High-Tech Grunderfonds

High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH, established in 2005 and based in Bonn, Germany, is a venture capital firm that specializes in early-stage investments in high-tech startups across various sectors, including information and communication technology, software, healthcare, and life sciences. The firm focuses on companies that are less than one year old and have a turnover of less than €10 million. High-Tech Gründerfonds typically invests between €0.5 million and €3 million, acquiring a minority stake of up to 25% in its portfolio companies. The firm often acts as the lead investor and provides follow-on financing, having facilitated over €2 billion in additional funding from external investors. With a commitment to nurturing innovation, it has supported the development of more than 500 startups and has successfully exited over 100 investments. The firm’s backing includes participation from various public and private entities, reflecting its role as a key player in the German startup ecosystem.

Marie Asano

Investment Manager

Michael Brandkamp Ph.D

Managing Director

Tobias Faupel

Principal

Bernd Georgen

Partner

Gregor Haidl

Investor

Ansgar Kirchheim

Partner

Kristin Müller

Investment Manager

Claudia Raber

Partner Relationship Management

Michael Strzyz

Investment Manager

Past deals in Computer Vision

Blickfeld

Series A in 2021
Blickfeld GmbH manufactures light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors. Its product helps to survey near-infrared light to detect the shape of objects, allowing autonomous vehicles to see, and analyze the world around them. The company also develops object detection and mapping software which measures the data provided by the sensors and helps in city planning, connected mobility, real-time mapping, and usage pattern analysis. The company caters to automotive, transportation, industrial, and robotics sectors. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in Munich, Germany.

Operaize

Seed Round in 2021
Operaize GmbH, based in Cologne, Germany, specializes in developing an artificial intelligence platform known as Cognitive Operations, which is designed to enhance production planning for manufacturing clients. This cloud-based platform integrates seamlessly with existing planning landscapes through APIs or specialized SAP integration, addressing various planning challenges. Cognitive Operations efficiently collects and restructures planning and master data from current ERP and planning systems, allowing it to generate optimal production plans within seconds based on predefined conditions and objectives. Additionally, the platform supports clients in identifying potential faults, risks, and failures in their operations, enabling them to devise effective strategies to mitigate these issues and improve overall efficiency in the industrial value chain.

SKY ENGINE AI

Seed Round in 2021
About Sky Engine Sky Engine is an advanced data science technology and research company that develops innovative software solutions to improve computer vision. The company markets the Sky Engine deep learning platform, which is the next-generation of self-learning AI system for image and video analysis applications. The company was founded as a research and scientific spin-off in UK. About Sky Engine Platform The Sky Engine evolutionary AI platform for the deep learning in virtual reality is designed to overcome the complex object recognition challenges of modern machine/computer vision. It represents the future of self-learning in artificial intelligence technology, supporting efficient and cost effective workflows. Many image recognition tasks require acquisition of large amounts of data and manual data labelling. Sky Engine is designed to replace that. Sky Engine efficiently drives self-learning processes and offers advanced features for object discrimination, workflow automation and adaptive deep learning. Sky Engine is designed for tomorrow’s requirements in advanced analytics and decision support enabling AI business transformation. About Sky Engine client solutions Sky Engine creates flexible and innovative AI vision solutions tailored to customer needs and supports a wide range of industries, providing systems for a variety of data science needs, ensuring business partners get greater value from existing equipment.

Magazino

Series B in 2020
Magazino develops and builds perception-controlled, mobile robots for intralogistics. With Magazinos technology individual objects can be identified on the shelf and localized via 2D and 3D cameras, securely grasped and finally placed precisely at their destination.The first self-thinking and self-acting warehouse in the world - that is their vision. With their work they want to promote the development of robotics and actively shape the future of logistics.

PXL Vision

Seed Round in 2020
PXL Vision AG is a Swiss technology company founded in 2017 and headquartered in Zurich. The company specializes in designing and developing software solutions for identity verification and customer onboarding. Its primary product, Daego, utilizes advanced document and identity verification to create trusted digital identities for users. PXL Vision employs cutting-edge computer vision and machine learning technologies, leveraging expertise from former key employees of Dacuda AG, an award-winning computer vision firm. The company also has research and development centers in Novi Sad, Serbia, and Yerevan, Armenia, enhancing its capabilities in innovative software development.

Blickfeld

Series A in 2020
Blickfeld GmbH manufactures light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors. Its product helps to survey near-infrared light to detect the shape of objects, allowing autonomous vehicles to see, and analyze the world around them. The company also develops object detection and mapping software which measures the data provided by the sensors and helps in city planning, connected mobility, real-time mapping, and usage pattern analysis. The company caters to automotive, transportation, industrial, and robotics sectors. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in Munich, Germany.

Dotscene

Seed Round in 2019
dotscene GmbH develops three dimensional (3D) laser scanner for real estate industry. It offers the laser scanning system, dotcube 600k, which is used on foot, drones and vehicles. It creates computer aided design (CAD) models, true-to-scale floor plans and facade projections. The company also develops a mobile laser data acquisition software, utilizing simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithms of mobile robotics to convert indoor and outdoor environment into 3D models. The company was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Freiburg, Germany.

Eyeware

Seed Round in 2019
Eyeware Tech SA is a Swiss company established in 2016, specializing in 3D eye tracking software known as GazeSense. This innovative software utilizes advanced computer vision algorithms to enable consumer cameras and devices to capture and analyze eye gaze, head, and face movements. Eyeware's technology enhances human-machine interaction across a variety of fields, including social robotics, automotive, smart home applications, healthcare, gaming, industrial automation, retail, and advertising. By offering solutions that interpret user attention, intention, and interest, Eyeware aims to improve engagement between humans and technology, thus facilitating more intuitive interactions in everyday environments.

Blickfeld

Seed Round in 2018
Blickfeld GmbH manufactures light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors. Its product helps to survey near-infrared light to detect the shape of objects, allowing autonomous vehicles to see, and analyze the world around them. The company also develops object detection and mapping software which measures the data provided by the sensors and helps in city planning, connected mobility, real-time mapping, and usage pattern analysis. The company caters to automotive, transportation, industrial, and robotics sectors. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in Munich, Germany.

Blickfeld

Seed Round in 2017
Blickfeld GmbH manufactures light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors. Its product helps to survey near-infrared light to detect the shape of objects, allowing autonomous vehicles to see, and analyze the world around them. The company also develops object detection and mapping software which measures the data provided by the sensors and helps in city planning, connected mobility, real-time mapping, and usage pattern analysis. The company caters to automotive, transportation, industrial, and robotics sectors. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in Munich, Germany.

immersight

Venture Round in 2016
ImmerSight GmbH is a German company specializing in virtual reality solutions, particularly through its innovative ImmerSight glasses. These glasses create a high level of spatial perception by providing individual images for each eye, resulting in a vivid three-dimensional experience. The ImmerSight system can be utilized with various notebooks, allowing users to visualize interior designs in real-time during the planning phases. This technology is integrated with PaletteCAD, a 3D architecture software that supports various applications, including interior design, construction of custom features, and real estate marketing. Additionally, ImmerSight offers the 3D-Showroom platform, a software solution tailored for virtual exhibitions. Founded in 2012 and based in Ulm, Germany, ImmerSight continues to expand its offerings in the realm of immersive virtual experiences across multiple industries.

immersight

Seed Round in 2014
ImmerSight GmbH is a German company specializing in virtual reality solutions, particularly through its innovative ImmerSight glasses. These glasses create a high level of spatial perception by providing individual images for each eye, resulting in a vivid three-dimensional experience. The ImmerSight system can be utilized with various notebooks, allowing users to visualize interior designs in real-time during the planning phases. This technology is integrated with PaletteCAD, a 3D architecture software that supports various applications, including interior design, construction of custom features, and real estate marketing. Additionally, ImmerSight offers the 3D-Showroom platform, a software solution tailored for virtual exhibitions. Founded in 2012 and based in Ulm, Germany, ImmerSight continues to expand its offerings in the realm of immersive virtual experiences across multiple industries.

Magazino

Seed Round in 2014
Magazino develops and builds perception-controlled, mobile robots for intralogistics. With Magazinos technology individual objects can be identified on the shelf and localized via 2D and 3D cameras, securely grasped and finally placed precisely at their destination.The first self-thinking and self-acting warehouse in the world - that is their vision. With their work they want to promote the development of robotics and actively shape the future of logistics.

Inreal Technologies

Venture Round in 2013
Inreal Technologies GmbH offers virtual reality terminal, which provides architecture visualization. Its solutions allow customers to visually immerse themselves in planned environments by using goggles with integrated screens and improve decision-making processes in residential and commercial building. The company was founded in 2011 and is based in Karlsruhe, Germany.

Bionic Robotics GmbH

Seed Round in 2013
Bionic Robotics GmbH (formerly BioRob) - the smarter solution for flexible automation in small and medium enterprises.

Eyesight & Vision GmbH

Seed Round in 2011
Eyesight & Vision GmbH, founded in 2010 and based in Nürnberg, Germany, specializes in the development and marketing of diagnostic equipment for refractive errors, particularly in the context of cataract surgery. The company produces the Intraoperative Ocular Wavefront Aberrometer (I-O-W-A), which assists surgeons in optimizing the selection and positioning of intraocular lenses (IOLs). This innovative system employs patented "flying spot" technology to deliver real-time measurements of refractive errors and features a 3D Head-Up Display for binocular input reflection. By integrating seamlessly with existing surgical microscopes, the I-O-W-A aims to enhance the predictability of refractive outcomes and improve overall patient satisfaction during lens surgery.

Caterna Vision

Venture Round in 2011
Caterna Vision Gmbh develops and markets treatment software for therapeutic applications in ophthalmology. The company offers its technology to physicians and patients through a telemedical therapy platform on the Internet. It provides caterna vision therapy of visual training supplementary to occlusion therapy for children with amblyopia or lazy eye. Caterna Vision Gmbh company is based in Potsdam, Germany.

Curefab

Venture Round in 2010
Curefab provides technology to assess diagnostic image data in an objective quantitative way. This increases diagnostic certainty and allows an early detection of cardio vascular or oncological diseases.

Confovis

Seed Round in 2009
The confovis GmbH was founded in 2009 as high-tech company in Jena for realisation of the patented idea of confocal area scan in products. confovis has developed an innovative optical process for the non-contact 3D scanning of surfaces, which allows for direct analysis in the production environment. Through the patented confovis technology, it is possible to monitor the geometric composition of fine surfaces during every step of development and production. Processes can be directly controlled and optimized, so standards can be checked in a cost- and time-efficient manner. The confovis technology is based on structured LED lighting. Unlike in conventional confocal microscopy, during the scanning process, there is no rotating pinhole disk or other moving mechanical parts, such as the use of scanning mirrors. Instead, the necessary depth selection is ensured through the analysis of an illumination pattern in the focal plane. A static mask coordinates the rays of the quickly activated light sources.

VisuMotion

Series A in 2007
The VisuMotion Team consists of accredited experts having profound and long-lasting experience in the field of 3D visualisation. Their team members have been involved in far more than 100 protective right applications pertaining to 3D visualization and have been instrumental in the development of the world-wide largest glasses-free Multi-View 3D-display, the first live/live broadcast from a stereocamera onto a Multi-View 3D-display, the first glasses-free 3D projection suited for daylight as well as in various Cutting Edge software products for spatial representation.

VisuMotion

Venture Round in 2006
The VisuMotion Team consists of accredited experts having profound and long-lasting experience in the field of 3D visualisation. Their team members have been involved in far more than 100 protective right applications pertaining to 3D visualization and have been instrumental in the development of the world-wide largest glasses-free Multi-View 3D-display, the first live/live broadcast from a stereocamera onto a Multi-View 3D-display, the first glasses-free 3D projection suited for daylight as well as in various Cutting Edge software products for spatial representation.

Symtavision

Venture Round in 2006
Symtavision GmbH provides timing-analysis solutions for processors, control-units, buses, and integration for the automotive and consumer electronics markets. Its tool suite detects bottlenecks arising from software and system integration, understands and debugs timing errors, compare alternatives, and optimize systems. The company's products include analysis engine, plug-ins, and import and export interfaces. It also offers services, including customizations and special analyses, such as requirements analysis and product selection, realization of tool interfaces and integration into existing design flows, analysis libraries for special components, and plug-ins for increased productivity; and analysis and optimization services, including identification and selection of data, analysis and optimization of systems based on given data, and support for performance specification sheets between OEM and supplier. Symtavision GmbH was founded in 2005 and is based in Braunschweig, Germany.