News & Podcast

Our weekly review: Even before Leonie Neisinger presented her flexible hair clip on “Die Höhle der Löwen”, you were able to discover Ivyclip with us. Proxima Fusion won the Deutscher Gründerpreis 2026, while David Cañadas Link introduced his invention Coby to us in the new episode of Pitch & People. Yet we didn’t just cover topics here on Earth this week: The Exploration Company won an ESA contract worth up to 760 million euros. Alongside space, there was also news from the water, as Quantum Systems presented two unmanned maritime systems this week. And there was a small leap through time as well. At the SFT Festival, the impact scene came together to discuss the entrepreneurship of tomorrow. What an eventful week it was once again. Your team at Munich Startup wishes you a great start to the new week.

Munich-based startup Ororatech plans to expand its satellite-based fire detection network together with Eutelsat. The agreement includes reserved capacity for 48 thermal infrared payloads on future satellites from the French company. An option for an additional 48 sensors could enable an expansion to a total of 96.

The more satellites orbit the Earth, the more critical safety in orbit becomes. Munich-based startup Project-S is developing space-based radar systems designed to better detect even smaller debris objects and help prevent collisions. In this interview, founder and CEO Leonidas Askianakis explains how the technology works, the role Munich plays as a space hub, and the startup’s next steps.

Munich fusion startup Proxima Fusion plans to build Europe’s first large-scale industrial manufacturing facility for fusion-grade high-temperature superconductor tape (HTS tape) in cooperation with the federal state of Lower Saxony.

The Exploration Company is set to advance Europe’s independent cargo transport to space stations. The ESA contract includes 310 million euros for a demonstration mission of the Nyx space capsule. Two additional missions could bring in another 450 million euros—these options have yet to be confirmed.

The Munich startup ecosystem is sending a clear signal for forward-looking entrepreneurship: More than 500 founders, investors, and corporate representatives came together in Munich for the third edition of the SFT Festival, hosted by the Startups for Tomorrow initiative. The event’s goal: bringing economic scaling and social impact together.

At 29, David Cañadas Link learned that an incurable eye disease was progressively impairing his vision. His search for everyday support eventually gave rise to Coby: an AI plush toy designed to accompany children through big emotions and recurring routines. On Pitch & People, the Munich founder discusses his journey, a crucial pivot, and the limits of artificial closeness.

Munich startup Fryte Mobility has closed a 3.5 million euro seed funding round, bringing its total funding to 5 million euros. Here is what the company, founded in 2025, plans to do with the capital and what these plans could mean for the rest of Europe.

Quantum Systems expands its business on and under water: With Seavex and Subvex, the company introduces two unmanned maritime systems. They are designed to operate for up to two months at sea and dive up to 6,000 meters deep – connected to aerial and land systems via a unified software platform.

Munich-based startup Proxima Fusion has won the German Founder Award 2026 in the “Startup” category. Founded in 2023, the deep tech company develops stellarator fusion power plants and just raised 411 million euros in fresh capital this July – at a valuation of 2.4 billion euros.

“Die Höhle der Löwen” is always good for a surprise, as the latest episode of the long-running VOX show proves once again. Tonight, newcomer judge Johannes Kliesch makes an unprecedented offer to Munich-based Ivyclip founder Leonie Neisinger: 150,000 euros in capital without taking any company shares, in exchange for a repayment of the investment totaling 300,000 euros. But who is this startup? We introduce it in an interview.

Furo’s founding team turned down offers from Google and Apple to build their own startup in Munich. Now US investors are backing their software for battery storage: 4 million euros will drive further development and expansion.