News & Podcast

Munich-based insurtech Finanzchef24 is expanding its partnership with Deutsche Firmenkredit Partner (DFKP). In the future, business owners will be able to compare insurance policies directly on the financing specialist’s website.

The lack of a tennis partner while on vacation gave Volker Jahns the idea for his next venture. The longtime software entrepreneur with degrees in computer science and business administration founded Clubgefühle in 2026. The platform combines group travel with a community and AI-powered travel search. This allows travelers to get to know their fellow travelers before departing—rather than waiting until they arrive at their destination—and stay in touch afterward.

Following Munich and Berlin, Bella & Bona is entering its third market. The Munich-based office food provider is launching in Dusseldorf and Cologne in October and is financing the expansion from its ongoing operations.

From aerospace research and consulting to multiple startups and the energy sector: Lena Sophia Voß brings a diverse tech and business background to Furo. Together with Leonie Wagner and Simon Wittner at Furo, she is developing an operating system for commercial and industrial battery storage. In this interview, Voß explains why energy is becoming a critical location factor, what helped her overcome her fear of founding a company, and why Munich still has catching up to do when it comes to knowledge sharing between scaleup operators.

Atira, a Munich-based AI startup developing the orchestration layer for industrial sales processes, has closed a seed round of nearly 13 million euros ($15 million) led by Accel. UVC Partners participated once again in the funding round. UVC Partners had already invested nearly 2.1 million euros ($2.5 million) in the pre-seed round.

The Exploration Company has announced a Series C funding round of 387 million euros (450 million dollars). The space company plans to use the capital to send its reusable Nyx capsule to the International Space Station and further develop the Storm rocket engine. According to the company, this is the largest Series C round for a European space company to date.

A major retail company offers access to numerous stores – and Epique turns it down. In Pitch & People, Martin Luible explains why growth can also become dangerous and how the former Vapiano manager and his wife took over a patisserie without any manufacturing experience, aiming to develop it into an international lifestyle brand.

On the first flight, it was over after 30 seconds. On the second, Spectrum reached orbit. Isar Aerospace has achieved a decisive milestone. Behind this rise are eight years of development work, millions in funding, and a Munich founding team with big ambitions. TUM Professor Chiara Manfletti explained in a Munich Startup interview ahead of the launch what really matters.

“Startup Meets Craft” is celebrating its anniversary: For ten years, the format has been bringing innovative founders and skilled craft businesses together. New technologies, AI solutions, and creative highlights await once again in 2026. Register now for free for the event on October 13.

Munich-based space startup Project-S is entering its next phase of development with millions in funding led by Uni.Fund II. The company aims to combine radar sensor technology, AI-supported orbit data, and collision avoidance into an end-to-end security infrastructure for satellites, while also developing technologies to remove space debris in the long term.

CNC, lasers, and CAD have long become part of everyday operations in many craft and trade businesses – yet in the office, Excel, paper, and scattered data still slow things down. Krafthub aims to bridge this gap with an AI platform that covers the entire process from inquiry to invoice. Founder Gaitis Kasims knows both worlds well: Coming from a family of craftspeople, he also looks back on 20 years of experience as a founder, CIO, and CTO. In 2025, he founded Krafthub to bring industrial-grade AI automation to the skilled trades.

This week, we featured the startups Mojitofilms and The Ocean Package, but there was also general news from the Munich ecosystem: Nnexoro closed its first angel round and HTGF is planning 150 investments with its new seed fund. On top of that, our videocast Pitch & People is back from its summer break with a new episode featuring guest Ilya Ballier, and our Munich Startup Expert Robert Richarz explains what founders should know about scout checks. Enjoy our varied weekly wrap-up!