The most important investments of Q2 2023

Charging infrastructure startup Jolt Energy receives €150 million: With its fast-charging stations, Jolt Energy relies on battery storage systems designed to complement existing low-voltage networks in cities. They provide additional energy for the charging process and make it possible to charge enough electricity for up to 100 kilometers of range in five minutes. The charging stations deliver a power of up to 320 kW. In this way, the startup aims to enable the development of fast-charging infrastructure without making major interventions to the power grid. Infrastructure capital provider Infrared Capital Partners is investing €150 million in the startup based in Munich and Dublin. (Photo: Jolt Energy)

Lilium receives €90 million – more to follow: Munich-based air taxi developer Lilium has announced a further capital increase of up to €225 million ($250 million). A commitment of €90 million ($100 million) comes from Chinese tech company Tencent. Tencent has been on board with Lilium since 2017. Since then, the company has supported several financing rounds for the Munich-based startup, including the capital increase of €107.5 million ($119 million) that took place at the end of last year. Now another €90 million is to follow. Additionally, Tencent has committed to a further €67.5 million ($75 million), provided that Lilium succeeds in raising the same amount from other investors. This would bring the startup to its targeted €225 million. (Photo: Lilium)

Die Fernride-Gründer Max Fisser, Hendrik Kramer und Jean-Michael Georg (v.l.)

Remote-controlled trucks: Fernride secures €28.7 million. Fernride has completed its Series A round with €28.7 million ($31 million). The Munich-based startup develops human-supported autonomous steering for trucks. Customers of the company, founded in 2019, include Volkswagen, DB Schenker, BSH, and HHLA. The startup aims to address the shortage of truck drivers, rising CO2 emissions, and low profit margins in the logistics industry with its solution. According to its own account, it is the first solution of its kind to achieve operational deployment with a customer. Fernride is financed by venture capital providers 10x Founders, Promus Ventures, Fly Ventures, Speedinvest, and Push Ventures, as well as by companies HHLA Next, DB Schenker, and Krone. (Photo: Fernride)

AMSilk expands Series C to €54 million: That AMSilk was able to win investors for its Series C actually dates back a bit longer: in early 2021, the biotech startup secured €29 million for its artificial silk. Now Athos, Novo Holdings, Cargill, and MIG Capital are adding €25 million. MIG, Novo Holdings, and Cargill were already involved in the original round. Additionally, ER Capital joined the investors in 2021. AMSilk plans to use the freshly raised funds to expand its industrialization and commercialization projects worldwide to meet rising demand. (Photo: AMSilk)

€21 million for 4.screen: Munich-based automotive startup 4.screen is closing its Series A financing round with €21 million. The round is led by lead investors S4S Ventures and Continental Corporate Venture Capital. Additional support for 4.screen comes from two venture capital firms, Summiteer and BayBG, as well as from business angels from the automotive industry – including Matthias Müller, former CEO of VW, and Bram Schot, former CEO of Audi. 4.screen develops a platform for real-time interaction with drivers, connecting digital vehicles in real time with businesses along their route. Global and local brands can thus interact directly with drivers via their vehicle screens. By leveraging vehicle sensor data such as location, engine type, car brand, and fuel or charge level, the platform provides drivers with context-relevant information about nearby businesses and places such as parking lots, restaurants, or shops. (Photo: 4.screen)

Smart Reporting receives €15 million from the EIB: Smart Reporting has developed voice-controlled AI-based reporting software for radiology, pathology, and other clinical areas. With it, fully evaluable and machine-readable reports are created that are intended to shorten reporting time while increasing reporting quality. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is now supporting Smart Reporting in its further growth through a venture debt loan of €15 million. The financing is supported by the InvestEU program, which provides investment partners with an EU budget guarantee to increase their risk capacity and thus mobilize public and private investments. Venture debt loans complement existing venture capital financing without diluting the founders’ shares. (Photo: Smart Reporting)

Tado expands financing round to €55 million: Tado announced the completion of its Series H financing with €43 million just in January. Now the startup, known for its smart thermostats, is increasing the round by an additional €12 million. The Series H, previously worth €43 million, is supported by Trill Impact Ventures, Bayern Kapital, Kiko Ventures, and Swisscanto as new investors. Noventic, Target Partners, and other existing investors are also contributing again. Now US investor S2G Ventures is joining as an additional funder. (Photo: Tado)

Klarx receives €11.5 million: Munich-based startup Klarx has developed a platform for renting construction equipment and machinery. Construction companies are to benefit from the advantages of such platforms, such as easier searching, comparable costs, or verifiable availability. With proprietary software, the startup also offers renting companies a solution with which they can manage their fleet and accelerate the processing of rental requests. Helvetia Venture Fund, Swiss Post Ventures, Rudi Hilti, and existing investors B&C Innovation Investments and the Flixbus founders are financing the startup with €11.5 million. (Photo: Florian Breitenberger)