APEX Ventures update — An Exciting August for APEX Ventures
As we step into September and gearing up for events, we’re taking a moment to look back at the latest news from our portfolio in August.
From the Amadeus APEX Technology Fund, we’re thrilled to announce that OKAPI:Orbits joined efforts with The Hague Institute for Global Justice’s Washington Compact in a significant step to promote responsible commercial space activities and cooperation.
The APEX Medical portfolio has been buzzing with activity. Celeris Therapeutics published a paper on “The Rise of Degrader Drugs,” offering a fresh perspective on cancer treatment. Meanwhile, Novoic’s innovative deep-learning solution earned a coveted spot on Sifted’s list of mental health startups to watch, solidifying its commitment to early neurological disorder detection.
Portfolio companies from the APEX One fund have been equally busy. Sewts secured €7M Series A investment to perfect automation in the textile industry in a funding round led by Emerald Technology Ventures, CNB Capital, EquityPitcher Ventures and Nabtesco Technology Venture and further contributions from APEX Ventures, HGTF and Bayern Kapital.
OroraTech’s latest sensor impressed by capturing fire images in orbit within weeks of launch, while kiutra celebrated its fifth year, showcasing how far it’s come since inception. TriLite Technologies secured a spot at the prestigious Hightech Venture days, and added new leadership roles. The innovation doesn’t stop here — T3K-Forensics also launched its contactless fingerprinting solution, Biocapture, with the Horizon Europe initiative.
Read on for more details on these achievements and a sneak peek into what’s coming up from APEX Ventures in September.
Upcoming Events
6 Sep: Munich Deep Tech Meetup — Munich, Germany — Ion Hauer and Christoph Kanneberger
Together with German Entrepreneurship, we are organising a Deep Tech Munich Meetup on September 6th. An opportunity for tech enthusiasts, startups and investors to meet and explore the latest innovations in deep tech.
24–26 Sep: Bits & Pretzels — Munich, Germany — Andreas Riegler, Ion Hauer and Christoph Kanneberger.
We’re headed to Bits & Pretzels — an event not to be missed! Excitement is in the air as we gear up for the upcoming conference in Munich, Germany, from September 24th to 26th. Meet Andreas Riegler, Christoph Kanneberger and Ion Hauer at APEX Ventures’ exclusive Investors Lounge, where interesting conversations and networking opportunities will take place.
The conference promises a fusion of inspiring talks and unparalleled connections, uniting a diverse array of international and national founders and investors.
If you are not attending the conference but still want to meet the APEX Ventures team, reach out to Ion Hauer on LinkedIn to set up a meeting.
See you there!
Portfolio Company Updates
Amadeus APEX Technology Fund
ATMOS Space Cargo
ATMOS Space Cargo recently scouted Santa Maria in the Azores in Portugal, as a potential re-entry landing site for the upcoming Phoenix space capsule’s Atlantic Ocean touchdown in November 2024. CEO Sebastian Klaus met with Ricardo Conde from Agência Espacial Portuguesa to discuss logistical support for the first orbital return mission on the island, which promises optimum conditions for mission safety.
OKAPI:Orbits
OKAPI:Orbits has officially signed the Washington Compact by The Hague Institute for Global Justice, marking a significant milestone in their commitment to responsible commercial space operations. The Washington Compact focuses on the norms of behaviour for commercial space operations. By signing the Washington Compact, OKAPI:Orbits is committing to a common vision that promotes cooperation, peace, and prosperity in civil space exploration and development.
APEX Medical
Celeris Therapeutics
Celeris Therapeutics published a paper on “The Rise of Degrader Drugs,” that tackles the advancement of cancer treatment through the manipulation of proteins in an in vivo setting. This work underscores the promising potential of novel therapeutic modalities in the field of cancer treatment.
Novoic
Novoic gained recognition in Sifted’s list of mental health startups to watch. Novoic’s pioneering deep-learning solution, analyses voices to assess brain health and identify neurological disorders early. Focusing initially on Alzheimer’s disease, Novoic aims to revolutionise early diagnosis and intervention, to improve outcomes for patients.
Quibim
In a month marked by significant collaborations, Quibim marked two notable milestones: a partnership with ImaginAb Inc. to transform immunotherapy by combining CD8 ImmunoPET™ technology with advanced image processing, and the European PRIMAGE project focused on paediatric oncology, which resulted in the PRIMAGE platform. Now a clinical decision support system, this platform promises personalised approaches to diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy follow-up, reshaping the future of cancer management.
Upfront Diagnostics
Upfront Diagnostics starts its last phase of clinical trials in the UK in collaboration with NHS and the Stroke Association. The company is kicking-off a study in four centres in the North East of England. The data generated in this trial will be sufficient for obtaining UKCA and CE Mark approval.
Yuri
Yuri joined forces with the BDI NewSpace Initiative, to play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of the German space industry. Its active engagement in the working group for legal framework and funding mechanisms underscores its commitment to creating the best environment to support the fast-growing NewSpace sector.
APEX One
kiutra
Happy Birthday to kiutra! The company reached a significant milestone as it turned five. It all started with four people on a mission to build easy-to-use and sustainable cryogenics solutions. Today, the company has grown to over 40 employees and is serving happy customers in seven countries.
OroraTech
Another milestone for OroraTech: its latest sensor successfully captured the first fire images in orbit within just five weeks of launch. Soon, customers will experience in-orbit fire detection powered by onboard AI, significantly reducing fire notification time to minutes. OroraTech’s industry-leading pace sets a remarkable standard in the field.
Sewts
Sewts, a pioneer in automating textile handling processes, secured €7M in a Series A funding round. This achievement reflects the growing recognition of its groundbreaking approach, which merges AI, robotics, and simulation. The substantial investment from prominent international robotics investors — including APEX Ventures — bolsters the deployment of sewts.VELUM systems across global laundries and paves the way for the exploration of new use cases.
TriLite Technologies
TriLite Technologies recently secured a spot among the 40 startups participating in the prestigious Hightech Venture days on October 17–18, 2023, in Dresden. Accompanying this achievement, the company proudly introduced two key team members: Victoria Zynkova, the new Head of Business Development, bringing over 15 years of cross-cultural experience and exceptional key account management skills in the augmented reality industry, and Isabella Babacsay, joining as the Head of Finance, bolstering the company’s strategic financial operations.
T3K-Forensics
T3K-Forensics is propelling its contactless fingerprinting solution, Biocapture, to contribute to an exhilarating Horizon Europe initiative. At the intersection of AI and digital forensics, T3K.AI can expedite digital forensic investigations.
Other Activities
In August, we proudly started our Ask the Expert series, a platform where industry leaders shed light on their fields. Our debut edition showcased the brilliant minds of Alexander Glätzle from planqc and Alexander Regnat from kiutra, delving into the transformative power of quantum technologies. Their profound insights into quantum computing’s immense potential for industries and its revolutionary impact on complex problem-solving set the stage for a thought-provoking exploration of deeptech.
Ion Hauer’s voice resonated across the airwaves on DeepRec.ai. This in-depth podcast on deep tech venture capital, explored the horizons of generative AI and the nuanced challenges of talent acquisition.
In another insightful interview, Andreas Riegler spoke with Ion about his career. With a background steeped in quantum physics and an unwavering passion for startups, Ion shared his distinct take on deep tech investing.
Stefan Haubner provided invaluable fundraising insights and candid VC backstage anecdotes in conversation with Dr. Florian Kandler in the Summer Insights series. Through five engaging sessions, they offered valuable fundraising tips and offered rare glimpses behind the scenes of VC and angel investing.
Job Highlights
Here are the latest jobs listed by our portfolio companies.
Contextflow
- Customer Success/Partnership Manager (Full-time)
- Office Manager/People Assistant (Full-time)
- Senior Machine Learning Developer (Full-time)
- Backend Software Developer (Part-time)
Interested candidates can apply here: https://contextflow.com/jobs/
