DTCF | DeepTech & Climate Fonds

✨ As 2024 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on the #investments we made this year as well as some of the incredible #milestones achieved by our portfolio companies. 📌 We welcomed 6 new portfolio companies: 🧬 Abolis Biotechnologies received €35M to scale sustainable biomanufacturing globally, strengthening German-French collaboration. 🔋 cylib raised €55M to scale their end-to-end battery recycling process, setting the stage for Europe’s circular economy. 🛰️ LiveEO joined the portfolio with a €25M Series B to expand satellite-driven climate risk management solutions. ⚛️ planqc raised €50M to build quantum computers with neutral atoms, advancing Europe’s quantum tech leadership. ⚡ Proxima Fusion secured €20M to develop scalable fusion power plants, marking a breakthrough in emission-free energy. 🚀 The Exploration Company completed Europe’s largest-ever space tech Series B (€150M) to develop its reusable space capsule, Nyx. 📌 While it’s impossible to mention all the amazing things that happened this year, here’s a selection of highlights: 🔋 cylib broke ground on their industrial battery recycling facility in Dormagen and secured state funding for scaling. CEO Dr. Lilian Schwich was also recognized among Germany's top 30 visionaries shaping the future. 🚙 eze.network expanded EV charging infrastructure in Hamburg and attracted significant follow-on funding from Arcus Infrastructure Partners LLP. 🚛 FERNRIDE partnered with JOST World to advance logistics automation and celebrated their CEO Hendrik Kramer as "Logistics Person of the Year." 🔬 Kipu Quantum announced breakthrough results on IBM quantum hardware towards commercial quantum advantage, acquired quantum cloud platform: PlanQK and deepened collaborations with several industry leaders. ✨LiveEO launched a product to help companies ensure compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation by identifying deforestation risks within their supply chains. ⚛️ planqc was awarded to lead a project to build a 1,000-qubit quantum computer, opened a new HQ, and was named "Entrepreneurs of the Year" by EY and manager magazin. 💥 Proxima Fusion received the 2024 Gründerszene Impact Award and secured key contracts for their AI-driven fusion technology. 💡 xolo introduced the Xube² printer, revolutionizing material flexibility in 3D printing, and collaborated with SWAROVSKI to transform crystal glass production. 👷♂️Vemcon GmbH introduced its new vendor open MIC-Standard based 3D-tilt-rotator control system at the GaLaBau 2024 trade-fair. These achievements showcase the resilience & ingenuity of our founders, who are solving some of society’s hardest challenges. To our portfolio companies: thank you for your vision and hard work. We can’t wait to see what 2025 holds! Cyrille PAUTHENIER Gideon Schwich Nancy Valentine-Urbschat Enrique Solano Sven Przywarra Klaus Vossenkaul Alexander Glätzle Francesco Sciortino Hélène Huby 🕹️ Jan Rotard Stephan Kuehr

🌟 Our Bonn-based team has officially kicked off the winter season with a new addition! Please welcome Dr. Christopher Jahn, the newest member of our investment team! 🎉 Christopher brings an exceptional blend of expertise in biological systems and a passion for driving innovation in #biotech and #medtech. Based in Cologne, Christopher enjoys spending time with his two daughters and staying active through sports. He’s a big fan of ball games—especially soccer—and also loves snowboarding and practicing Jiu-Jitsu to unwind. 🥋 🧪Before joining DTCF in December 2024, Christopher was part of TVF | TechVision Fonds Fund, where he managed investments and portfolio companies in #LifeSciences. With a PhD in Molecular Medicine focused on tissue regeneration and a Certified Private Equity Analyst credential from Technische Universität München, his academic and professional background adds incredible depth to our team. We’re thrilled to have you on board, Christopher, and we can’t wait to see the impact you’ll make! 🚀 Elisabeth Schrey Tobias Faupel Torsten Löffler Günther Bogenrieder Lena Stache Cristina Doumitrachko Jana Kutter Tobias Weissgerber Jonas Sommer Dr. Anne-Kathrin Hinze Dr. Markus Düttmann Stephanie L. Stein

🌱 Last Monday, our colleagues Cristina Doumitrachko and Anke Gratz had the pleasure of hosting a Green Fuels Industry Briefing, invited by our friends at First Momentum Ventures. Together with an engaged audience of venture scouts, investors, and startup representatives, they explored the transformative role of #efuels in decarbonizing hard-to-electrify sectors like aviation and shipping. 🚢✈️ Here are some key takeaways: 🌍 #Decarbonization made possible: E-fuels offer a vital solution for reducing transport emissions, leveraging existing infrastructure for near-term impact. ⚙️ Risk vs. reward: While technological risks remain, startups with proven pilot data, strong partnerships, and clear #scaling strategies are poised to thrive. 💡 Innovation drives scale: Advances in chemical processes, materials, and modular designs are essential to overcoming production challenges. 🤝 Collaboration matters: #Regulatory support and cross-sector partnerships are accelerating progress, while robust capital stacks are critical for scaling green fuel production. 🚀 Check out our non-exhaustive list of #startups in this field. If you know companies that should be included, let us know in the comments—we’d love to hear from you! cc Elisabeth Schrey Tobias Faupel Torsten Löffler Tobias Weissgerber Dr. Anne-Kathrin Hinze Günther Bogenrieder Stephanie L. Stein Lena Späth

Hello, Berlin! 👋 This Monday, we celebrated our arrival in Berlin with friends from our portfolio, fellow funds, and the wider ecosystem. ✨   ❄️ The entire DTCF | DeepTech & Climate Fonds team came together for an evening filled with meaningful conversations and tasty bites. It was a joy to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new ones. A special highlight was having some of our portfolio teams—cylib, Kipu Quantum, LiveEO, and xolo —join us.   Thank you to everyone who made time to join us and toast to our new office. We truly appreciate the warm welcome from the Berlin DeepTech and ClimateTech community. 🌍   📸 Swipe through the pictures to relive the highlights of the evening! Elisabeth Schrey Tobias Faupel Torsten Löffler Günther Bogenrieder Lena Stache Cristina Doumitrachko Jana Kutter Tobias Weissgerber Christopher Jahn Jonas Sommer Dr. Markus Düttmann Anke Gratz Dr. Anne-Kathrin Hinze Stephanie L. Stein

Our portfolio company, Proxima Fusion, has been honored with the Gründerszene Impact Award 2024—a testament to the extraordinary impact of their groundbreaking technology! 🏆✨   The Gründerszene Impact Awards celebrate startups that combine innovation, sustainability, and societal impact across five categories. Proxima Fusion claimed the top spot in the Deeptech & AI category for their pioneering work in fusion energy.   On a mission to develop the world's first stellarator-based fusion power plant, Proxima's technology holds the promise of clean, emission-free, and reliable energy, paving the way for a truly sustainable energy future. 🌍🔋   Congratulations to the entire Proxima Fusion team on this well-deserved recognition! And a huge congrats also to the winners of the other four categories: alcemy (Climate Tech) Nosh.bio (Consumer Goods & Commerce), Puray (Health Tech), and COLIPI (Newcomer).   We’re incredibly proud to support Proxima Fusion as they redefine electricity generation for generations to come.   👉 Read the full (German) article here: https://lnkd.in/eSRyZMhH 📸 Picture taken by Lisa-Sophie Kempke Torsten Löffler Dr. Markus Düttmann Elisabeth Schrey Stephanie L. Stein Alix Chausson Tim Fronzek Felipe Lino Francesco Sciortino Lucio Milanese Jorrit Lion Martin Duffner Christina Scherzer Maximilian Webers

🌟 Did someone inspire your journey into entrepreneurship?   Lilian Schwich, Co-Founder and CEO of our portfolio company cylib, is inspired by the Hungarian-American inventor known as The Sun Queen: Mária Telkes. She was a pioneer in solar energy technologies who turned bold ideas into world-changing solutions.   “For me, Mária Telkes is a role model. She is best known for developing the first house with solar heating, demonstrating her dedication to applying scientific research to solve real-world problems. Despite facing skepticism and doubt, she focused on the how rather than the if, embodying an entrepreneurial mindset that bridged research and practical innovation, proving that what seemed impossible could be accomplished. Her work inspires me by showing the power of perseverance, creativity, and a solutions-oriented approach to challenges.”   At cylib, Lilian mirrors this visionary spirit. cylib’s cutting-edge battery recycling technology recovers critical elements like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, driving sustainable solutions for a circular economy. ♻️🔋 With plans to scale operations to an industrial level, cylib is helping Europe build a resilient battery infrastructure and redefine sustainability in practice. 🌍   Mária Telkes’ legacy lives on through leaders like Lilian, proving that perseverance and innovation can achieve the seemingly impossible. 🚀   ✨ This Inspirational Role Model Month, we celebrate the pioneers shaping our future. Stay tuned for more stories from our founders.   Cc Paul Sabarny Gideon Schwich Rebekka Mueller Elisabeth Schrey Tobias Weissgerber Stephanie L. Stein Porsche Ventures Bosch Ventures Speedinvest Vsquared Ventures 10x Founders World Fund NRW.BANK

🌍 A Decade of #EuropeanTech: Transformation, Resilience, and Potential 🌍 As we dive into the 10th edition of Atomico's State of European Tech, it's clear how far Europe has come over the past decade, from a niche ecosystem to a $3.2 trillion powerhouse. 🚀 Key Insights from 2024: 📈 Talent Boom: A sevenfold increase in the tech workforce since 2015, now at 3.5M. Europe is on track to rival the U.S. in talent within five years. 📈 Sustainability Leadership: 21% of funding in Europe targets sustainability—twice the share in the U.S. 📈 Unicorn Surge: From 72 in 2015 to over 300 today, showcasing Europe's growing ambition and ecosystem maturity. 📈 Challenges Ahead: A $375B growth-stage funding gap and regulatory fragmentation threaten Europe's momentum. For us, this report offers quantitative reasons to continue our work at DTCF: Focussing on deeptech and #climatetech startups in the early #growth stage. Our portfolio and many other scale ups embody the ambition #Europe needs to stay ahead. 🌱💡 Having backed startups in quantum computing, fusion energy, autonomous logistics, and more, we are strong believers in the opportunities, but also witness hurdles when scaling transformative technologies in Europe. There is still not enough growth-stage funding for #deeptech companies. And while we as a fund continue giving our very best to close this gap, we need more Series B and C funding within the next few years - until successful tech IPOs in Europe become a viable exit route. 📜 Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/dQK__DQq Elisabeth Schrey Tobias Faupel Torsten Löffler Dr. Markus Düttmann Dr. Anne-Kathrin Hinze Jonas Sommer Anke Gratz Stephanie L. Stein Günther Bogenrieder Lena Stache Cristina Doumitrachko Tobias Weissgerber Jana Kutter #StateofEuropeanTech #AtomicoReport

🌌 Exploring the Future of #Computing: One Year Later 🌌 Exactly a year ago, our Investment Manager Jonas Sommer shared his visionary article, "Five Hypotheses for Investing in the Future of Computing." 🧠 It highlighted transformative opportunities like #LLM memory innovation and the game-changing potential of hybrid quantum computing. A lot has happened since then! These insights continue to resonate, and we’ve made two landmark investments in quantum #technology: 🌟 Kipu Quantum (Dec 2023): Developing quantum algorithms with breakthrough compression technology, drastically reducing quantum resource requirements to achieve Quantum Advantage. 🌟 planqc (July 2024): Building quantum computers powered by nature’s best qubits—individual atoms—for unparalleled scalability. It’s thrilling to see these technologies advance toward real-world impact, and we’re proud to support the teams shaping the quantum future. 📖 Revisit Jonas’ insights: https://lnkd.in/e5qxRajf 🔗 Virtual Event Tip! On Friday, 22nd November, Kipu Quantum is hosting an engaging #QuantumComputing Meet-Up featuring their CEO Daniel Volz. Don’t miss this chance to explore: 💡 When we’ll see quantum advantage & which architecture will lead. 🔍 Real-world applications already proving quantum’s value. ⏰ Friday, 22nd November at 6 PM CET / 12 PM EST Register here: https://lnkd.in/dCNKrMc3 Tobias Grab Enrique Solano Joanna Folberth Alexander Glätzle Sebastian Blatt Johannes Zeiher Verena Zimmermann, CFA Torsten Löffler Lena Stache Stephanie L. Stein

🌟 TO THE STARS AND BEYOND! We’re over the moon to announce our participation in the biggest European space-tech Series B, welcoming The Exploration Company to our portfolio! 🌍🌌 Alongside lead investors Balderton Capital & Plural Ventures, joined by Bayern Kapital, Bessemer Venture Partners, and NGP Capital, and alongside existing supporters like EQT Ventures and Cherry Ventures, we’re thrilled to co-invest with French Tech Souveraineté (Bpifrance), marking the first time this two European sovereign funds have teamed up. This truly emphasizes TEC’s strategic European DNA.💫 🎥 Check out the heartfelt message from TEC Co-founder and CEO, Hélène Huby in the video! We are continuously inspired by her ambitious team demonstrating what’s possible in European space-tech when we come together. Or, as our Managing Director Tobias Faupel states: "We believe that The Exploration Company will redefine European leadership in space exploration and we are proud to back their mission together with other outstanding European investors." This marks our second space-tech venture (shoutout to our friends at LiveEO in Berlin! 👋), and we’re beyond excited. 🚀 As DTCF Investment Manager Jonas Sommer shares: "We are thrilled by TEC's vision to revolutionize the European space ecosystem as it was accomplished in the United States." 👉 Welcome aboard, Hélène Huby & the entire TECteam! We’re excited to the moon and back to witness your next adventures! 🌕🌟 📰 Read more in our official press release: Link 📰 For additional media coverage, check the comments below! ⬇️ Cc Elisabeth Schrey Torsten Löffler Lena Stache Dana Baki Matilda Alku Pierre Faucoup Mark Kirasich Artur Koop Eric MIQUEL Antoine Mondésert Najwa NAIMY Jon Reijneveld David Thevenon Melissa Negretti Khaled Helioui Stephanie L. Stein

🌍 The future of energy is evolving rapidly, with new technologies across bioenergy, hydrogen, and advanced energy storage leading the way toward a more sustainable world. In a recent feature by ClimateHack on the “50+ Energy Startups to Watch,” our own Cristina Doumitrachko shared some of the most exciting ventures transforming the energy landscape. 🚀 Alongside our investments in the charge point operator eze.network and fusion energy startup Proxima Fusion, Cristina highlighted two more innovative companies making waves: 🇩🇪 Voltfang – Delivering high-performance, sustainable energy storage by repurposing second-life EV batteries to offer eco-friendly, cost-efficient solutions for businesses. 🌱🔋 🇧🇷 BioHack – Supporting industries in reducing environmental impact by implementing circular economy principles and converting waste into valuable products. ♻️ From stellarator fusion to next-gen energy storage, the energy sector is brimming with transformative ideas that will reshape how we power our world. Read more in the article by Laura Hodgkiss: https://lnkd.in/etPNkvUW Elisabeth Schrey Dr. Anne-Kathrin Hinze Tobias Weissgerber Stephanie L. Stein