Munich Startup Recap 33/26

Saskia Doll

Summer slump? Think again! There was plenty going on in the ecosystem this week as well. Click through funding news, insolvencies, and important funding opportunities for tech startups.

August 16, 2026

2 min. read time

#Munich Startup Recap #Weekly Wrap-up

**“A bitter disappointment”:** The Munich solar tech startup Sono Motors has announced the opening of insolvency proceedings for Sono Motors GmbH. Following the end of the Sion solar car, a restructuring in 2024, and a restart with solar technology for commercial vehicles, this marks the failure of the former flagship startup’s second attempt. (Photo: Sono Motors Gmbh)

NavVis Founders — **NavVis drives AI expansion:** The Munich-based company NavVis has closed a 74 million euro Series D financing round. The round is led by US private equity firm The Jordan Company (TJC) alongside existing shareholders Yttrium, Kozo Keikaku Engineering, and Cipio Partners. NavVis develops hardware and software that enables companies to digitally capture buildings, factories, and other physical assets. Mobile laser scanners provide precise spatial data from which digital twins are created. (Photo: NavVis GmbH)

**From beverage dispenser to digital beverage platform:** Redrink develops connected beverage dispensers that produce drinks directly at the point of consumption from tap water and natural essences. Following its market launch in Germany, companies such as Check24, Celonis, and Deutsche Bahn are already among its customers – now the startup is pushing forward with its expansion into Switzerland and Austria. We visited the startup at the Munich Technology Center for our “Inside MTZ” series. (Photo: Munich Startup)

Daniel Höpfner, Zeitmaker — **How startups benefit from millions in funding:** Our Munich Startup Expert Daniel Höpfner, founder of Zeitmaker, explains how technology-driven startups can use the research allowance for their development – even retroactively. Using LegalHero and Scaneca as examples, he shows how this can result in funding amounts of around 1.6 million and more than 300,000 euros, respectively, and why taking a look at older development projects is particularly worthwhile in 2026. (Photo: Zeitmaker)

**One week of coliving:** Next week, our intern Virginia is trading her usual home for an apartment in the Werksviertel, right by Munich’s Ostbahnhof. For five days, she will become part of the coliving community at Werk1. Her goal: to take a behind-the-scenes look at a place where Munich’s startup future is currently being shaped. If you want to know what the local startup scene feels like when you’re living right in the middle of it, check out our website and social media channels next week. (Photo: private)

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