The APEX Ventures January Newsletter

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APEX Ventures

10 min readJan 16, 2024

As we embark on a new year filled with promise and potential, we’re delighted to kick off 2024 with a newsletter brimming with recent updates, achievements and innovations from our diverse portfolio companies.

From cutting-edge space research to impactful awards and authorizations, our portfolio companies continue to push boundaries and foster progress across a range of industries.

In this issue of the APEX Ventures newsletter, we will hear about the introduction of a new microgravity service by ATMOS and Yuri, OKAPI:Orbits celebrating its fifth anniversary and Ignacio Cirac from planqc winning the La Vanguardia Prize.

Ignacio Cirac (left) from planqc receives the La Vanguardia Prize from King Felipe VI (centre) and Queen Letizia of Spain (right).

CardiaTec Biosciences features in the BIA TechBio 2023 report, while Quibim’s QP-Brain has gained authorization in three key regions. smedo introduces a child monitoring tool, Solvemed appoints a new CTO and Upfront Diagnostics gets a new corporate finance and strategy team member.

There’s also an innovation award shortlist for ImageBiopsy Lab while OroraTech becomes a Grow@COP finalist. Phantasma Labs forms a new partnership with CREARO AG, T3K-Forensics receives Safe Online funding and there’s a tasty new index for Morpher.

Fantastic updates underscoring APEX Ventures’ diverse portfolio and its commitment to driving innovation across various industries, from space tech to health tech and beyond.

We want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our limited partners, portfolio company founders and ecosystem partners for your ongoing support, trust and partnership. Your unwavering dedication has been the driving force behind our shared success and we are immensely grateful for every personal connection we have with you. Wishing you a fantastic 2024, filled with boundless opportunities and inspiring breakthroughs.

Enjoy the read and Happy New Year! 🎉

Amadeus APEX Technology Fund

ATMOS Space Cargo and Yuri

ATMOS and Yuri, in collaboration with Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), recently unveiled a new end to end microgravity service, named EVA, to the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Scheduled to launch in 2025, the project will provide a comprehensive service to make space more accessible for commercial purposes and research. 🚀

OKAPI:Orbits

OKAPI:Orbits, the German space tech company, has celebrated its fifth birthday with a nostalgic look back in pictures at its journey so far. The celebrations followed the launch of OKAPI:Astrolabe, a device designed to enhance coordination in space operations. Happy Birthday! 🎂

planqc

Huge congratulations are in order for Ignacio Cirac, an advisor for quantum computing startup planqc, for winning the first edition of the La Vanguardia Prize. In the presence of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, Ignacio won the Innovation category prize for his work in quantum optics, which has helped developments in multiple fields, including AI systems, new materials and industrial processes. 🏆

APEX Medical

CardiaTec Biosciences

CardiaTec Biosciences, the AI-enabled drug target discovery company, has been listed in the BioIndustry Association (BIA) TechBio 2023 Report. The report, which highlights the UK’s thriving techbio sector, shines a light on CardiaTec’s R&D work on developing drugs to combat cardiovascular disease. Read the full report here.

Yuri

Exciting news as researchers at Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg use Yuri’s microgravity simulator, Random Positioning Machine (RPM), to simulate microgravity conditions for experiments related to cancer cell behaviour. The unique conditions of the RPM allow scientists to perform studies on cancer cells in vitro.

Quibim

Fantastic milestone for Quibim as QP-Brain® — its AI-based software for early-stage neurological disease quantification, facilitating the measurement of early brain atrophy and lesions — gains authorisation for use in the US, EU and UK. After gaining FDA 510(k) clearance and CE/UKCA marks, QP-Brain is cleared to be used by clinicians in those markets. 🎖️

smedo

Contactless biometric research company smedo has launched its first product NightNanny by Blessence™ via a Kickstarter campaign.The motion sensor detect changes in movement by infants, lowering the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Find out more about supporting the campaign, which will run until 11 January, on Kickstarter.

smedo launches Kickstarter for its product NightNanny.

Solvemed

Solvemed, the neuroscience AI company, has welcomed Marek Dziubinski as a full-time chief technology officer. He will lead strategic efforts in integrating big data and AI into neurology, leveraging his extensive experience in the medical device sector. His visionary leadership will also help expand Solvemed’s presence in the US market, advancing data-driven solutions in neurology. 👏

Upfront Diagnostics

Asaf Bank has joined the corporate finance and strategy team at Upfront Diagnostics, which specialises in biomarkers that can be applied to improve medical diagnosis. His experience in navigating complex business landscapes will be invaluable in aligning fiscal care with the company’s mission to revolutionise patient care. The company is officially certified under ISO13485, which means it complies with the standards of in vitro diagnostic companies. 🤝

APEX One

ImageBiopsy Lab

Well done to Richard Ljuhar, founder and CEO of ImageBiopsy Lab, for his nomination in this year’s brutkasten Innovator of the Year Awards in the Scaleups category. Every year, the Austrian platform for innovation and startups honours the most innovative minds in the country.

☑️ You can vote until 7 January, with winners announced on 10 January on this link.

Founder and CEO of ImageBiopsy Lab nominated for Innovator of the Year 2023 (bottom centre).

Morpher

Morpher, a trading platform and market protocol on the Ethereum blockchain, has served up a tasty new index, offering advice on all trades relating to the pizza industry. The index — an aggregate of several commodity markets, including wheat, tomatoes, onions, mozzarella and olive oil — reflects Morpher’s approach to converting real-world data into virtual markets. 🍕

OroraTech

Huge kudos to climate resilience company OroraTech for becoming one of the 10 finalists in the Founders Games GROW@COP contest — one of the world’s largest advanced innovation programmes and competitions for growth stage companies. After competing with 4,300 other contenders from 150 countries, OroraTech has a chance of winning $6million in funding at the Founders Games in Davos 2024 this January. 👏

Phantasma Labs

Phantasma Labs has joined forces with business consulting firm CREARO AGto bring its unique AI-driven technology to factories throughout Germany. This collaboration aims to further facilitate the adoption of cutting-edge AI technologies, enhancing planning and decision-making capabilities within factory settings. 🤝

sewts

Industrial automation and deep tech startup sewts is recognised for aligning with the policies of the RAL Gütegemeinschaft. It has once again achieved a RAL certificate for demonstrating a focus on quality assurance, market development and further training. ✅

SpleenLab

SpleenLab has developed an AI-based precision landing procedure for drones for US company DroneUp enabling fully automated landing with advanced obstacle detection. A recent interview with recognised UAV expert Jörg Schamuhn delves into application scenarios and the market potential of this technology. Read here.

T3K-Forensics

AI image detection service T3K-Forensics has been granted funding by Safe Online to intensify its fight against online child exploitation, specifically focusing on age assurance and live streaming abuse within the online Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) ecosystem. This grant supports T3K’s efforts to enhance its technology solutions for the protection of children online.

In a fantastic recent online panel discussion with Raphael Peralta and Thelma Zablocki from CardiaTec Biosciences and Ángel Alberich-Bayarri from Quibim, we explored the potential of AI in drug discovery and development. Key points included AI’s role in advancing cardiovascular disease research, its ability to process vast data quickly, and its role as a tool complementing human efforts. AI’s contributions to personalised medicine, disease prediction and the need for high-quality data were also under the spotlight.

Apex Ventures hosted an online panel with CardiaTec and Quibim.

In early December, we hosted our second Deep Tech Meetup in Munich at the office of kiutra, focusing on the latest developments in deep tech and quantum innovation. Despite snowy weather, the event saw a strong turnout, with attendees enjoying networking, insightful discussions, and a tour of kiutra’s quantum lab. The next meetup is scheduled for March 2024 — watch this space!

Ion Hauer (centre) presents at the Deep Tech Meetup in kiutra’s office.

Andreas Riegler, Dr. Diana Röttger and Ion Hauer headed to Helsinki for Slush 2024, billed as the most founder-focused event on earth! The global tech conference was not only a fantastic way to catch up with old friends but a great opportunity to make new connections with founders, investors and potential ecosystem partners for fantastic discussions on deeptech, techbio and healthtech topics.

The APEX Ventures team attends Slush in Helsinki. Top left image: Ion Hauer (left), Dr. Diana Röttger (centre) and Andreas Riegler (right).

It’s been a busy month for us in the news. APEX Ventures earned a spot on the list from BIS Research of the top 10 European investors actively engaging with deep tech startups.

Our Partner, Wolfgang Neubert and the Amadeus APEX Technology Fund have been featured by Sifted as it highlights promising semiconductor startups for 2024. The article showcases innovative startups from across Europe specialising in various semiconductor technologies. Principal Ion Hauer also shared his 2024 predictions for Quantum Technology with Sifted. He predicts that public funding programmes in quantum will exceed €15bn and private investments will reach €500m across the year. Read here what 2024 will look like for this sector.

Founding Partner Andreas Riegler highlighted the growing focus on startups building infrastructure for AI during an interview with Pitchbook at the Slush conference in Helsinki. While AI is expected to be a top priority for VC investments in 2024, Riegler emphasised the importance of investing in the foundational building blocks of AI technology.

Our very own Principal, Diana Röttger, recently connected with The Next Web about how AI can be an invaluable tool in solving some of the biggest challenges in healthcare. Diana predicts that in 2024, we will see significant strides made in the field of techbio, particularly in the promising area of generative AI for drug discovery. Read more about medtech innovation.

CardiaTech, based in Cambridge, UK, is raising a Seed round. Cardia Tech is applying artificial intelligence technology on large-scale multi-omic data to develop the next generation of cardiovascular disease drug targets.
Celeris Therapeutics, based in Graz, Austria, is raising a Seed round. Celeris is a deep learning company that uses innovative, computer-based methods to degrade undruggable targets. Celeris One exploits the potential of degrader technologies with accurate predictions of biomolecular interactions and the expansion of chemical space.
Kiutra, based in Munich, Germany, is raising a Series B round. It develops and manufactures B2B cooling systems for extremely low (Milli-Kelvin and Sub-Kelvin) temperatures to be used mainly in quantum technology. kiutra has developed a novel refrigeration system based on a cryogen-free magnetic cooling process known as Continuous Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigeration.
Quibim, based in Valencia, Spain, is raising a Series A round. The company develops technology to assist in the full process of imaging biomarkers integration, from the optimisation of the image acquisition in the equipment to the imaging biomarkers report integration.
Robeaute, based in Paris, France, is raising a pre-Series A round. It has developed a microrobot for neurological medical applications, which can navigate the brain with minimal invasiveness to collect crucial information to cure patients or deploy necessary medication. Currently, animal trials are being performed, and the team needs funding to conduct human trials in the future.
TriLite, based in Vienna, Austria, is raising a Series A extension round. TriLite designs and builds the world’s smallest projection displays with unprecedented size, weight and image quality. TriLite’s patented solutions are driven by proprietary software and deploy advanced machine-learning algorithms to generate ultra-compact laser beam scanning devices. This enables customers to accelerate the availability of leading-edge display solutions for mass-market AR applications.