Startups in the DACH region are heating up — from AI unicorns to VC mega-funds. In this monthly startup news roundup, we unpack the most important trends in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland’s tech ecosystem.

Learn how Parloa became Germany’s second unicorn of the year, how Quantum Systems secured €160M to dominate aerial AI, and how the EIB’s €70B initiative is reshaping venture capital in Europe. We also dive into Lyft’s FreeNow acquisition, biotech patent wars, the MiCA crypto license, and regulatory risks like the EU Data Act.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• What Parloa’s unicorn status reveals about AI-native SaaS

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🚨 Sponsored by Tide

🔗 Dive Deeper and Be Ahead Of The Curve!

• DACH Startup Ecosystem 2025: The Ultimate Hub
  

What happens when an FBI-trained negotiation coach brings elite sales psychology into the startup world? You get a masterclass in influence, integrity, and investor persuasion.

Today’s episode of Startuprad.io features Matthias Bullmahn, a crisis negotiation expert, former Accenture executive, and storytelling coach — here to show founders how to negotiate like pros and scale without manipulation.

What You'll Learn:

• How to apply BATNA to investor negotiations and enterprise sales

Guest Spotlight:

Now It Is Up To YOU:

🚀Our Sponsor

👉 Struggling with small biz finances? Tide’s free account + up to €400 cashback makes it a no-brainer: tide.co/Podcastsde – use code STARTUPRADIO

Guest Name: Matthias Bullmahn, Sales Psychologist & Strategic Communications Expert

Related Blog Posts on Startuprad.io:

• 🎙️ Mastering Startup Negotiation Tactics: Sales Psychology Meets FBI Playbooks

Relevant External Resources:

• Harvard Negotiation Project

Why do Europe’s startups scale slower than their U.S. counterparts? In this raw, revealing episode, Andy Goldstein uncovers what’s really holding back the European venture capital scene—and what we can do about it.

• How investor education can radically improve VC decision-making

Andy Goldstein, Managing Director Europe at VU Venture Partners and Co-Founder of the German Accelerator, is a serial entrepreneur, ecosystem builder, and innovation catalyst. With decades of experience across the U.S. and Europe, he’s reshaping how VCs invest—and how startups scale.

Loved this episode? Help others discover it!

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Guest Name: Andy Goldstein, Managing Director Europe, VU Venture Partners

Relevant Resources:

• VU Venture Partners

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Introduction to Andy’s journey from IBM to VC

What happens when Europe's top startup operators become VCs — and use AI to disrupt billion-euro legacy sectors?

• 🔧 How applied AI is replacing legacy SaaS and transforming industries like logistics and procurement

Whether you’re a founder raising a seed round, an operator breaking into VC, or an investor looking to understand the future of industrial SaaS, this episode is for you.

👉 Struggling with small biz finances? Tide’s free account + up to €400 cashback makes it a no-brainer: tide.co/Podcastsde – use code STARTUPRADIO

Marton Sarkadi Nagy is a Partner at Visionaries Club, a Berlin-based venture capital firm managing €600M+ in AUM. With a background as the former growth lead at Tier, Marton brings operator DNA to VC. Visionaries Club backs early-stage startups that use AI, SaaS, and cybersecurity to tackle massive industrial problems — with LPs ranging from unicorn founders to multi-generational family businesses.

Love hearing real-world startup scaling, AI disruption, and VC philosophy?

🎧 Follow Startuprad.io on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review, and share this episode with the boldest entrepreneurs in your network.

Guest Name: Marton Sarkadi Nagy, Partner at Visionaries Club

Blog Post: How Europe’s Visionaries Are Using AI to Disrupt Industrial Tech

Relevant Resources:

• Visionaries Club

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Welcome + Introduction

In Part 2 of our interview with Christian Conrad — coach, former Kellogg’s exec, and author of Magical Company Culture — we go deep into the execution side of culture.

Forget team-building retreats. Christian outlines a leadership playbook where trust, behavioral habits, and culture KPIs like eNPS are used to build high-performing, emotionally engaged teams.

• Why “100% trust from Day 1” transforms startup teams

Christian Conrad is the founder of Management Boost and author of Magical Company Culture. His mission? 1 million smiling employees by 2035. He’s coached global corporations and hypergrowth startups alike on measurable, trust-based leadership.

🔥 If you’re a founder, investor, or executive navigating scale, this episode is your culture execution guide.

✅ Subscribe, review, and share this episode to help us build the startup leadership community.

This episode is sponsored by Tide.co

• Guest Name: Christian Conrad (https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianconrad-magneticculture/)

• Christian’s Website

• 00:00 – Why Culture Execution Fails

👉 Struggling with small biz finances? Tide’s free account + up to €400 cashback makes it a no-brainer: tide.co/Podcastsde – use code STARTUPRADIO

What if your company culture was your biggest growth engine? In this episode, we dive deep with leadership coach Christian Conrad to unpack what makes startup cultures not only magnetic but measurable — and how founders can lead with emotional intelligence and trust from Day 1.

• How to use eNPS to measure engagement and cultural health

Christian Conrad, founder of Management Boost and author of Magical Company Culture, is on a mission to create 1 million smiling employees by 2035. He has helped startups and corporates alike transform their cultures into scalable engines for growth.

If you’re building a startup, managing a tech team, or investing in founders — this conversation will shift your thinking on leadership.

👉 Follow Startuprad.io, subscribe on Spotify & Apple Podcasts, and leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review. Share with your co-founder, HR lead, or investor network.

• Give us feedback: https://forms.gle/SrcGUpycu26fvMFE9

Follow the editor in chief / founder on LinkedIn:http://www.linkedin.com/comm/mynetwork/discovery-see-all?usecase=PEOPLE_FOLLOWS&followMember=joernmenninger

• Guest Name: Christian Conrad, Leadership Coach & Author

• Magical Company Culture – Book

• 00:00 – Introduction

This episode is brought to you by Vanta. Automate your startup’s security and compliance for SOC 2, ISO 27001, and more.

What does it really take for a green tech startup to secure venture funding in 2025? In this episode, we uncover what makes VCs say yes—and what founders consistently get wrong.

• How DACH green tech startups are redefining sustainability with scalable business models

Wolfgang Krause, Managing Partner at Hi Inov, shares exclusive insights from the 2025 Green Tech Software Mapping. He’s an expert in climate tech investment strategy, known for identifying scalable software ventures with deep vertical focus and strong ESG execution.

With regulatory pressure mounting and climate urgency at an all-time high, Wolfgang explains why economic viability beats greenwashing—and how real innovation means operationalizing sustainability across value chains.

Love what you’re hearing? Follow Startuprad.io, subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review. Sharing is scaling—help founders, VCs, and executives learn from this deep dive into the future of green tech.

Guest Name: Wolfgang Krause, Managing Partner at Hi Inov

Relevant Resources:

• Hi Inov Website – https://www.hiinov.com/

In April 2025, DACH startups raised over €1.3 billion—while one of Europe’s top fintechs spiraled into crisis. This isn’t just another news roundup. This is your investor-grade, startup-founder-relevant, executive-level briefing from the DACH region’s leading podcast.

🚀 This episode is brought to you by Vanta. Automate your SOC 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR compliance in weeks, not months. Learn more at vanta.com/startupradio

What You'll Learn:

• The real story behind Trade Republic’s outages and financial trust issues

Guest Spotlight:

We Love to Hear from You:

Host: Jörn Menninger, Editor-in-Chief at Startuprad.io

• Amboss Funding: Silicon Canals

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Intro + Sponsor

StartupRad.io sits down with psychotherapist Imre Remenyi to explore burnout prevention, leadership, and culture for sustainable startup growth.

Burnout is silently killing startups. Discover how top founders and leaders detect it early, prevent it, and scale sustainable companies.

Are you a startup founder, tech executive, or investor navigating the intense world of high-growth companies? This StartupRad.io episode is your lifeline. Host Jörn 'Joe' Menninger speaks with renowned psychotherapist and consultant Imre Marton Remenyi in a masterclass on burnout prevention for entrepreneurs. You'll get actionable strategies to protect your team and build a business that lasts.

Forget surface-level "work-life balance." We dig into the real psychological, operational, and financial risks that burnout presents — and show you how to fix them. Learn how to identify subtle warning signs, lead with empathy, and create a culture where your people (and your company) can thrive.

Why this episode matters:

For Founders & CEOs:

For Tech Executives:

For Investors:

🕒 Key Episode Highlights:

• 00:00:20 — Meet Imre: From opera singer to psychotherapist

💼 Sponsor:

Vanta helps startups automate security and compliance (ISO 27001, SOC 2, and more).

📣 Call to Action:

✅ Subscribe to the StartupRad.io podcast for more insights on entrepreneurship, venture capital, and startup growth.

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SPONSOR MESSAGE

Vanta: Security and Compliance Made Easy

EPISODE OVERVIEW

Tired of wasting valuable time and resources managing appointments manually? In this must-listen episode, Timify CEO Emanuel Simon reveals how forward-thinking enterprises supercharge their productivity by automating scheduling and optimizing resource allocation.

Timify isn't just another calendar app—it's the "Calendly for grownups," designed specifically to manage complex scheduling scenarios faced by growing businesses and global enterprises.

Why is scheduling so crucial to your success?

Eliminate double bookings, administrative headaches, and underutilized resources. Discover how seamless customer interactions and intelligent workforce management translate directly into increased revenue and streamlined business operations.

You'll discover:

• Enterprise-Level Scheduling: Easily handle multiple locations, diverse resources, and complex appointment flows.

Key Quotes from Emanuel Simon:

• "We are the Calendly for grownups."

Who Should Listen?

• Entrepreneurs: Scale faster by eliminating scheduling bottlenecks.

Engage with Startuprad.io:

• Subscribe now for weekly insights from innovative leaders.

Show Notes:

• Guest: Emanuel Simon, CEO of Timify

Timestamps:

• 0:00 - Introduction & Sponsor Message