HV Capital

At HV, we believe in empowering the next generation of visionary founders and accelerating cutting-edge innovation across frontier technologies. 🚀 💻 That’s why we’re excited to announce that we've partnered with the Oxbridge AI Challenge, one of the leading AI-based student startup competitions dedicated to empowering the top AI talent in the UK emerging from the exceptional ecosystems of Oxford and Cambridge. This collaboration reflects a shared vision of combining strategic investment expertise with world-class AI innovation, enabling ambitious AI entrepreneurs to scale their ideas and impact. We’re thrilled to play a role in fostering the growth of startups from two of the world’s most renowned academic and entrepreneurial hubs. 🤝 Zuzanna had the privilege of participating as a jury member at this year’s Oxbridge AI Challenge event, alongside industry leaders from Microsoft, Entrepreneur First, Taylor Wessing, and more. The event showcased some of the most exciting early-stage AI startups. Congratulations to all the award winners! 🏆 A special thank you to the Oxbridge AI Challenge team for their collaboration and dedication to driving innovation forward. We look forward to continuing this journey together, supporting founders from the earliest stages and helping them scale to new heights. Here’s to shaping the future of AI, together! cc: Zuzanna Czapinska, Udai D., Francisco Morejón, Joshua Lim Y., Oxbridge-AIx, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford

🚨 CALLING SCALEUPS WITH 250+ EMPLOYEES, €50M+ NET TURNOVER, AND/OR €25M + BALANCE SHEET TOTAL 🚨 Could your company fall under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)? Despite delays in transposing the law in Germany, if your company is an EU business with 250+ employees, €50M+ net turnover, or a €25M+ balance sheet total—and hits two of these three markers for two consecutive financial years by FY 2025—you may be required to disclose your sustainability data under the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). What could this mean for you? 🤔 CSRD goes beyond compliance; it's an opportunity to transform how you report your environmental and social impact. By aligning your sustainability goals with EU standards, you can showcase your progress and demonstrate the real impact of your efforts to your customers, investors, and the competition. "CSRD is a game changer for scaleups. By focusing on material issues that directly impact business performance, it can transform ESG from a checkbox exercise into a growth driver." says Marie Bos, VP ESG at HV. So, what happens if you don’t comply? ⚖️ Non-compliance can lead to hefty penalties—up to €10 million or 5% of annual turnover—and even potential legal consequences for directors. But don’t panic—there are resources available to help you navigate this shift and turn it into a strategic advantage. Where to start? 🏁 Our partner lfca.earth - Community | Leaders for Climate Action offers a tailored CSRD and Sustainability Reporting Course designed specifically for scaleups. This course provides practical tools to navigate compliance, including guidance on defining your value chain, identifying stakeholders, and integrating sustainability reporting into your growth strategy. "Having supported over 250 companies with CSRD, we recommend focusing on these key learnings: 💡Learn from practitioners and take ownership of CSRD internally rather than fully outsourcing it to consultancies. 💡Involve your finance team from the very beginning to ensure alignment. 💡Start early and prioritize structured education instead of trying to figure it all out on your own. By keeping these focus areas in mind, you can save tens of thousands of euros, hundreds of hours, and significantly enhance the quality of your report." — Philippe Singer, lfca.earth - Community | Leaders for Climate Action Want to learn more about CSRD and LFCA's CSRD and Sustainability Reporting Course ? Check the link in the comments below! 👇

Its been great connecting with founders, investors and the broader VC community with the team attending some of the most anticipated events in the European tech ecosystem. Here’s a quick roundup of some key moments this winter. ❄️ Slush 2024 was the highlight of the month, bringing together innovators, investors, and founders in Helsinki. HV’s team—Barbod, Christian, Fabian, Said, Kasey-Leigh, Zuzanna, Frederic, Maxi, Ann-Christin, and Manal—were front and center, connecting with the next wave of European entrepreneurs. Julius Koehler (sennder) took the Founders Stage, while Maria Raga (Depop) and Jochen Engert (Flix) spoke on the Impact Stage about exits and green transportation. Of course, Slush wouldn’t be complete without the Legendary Poker Tournament, hosted alongside OpenOcean, and the much-anticipated Kickoff Drinks—where old and new friends gathered to beat the cold. 🃏 At The Europas 100, Rainer Märkle took the stage alongside Pedro Ribeiro Santos (Armilar) and Monik Pham (Pact VC) to discuss A Tale of Two Markets – Is AI Skewing the Market? The panel focused on how AI is driving market shifts, from valuations to geopolitical impacts. Key takeaways included: 💡The market hasn’t collapsed but recalibrated—early-stage investments remain strong, and growth-stage investing is picking up. 💡AI is moving beyond hype to deliver real-world, application-driven value. How shifting dynamics between founders and investors are shaping the VC landscape in a post-AI world. At Web Summit, Rainer joined Pär-Jörgen Pärson (Northzone) and Cristina Fonseca (Indico Capital Partners) for a panel on What’s Next for European VC? moderated by Mike Butcher (TechCrunch). With the market adjusting, the discussion centered on Europe’s future in venture capital. Highlights included: 💡The market’s resilience: Early-stage deal flow is strong, with growth-stage investing on the rise as expectations align. 💡AI’s practical application: VCs are focusing on AI solutions with defensible USPs. 💡Opportunities in a more selective VC landscape, with a focus on AI, deep tech, and sustainability. 💡Europe’s need to build a competitive edge in the global tech economy. Winter's been a month of high-impact conversations, meaningful connections, and inspiration for the year ahead. Here’s to more exciting moments in 2025! 🎉

🚀 Progression Over Perfection: The State of DEI in German Startups Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is no longer a fringe topic in Germany’s startup ecosystem—but the journey from awareness to action is far from complete. According to Technical University of Munich's latest DEI study what makes a startup truly thrive is not just innovation—but inclusion. Despite growing recognition of DEI’s importance, the findings reveal continued resistance and misunderstandings within the ecosystem. Many still equate DEI with quotas or additional bureaucracy, missing the point that it’s a catalyst for innovation. At its core, DEI is about fostering inclusion, creating better representation, and cultivating diverse work environments—key drivers of creativity and success in today’s competitive landscape. Here’s what the study found: 🔹 64% of startups still have no DEI initiatives in place. 🔹 46% of women founders report experiencing significant discrimination, compared to just 15% of men. 🔹 Misunderstandings around DEI remain widespread, with many treating it as a compliance burden rather than a growth opportunity. For DEI to be truly integrated, it must go beyond surface-level commitments and be embedded into a company's core values and culture. Startups, VCs, and policymakers must work together to lead by example, proving that DEI isn’t just a checkbox for ESG reports but a strategic advantage. 💡 Anna Ott’s take: With over 25 years in the tech and HR industry, Anna, HV’s VP of People, has backed startups, scale-ups, and our portfolio of 225+ companies. Her expertise highlights that inclusive workplaces not only foster loyalty and resilience but also drive innovation, which ultimately leads to better products and services. Moving forward, DEI should be seen as a long-term strategy—“progress over perfection.” Although there’s still work to do, the positive trends emerging from this research are encouraging. Let’s continue pushing for change and creating inclusive environments that unlock the full potential of our ecosystem. A huge thank you to Isabell Welpe, Prof. Dr. Theresa Treffers, Nadja Born, Bernhard Eichiner LL.M., Elfriede Kerschl, Angie Gifford, Florian Noell, Martin Schilling, as well as Startup-Verband, AllBright Stiftung, encourageventures e.V., and Verband deutscher Unternehmerinnen e.V. (VdU) for their incredible contributions in putting this study together. Read more about the study’s finding in the link in the comments below. 👇

HV portfolio company CoachHub - The digital coaching platform secures €40 million in growth financing to fuel AI innovation and product expansion! 🚀 The round, led by HSBC Innovation Banking UK, marks an exciting step forward in CoachHub’s journey to revolutionize workforce development. This new capital will enable CoachHub to: ✅ Accelerate their investment in cutting-edge AI technologies. ✅ Expand their innovative product offerings to serve a global audience. ✅ Empower more organizations to tackle complex talent development challenges with personalized coaching solutions. With a network of 3,500 certified business coaches spanning 90 countries and offering coaching sessions in 80+ languages, CoachHub is already making a profound impact for over 1,000 clients worldwide. 🌍 "AI plays a crucial role in our growth strategy, allowing us to deliver powerful, personalized coaching experiences at scale to meet the evolving needs of our clients. This strategic capital marks a significant milestone as we further our mission to democratize coaching, making it accessible and impactful for people worldwide – especially at a time when support and resilience are critical to navigating change.” said Matti Niebelschütz, CEO of CoachHub - The digital coaching platform. HV Capital is proud to have backed CoachHub since 2019 and congratulates Matti Niebelschütz, Yannis Niebelschuetz and the entire CoachHub team on this incredible achievement! 🎉 Find out more in the link in the comments below. 👇 cc: David Kuczek

🚛 How do you transform setbacks into growth opportunities? David Nothacker, co-founder and CEO of sennder, shares how Europe’s leading digital road freight forwarder has navigated challenges to accelerate its growth journey. From humble beginnings—working and living with his co-founders—to scaling operations across Europe, David reveals how sennder has consistently turned obstacles into stepping stones. With a focus on transparency, agility, and a culture of learning, sennder has matured into a market leader, advancing the digitalization of road logistics. Key Insights from the interview: 1️⃣ Early success hinges on strong bonds, a shared vision, and spontaneous problem-solving. 2️⃣ Setbacks are often the launchpad for the next phase of growth. 3️⃣ Bringing in new talent and listening to their expertise can redefine and elevate a team. 4️⃣ Balancing a culture of learning from failure with accountability minimizes serious mistakes. 5️⃣ Clear communication tools, like memos, ensure transparency and agility in decision-making. Want to know how sennder approaches risk, tackles growing pains, and plans its next big move? 📖 Read the full interview by Max Floetotto and Tobias Henz via the link in the comments below!

Are companies fully unlocking the potential of their data? A survey by HV portfolio company One Data reveals that while many companies believe they're harnessing the power of their data, there's a significant gap between perception and reality. 🔍 59% of businesses struggle with poor data quality. 📉 Only 17% have a dedicated data team or Chief Data Officer (CDO) to drive strategy. ⚡ Key business areas like supply chain and production remain underutilized, missing opportunities for cost savings and productivity gains. Data is critical to the future of AI, GenAI, and other transformative technologies, but it requires a strong strategy and governance to be effective. Companies that can turn raw data into valuable insights will be positioned to lead in a competitive global market. At HV, we’re proud to back One Data in their mission to help companies unlock the full potential of their data and drive smarter decision-making. To check out the full report and learn more, check out the link in the comments below👇

🚀🎙 Startup Insider Expert Ranking 2024 🏆 With over 3,500 podcast episodes, Startup Insider is a staple of the German startup scene, delivering daily deep dives into funding news and market trends through formats like Investments & Exits, and Checkpoint. We’re proud to see HV recognized as one of the most active VCs featured in their expert rankings this year. Shoutout to our incredible team—Kee (Kerstin) Eismann, Barbod Namini, Jan Miczaika, Felix Klühr, David Stefan Fischer, Said Alib Haschemi, and Jannis Fett! Ready to catch up on the latest? 🎧 Tune in on Spotify in the link in the comments below or explore Startup Insider’s venture capital database.

With 25+ years of shaping People & Culture strategies, Anna Ott has spent her career helping people and companies unlock their full potential. 🤝 Now, she’s taking that expertise to a new stage as a VC Platform Board Member! 🎉 So, why is this a big deal? The VC Platform is a vital community for professionals driving value beyond capital within venture firms. From talent development to operational strategy, it’s all about scaling platforms that empower both portfolio companies and the broader industry. As a board member, Anna will help guide and elevate this critical function. At HV, Anna leads on all things people and culture, advising portfolio companies and building a strong foundation for growth. 💡 Her philosophy? “Focus on progression over perfection. Most of the time, those around you—especially if you're the only person in your role—will value your growth and development over flawless execution.” Want to know more about Anna’s journey and her insights? Check out the full spotlight in the link in the comments below. 👇

KoRo Secures €35 Million in Oversubscribed Series C Funding Round to Accelerate European Expansion! 🎉 KoRo, the better-for-you snacking brand with over 2 million customers across Europe, has successfully closed an oversubscribed €35 million Series C funding round. The round was led by Coefficient Capital and saw continued participation from HV, Five Seasons Ventures, Partech, Haub Legacy, and SevenVentures. This new funding will enable KoRo to further strengthen its omnichannel presence, accelerate its product innovation pipeline, and continue expanding its footprint across France, Italy, and Benelux. The company also plans to enhance its customer experience and distribution networks to support growth in these key regions. 🌍 With over 13,000 points of sale across major European chains like Edeka, REWE, Albert Heijn, and B-Corp™ certification achieved in 2024, KoRo is solidifying its position as one of Europe’s leading snacking brands. “Thanks to the outstanding work of our team, we’re well on track to build a truly European omnichannel Love Brand. Many exciting projects and partnerships are already planned for 2025 — there's much more to come from KoRo!” Florian Schwenkert, CEO of KoRo. Big congrats to Constantinos Calios, Florian Schwenkert, and the entire KoRo team! cc Alexander Joel-Carbonell, Jannis Fett