HTGF | High-Tech Gruenderfonds

The seed investor High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) finances tech start-ups with growth potential and has supported more than 700 start-ups since 2005. With the launch of its fourth fund, HTGF now has about 1.4 billion euros under management. Its team of experienced investment managers and start-up experts support young companies with expertise, entrepreneurial spirit and passion. HTGF’s focus is on high-tech start-ups in the fields of digital tech, industrial tech, life sciences, chemistry and related business areas. To date, external investors have injected about 5 billion euros of capital into the HTGF portfolio via more than 2,000 follow-on financing rounds. In addition, HTGF has already successfully sold shares in more than 170 companies. Fund investors in this public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital and 45 companies from a wide range of industries. Fund investors in this public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital and 45 companies from a wide range of industries.

Kay Balster

Senior Investment Manager

Jens Baumgärtner

Senior Investment Manager

Caßing, Anke

Principal

Tanja Emmerling

Partner / Head HTGF Berlin

Caroline Fichtner

Senior Investment Manager

Yann Fiebig

Investment Manager

Alex Von Frankenberg

Managing Director and Founder

Bernd Goergen

Partner

Hensel, Frank

Senior Investment Manager

Markus Kressmann

Partner

Kügler, Maurice

Investment Manager

Klaus Lehmann

Senior Investment Manager

Dominik Lohle

Senior Investment Manager

MacDonald, Curtis

Venture Partner

Andreas Olmes

Partner

Katharina Peters

Investment Manager

Claudia Raber

Partner

Dirk Sassmannshausen

Senior Financial Controller

Guido Schlitzer

Managing Director

Ulrich Schmitt

Principal

Romy Schnelle

Partner

Past deals in Embedded Software

Emproof

Seed Round in 2022
Emproof is a company based in Eindhoven, Netherlands, that specializes in security solutions for embedded systems. Founded in 2019, Emproof develops a security platform aimed at protecting the intellectual property within software used in these systems. The platform addresses various layers of the software security stack and employs formally verified code transformations to safeguard against industrial espionage. By offering robust information technology security, Emproof enables its clients to meet essential security properties and fulfill functional safety requirements.

Code Intelligence

Series A in 2022
Code Intelligence GmbH, founded in 2017 and based in Bonn, Germany, specializes in security software aimed at helping developers identify and address vulnerabilities in their code. The company offers an automated application security testing platform that utilizes coverage-based fuzzing and symbolic code execution to generate attack inputs, thereby facilitating the detection of critical vulnerabilities and crashes. This solution significantly reduces the need for extensive expert knowledge by establishing a continuous testing infrastructure. Code Intelligence serves a diverse clientele, including notable organizations such as Bosch, Deutsche Börse Group, and Deutsche Telekom, ensuring that their software remains secure and reliable.

Emteria

Seed Round in 2020
Emteria GmbH, based in Aachen, Germany, specializes in developing a custom Android operating system tailored for industrial applications. Founded in 2017, the company provides tools for building, customizing, and maintaining embedded Android platforms, catering to the needs of various industries. Emteria's solution integrates the benefits of Android with features such as kiosk mode, remote device access, and enhanced security, enabling clients to efficiently manage and scale their Android-based IoT devices. The platform supports automatic updates and offers a reliable cloud infrastructure that allows users to control firmware updates over the air. Emteria serves a diverse clientele, including global enterprises and niche vendors, by delivering a modern Android-based operating system designed for professional use cases and applications.

Erium

Seed Round in 2020
Erium GmbH, founded in 2019 and based in Garching bei München, Germany, develops software designed for creating artificial intelligence (AI) models. The company's flagship product, HALerium, provides an intuitive platform that enables professionals from various fields, including process experts, engineers, and production managers, to independently create AI models. This software facilitates applications in forensics, prediction, and control, effectively bridging the gap between knowledge management and model implementation. Erium's platform features a user-friendly programming interface, background computation with state preservation, access to cloud resources, and the capability to collect, structure, and interconnect information through interactive cards.

Code Intelligence

Seed Round in 2018
Code Intelligence GmbH, founded in 2017 and based in Bonn, Germany, specializes in security software aimed at helping developers identify and address vulnerabilities in their code. The company offers an automated application security testing platform that utilizes coverage-based fuzzing and symbolic code execution to generate attack inputs, thereby facilitating the detection of critical vulnerabilities and crashes. This solution significantly reduces the need for extensive expert knowledge by establishing a continuous testing infrastructure. Code Intelligence serves a diverse clientele, including notable organizations such as Bosch, Deutsche Börse Group, and Deutsche Telekom, ensuring that their software remains secure and reliable.

Inecosys

Seed Round in 2018
Inecosys GmbH, based in Munich, Germany, specializes in the development and manufacturing of engine systems and subsystems tailored for test bench control, data acquisition, cylinder pressure indexing, and engine control units. Founded in 2014, the company provides innovative solutions that support clients in creating prototypes and near-production systems. By offering software interfaces for engine control systems, Inecosys enhances the efficiency of engine development processes. Their intelligent control systems facilitate the transition from prototype to series production, allowing customers to achieve cost savings and increased flexibility through agile methodologies and automation.

Ferroelectric Memory Company

Seed Round in 2017
FMC is the provider of extremely efficient FeFET memory solutions for non-volatile storage. FeFET is ultra-low-power, high-performance, very dense, and extremely temperature stable. It will scale to transistor sizes ranging from 28nm to 5nm and below. The FMC team has been supported by “EXIST Forschungstransfer”, a program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The company is based in Dresden, Germany.FMC commercializes a disruptive material innovation that will solve this problem for current and future technology nodes, i.e. eNVM based on ferroelectric hafnium oxide (FE-HfO2). The unexpected physical effect of ferroelectricity in HfO2 allows for the transformation of classical high-k metal-gate (HKMG) transistors into nonvolatile ferroelectric field effect transistors (FeFET). In this way, MCUs can easily be scaled from e.g. 65 nm down to 28 nm and beyond enabling tremendous advantages for the overall system: SoC cost reduction of around 80%, per bit write energy reduction by a factor of 1000 and an overall performance gain of the system of around 70% due to the transition to advanced process nodes. Due to the close relation of FeFET and CMOS baseline, there is no roadblock for FMC’s technology to be applied to cutting-edge technology nodes like 22 nm FDSOI, 1X nm FinFET and beyond.

Synapticon

Venture Round in 2017
Synapticon is reshaping the world of motion control for robotics and machinery at the point of motion. The company introduces an entirely new approach to motion axes by integrating formerly discrete components, such as motors, drives, sensors and gearboxes into seamless units and digitalizing performance and quality factors that are so far dependent on costly mechanical manufacturing. Innovation leaders in robotics, automation and machinery around the world choose to work with Synapticon to path their way into the future of intelligent, motion control-related systems.

CommSolid

Seed Round in 2016
CommSolid is the cellular IP company providing leading edge ultra-low power solutions for the growing IoT market. This market demands highly optimized and easy to integrate communication solutions for the NarrowBand-IoT standard, allowing every sensor to be directly connected to the Internet. Once integrated into customer integrated circuits (ICs), their baseband Intellectual Property (IP) enables smart applications that modernize and enrich their life in areas like health care, smart home, transport, logistic systems, or industrial applications. Leveraging the experience of more than a decade at the forefront of the wireless communication business, they have unique capabilities to handle high volume and extremely integrated low power solutions.

CardioSecur

Series A in 2013
CardioSecur, a subsidiary of Personal MedSystems, focuses on innovative mobile health solutions, particularly in the realm of instant cardiac monitoring. The company has developed a smartphone-based ECG application that includes a specialized set of electrodes for efficient data collection. This application allows users to conduct personalized cardiac monitoring and facilitates the sharing of results with healthcare providers, enabling patients to receive timely recommendations on their health status in under a minute. By prioritizing ease of use and sophisticated design, CardioSecur aims to deliver professional-grade ECG technology for individuals, enhancing personal health management.

Ondeso

Seed Round in 2013
Ondeso specializes in developing software solutions tailored for industrial IT security, particularly for companies in manufacturing and production. Its SaaS-based platform allows businesses to manage operating systems in a process-oriented and manufacturer-independent manner. The software suite includes features such as secure patch management, software distribution, USB locking, and data protection for process networks. By enabling organizations to define their own release and security management processes, Ondeso helps minimize downtime, enhance safety, and support preventive maintenance, ultimately providing customers with greater control over their operational security.

Synapticon

Seed Round in 2012
Synapticon is reshaping the world of motion control for robotics and machinery at the point of motion. The company introduces an entirely new approach to motion axes by integrating formerly discrete components, such as motors, drives, sensors and gearboxes into seamless units and digitalizing performance and quality factors that are so far dependent on costly mechanical manufacturing. Innovation leaders in robotics, automation and machinery around the world choose to work with Synapticon to path their way into the future of intelligent, motion control-related systems.

Microstim

Venture Round in 2011
Microstim GmbH specializes in developing implantable myostimulators aimed at providing tissue maintenance and functional support for the heart. The company focuses on advanced microcontroller technology for the acquisition and processing of data, as well as the control of cardiac and muscle stimulation impulses. Its innovative devices facilitate wireless communication within the body, enhancing patient monitoring and care. The myostimulators are designed to assist muscle-powered cardiac functions, allowing patients to monitor stimulation levels and preventing overstimulation that could jeopardize therapy. Microstim GmbH gained recognition for its business model by winning a national business plan contest in 2008, highlighting its potential in the medical technology sector.

ubigrate

Series B in 2010
ubigrate is specialised powerful integration software to connect enterprise software with data from various intelligent devices, such RFID, Barcode, sensors, PLCs, industrial scales, and others. The company develops its own range of software products for process data capture in production and logistics. It is offered in the SaaS model under the "Geqoo" brand (see http://geqoo.ubigrate.com). ubigrate is also active in licencing its technology in the form of OEM-products for other technology companies.

SemiLev

Venture Round in 2010
SemiLev GmbH develops and markets Equipment Frontend Modules (EFEMs) and sorters for wafer-handling in the semiconductor industry. The company was founded in 2010 and is based in GroЯwallstadt, Germany.

SurgicEye

Series A in 2010
SurgicEye GmbH, founded in 2008 and headquartered in Munich, Germany, specializes in intra-operative imaging and instrument navigation solutions tailored for surgical procedures. The company offers several innovative products, including the declipse SPECT open surgery, a navigated radio-guided surgery system utilizing handheld 3-D freehand SPECT imaging technology; the declipse SPECT Laparascopy, an intraoperative 3D imaging system for performing invasive sentinel lymph node biopsies; and the declipse SPECT imaging probe, a mobile high-resolution SPECT imaging solution. Additionally, SurgicEye provides consulting services in medical device development, including requirement engineering, software specification, software development, and testing for medical devices, as well as support for designing and conducting clinical studies.

SciEngines

Venture Round in 2010
COPACOBANA, RIVYERA, SciEngines, FPGA high performance computers

sim4tec

Venture Round in 2009
sim4tec specializes in simulation software for organic electronics, offering tools for organic material analysis and OLED simulation. Their software is designed to facilitate comprehensive electrical characterization of organic materials, which aids engineers in research, device design, and quality control. With an intuitive user interface, sim4tec's products allow users to quickly engage with the calculation kernel, promoting faster learning and a deeper understanding of the underlying physical processes. By utilizing sim4tec's innovative solutions, developers can significantly reduce research and development costs while accelerating their product design cycles, ultimately enhancing product quality and decreasing time-to-market.

ubigrate

Seed Round in 2009
ubigrate is specialised powerful integration software to connect enterprise software with data from various intelligent devices, such RFID, Barcode, sensors, PLCs, industrial scales, and others. The company develops its own range of software products for process data capture in production and logistics. It is offered in the SaaS model under the "Geqoo" brand (see http://geqoo.ubigrate.com). ubigrate is also active in licencing its technology in the form of OEM-products for other technology companies.

Microstim

Seed Round in 2009
Microstim GmbH specializes in developing implantable myostimulators aimed at providing tissue maintenance and functional support for the heart. The company focuses on advanced microcontroller technology for the acquisition and processing of data, as well as the control of cardiac and muscle stimulation impulses. Its innovative devices facilitate wireless communication within the body, enhancing patient monitoring and care. The myostimulators are designed to assist muscle-powered cardiac functions, allowing patients to monitor stimulation levels and preventing overstimulation that could jeopardize therapy. Microstim GmbH gained recognition for its business model by winning a national business plan contest in 2008, highlighting its potential in the medical technology sector.

SurgicEye

Seed Round in 2008
SurgicEye GmbH, founded in 2008 and headquartered in Munich, Germany, specializes in intra-operative imaging and instrument navigation solutions tailored for surgical procedures. The company offers several innovative products, including the declipse SPECT open surgery, a navigated radio-guided surgery system utilizing handheld 3-D freehand SPECT imaging technology; the declipse SPECT Laparascopy, an intraoperative 3D imaging system for performing invasive sentinel lymph node biopsies; and the declipse SPECT imaging probe, a mobile high-resolution SPECT imaging solution. Additionally, SurgicEye provides consulting services in medical device development, including requirement engineering, software specification, software development, and testing for medical devices, as well as support for designing and conducting clinical studies.

mimoOn

Venture Round in 2008
mimoOn GmbH is the LTE pioneer in end-to-end software implementation and system design on SDR platforms. The company’s scalable and modular 3GPP LTE infrastructure software families mi!Femto™ & mi!Pico™ and terminal software family mi!Mobile™ allows equipment manufacturers to fully exploit the numerous benefits of SDR.

sim4tec

Venture Round in 2008
sim4tec specializes in simulation software for organic electronics, offering tools for organic material analysis and OLED simulation. Their software is designed to facilitate comprehensive electrical characterization of organic materials, which aids engineers in research, device design, and quality control. With an intuitive user interface, sim4tec's products allow users to quickly engage with the calculation kernel, promoting faster learning and a deeper understanding of the underlying physical processes. By utilizing sim4tec's innovative solutions, developers can significantly reduce research and development costs while accelerating their product design cycles, ultimately enhancing product quality and decreasing time-to-market.

Kröhnert Infotecs

Venture Round in 2007
Kröhnert Infotecs GmbH engages in the development and production of embedded systems for condition monitoring. It offers solutions for the prevention of failures of technical machines. The company’s system analyzes the behaviour of machines, and signals noise and parameters. Kröhnert’s embedded systems are provided to early recognize effects that cause future machine failures and deviations of machine behaviour. It supports manufacturers and operators of technical machines and plants with tools for condition monitoring and tele service. The company is based in Baden, Germany.

mimoOn

Venture Round in 2006
mimoOn GmbH is the LTE pioneer in end-to-end software implementation and system design on SDR platforms. The company’s scalable and modular 3GPP LTE infrastructure software families mi!Femto™ & mi!Pico™ and terminal software family mi!Mobile™ allows equipment manufacturers to fully exploit the numerous benefits of SDR.

eWave Interactive

Venture Round in 2006
eWave Interactive GmbH offers multiagent and AI technology that enables the video game industry to develop video and mobile games. Its products include eWave GameServer, a platform for multiplayer mobile games using GPRS or UMTS; eWave LicenceServer, a tool for copyright protection of video and mobile games; and eWave Synapse, an AI engine based on argumentation technology. eWave Interactive GmbH was founded in 2006 and is based in Ravensburg, Germany.

Netccm

Series A in 2006
The company netCCM GmbH is a world leader in software development for software architecture analysis, source code reengeneering and source code organization for reuse in different projects. With netCCM Studio it is possible to reduce development time of software into 2 times and to organize source code in such a way that many standard parts can be used many times in different projects. Today netCCM Studio works with most popular programming languages like Java, C, C++, C# and PHP.

Symtavision

Venture Round in 2006
Symtavision GmbH specializes in timing-analysis solutions tailored for processors, control units, buses, and integration within the automotive and consumer electronics sectors. Established in 2005 and headquartered in Braunschweig, Germany, the company offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed to identify bottlenecks from software and system integration, debug timing errors, and optimize system performance. Its product lineup includes an analysis engine, various plug-ins, and import/export interfaces. Additionally, Symtavision provides a range of services, including customized analyses, requirements assessment, tool interface integration, and productivity-enhancing plug-ins. The company also supports clients in analyzing and optimizing systems based on specific data and facilitates collaboration between original equipment manufacturers and suppliers. As of 2016, Symtavision operates as a subsidiary of Luxoft Holding.

Dresden Silicon

Venture Round in 2005
Dresden Silicon GmbH develops semiconductor intellectual property solutions for multistandard multimedia applications. Its signal processing solutions enable lowering of battery consumption of mobile devices. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Dresden, Germany.
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