Earlybird Venture Capital’s Post

Germany's future depends on startups’ ability to scale innovation locally and secure the right funding nationwide. We have the technology, the research, and the universities to drive progress — what's missing is closing this significant funding gap. Thank you Thomas Jahn and Nadine Schimroszik for spotlighting this fundamental issue and for featuring my commentary, along with special mentions of Earlybird Venture Capital portfolio companies Isar Aerospace, Marvel Fusion, and Lilium. Read the Handelsblatt article below for more on this topic.

This Handelsblatt article featuring a recent BDI - Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e.V. & Roland Berger study highlights the widening gap between Germany and the USA when it comes to innovation. It emphasizes that Europe needs to foster a stronger entrepreneurial culture and innovation mindset. This is exactly what Leitmotif is all about: connecting the US and the European innovation ecosystem and leveraging the skill set and expertise of European industrials to accelerate deep tech startups.

Why Competition in Europe Matters "Innovation follows capital," and Europe, despite its strong research environment, lacks a robust ecosystem to nurture and scale breakthrough innovations. A major issue highlighted is the worrying trend of unicorns—startups valued at over €1 billion—leaving Europe, with a striking 30% having already relocated. In a recent interview with Susanne Bickel from Die Presse, Berthold Baurek-Karlic, CEO and Founder of Venionaire Capital, sheds light on the critical importance of competition within Europe and what Austria can learn from Germany’s approach to fostering innovation. While there have been political efforts to support startups, like the introduction of the FlexCo structure, Berthold critiques that these measures, although branded as breakthroughs, have led to minimal change. Bureaucratic hurdles continue to hinder growth, slowing down innovation and leaving Austria at a competitive disadvantage. Germany, however, has taken proactive steps in this area. With initiatives like the HTGF | High-Tech Gründerfonds and two €10 billion umbrella funds, Germany has mobilized significant capital from its leading mid-sized companies.  In contrast, Austria still lags behind in creating similar opportunities for capital mobilization. As the startup ecosystem in Europe continues to evolve, it’s clear that Austria must address these challenges to stay competitive. The question remains: Can Austria adopt similar strategies to foster growth, or will it continue to fall behind?    Read more about Berthold’s insights and how Austria can catch up: [Die Presse, German] https://lnkd.in/dMz-4ckY   Caio Kauffmann Rudolf Kinsky Kambis Kohansal Vajargah Wirtschaftskammer Österreich Dusan Todorovic Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws) Alex von Frankenberg Julia Gülden-Zeisberger Iman Saïd Philipp Sakuler #VenionaireCapital #Investment #Startups #Innovation #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #Germany #Austria #HighTechGründerfonds #BusinessAngels #Unicorns #TechInvesting #EuropeanInnovation #CapitalMobilization #FutureOfTech 

A very important topic for the new government in Austria but also for the new EU Commission. We urgently need better framework conditions for our location in Austria and Europe in many respects, but I'm not going to tell you anything new, dear friends... "As the startup ecosystem in Europe continues to evolve, it’s clear that Austria must address these challenges to stay competitive. The question remains: Can Austria adopt similar strategies to foster growth, or will it continue to fall behind? Read more about Berthold’s insights and how Austria can catch up: [Die Presse, German] https://lnkd.in/dMz-4ckY "

💡 Lithuania’s tech industry is grabbing attention from Germany. In the article by Tagesspiegel, Lithuania is highlighted as a standout in Europe’s digital sector. Showcasing what Germany can learn from Lithuania’s innovation culture. The article explores how targeted support, smart policies, and strategic investments have made Lithuania a hub for: 🔹 Tech growth 🔹 Startups 🔹 Cutting-edge digital solutions. Check out what makes Lithuania’s tech scene one to watch. ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/ejNnru6j #Tech #Tagesspiegel #Innovation #Lithuania #Startups #Germany

Building on our 2021 Lakestar study regarding the German Financing Gap, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung recently featured an insightful interview with Verena Pausder, Chief of the German Startup Association (Deutscher Startup Verband), and Prof. Dr. Helmut Schoenenberger, Co-founder and CEO of UnternehmerTUM. The interview highlights the critical need for increased university support to foster startup growth.   In related news, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action announced the winners of the concept phase of their 'Startup Factory' Leuchtturm competition last week. We would like to congratulate the 15 universities and their partners who were recognised for their 'Startup Factories' initiatives. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the startup ecosystem, promoting greater collaboration in science and innovation.   Since 2022, Lakestar has been working closely with Prof. Schönenberger and UnternehmerTUM München to create Europe's largest center for startups, innovation, and enhanced collaboration. Together, we are dedicated to nurturing young entrepreneurial talent and steering the next generation of startups towards success.   We are excited to continue our partnership with TUM, with our Founder and Chairman Klaus Hommels set to lead mentoring sessions in the upcoming months.   Please find the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dBATBryT #Innovation #Lakestar #UnternehmerTUM #StartupFactory #GermanStartupEcosystem

💡 Lithuania’s tech industry is grabbing attention from Germany.   In the article by Tagesspiegel, Lithuania is highlighted as a standout in Europe’s digital sector. Showcasing what Germany can learn from Lithuania’s innovation culture.   The article explores how targeted support, smart policies, and strategic investments have made Lithuania a hub for: 🔹 Tech growth 🔹 Startups 🔹 Cutting-edge digital solutions.   Check out what makes Lithuania’s tech scene one to watch. ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/dbjtNaxp   #Tech #Tagesspiegel #Innovation #Lithuania #Startups #Germany

Empowering Europe's Future through Innovation: A Nod to Handelsblatt's Latest Insight. Today's Handelsblatt article highlights the significance of governmental backing in nurturing a vibrant startup ecosystem, especially true in vital sectors like defense technology, where innovation is not just beneficial but essential. At La Famiglia/General Catalyst, we've always championed the Global Resilience Thesis, and it's heartening to see politicians echo our belief in innovation as the keystone for Europe's security and prosperity. We believe in the pivotal role of innovation in safeguarding Europe's future. Creating an environment where groundbreaking ideas can germinate, take root, and flourish is crucial. There is no shortage of talent on the technology side. In our view the main challenge lies in navigating the defense sector's intricate procurement processes in Germany and across Europe — a Herculean task for emerging startups. However, success stories like Helsing, which we have backed since the beginning, we believe prove that overcoming these hurdles with a seasoned team and an impactful product can lead to a significant market presence in record time. Thank you to Handelsblatt and Nadine Schimroszik for shedding light on these developments. It’s a compelling reminder of the collective effort needed to ensure a secure, innovative, and resilient future for Europe.

Great podcast with our Isabelle Canu and Martin Kröner, if you want to learn more about our GET Fund and cleantech investing!

A very good overview Frederic Pampus, thank you for sharing. Great to see that also Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG is part of this list. Venture Clienting is not restricted to large corporations, also Lohmann Group, a more than 170-years old family business is evolving and with our Lohmann Innovation Hub, we are building innovation ecosystems and value chains, foster partnerships and provide support, resources and mentorship for start-ups and scale-ups. This enables us to scale new ideas in a fast way and evaluate new business models in a steadier manner. We understand the needs of start-ups, we are familiar with a lean start-up mindset and have the ambition to co-design and built a better business with our partners. As a family business, we appreciate trust and respect as core values. Quite some time ago, we have started with open innovation initiatives and hosted our own start-up challenge. But later, we took the decision to do the next step in this evolution. The Lohmann Innovation Hub is our "fast breeder" for hot topics in Technology, Sustainability and Digitalisation. We want to go BEYOND! For more details check: https://lnkd.in/eG7iSXGP https://lnkd.in/euKBTKcF #innovation #sustainability #digitalisation #beyond