You can find the episode reviewing the first half of 2023 and all other episodes of our podcast on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, Deezer, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Radio Public, Breaker, Overcast, Castbox, Podcast Addict and Anchor.
Investments in German startups are declining, and the Munich ecosystem has also felt the impact. At the beginning of this episode (from minute 3:15), we take a closer look at the numbers: According to Munich Startup Insights, there were only 88 investments in Munich-based startups from January to June 2023. In the second half of 2022, however, there were 108 financing rounds, and the first half of 2022 saw as many as 150. The last time there were fewer investments in startups from the state capital was in the second half of 2019, with 86. Conversely, this means that even at the height of the coronavirus crisis and the beginning of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, more financing deals were completed than now.
Review: Significantly less money for startups
The first half of the year wasn't exactly generous to Munich startups when it came to financing amounts either. Although the total amount didn't change much compared to the two previous half-years – the two halves of 2022, like the first half, each brought in a total of €1.1 billion – this time, more than half of the sum was accounted for by just four startups. If we exclude financings of over €100 million, it turns out that the figure has been relatively stable between €700 and €800 million per half-year since the first half of 2021. For the first half of 2023, this figure worsened to €485 million. And a negative trend has also reached its peak in investments by American investors, as we see in this episode.
We then venture a look into a possible future. There are positive, albeit tentative, developments in both US investors and the number of investment rounds in July and August. We discuss these in more detail starting at minute 6:35.
Four startups and one investor
In any case, the Munich ecosystem offers numerous innovative startups ready for future investment. We'll introduce four of them in more detail, which have particularly impressed our editorial team in recent months. These are:
- Protegg (Minute 8:20)
- Energyminer (Minute 13:30)
- Atopia (Minute 16:35)
- Ivy (Minute 20:10)
And to conclude this episode, we take a look at an investor. This time we introduce Heartfelt in more detail (from minute 23:40).
