In the following Startup Success Cases, we show how innovative ideas and entrepreneurial courage can lead to extraordinary results in various sectors. Each of these startups represents the potential of a new generation of founders that can have a lasting impact on our future.
Aampere on course for growth: team size more than doubled
Aampere is a marketplace for trading used electric cars across Europe. Aampere enables private individuals to sell their electric cars fully digitally to a European dealer network within 48 hours. For the first time, the dealer partners gain access to the private market, which accounts for 40 per cent of the entire market. The e-mobility start-up, which was founded in 2022, received intensive support from our network partner at the University of Ulm when it was founded. It also took part in ASAP and the masterclass of the NXTGN state initiative. The start-up from Stuttgart has made an impressive leap in growth in 2024: The team has grown from four to ten employees in the areas of software, sales and marketing.
Cyclize receives 4.75 million euros in seed financing round
Cyclize recycles mixed plastic waste together with CO2. The novel plasma-based Cyclize process produces drop-in synthesis gas, a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. This patented technology replaces natural gas and enables circularity in the chemical industry. The EXIST-funded start-up is a spin-off of our joint partner, the University of Stuttgart, and attended the masterclass of the NXTGN state initiative. At the beginning of 2024, Cyclize completed a seed financing round with 4.75 million euros to bring its revolutionary recycling technology to the chemical park as a pilot plant.
eatappie secures follow-up financing
eatappie is a psychotherapy app for adolescents with anorexia and bulimia that offers more than 50 learning units and exercises in addition to a meal planner and eating logs. Special feature: numerous gamification elements and five individually selectable therapy companions: inside. The transfer agency hei_INNOVATION accompanied the leap from idea to start-up with its in-depth support in the successful application for the EXIST start-up grant in 2023. Last year, the eatappie team was then able to acquire follow-up funding from the Young Innovators Baden-Württemberg funding programme. They also won a prize in the Digital Innovations start-up competition organised by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
INERATEC raises 118 million euros in financing round
INERATEC, a pioneer in the field of Power-to-X, supplies sustainable e-fuels and chemical base materials. Based on research at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the company was founded in 2016 and supported to market maturity by KIT's technology transfer department. INERATEC develops modular plants that produce synthetic hydrocarbons from renewable electricity, hydrogen and CO₂ and replace fossil oil. At the beginning of 2024, the company raised 118 million euros to commercialise CO₂-neutral e-fuels. The world's largest pilot plant for e-kerosene will open in Frankfurt Höchst in 2025.
Tabularis.AI wins 100,000 euros investment
Tabularis.AI offers an innovative solution for the secure handling of sensitive data. Using an advanced generative AI model, the platform creates hyper-realistic synthetic data sets that are based on real data and still fulfil high standards for data protection and data security. The startup has already been part of the AI Founders Accelerator Programme of Campus Founders and the NXTGN Masterclass. Tabularis.AI won the main category at the Heilbronn Slush'D 2024 pitch competition. The award includes a potential investment of 100,000 euros in the form of a convertible loan from Campus Founders Ventures GmbH. This is accompanied by intensive mentoring from Campus Founders.
PROSERVATION inspires with crowdinvesting campaign
PROSERVATION produces sustainable and alternative packaging solutions from grain husks, natural residues from grain processing, as an alternative to conventional, fossil-based protective packaging such as polystyrene. The Stuttgart-based sustainable packaging startup has taken part in the ASAP finals and masterclass organised by our partner Stuttgart Media University and the NXTGN state initiative. The team exceeded all expectations last year with their crowdinvesting campaign: An impressive €620,500 was raised with over 450 small investors.
Extract from the Delta Report '24
This article first appeared in our Delta Report 2024. Here you can download the Delta Report as PDF (6MB) in full length.
