Newsblog

20.08.2024

Senftenberg, Germany

Portfolio Success Story: NEXT Automotive Testing provides advanced testing services to first aerospace customer

Picture: Next Automotive Testing / DLR

 Our portfolio company 👉 NEXT Automotive Testing helps its first aerospace customer, the 👉 German Aerospace Center (DLR), to set up various test benches for the investigation of electrified powertrains and their components for flight use. 

With NEXT's extensive know-how in the field of test bench planning, NEXT coordinated the entire design process up to the design of the first details. This was followed by the concept development of several test benches including a comprehensive safety concept for electric and acoustic measurements according to jointly developed anticipated load and application cases.

Congratulations, NEXT team!

12.08.2024

Mittweida, Germany

Investment news: Our portfolio company Antacon GmbH closes seed round

Picture: Antacon

 We are more than happy to announce the successful completion of 👉 Antacon's most recent investment round, bringing aborad 👉 EIT Manufacturing, Gigahertz Ventures as standing investor, as well as other dedicated business angels, have demonstrated their continued support. Main objective of the current funding round is to scale up the innovative Antacon coating technology.

Antacon GmbH pioneers the manufacturing of super-hard and at the same time „stress-free“ diamond coatings (DLC 2.0). The innovation consists in the possibility – based on a process developed and patented by Antacon – to produce maximum hard and mechanically stable ta-C layers in any thickness. For a large variety of applications, this represents a considerable added value compared to the DLC layers conventionally available in the market.

With EIT Manufacturing aboard, Antacon will gain access to EIT Manufacturing’s platforms and events. Gigahertz Ventures welcomes this new partner very much!

02.07.2024

Berlin, Germany

Ukraimpulse (Gigahertz Ventures, BACB) hosted workshop on angel investments in Ukraine  at "Innovations for Reconstructing Ukraine" event in Berlin

Picture: Gigahertz Ventures / Ukraimpulse

 Sebastian Schwenke and Stefan Schandera of 👉 Ukraimpulse Ventures, an initiative of Gigahertz Ventures and 👉 BACB, were invited to moderate a workshop on early-stage investments in Ukraine at 👉 „Innovationen für den Wiederaufbau der Ukraine“ (Innovations for Reconstructing Ukraine). The event was hosted by 👉 Plattform Wiederaufbau Ukraine (Plattform for reconstruction of Ukraine), initiated by 👉 Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

During the workshop, a number of (anonymized) startup case-studies were discussed. Workshop participants tried to figure out, what specific risks and chances the war offers to different business models already today. Key findings included the following:

  • The situation comes with a high pressure to innovate many areas and pragmatic prototyping becomes a necessity (e.g. defence, public services, education, infrastructure);
  • Learnings of resilience and agility might become an unfair advantage in the long run, even in peaceful markets;Impact & infrastructure startups will most likely have good chances to raise significant public funding and investment from the international donor community;
  • Some teams need to go global quickly, because their home market is slow/ ceased to exist - others have the potential of becoming market leaders in UA as they serve an immediate need, but lack potential to become leaders in global markets.
Ukraimpulse Ventures is an initiative of Business Angels Club Berlin-Brandenburg e.V. (BACB) and Gigahertz Ventures GmbH that aims to support the reconstruction of Ukraine by establishing bridges between Ukrainian and European business angels and early-stage investors.

Geburtstagsfunken

Foto: John Doe

Pictures: Gigahertz Ventures / Ukraimpulse

10.06.2024

Berlin, Germany

Ukraimpulse Deep Dive #1: Smart Water Ukraine (Berlin, 10 June 2024)

Pictures: Gigahertz Ventures / Ukraimpulse


Sustainable and innovative water management is increasingly recognized as a foundational element in addressing climate change and building resilience. In the context of Ukraine's defense and recovery, innovative and progressive solutions for utility and water management are gaining even greater momentum.
Since 2022, Ukrainian infrastructure has been subjected to severe attacks. The supply of water and drinking water to the population and industry in contested and destroyed areas plays a vital role in sustaining life. The situation requires innovative solutions as well as international support.

In the wider context of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 in Berlin, Ukraimpulse Deep Dive #1: Smart Water Ukraine brought together Ukrainian and German experts and practitioners in the field of Smart Water to discuss development and collaboration potentials.

Ukraimpulse Ventures is an initiative of Business Angels Club Berlin-Brandenburg e.V. (BACB) and Gigahertz Ventures GmbH that aims to support the reconstruction of Ukraine by establishing bridges between Ukrainian and European business angels and early-stage investors.

Geburtstagsfunken

Foto: John Doe

Skyline

Foto: John Doe

Modemagazin

Foto: John Doe

Pictures: SIB / Ukraimpulse

08.03.2024

Dresden, Germany

Rebuilding Ukraine: Ukrainian startups visit Gigahertz Ventures for workshop

Pictures: Gigahertz Ventures / Ukraimpulse

 On March 8, 2024, Gigahertz Ventures welcomed a group of Ukrainian startups and innovation ecosystem builders to Dresden.

The workshop day started by delving into a realm of tech marvels at the Dresden Volkswagen Gläserne Manufaktur (Transparent Factory). As the sun set, inspiring conversations and conviviality filled the enchanting ambiance of the 👉 YETI Dresden mansion (big kudos to Sandra Hübner and YETI for hosting us!). Insights flowed, shedding light on the profound impact of the ongoing war on Ukrainian startups, as well as on their German counterparts with strong ties to Eastern markets. Once more, we were shaken by the resilience and adaptability inherent in the entrepreneurial spirit of our Ukrainian friends.

Background of this visit was the 👉 Ukraimpulse Initiative, which Gigahertz Ventures jointly launched with the 👉 BACB Business Angels Club Berlin-Brandenburg e.V. Ukraimpulse aims to build a bridge between Ukrainian, German, and European business angels to support reconstruction efforts. The visit to Dresden in March 2024 was organized in collaboration with 👉Invest in Bravery, Prague (CZ).

29.01.2024

Dresden, Germany

Our Investee Semron raises $7,9M in Strategic Seed Funding Round

Picture: Screenshot from VentureBeat website https://venturebeat.com

In an age where there is a growing demand for more advanced AI capabilities, our investee 👉 Semron is focusing on developing cutting-edge computer chips that are specifically designed to power the smallest consumer devices like smartphones, earbuds, and VR headsets.
The key innovation behind Semron's technology is their 3D semiconductor technology, which promises to deliver a remarkable up to 20-fold increase in chip efficiency. This increased efficiency enables these chips to run AI models that are up to 1,000 times larger while maintaining the same chip size.

Semron's unique technology, known as CapRAM, is based on a novel semiconductor device architecture that utilizes a variable capacitor (referred to as a 'memcapacitor'). Unlike conventional methods that rely on electrical currents and transistors, CapRAM significantly reduces electron movement, resulting in a 20-fold improvement in energy efficiency at the chip level.

Semron's recent seed funding round, led by Join Capital, garnered significant attention from new investors, including SquareOne, OTB Ventures, and Hermann Hauser of Onsight Ventures. Previous pre-seed investors, such as Wolfram Drescher (BlueWonder), Hans Rohrer, former president at TSMC, and Gigahertz Ventures, also continued to show their support.

Congratulations to the Semron team on their achievements!


17.01.2024

Dresden, Germany

2024 Gigahertz Ventures Portfolio Day

Pictures: Gigahertz Ventures

On January 16 and 17, 2024, we united our hard- and software portfolio founders for two days in Dresden this week, sparking dynamic discussions on sales, HR, and financing. The evening concluded with a kitchen session by Florian Gildemeister from gildemaestro, enhancing our culinary skills while conversations from the workshops continued.
 
Encouraged by positive feedback on practical learnings, we invite fellow investors to consider this exclusive, trust-building format. Comment or PM for insights. Key takeaways on #sales, #financing, and #HR will be shared in the coming weeks.
 
Big thanks to participants travelling from Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and Slovenia to Dresden . Special appreciation to our host, Jörg Mättig, and the Ostsächsische Sparkasse Dresden team for the breathtaking venue atop the World Trade Center Dresden. Your feedback fuels our excitement for the next edition in 2025!

23.12.2023

Dresden/Berlin

Report on The Potential Role of European Business Angels in The Recovery of Ukraine

Picture: Ukraimpulse

Early 2023 and following a year of humanitarian support work for Ukraine, we asked ourselves the question: Can European business angels play a role in reconstructing Ukraine already today?

For answering this question, we joint forces with BACB Business Angels Club Berlin Brandenburg e.V., and together founded the 👉Ukraimpulse Ventures initiative. We travelled to Ukraine to meet multiple stakeholders of the early-stage startup ecosystem. Our report now summarizes valuable key findings of 40+ in-person meetings in Lviv, Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa from May to December 2023 (👆please click on the picture above for accessing the report).

 26.10.2023

Dresden, Germany

Urban-Rural Connectivity Strategies

Picture: Gigahertz Ventures

Germany faces challenges related to limited Digitalization in both its public administration and education systems. Stadt.Land.Netz (German for City County Network) is dedicated to providing innovative solutions that support public administrations, educational institutions, as well as public and private transportation companies in simplifying transportation planning and management.
 
Starting 2023, Gigahertz Ventures GmbH has partnered with SIB Innovations- und Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Sachsen mbH and TGFS Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen to invest in Stadt.Land.Netz. As a united team, Stadt.Land.Netz (SLN) and all the investors have examined future trends and crafted long-term development strategies for the company. This two-day strategy workshop (October 24-25) in Dresden was brimming with valuable insights and innovative ideas. Amazing job, guys!

12.09.2023

Warnemünde, Germany

Water to data: strategy workshop with our investee PYDRO in Warnemünde

Picture: Gigahertz Ventures

We have just completed the annual strategy workshop with our investee PYDRO GmbH at legendary (even Fidel Castro had stayed here) Hotel Neptun in Warnemünde. 

The meeting produced highly inspiring discussions and debates on smart IoT solutions for preserving one of the most precious natural resource we have - water. Many thanks to Mulundu Sichone, Miguel and Sinoj from PYDRO for being great hosts and for pioneering IoT in drinking water systems💧👷‍♂️ 

Great collaboration with our co-investor Martin Schwarz from GENIUS Venture Capital GmbH. We look forward to 2024!

04.09.2023

Berlin, Germany

Article "Business Angels Want to Promote Startups in Ukraine" in Berliner Morgenpost

Screenshot Berliner Morgenpost (https://www.morgenpost.de/)

👉 09.10.2023: Berliner Morgenpost: Business Angels werben um Start-ups in der Ukraine Business are wooing for startups in Ukraine (no paywall)

👉  04.09.2023: Berliner Morgenpost: Business Angels wollen Start-ups in der Ukraine fördern Business angels want to promote startups in Ukraine (paywall)

22.06.2023

Wurzen, Germany

enaDyne wins 2023 IQ Innovationspreis Mitteldeutschland (Innovation Award Central Germany) 🏆

Picture: Gigahertz Ventures

More than 4.000 gigatons of excess CO2 are out there in our atmosphere, and the number is rising. Every single day! The race is on to get this stuff back into the bottle. enaDyne GmbH develops plasma catalysis reactors that enable the recycling of CO2 into green chemicals and eFuels. It is simply amazing to see these guys inventing and developing. For enaDyne (and for us), there is no time to lose.

This afternoon, the enaDyne team around founders Christian Koch and Philipp Hahn was awarded twice with the German IQ Innovationspreis Mitteldeutschland (IQ Innovation Award Central Germany 2023): Winner in the category Chemicals/Synthetics, and Overall Winner of the competition 🏆

The IQ Innovation Award Central Germany promotes innovative, marketable products, processes and services in five industry-specific clusters. In addition, an industry-agnostic jury selects the overall winner of the competition from 10 cluster finalists.

Gigahertz Ventures GmbH is invested in enaDyne GmbH since 2022.

Media:

27.04.2023

Bucha, Ukraine

City of Bucha starts municipal transport company

Buses on the way to Bucha in June 2022. Picture: Gigahertz Ventures

Almost a year ago (in June 2022) we delivered (together with Holger Zastrow from FDP) three buses to the city of Bucha (Ukraine). The buses were donated by the City of Dresden. The aim was to support the reconstruction of the city of Bucha. Initially, the buses were mainly used in the social sector (for example, for providing transport to children and disabled). As of this week, the city of Bucha is the proud owner of its own municipal transport company.

Buses are now used in regular scheduled services. This transport company does not only serve the city, but the entire Bucha district up to the borders with Kyiv. We are very happy about it and also a little proud to have helped kicking this off.

15.03.2023

Schwarze Pumpe, Germany

From Sächsische Zeitung:
Next Automotive Testing GmbH convinces investors from Dresden with its concept

Christian Jurisch, founder and CEO. Picture: Next Automotive Testing PR

Next Automotive Testing GmbH, based in the Dock³ start-up center in the Lusatia region in Germany, reports the successful completion of an investment round. The company, which is testing e-drive modules and systems, will receive a six-figure sum from Dresden-based Gigaherz Ventures GmbH.

"We were impressed by the company's clear vision as well as by the potential in the field of electromobility in the Lusatia region", Gigaherz Managing Director Stefan Schandera is quoted. Next Automotive Testing founder Christian Jurisch says the cost of verification and validation of e-mobility components could easily swallow up to half of the development budget. This is where Next Automotive Testing steps in.

Translated from German. 👉 Read full article here.

24.12.2022

Dresden, Germany

Season's Greetings
Gigahertz Ventures Highlights 2022
 A very intense year comes to its end. We wish you a happy holiday season, relaxing festive days with your loved ones and a happy and peaceful New Year.
 
We would like to thank you for the cooperation in 2022 and look forward to a new year together in 2023. Your Gigahertz Ventures Team.

 22.03.2022

Ukraine/Germany

ARD Report on "Bus-loads of Hope" Humanitarian Project for Ukraine
Report on First German Television (ARD; broadcasted 22.03.2022) about the start of our aid project in Ukraine “Busloads of hope”. A journalist accompanied us on our first trip to Ukraine at the beginning of March 2022. We handed over the first buses in Ukraine on this trip. More information 👉 here.


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