behind FINN's Vision for Transforming Car Ownership | Startuprad.io # 394

<ul><li>Like what you hear? You can tip us here: https://startupradio.captivate.fm/support</li></ul><br /> Find all blog posts with all the links on our blog https://medium.com/startuprad-io</p> <h1>Executive Summary</h1>In this episode of Startuprad.io, host Jörn "Joe" Menninger interviews Maximilian Wühr, the CEO of FINN Auto. Maximilian shares his motivation for starting Finn, which stemmed from a frustrating car-buying experience in the San Francisco/Bay Area. He discusses the fundraising process and emphasizes the importance of being persistent and solving a problem. Maximilian also highlights the differences between the US and German markets, particularly in terms of product-market fit and logistics. He shares his journey from finance to startups and discusses the advisory board experience. Maximilian concludes by sharing his vision for Finn's future, including the possibility of going public. </p> <h1>Subscribe Here</h1>We are always sharing new resources with you. Find all of our options below.</p> We want to make sure that we provide what's best for your growing team, so please take a look at these additional ways in which can help! </p> <a href="https://linktr.ee/startupradio" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://linktr.ee/startupradio</a></p> <br /> </p> <h1>Our Sponsor Startupraven</h1>The best way to find investors and cooperation partners for early-stage startups. Sign up here: <a href="https://startupraven.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://startupraven.com/</a></p> <br /> </p> <h1>The Founder</h1>Maximilian Wühr, CEO and Co-Founder of FINN Auto began his journey in economics with the aspiration of becoming a financial investor. In pursuit of the best education, he recognized Bocconi as one of Europe's top finance universities and decided that studying there would be a valuable experience. Despite the lack of an existing partnership between LMU and any Italian university, Maximilian was determined to study in Milan. Taking matters into his own hands, he navigated the process of organizing the exchange and securing a scholarship that covered his expenses.</p> <br /> </p> For six months, Maximilian immersed himself in the Italian culture, enjoying both the university and the unique approach to teaching economics, which relied less on numbers and data. His time in Milan not only broadened his academic horizons but also gave him a newfound appreciation for the vibrant city. He later attended CDTM the Center for Digital and Technology Management, which also took him to UC Berkeley with their exchange program. In California, he bought a car, which turned out to be a not-so-pleasant experience. This gave him the trigger to join the founding of FINN Auto.</p> <br /> </p> Today, as the CEO of FINN Auto, Maximilian leverages the skills and knowledge he acquired during his studies and exchange program. His passion for finance and his experiences in Italy continue to shape his leadership style and drive him toward success in the automotive industry. Maximilian became CEO when his predecessor had to step down from the position.</p> <br /> </p> <h1>The Startup</h1>Finn Auto, the startup co-founded by Maximilian Wühr, has made significant strides in revolutionizing the car-subscription industry. They have successfully raised multiple rounds of funding, including a recent funding round that secured several millions of dollars. In total, they raised close to one billion US$ (935 M). This financial backing has allowed Finn Auto to expand its operations and continue to enhance its innovative platform.</p> <br /> </p> What sets Finn Auto apart from its competition is its focus on providing a seamless and user-friendly experience. Their platform streamlines the entire process, alleviating the pain points that individuals often encounter when renting or purchasing a vehicle. By leveraging the power of technology and data, Finn Auto offers personalized recommendations, transparent...

00:30:25

This Month in German, Swiss, and Austrian (GSA) Startups - Summer 2023 (July/ August) | Startupradio Episode #393

Welcome to our summer 2023 wrap-up with vital news from the startup scenes in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland in around 30 minutes sometimes less 🙂.</p> This time we wrap up July and August. We came up with the summer news because the September news has always been very long, overcrowded, and covered 3 months. That was a bit too much of a break and too much news in one piece. So we looked to wrap up summer and since the US is an important market and Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer it seems like a good fit.</p> This summer has been a bit different and there has been a lot of news, so we focus more on the most recent ones and we have cut a lot of news here.</p> For everybody in the US who celebrates it: Happy Labor Day!</p> Find all links to the quoted news on our Medium blog: <a href="https://medium.com/startuprad-io/this-month-in-german-swiss-and-austrian-gsa-startups-summer-2023-july-august-episode-fdb709d89fbd" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://medium.com/startuprad-io/this-month-in-german-swiss-and-austrian-gsa-startups-summer-2023-july-august-episode-fdb709d89fbd</a></p> <br /> </p> Like what you hear? You can tip us here: <a href="https://startupradio.captivate.fm/support" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://startupradio.captivate.fm/support</a></p> <br /> </p> <h2>Our Sponsor Startupraven</h2>The best way to identify investors and cooperation partners for early-stage startups. Sign up for early access here: https://startupraven.com/</p> <br /> </p> <h1>Our Highlights:</h1>Binance has not - yet - gotten permission to operate in Germany from BaFin, Nextwind raises 750 m US$, Bitpanda surpasses 1 M customers in Germany and Germany sets a new record in new founders. We also shared that SAP wants to invest in Aleph Alpha, they confirmed this and two more.</p> Germany's law for legalizing cannabis falls short of the expectations of cannabis entrepreneurs. Europe dominates climate fintech funding and the overall fintech funding shows a sign of life. Bafin also stopped mini VC investments - trashing the business model of some fintechs - AND we found newly closed VC funds in excess of 2.8 bn US$ that are open to European founders.</p> <br /> </p> <h1>Our Enablers </h1>This recording is supported by HTAI and the Enterprise Europe Network Hessen</p> Look for our dedicated sub-podcast in partnership with them: Tech Startups Germany on our https://linktr.ee/startupradio</p> <br /> </p> Startupraven.com</p> The best way to identify investors and cooperation partners for early-stage startups. Sign up for early access here: https://startupraven.com/</p> <br /> </p> <h1>Top News </h1><h2>Du kommst hier ned rein 🙂 Is the usual saying in Frankfurt if a Bouncer won't let you in a Club</h2>Fintech blog Finance Forward reports German finance oversight BaFin signals no license for Binance for Germany. So they can neither advertise nor expand in Germany. To be clear, this is not a final NO, but rather a "Binance keeps trying, but BaFin signaled a No"</p> <br /> </p> <h2>750 M US$ for Wind Energy</h2>Wind Energy in Germany: StartUp Nextwind raises 750 M US$ Venture Capital investors include Sandbrook Capital, Canadian funds Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments), and Imco </p> <br /> </p> <h2>Bitpanda - The Austrian Unicorn</h2>Surpasses 1 million customers in Germany alone https://buff.ly/44mMyKP it is not sure how many of them are really active, but that is always a tough question, even for the startups. But the question is important since one only makes money with active users.</p> <br /> </p> <h2>Germany Sets a New Record in Founders</h2>Despite the current economic situation, Germany has the highest share of founders in 24 years!!! According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Germany had a larger than 9% founder quota, meaning people from 18–64 who (co) founded a new business within the last 3,5 years (Young...

00:34:34

Strategic Pivoting: Insider Tips for Making Business Decisions and Thriving in The Startup World | Startuprad.io E 392

Like what you hear? You can tip us here: <a href="https://startupradio.captivate.fm/support" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://startupradio.captivate.fm/support</a></p> Subscribe Here: <a href="https://linktr.ee/startupradio" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://linktr.ee/startupradio</a></p> <h1>Our Sponsor Startupraven</h1>A startup's journey can be a tough one, but it doesn't have ́to feel like you're alone on your quest! Invest in others' success with us by joining our community of entrepreneurs who are building amazing things every day - no matter how big or small their ideas may seem at first glance.</p> The best way to find investors and cooperation partners for early-stage startups. Sign up here: h<a href="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ttps://startupraven.com/</a></p> <br /> </p> <h1>Executive Summary</h1>In this episode of Startuprad.io, host Joe Menninger interviews Max Koziolek, co-founder of Spectrm. They discuss the importance of making strategic decisions and pivoting in business, sharing insights from Spectrm's journey. They explore the challenges of seed-stage investments, the benefits of messaging apps for brands, and the impact of AI technology in their industry. Max shares his experiences in politics and media, highlighting the need for quality content distribution. The episode also delves into Spectrm's successful pivot to targeting brands and their impressive growth from pre-seed to series B, acquiring as pivoted startup clients like Zalando, UberEats, Premier Leauge, HelloFresh, Deichman, Breitling or Ford.</p> <br /> </p> <h1>The Founder</h1>Max, the guest on this episode of Startuprad.io, is a co-founder of Spectrm, a company that leverages AI-powered messaging to help brands connect with their customers more effectively. With a background in law and politics, Fabian brings a unique perspective to the startup world. He shares his experience of campaigning for public office, competing against Frank Walter Steinmeier. At the time the reigning foreign minister of Germany, now Germany’s president. He also shares his story of pivoting his company and the challenges they faced in finding their niche in the market, that was large enough to survive and how to communicate this to their investors. Fabian's determination and strategic thinking allowed Spectrm to not only survive but thrive, securing partnerships with major publishers and leading brands. His passion for AI technology and its potential for the future is evident in his vision for Spectrm's continued growth and success.</p> <br /> </p> <h1>The Startup</h1>Spectrm (<a href="https://spectrm.io/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://spectrm.io/</a>), is a Potsdam - Berlin Area-based startup, co-founded by Max Koziolek. It has made significant strides in the field of AI-powered messaging for brands. The company has successfully raised multiple rounds of funding, starting from a pre-seed stage all the way to a series B round. This demonstrates the confidence investors have in Spectrm's innovative approach and their potential for growth. </p> <br /> </p> What sets Spectrm apart is not only their ability to help brands effectively engage, but also to pivot. They started out as a tool for sharing great journalism and realized that their market was not big enough. We take the journey with them to evaluate new options, and communicate the pivot to their investors and how to get them to agree. </p> <br /> </p> Max also shares his experience with their customers by leveraging messaging apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, and more. With a specific focus on solving the problem of reaching audiences, Spectrm's platform enables brands to have meaningful conversations with their customers, ultimately driving conversions and revenue. Their impressive client portfolio includes renowned publishers such as CNN, Financial Times, and Business Insider, highlighting the trust and confidence their...

00:46:38