HV Capital

Insights from 2 Decades: HV's David Kuczek on the MIC Podcast! 🎤 In the latest episode of the MIC Podcast, the Mannheim Investment Club's platform for exclusive insights into investments, HV's David Kuczek shares his insights from nearly 2 decades of experience in the investment landscape. He discusses how HV's strategy has evolved over the years and reflects on the key factors that contribute to success in venture capital. With his extensive background in shaping the German startup ecosystem, David provides valuable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. 🎧 Listen now in the link in the comments below.

Congratulations to HV portfolio company Quantum Systems for successfully extending their Series B funding round, bringing the total to over €100 million! As Europe's leading innovator in drone technology, Quantum Systems continues to push the boundaries of aerial intelligence for both government and commercial clients. This new investment round was led by Notion Capital and Porsche SE, further solidifying Quantum Systems' position in the rapidly growing drone sector. “With support from our new investors Porsche SE and Notion, we are not just securing funds; we are building partnerships that will drive innovation essential for Europe's technological sovereignty, security, and resilience. I am grateful to all our investors who have supported us on this journey—the best is yet to come.” said CEO & Co-Founder of Quantum Systems Florian Seibel. 🎉 This milestone funding will accelerate global expansion, enhance production capabilities, and drive advancements in AI-powered drone technology. Quantum Systems is poised to redefine industries, from mining and agriculture to public safety and defense. Check the link in the comments below to find out more about Quantum Systems latest funding round. 👇 cc: Christian Saller, Fabian Gruner

HV is thrilled to announce that portfolio company Upvest is partnering with bunq, the second-largest neobank in Europe, and Ginmon to offer seamless access to stocks and ETFs! 🎉 Launching in France and the Netherlands, the investment offering is set to be rolled out across Europe in the near future, with Germany next in line. 🌍 This partnership will empower millions of retail investors across Europe to invest directly in financial markets through bunq’s mobile app. 🚀 The offering includes EUR-nominated fractional investments in stocks and ETFs, with more instruments to be added in the future. 📊 For more information, check the link here: https://lnkd.in/dUFUDMNi cc: Jan Miczaika

Who’s winning when cash isn’t king? 💳 Next week, HV's Barbod Namini, will be speaking at Sifted Summit to discuss the future of payments. 📅 Wednesday, October 2nd ⏰ 14:05 - 14:40 💡 Panel: Who’s winning when cash isn’t king? The future for payments. As digital wallets replace physical ones and consumers look for more sustainable options, how are fintechs and banks adapting? Barbod will dive into what’s next for payment innovation and whether trends like A2A payments will go mainstream alongside panelists Natalia Lyarskaya (Billie), and Alexandra Rivas-Gale (ClearBank) in the session moderated by Mimi Billing. If you’re attending Sifted Summit, be sure to join the panel and notify the team!

The Future of Energy: Marvel Fusion Secures €62.8M in Series B Led by HV Capital ⚡    "Fusion energy has the potential to revolutionize life on Earth and provide a definitive solution to the climate crisis. HV is proud to back Marvel Fusion, a company we believe has the most promising and innovative approach to achieving commercially viable fusion within the next decade," - Christian Saller, General Partner at HV.      With a €62.8M Series B round led by HV, Marvel Fusion is gearing up for the next big leap in fusion technology. This funding will drive key initiatives: ramping up production of fuel targets, demonstrating its fusion concept at leading laser facilities such as ELI-NP in Romania and CALA in Germany, and achieving full proof of its technology with a Demo Facility in Colorado by 2027.     Investors from across the board have joined HV in this round, including b2venture, Tengelmann Ventures, Deutsche Telekom, Bayern Kapital, and SPRIND - Bundesagentur für Sprunginnovationen, alongside existing investors like Earlybird Venture Capital, Athos and PRIMEPULSE. Congratulations to Moritz von der Linden, Heike Freund, Georg Korn, and the entire Marvel Fusion team. Welcome to the portfolio!  Thanks to Tim De Chant from TechCrunch for the write up. The article is linked in the comments below.     Cc Fabian Gruner

How can you climb the Maslow Pyramid of Offtakes? 🧗 Key lessons from HV and Extantia's Ripple at The Drop on demystifying offtake agreements. HV had an amazing experience hosting a Ripple session at The Drop with Extantia, diving deep into a critical piece of the puzzle for scaling climate tech: offtake agreements. By bringing together startups, corporates, and investors, key insights were gained that are worth sharing. These are essential for anyone navigating the commercialization of breakthrough technologies. 💡Key Takeaways: 1️⃣ Offtakes = Long-term partnerships: Go beyond transactions. Build relationships that grow with your project. 2️⃣ Early alignment is everything: Get offtakers and investors on the same page from day one. 3️⃣ Flexibility wins: Adapt contracts to handle the unexpected while keeping progress on track. 4️⃣ Let your tech speak: Show customers what you can do—seeing is believing. 5️⃣ Smart pricing fuels growth: Create pricing strategies that scale with your project and build customer loyalty. 6️⃣ Make it bankable: De-risk agreements and involve financial partners early to attract investment. For more insights and a deeper dive into these strategies, check out the Medium post linked in the comments below. 👇 A massive thanks to The Drop team — Hampus, Heidi, Joel — for making this event extraordinary. Special thanks to Extantia for exploring this critical topic. A big shoutout to the brilliant speakers — Andrew Symes (OXCCU), Philip Kessler (TURN2X), Albert Luu (Heirloom), Sidd Bhat (IFM Investors), Cynthia Kueppers (Novo Holdings), Georg Reifferscheid (REWE Group), Mats Torring (Stena New Ventures) — for sharing valuable insights! Cc: Sebastian Heitmann, Sarah B. Söding, Fernanda Bartels, Yair Reem, Maxi Pethö-Schramm, Jan Miczaika, Kasey-Leigh Davies

Germany’s deep tech potential is undeniable—but is the country losing ground globally? A recent article by Handelsblatt's Thomas Jahn and Nadine Schimroszik addresses this critical question. While German deep tech startups like Isar Aerospace and NEURA Robotics (both HV portfolio) are making significant strides, there are key measures—derived from expert insights—that could help catalize innovation in Germany. 1️⃣ Leverage Government Contracts: In the U.S., startups benefit from securing stable income sources early on through government contracts. This approach can provide German startups with the financial security they need to innovate and grow. HV’s Fabian Gruner emphasizes, “In the U.S., startups can secure stable sources of income early on, which gives them the financial security to continue to grow and develop.” By implementing these strategies, Germany can cultivate a thriving environment for deep tech innovation. 2️⃣ Increase Access to Funding: Enhancing the investment landscape for later-stage deep tech startups is essential for maintaining competitiveness in the market. 3️⃣ Foster Collaboration Between Government and Startups: Strengthening operational partnerships can empower startups to thrive and scale effectively. 4️⃣ Encourage European Investment: Attracting local funds is crucial for retaining talent and technology within Germany. For more insights from Fabian and to explore the full article, check the link in the comments below. 👇

Heading to this years' Bits & Pretzels? Meet HV there! 🥨 Here’s what’s in store: 💡 Sept 29: Catch Rainer Märkle on the main stage where he'll deliver a keynote: "Bullish, Bearish, and Everything In Between: A Five-Year Venture Capitalist's Reflection". This one’s not to be missed! 🏆 Sept 30: Felix Klühr takes the stage as a judge for the Startup Pitch Competition, helping pick the next big thing in tech. 🍸 In the evening on Sept. 30, drop by Said's Sips & Bites event with Lakestar and Left Lane Capital—an evening of great conversations and even better bites! 👋And of course, make sure to meet the team during Bits & Pretzels at our Investor Meeting area! Drop Rainer, Lars, Christian, Felix, Barbod, Alexander, Said, Manal, Ann-Christin, Frederic, Fabian, Jannis, Kasey-Leigh, or Shannon a message to book a meeting. See you soon!

What are 6 things founders should know if they're fundraising this autumn? 🍂 Sifted's Anne Sraders sat down with HV's Jan Miczaika to discuss the evolving fundraising landscape for startups in Europe. The article highlights key strategies for founders as they navigate these challenging times: · Fundraising efforts: Aligning the process with periods of strong commercial momentum. · AI's growing influence: How AI is becoming a must-have for investors. · Metrics that matter: Understanding what VCs expect and tailoring growth accordingly. · Perfecting the pitch: The importance of practicing storytelling. · Building standout teams: Attracting top talent as a key factor for success. · Exploring alternative funding: Looking beyond traditional VCs for new capital sources like ESG and sector-specific funds. Check out the link below to read the full article, with insights from Jan, Philippe Klitzing (Peak Capital), Sophia Bendz (Cherry Ventures), Jag Singh (Angel Invest), and Peter Specht (Creandum).

HV Portfolio Company ecoplanet Launches Energy Manager Pro! ⚡️ HV is proud to support portfolio company, ecoplanet, as they continue to lead innovation in energy management with the launch of their Energy Manager Pro. This tool is designed to help companies comply with new regulatory requirements under the European Green Deal, specifically the ISO 50001 certification. With this digital solution, businesses can significantly save time and resources while improving overall energy efficiency. ecoplanet now manages over 1.5 TWh of energy across more than 50 customers and 2000 locations, using their advanced ecoplanet Cockpit to drive sustainable energy practices and cost efficiency. HV is excited to see how they continue to support businesses in reducing both operational costs and CO₂ emissions. Congratulations to Maximilian Dekorsy, Dr. Henry Keppler, and the entire ecoplanet team on this major achievement! To find out more check the link in the comments below. 👇 cc: Felix Klühr, Frederic Martin