Are you a founder, investor, scaleup exec, or tech enthusiast looking to decode Europe's billion-euro startup engines? You’ve landed in the right place. Startuprad.io brings you the ultimate Unicorn Tracker for Spring 2025, offering you front-row insight into the most dynamic startups and scaleups across the DACH region—Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

🎯 Prefer the full analysis, data, and links? Dive deeper here:

⏱️ [00:02:20] What is DACH?

⏱️ [00:03:30] Quantum Systems & New Unicorns

⏱️ [00:04:20] Logistics Titans: Forto & Sennder

⏱️ [00:05:53] Mobility Mavericks: Flix, Tier, Volocopter

⏱️ [00:06:40] AI & Defense Tech: Agile Robots & Helsing

⏱️ [00:07:30] Consumer Tech Giants: Check24 & AutoDoc

⏱️ [00:09:10] Biotech’s Highs & Heartbreaks

⏱️ [00:10:10] Climate Tech’s Gold Rush

⏱️ [00:12:30] Fintech & Insurtech Battles

⏱️ [00:14:00] SaaS & Enterprise Software

⏱️ [00:24:55] The Unicorn Graveyard

This is your unfair advantage in understanding how the DACH region creates, scales, and sometimes loses billion-dollar startups. Whether you're:

• 🚀 A founder looking for inspiration

...you’ll walk away with actionable insights, real stories, and trend-defining strategies.

👉 Vanta automates security and compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001, and more), helping you stay audit-ready with less stress and zero spreadsheets.

📌 Full Show Notes + Transcript + Links:

🎧 Subscribe to Startuprad.io wherever you get your podcasts

💬 Leave a review or share your thoughts—we’d love to hear from you!

Vanta automates compliance for frameworks like ISO 27001, SOC 2, and more—so you're always audit-ready, without drowning in spreadsheets. With real-time monitoring and automated security questionnaires, Vanta saves you time, stress, and money.

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Are you a biotech founder ready to scale in Europe—or an investor scouting your next unicorn? Then don’t miss this masterclass with Annick Verween, Head of Biotope, one of Europe’s top biotech startup hubs (Financial Times-ranked).

Hosted by Joe Menninger of Startuprad.io, this candid conversation explores Annick’s unique path from “derailed marine biologist” to biotech investor and community builder.

This isn’t just another interview—it’s a strategic deep dive packed with biotech startup insights, founder advice, and real-world funding tactics:

How hubs like Biotope are bridging the gap between innovation and investment, fostering next-gen biotech ventures.

From regulatory minefields to IP protection and operational excellence—learn what it really takes to scale.

Annick unpacks her selection formula: People. Science. IP. And why listening is the #1 founder trait.

• 💥 Love the problem—not the tech.

Annick shares how Biotope scouts and selects biotech startups using:

• 🔍 Deep due diligence on science & IP

• Annick’s journey from BASF factory to biotech leader

“Don’t just focus on VC. Combine grants and investments into a smart, hybrid funding model.” – Annick Verween

#biotech #biotechstartup #biotechfunding #scalingbiotech #biotechhub #planetaryhealth #agrifoodtech #founderadvice #startupeurope #venturecapital #seedround #EITFood #innovation #IPstrategy #startups #VCfunding

• 🌐 Startuprad.io

🎙️ AI-Powered Angel Investing: DACH Secrets Revealed

Whether you're a founder, investor, or just startup-curious, this conversation is your roadmap to understanding how to secure funding, leverage AI in pitching, and scale with smart capital.

💡 What You'll Learn:

• How AI is transforming startup evaluation: Carsten shares how he uses AI to pre-screen pitch decks, surface red flags, and make faster, smarter decisions.

🎧 Why You Should Listen:

• Pitch smarter using AI insights

… then this episode delivers direct insights from one of Europe’s most respected tech investors.

🎯 Sponsor:

🔗 Links & Resources:

• Full Blog Post → http://startuprad.io/post/decoding-business-angel-investment-ai-funding-strategies-dach-insights

🕒 Timestamps:

• 0:00 Intro

💬 Call to Action:

• 💬 Leave a 5-star review if this helped you

🔊 This episode is brought to you by Vanta

🛠️ Made possible by HTAI and the Enterprise Europe Network Hessen, supporting startups with grants, international networking, and innovation resources. Learn more: htai.de | een-hessen.de

🎙️ Scaling a Cybersecurity Startup: Lessons from Link11’s Journey (Part 2)

Link11 has emerged as a leader in DDoS protection and cloud-based security solutions. Jens opens up about the funding strategy, leadership mindset, and innovation roadmap that helped build one of Germany’s most respected cybersecurity scaleups.

🚀 In this episode:

💡 Who should listen?

📌 This is Part 2 of our Link11 feature. If you haven’t heard Part 1 yet, be sure to check it out for the founding story and early growth lessons.

🎧 Subscribe & follow Startuprad.io for weekly interviews with Europe’s most exciting founders, investors, and innovators.

Introducing Reid riffs on Signal, AI for cancer detection, and GPT-4o image generation from Possible.

Follow the show: Possible

In the wake of Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg’s accidental inclusion in senior government officials’ Signal group chat discussing war plans, Reid weighs in on how the U.S. government should—and shouldn’t—use encrypted messaging apps. He and Aria also discuss AI-powered breakthroughs in cancer detection and medical diagnostics, along with NVIDIA’s newly announced Superchip and OpenAI’s latest image generation capabilities. 

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ 

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Link11 CEO Jens Philipp Jung joins Startuprad.io to reveal his blueprint for hypergrowth, cybersecurity dominance, and surviving massive DDoS attacks.

👉 Vanta automates security and compliance, save 1.000 US$ with us by signing up with this link: vanta.com/startupradio

🎯 Learn how to:

💡 Whether you’re a founder, exec, or tech investor—this one’s for you.

👤 Guest: Jens Philipp Jung (CEO, Link11)

#Cybersecurity #StartupGrowth #DDoSProtection #AI #FounderTips

Introducing Andrew Bosworth on AI, wearables, and mixed reality from Possible.

Follow the show: Possible

The evolution of AI is changing the way we interact with the physical world, not just in how we use this technology, but also where and how we access it.

In this episode, Reid and Aria sit down with Meta’s Chief Technology Officer, Andrew “Boz” Bosworth, who is pioneering wearables for the company. Boz’s journey in the tech sector has taken him from working on Microsoft Visio to founding Reality Labs, Meta’s AR and VR division. Now, he’s focused on the next frontier in mixed realities with his latest project, Orion, a pair of AR glasses. Boz offers an Orion demo and shares his vision for wearables as an equalizing technology that can unlock superpowers for every person. Plus, they check-in on the state of AI as it relates to open source software, safety, hyperscalers, and startups.  

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ 

Topics:

1:03 - Episode introduction

3:36 - How Boz’s farm upbringing influenced his career and perspective on the digital world 

7:02 - How will wearables influence how we navigate the physical and digital worlds? 

9:46 - Meta's AI philosophy

11:27 - Pi explains Norbert Wiener's construct of information theory

14:28 - What would it take to build AI world models?

15:09 - What are the most significant use cases for Orion?

19:01 - Can Orion accommodate monocular vision?

20:00 - Boz's response to Orion skeptics

22:29 - Boz gives predictions on our AI future

25:09 - What would it look like to have a compatible system of wearables? 

27:30 - Unexpected discoveries from Orion testing

29:33 - What is Meta's focus in the AI space for the years to come?

30:48 - How do we ensure that AI innovation is used for good?

35:28 - Boz responds to Meta's changes in fact checking policy

37:11 - How will hyperscalers and start-ups flourish in the AI game?

40:06 - Boz shares his review on “The Wild Robot”

42:24 - Rapid-fire questions

Select mentions: 

The Martian by Andy Weir

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

I Am a Strange Loop by Douglas Hofstadter

J. C. R. Licklider, psychologist and computer scientist

Douglas Engelbart, engineer and computer science pioneer

Norbert Wiener, computer scientist and mathematician

Yann LeCun, computer scientist and Chief AI Scientist at Meta 

Michael Abrash, Chief Scientist, Reality Labs, Meta

Garry Kasparov, Russian chess grandmaster

4-H, a youth development program from the USDA

The Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA)

Qualified Business Income Deduction (QBI)

Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Sponsor Section

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Introduction

Dive into the DACH region's startup scene! This episode covers the latest trends in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, recorded with Chris Fahrenbach in New York City.

Key Highlights

• Fintech Evolution: Coorsair's IDNow acquisition (€300M) and the stablecoin surge to $226B highlight fintech's dynamism.

Fintech: A Sector in Motion

Fintech sees Coorsair's IDNow acquisition and stablecoin growth. The ECB's digital Euro plans are also significant.

Venture Capital: Navigating the Landscape

Toma Bravo's fund shows investor confidence, but "zombie VC" and insolvencies pose challenges.

AI and Technology: Innovation

Germany's AI research faces implementation hurdles. Volocopter and BioMed demonstrate other tech advancements.

Startup Ecosystem: Challenges and Successes

Funding for companies like Tectile contrasts with layoffs and insolvencies. Acquisitions continue.

Regional Highlights

• Germany: Strong AI research, but application lags.

Conclusion

The DACH startup scene is dynamic, with innovation and challenges across sectors.

Call to Action

Subscribe to our podcast for DACH startup updates! Share your thoughts below.

The music used in our intro is "MF-297 : First Hero" licensed from Musicfox.com: https://www.musicfox.com/detailsuche/?searchtext=297&submit=search

All rights reserved - Startuprad.io™

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This episode is brought to you in cooperation with the German Business Angel Association.

Are you tired of awkward video calls? Do you wish your online conversations felt more natural and engaging? Then dive into this eye-opening interview with Carsten Kraus, serial entrepreneur and the brilliant mind behind Casablanca.ai! Kraus, named Business Angel of the Year 2024, is revolutionizing how we connect online with groundbreaking AI technology.

In this power-packed episode, you'll discover:

• How Casablanca.ai is solving the fundamental problem of awkward eye contact in video calls, making virtual interactions feel truly authentic.

This episode is a goldmine for entrepreneurs, tech founders, scaleup executives, and investors seeking insights into AI innovation, startup growth, and the future of communication.

Introducing Re-release of Trevor Noah | Celebrating two years of Possible! from Possible.

Follow the show: Possible

It's been two years since the Possible podcast began, so we’re taking a moment to return to the beginning: our series launch episode with Trevor Noah. First, Aria and Reid sit down to revisit aspects of the original conversation, exploring just how much has changed in the AI space since Possible launched. Then, you’ll hear the Webby-award-winning episode in full.

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].