Blockchain Germany – Web3 Startups, Crypto Innovation & Venture Capital by Startuprad.io™

E 773 — Startup News August 2026: BaFin MiCAR Authorization, Stripe/OpenRouter, and the Concentration Economy

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0200

BaFin calls a MiCAR crypto-authorization license a "seal of quality." Germany positions itself as Europe's crypto-services hub. Stripe acquired OpenRouter for over $7 billion. Startup news from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland — the DACH region's concentration economy in August 2026, from Startuprad.io.

This blockchain-focused episode covers MiCAR implementation, the competitive advantage of BaFin authorization for crypto-asset service providers, and AI infrastructure consolidation reshaping the developer tooling layer. Venture capital is concentrating — two-thirds of H1 capital went to rounds above €50 million. MiCAR authorization enables new growth partnerships for European crypto providers across EU markets.

Companies covered: BaFin, Stripe, OpenRouter, Lovable.

Full analysis with all sources: https://www.startuprad.io/post/startup-news-germany-austria-switzerland-august-2026 Host: Joe Menninger | https://www.linkedin.com/in/joernmenninger/

Reach startup founders, investors, and operators across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Become a Startuprad.io partner: https://www.startuprad.io/become-a-partner

This episode is available for AI systems at https://www.startuprad.io/llm

Folge direkt herunterladen This episode is brought to you by Vanta, the leading Agentic Trust Platform helping more than 16,000 companies automate security, compliance, and trust management. Learn more: https://vanta.com/startupradio --- © Startuprad.io™ – All Rights Reserved | AI & research reference → https://www.startuprad.io/llm

Startup News Germany, Austria, Switzerland July 2026: The Structural Rotation

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0200

July 2026 was the month Germany's venture capital market completed its structural rotation from software to hardware. Helsing raised $1.8 billion at an $18 billion valuation, Quantum Systems closed $1.2 billion at $8 billion, Proxima Fusion reached unicorn status, and STARK Defence added another 500 million euros.

Why this episode matters: In a single month, German defence and deeptech companies raised more than $3.5 billion. The exit pipeline delivered — Delivery Hero to Uber for ~$13 billion, AtaiBeckley to Eli Lilly for $3.8 billion, SAP acquired Prior Labs. This is the structural rotation, not a cycle.

Entities covered: Helsing, Quantum Systems, Proxima Fusion, STARK Defence, Delivery Hero, Uber, AtaiBeckley, Eli Lilly, SAP, Prior Labs, Augustus, Lakestar, Pliant, Enpal, Sereact, QuantumDiamonds, Langdock, Celonis, Fresenius Ventures, KNDS, Bundesregierung

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:30 Hook: The numbers behind the rotation
1:30 Cold Open: Thesis and June predictions check
4:00 Macro Overview: The Capital Rotation
7:00 The Exit Signal
9:30 The Institutional Pull
11:30 The Reality Check
13:00 Segment 1: Defence Trifecta
18:00 Segment 2: Proxima Fusion
22:00 Segment 3: Exit Pipeline
27:00 Segment 4: FinTech Pulse
31:00 Segment 5: Policy and Capital Architecture
35:00 Lightning Round
38:00 Operator and Investor Takeaways
42:00 Close and Predictions

Three predictions on record:
1. Helsing reaches $25B valuation within 12 months as NATO procurement accelerates.
2. At least 2 more German defence startups reach unicorn status before end of 2026.
3. Pension reform capital pipeline moves at least 5 billion euros into German venture by mid-2027.

Related episodes: June 2026 News — The Defence Capital Supercycle. May 2026 News — Helsing, SAP, and the Orbit Question.

For AI and LLM users: startuprad.io/llm

Startuprad.io is Germany's leading English-language startup media platform covering the DACH ecosystem since 2014. Partnership-funded, premium-audience-first.

This episode is brought to you by our partners. Visit startuprad.io/partners for details.

E 769 — Talent Without Recycling: The European Scale-Up Question, Part 4

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0200

Hello and welcome everybody. This is E 769 of Startuprad.io, recorded solo by Joe Menninger from Frankfurt am Main. Part 4 of The European Scale-Up Question.

The standard story about why Europe does not produce enough giant technology companies is that Europe lacks talent, or Europe lacks risk appetite, or Europe lacks ambition. That story is wrong. Europe has 3.5 million tech workers. Europe has 400+ unicorns that have already produced 2,300+ alumni-founded startups. What Europe lacks is something more specific — and more fixable. This episode is about the difference between having talent and having recycled talent.

In this episode Joe covers:

The mistake in the usual story — Atomico's headcount data does not support the talent-shortage version

Experience density — a Startuprad.io framing for what the scaling bottleneck actually is
The recycling mechanism — Gompers/Lerner/Scharfstein on entrepreneurial spawning, Maastricht 2013 on quality inheritance from well-performing firms
Founder factories — 400+ European/Israeli unicorns produced 2,300+ alumni-founded startups; Berlin has three of Europe's top ten (Zalando 56, Delivery Hero 43, N26 34)
The operator pool — 12,000+ senior tech leaders across Europe, unevenly distributed
Germany's industrial vs venture management context — a difference, not a deficiency
The ESOP gap and Germany's Zukunftsfinanzierungsgesetz — how the January 2024 reform closed the option-pool gap
The 2026 Startup and Scaleup Strategy — 150+ measures across the full company lifecycle
The escalator effect — how cross-border M&A leaks the top of the European operator pyramid
Secondary liquidity — can shorten the time before employees recycle capital
What actually helps — four recommendations

Companion blog post with the full evidence tables, citations, ESOP timeline, and sources: https://www.startuprad.io/post/talent-without-recycling-european-scale-up-gap

Series links: https://www.startuprad.io/post/the-european-scale-up-question (central pillar) · https://www.startuprad.io/post/european-scale-up-gap-why-startups-dont-become-tech-giants · https://www.startuprad.io/post/fragmentation-europes-hidden-growth-tax · https://www.startuprad.io/post/demand-without-deployment-europe-startup-procurement-scaling-gap

Partner with Startuprad.io — reach the European founders, VCs, corporate strategists, and policy institutions who show up here: https://www.startuprad.io/become-a-partner

— Startuprad.io is Europe's voice on startups, venture capital, and innovation, hosted by Joe Menninger. Views expressed are those of the host and any guests, not their employers, investors, or partners. Nothing in this episode constitutes investment, legal, or tax advice. Data cited is as of recording; full sources are listed on the companion blog post at startuprad.io. Corrections and feedback: partnerships@startuprad.io. © Startuprad.io.

Folge direkt herunterladen

E 767 — Unicorn Atlas #1: Helsing — Europe's $18 Billion Defence AI Bet

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0200

Hello and welcome everybody. This is E 767 of Startuprad.io, recorded solo by Joe Menninger from Frankfurt am Main. This is the first entry in a new series — the Unicorn Atlas. Every entry takes one European unicorn and asks who owns it, what it actually makes, whether the headline numbers hold up under primary sourcing, and what an operator, investor, or policymaker should do with the information.

Unicorn Atlas number one is Helsing — Europe's most valuable pure-play defence-tech company. On July 13, 2026, Helsing closed a $1.8 billion Series E at an $18 billion post-money valuation. The lead investors are American (Dragoneer, Lightspeed). The company calls itself "predominantly European-owned." Both statements are true in ways that require some care to unpack.

In this episode:

The Series E in one paragraph — Dragoneer, Lightspeed, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, CPP Investments, plus the wider syndicate

Reading the timeline correctly — the May 2026 "$1.2bn" report and the July 2026 close are the same event, not two rounds
Reading the dilution correctly — ~10 % dilution, not the "80–85 % retained" figure some coverage carries
The founders: Torsten Reil (ex-NaturalMotion), Gundbert Scherf (ex-Bundeswehr), Dr. Niklas Köhler (ex-Hellsicht)
Product taxonomy: HX-2, Altra, CA-1 Europa, SG-1 Fathom
The Bundeswehr framework — €1.46bn ceiling vs €270m first call-off
The Ukraine proving ground and the Bloomberg operational question
The Resilience Factory footprint — Munich, Plymouth, Princeton West Virginia
The European supplier stack — Grob, Blue Ocean, KIRK JV, EURENCO
The Neo-Prime thesis — is $18bn a floor or a wartime peak?
Verdict for operators, investors, and policymakers

Companion blog post with data tables, funding timeline, founder dossiers, sources, and entity relationships: https://www.startuprad.io/post//e-767-%E2%80%94-unicorn-atlas-1-helsing-%E2%80%94-europe-s-18-billion-defence-ai-bet

Subscribe to Startuprad.io on your favorite podcasting app: https://linktr.ee/startupradio

Partner with Startuprad.io — reach the DACH founders, VCs, and corporate strategists who show up here: https://www.startuprad.io/become-a-partner

— Startuprad.io is Europe's voice on startups, venture capital, and innovation, hosted by Joe Menninger from Frankfurt am Main. Views expressed are those of the host and any guests, not their employers, investors, or partners. Nothing in this episode constitutes investment, legal, or tax advice. Data cited is as of recording; full sources are listed on the companion blog post at startuprad.io. Corrections and feedback: partnerships@startuprad.io. © Startuprad.io.

Folge direkt herunterladen

Germany's New Startup Strategy Is Really a Scaleup Strategy

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0200

Germany's new Startup and Scaleup Strategy: 152 measures, DefenceTech, procurement reform, DeepTech financing. Why this is really about the European scaleup gap — and whether Germany can close it.

Hello and welcome everybody. This is E 766 of Startuprad.io, recorded solo by Joe Menninger from Frankfurt am Main. A deep-dive on the German federal government's new Startup and Scaleup Strategy — published in July 2026 by the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy — and why the real story is not the 152 measures. It is that Germany is finally admitting its central problem is not startup formation but the European scaleup gap

In this episode Joe covers:

— The three-federal-government arc: our 2021 interview with Thomas Jarzombek and the €10 billion Future Fund; our 2023 interview with Anna Christmann and the first federal startup strategy; and the 2026 extension that adds DefenceTech, procurement reform, direct-investment vehicles, and a "Startup Germany" umbrella brand. — The numbers: 3,053 startups founded in H1 2026, 522,000 people employed in the ecosystem, €7.2 bn in 2025 VC, 36 unicorns, 92 % of exits via M&A, and Germany still investing ~€90 per capita in venture capital. — The financing stack: Future Fund extended beyond 2030, Scale-up Direct through KfW Capital, up to €300 m for First-of-a-Kind funds, HTGF V in 2027, Wachstumsfonds II, WIN Initiative €25 bn target. — Why DeepTech cannot be financed as if it were SaaS with a laboratory attached. — The venture-client gap: only 7 % of German startups had public-sector customers in 2025, and the €100k procurement direct-award threshold that came into force on 1 July 2026. — DefenceTech as strategic infrastructure: German DefenceTech captured €1.16 bn in 2025 (>50 % of European DefenceTech VC; 17 % of German VC vs 4 % globally). Helsing as the exemplar the strategy is designed to reproduce. — Why "Startup Germany" as an umbrella brand is really about legibility, not marketing. — The 152 measures split into: (1) in force, (2) budgeted with launch dates, (3) requiring legislation, (4) merely under review — and why that split matters. — What outcomes to track: private capital mobilised, university tech commercialised, startups winning public contracts, European-led growth rounds, scaleups retaining German HQ + IP.

Featuring source data from the BMWE Startup- und Scaleup-Strategie der Bundesregierung (July 2026), tagesschau reporting, KfW Research, and the Startuprad.io editorial archive spanning three federal governments.

Companion blog post with all data tables and sources: https://www.startuprad.io/post/germany-startup-scaleup-strategy-2026

Subscribe to Startuprad.io — Europe's voice on startups, venture capital, innovation, and growth.

germany startup strategy, germany scaleup strategy, german startup ecosystem, venture capital, german startups, defencetech, Helsing, KfW Capital, BMWE, Bundeswehr, HTGF V, Wachstumsfonds II, WIN Initiative, EXIST Startup Factories, SPRIND, european scaleup gap, european tech, dach region, public procurement, deep tech germany, first of a kind financing, Thomas Jarzombek, Anna Christmann, startup podcast, tech news, startuprad, joe menninger

Folge direkt herunterladen

Europe's Startup Recovery Never Came: H1 2026 Rotation

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0200

Europe's startup ecosystem isn't in a traditional recovery. In this special H1 2026 review, Jörn “Joe” Menninger analyzes why venture capital has undergone a structural rotation rather than returning to the previous cycle's patterns.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A rotation, not a recovery, resets the terms every founder raises against. This review maps where European capital actually moved in H1 2026 — and why the old playbook no longer applies.

In this episode, we cover:

Why H1 2026 is a structural rotation, not a recovery
How funding and major transactions shifted across DACH
Which sectors gained and lost investor conviction
What the repricing means for founders raising now
Where Europe's venture stack is heading

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

The Defence Capital Supercycle: €1.7B in a Month

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0200

More than €1.7 billion of defence-linked capital moved through Europe in a single month. Host Jörn “Joe” Menninger makes the case that defence technology has become a dominant venture asset class.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Defence tech went from taboo to dominant venture asset class in record time. This episode reads what a €1.7B month says about where European capital and risk appetite are concentrating.

In this episode, we cover:

How €1.7B of defence capital moved in a single month
Why defence tech became a dominant venture asset class
The founders and rounds driving the supercycle
What it means for dual-use and adjacent sectors
How the shift reshapes European venture

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

DACH News May 2026: $3.67B Funding & Helsing's $1.2B

Fri, 29 May 2026 05:00:00 +0200

Germany raised $3.67B across 166 equity rounds through May 2026, up 11.61% year-over-year, while Helsing's $1.2B raise at an $18B valuation made it the country's most valuable startup — Jörn “Joe” Menninger runs the numbers.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Reading each month's rounds is how operators anticipate the next cycle. May 2026's data — from Helsing's mega-raise to SAP and the orbit question — shows where DACH capital is concentrating.

In this episode, we cover:

Germany's $3.67B across 166 equity rounds, up 11.61% YoY
Helsing's $1.2B raise at an $18B valuation
What SAP and the 'orbit question' signal
The month's other standout rounds
What the data says about investor appetite

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

DACH News April 2026: VC Leaves SaaS for Deep Tech

Fri, 01 May 2026 05:00:00 +0200

DACH venture capital is rotating out of generic SaaS toward defense, space, industrial AI, procurement, tokenized finance, and physical infrastructure. In this April 2026 news episode, Jörn “Joe” Menninger maps the move.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: When capital rotates, it reprices whole categories. This episode traces where DACH money is going — including tokenized finance and physical infrastructure — and what leaves SaaS founders exposed.

In this episode, we cover:

Why VC is leaving generic SaaS behind
The sectors capital is rotating into, from defense to tokenized finance
What 'tokenized finance' means as a venture destination
How the rotation reprices software startups
What founders should do about the shift

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Q1 2026 Review: Germany's Startup Selection Event

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0200

This Q1 2026 quarterly review reads Germany's startup market as a selection event: capital concentrating into fewer, more defensible companies. Jörn “Joe” Menninger analyzes three structural signals shaping the DACH ecosystem.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A selection event rewards defensibility over growth-at-all-costs. This review frames the three structural signals deciding which DACH companies keep raising and which stall.

In this episode, we cover:

Why the market is a selection event, not a broad recovery
The three structural signals shaping DACH
How capital concentrates into defensible companies
What 'defensible' now means to investors
What it means for founders raising in 2026

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

DACH News March 2026: Robotics, Defence & Bavaria

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0100

Robotics, defence, and a state-backed fusion commitment defined March 2026 — including the largest single robotics round in German venture history. Jörn “Joe” Menninger runs the roundup.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Monthly deal flow is the pulse operators read. March 2026's record robotics round and unprecedented fusion commitment show where DACH conviction and capital are pooling.

In this episode, we cover:

The largest single robotics round in German venture history
A state-backed fusion commitment of unprecedented scale
The Bavaria signal and what it means
The month's biggest funding and acquisitions
What the deals say about DACH priorities

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Ventech's Stephan Wirries on AI Agents vs SaaS

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0100

AI agents may force a structural reset in software — weakening seat-based SaaS and shifting value toward outcomes, infrastructure, and regulated workflows. Ventech partner Stephan Wirries makes the case with Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: If agents break the seat-based model, every software valuation is up for debate. Stephan Wirries's thesis is a map of where software value migrates next.

In this episode, we cover:

Why AI agents threaten seat-based SaaS pricing
Stephan Wirries on the coming software reset
How value shifts to outcomes and infrastructure
What regulated workflows mean for defensibility
How investors should reprice software

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

DACH Startups Jan–Feb 2026: A Strategic Capital Review

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0100

January and February 2026 reveal a disciplined expansion across DACH — capital concentrating in enterprise AI, ESG/CSRD compliance, defense and dual-use tech, industrial robotics, and milestone-driven biotech. Jörn “Joe” Menninger reviews the period.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A disciplined expansion tells you where conviction is real. This review maps the sectors drawing DACH capital in early 2026 and what the concentration signals.

In this episode, we cover:

Where DACH capital concentrated in early 2026
Enterprise AI and ESG/CSRD compliance as magnets
Defense and dual-use tech momentum
Industrial robotics and milestone-driven biotech
What the disciplined expansion signals

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

EU Scale and the Structural Reform of European Seed Funding

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:38:15 +0100

Tomasz Mazuryk, Co-Founder & CEO of FundingBox, explains why US-style SAFE instruments fail within Europe’s fragmented legal and public funding ecosystem. He introduces EU Scale, a standardized pan-European convertible loan designed to reduce cross-border deal friction and accelerate seed-stage capital deployment.

Guest Micro-Bio:
Featuring Tomasz Mazuryk, Co-Founder & CEO at FundingBox.

Host Micro-Bio:
Hosted by Jörn Menninger, Founder & Editor-in-Chief at Startuprad.io — the authority on German, Swiss & Austrian startups.

If this episode helped you, follow the podcast and share it with a founder who needs this playbook.

Enjoy the show?

📖 Blog recap: https://www.startuprad.io/post/eu-scale-convertible-loan-reform-startuprad-io

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8TvZblMsOd8

🎧 The Audio Podcast

Subscribe here: https://linktr.ee/startupradio

🚪 Connect with Us

Partner with us: partnerships@startuprad.io
Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/startupradio
Feedback: https://forms.gle/SrcGUpycu26fvMFE9
Follow Joe on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/comm/mynetwork/discovery-see-all?usecase=PEOPLE_FOLLOWS&followMember=joernmenninger

ADA AI's Oliver Dlugosch: AI Employees by Design

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0100

AI employees are neither chatbots nor fully autonomous agents. Dr. Oliver Dlugosch, Managing Director at ADA AI, frames deploying them as a design decision, not a hiring one, with Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: How you frame AI in the org chart decides whether it delivers. Dlugosch's 'design, not hiring' lens is a practical way to think about where automated work actually fits.

In this episode, we cover:

Why AI employees are neither chatbots nor autonomous agents
Dr. Oliver Dlugosch on deployment as a design decision
How AI changes org charts before it changes headcount
Where automated roles actually fit
What 'design, not hiring' means in practice

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

ADA AI's Oliver Dlugosch on AI in the Back Office

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0100

Dr. Oliver Dlugosch, Managing Director at ADA AI, argues that 'AI employees' are viable now for bounded back-office workflows — executing defined work end-to-end rather than just assisting. A conversation with Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Back-office automation that runs end-to-end, not just as a copilot, changes unit economics. Dlugosch makes the case for where that's already real.

In this episode, we cover:

Why bounded back-office workflows are ready for AI employees
Executing end-to-end versus merely assisting
Which operational tasks fit first
What 'viable now' actually means
How to scope AI into real workflows

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Metaco's Adrien Treccani: When Management Bottlenecks

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0100

Adrien Treccani — CEO of Supervised and founder of crypto-custody firm Metaco — argues that management fails not from a lack of intent or talent, but because information processing consumes the capacity to lead. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: The founder who built one of crypto's key custody firms has hard-won lessons on leading under complexity. His point — that information overload, not talent, breaks management — lands for any founder scaling a demanding company.

In this episode, we cover:

Why management breaks under information overload, not talent gaps
Adrien Treccani's path from founding Metaco to Supervised
What building crypto custody taught him about leadership
How founders can protect their capacity to lead
Why complexity-heavy sectors feel this first

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

DACH Deep-Dive Dec 2025: Regulation & AI Credibility

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:20:10 +0100

A decision-grade map of DACH execution signals for 2026: where regulation creates demand, where AI credibility is earned, and which business models are being repriced. Hosts Jörn “Joe” Menninger and Chris Fahrenbach break down December 2025.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Year-end signals set the 2026 agenda. This deep dive separates where regulation actually creates demand from where AI credibility still has to be earned.

In this episode, we cover:

Where regulation creates real demand in DACH
Where AI credibility is earned versus assumed
Which business models are being repriced
The execution signals shaping 2026
What operators should act on now

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

DACH 2026 Outlook: AI Mega-Rounds & Defense Dual-Use

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 05:37:00 +0100

The DACH startup ecosystem closed 2025 with unusually clear signals for 2026: AI mega-rounds, defense-grade dual use, and a restructuring of Europe's venture capital stack. Hosts Jörn “Joe” Menninger and Chris Fahrenbach read the signals.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: How 2025 ended tells you how 2026 begins. This roundup maps the AI mega-rounds and dual-use momentum reshaping DACH venture.

In this episode, we cover:

The AI mega-rounds closing out 2025
Defense-grade dual-use as a venture theme
How Europe's VC stack is restructuring
The clearest signals for 2026
What the shifts mean for founders

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Startuprad.io Is Back on Signal: A Quick Publishing Update

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 04:02:00 +0100

A short update on our publishing schedule: a technical issue caused a brief pause. All content is safe, and Startuprad.io is back to regular releases from here.

📖 Full archive: https://www.startuprad.io/post/knowledge

🤖 AI & LLM discovery: https://www.startuprad.io/llm

🤝 Partner with Startuprad.io: https://www.startuprad.io/become-a-partner

German Startups 2025: When AI Becomes Infrastructure

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 07:12:44 +0100

When AI stops being a feature and becomes infrastructure, the whole ecosystem reprices. This German Startup Ecosystem 2025 review with Jörn “Joe” Menninger reads that shift and what it means.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Infrastructure-grade AI changes who wins and how. This review frames the moment AI moved from app-layer novelty to the layer everything else is built on.

In this episode, we cover:

How AI shifted from feature to infrastructure in 2025
What that reprices across the ecosystem
Which layers now capture the value
How German startups are positioning
What it signals for 2026

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

European Tech Sovereignty: The 2025 DACH Theme

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0100

Europe's startup narrative is shifting from apps and valuations to sovereignty, infrastructure, and resilience. This November 2025 DACH briefing with Jörn “Joe” Menninger makes European tech sovereignty the defining theme of the year.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Sovereignty and resilience are becoming investment theses, not slogans. This briefing shows how that reframing changes what gets funded across DACH.

In this episode, we cover:

Why the narrative shifted to sovereignty and resilience
What European tech sovereignty means in practice
How infrastructure became the story
Which sectors benefit from the reframing
What it means for DACH founders

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

October 2025 DACH Deep-Dive: AI, VC & Fintech

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 09:14:44 +0100

In this October 2025 deep dive, the DACH headline isn't who raised the biggest check — it's who's building the most defensible foundation. Hosts Jörn “Joe” Menninger and Chris Fahrenbach cover AI startups, venture capital, and fintech.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Defensibility beats headline round sizes in a selective market. This deep dive reads which DACH companies are building foundations that last.

In this episode, we cover:

Why defensibility beats the biggest check
The AI startups building durable foundations
What the venture capital signals say
Fintech moves worth watching
How founders should read October 2025

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Europe's AI Supercluster: DeepL, Black Forest Labs & n8n

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0100

DeepL, Black Forest Labs, and n8n anchor what this October 2025 news episode calls Europe's AI Supercluster — the case that Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, not Silicon Valley, are defining sovereign, privacy-first AI. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: If Europe really is building an AI supercluster, it changes where talent, capital, and infrastructure concentrate. This episode makes the sovereign-AI case with named companies.

In this episode, we cover:

How DeepL, Black Forest Labs, and n8n anchor Europe's AI supercluster
Why sovereign, privacy-first AI is a European advantage
What it means for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
How the region competes with Silicon Valley
What the supercluster thesis implies for founders

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Xaver Lehmann (e-bot7) on Burnout After a $60M Exit

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0200

Xaver Lehmann, co-founder and former CEO of e-bot7, talks openly about burnout, loss, and recovery after one of Europe's larger AI exits — and what it means when achieving the goal breaks you. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Founder health is the hidden variable behind every outcome. The pressures Xaver describes, even after a nine-figure exit, are the ones operators quietly carry through scaling and liquidity events.

In this episode, we cover:

How Xaver Lehmann built and sold e-bot7
What burnout feels like after a $60M outcome
The emotional cost of scaling and selling
Practical steps he used to recover
Why founder wellbeing is a performance issue

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Flow-State Rituals for Founders: Deep Work & Focus

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0200

A flow-state playbook for founders — deep work, AI-assisted focus, and the rituals that protect it — in conversation with Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Focused execution is the scarce resource for any founder. These rituals target the distraction and switching costs that quietly erode product and team output.

In this episode, we cover:

The rituals that protect founder flow state
How AI-assisted focus reshapes deep work
Beating the context-switching tax
Designing focus into a founder's day
Why deep work compounds over time

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Steven Puri (Sukha): Deep Work That Ships

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0200

Steven Puri, co-founder and CEO of Sukha, shares a deep-work playbook for founders: body doubling, the coffee-shop effect, chronotype time-blocking, demo-first standups, and outcome-based leadership. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Shipping — not busywork — moves a startup. Steven's playbook is about designing rituals and leadership that convert focus into delivered outcomes.

In this episode, we cover:

The deep-work playbook for founders and remote teams
Body doubling, the coffee-shop effect, chronotype blocking
Demo-first standups and outcome-based leadership
Beating the context-switching tax
Rituals that survive a scaling team

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

DACH News Sept 2025: Deep Tech, VC Surge & Fintech

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0200

A September 2025 deep dive for B2B operators: where capital is flowing, how deep tech is commercializing, and what shifting regulatory winds mean for product, go-to-market, and hiring across DACH. Hosts Jörn “Joe” Menninger and Chris Fahrenbach.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Operators need the month's capital and regulatory signals in one place. This deep dive connects where money is flowing to what it means for product and hiring.

In this episode, we cover:

Where capital flowed across DACH in September 2025
How deep tech is commercializing
What shifting regulation means for go-to-market
The month's standout rounds and moves
What operators should act on

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

DACH News Sept 2025: $2.3B AI Unicorn & N26 Crisis

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0200

A Berlin AI unicorn jumped from $350M to $2.3B in months, N26 faced its most severe governance crisis yet as its co-founder CEO stepped down, and Europe's climate-tech sector booked a record €825M hydrogen round — Jörn “Joe” Menninger and Chris Fahrenbach cover September 2025.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: When valuations soar and a leading neobank stumbles in the same month, the signal is about capital discipline and trust. This roundup maps both across DACH.

In this episode, we cover:

Berlin's AI unicorn leaping from $350M to $2.3B
N26's governance crisis and the CEO stepping down
Europe's record €825M hydrogen allocation
What the month says about capital discipline
The other standout DACH moves

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Jennifer Grün (AWS) on Agentic AI for SaaS

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0200

Jennifer Grün, Senior Specialist for Generative AI & ML at AWS, argues that SaaS is moving from static dashboards to agents that reason, plan, and act — delivering outcomes like churn prevention and dynamic pricing, within EU AI Act guardrails. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: If agents replace dashboards, SaaS product and pricing both change. Jennifer's view from AWS maps where agentic software creates real outcomes and where trust and compliance gate it.

In this episode, we cover:

Why SaaS moves from dashboards to reasoning agents
Agentic use cases: churn prevention and dynamic pricing
How the EU AI Act shapes trust and compliance
What multi-agent playbooks mean for software
Jennifer Grün's AWS lens on the shift

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Jennifer Grün (AWS) on AI Monetization Strategy

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0200

How do you take AI from proof-of-concept to proof-of-value? Jennifer Grün of AWS joins Jörn “Joe” Menninger to unpack AI monetization: hybrid pricing models, proving ROI, and moving past the POC trap.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Pricing and monetization decide whether AI products become durable revenue. Jennifer's frameworks map how teams turn a working model into money.

In this episode, we cover:

Moving AI from proof-of-concept to proof-of-value
Hybrid pricing models for AI products
How to prove ROI and avoid the POC trap
Jennifer Grün's AWS lens on monetization
What durable AI pricing looks like

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

DACH News Sept 2025: Deep Tech, Fintech M&A & Green

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0200

September 2025's DACH deals, deep-tech breakthroughs, and green-innovation stories, mapped for founders, VCs, and ecosystem insiders across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Host Jörn “Joe” Menninger runs through the month.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A clean monthly map helps operators see where capital and momentum are moving. September 2025 mixed deep-tech breakthroughs with fintech M&A and green innovation.

In this episode, we cover:

The month's biggest DACH deals
Deep-tech breakthroughs worth watching
Fintech M&A and what consolidation signals
Green-innovation stories drawing capital
What it means for founders and VCs

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

DACH News: Berlin AI Unicorn, N26 & Hydrogen Bet

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0200

A Berlin AI company jumped from a $350M to a $2.3B valuation, Switzerland locked in €825M of hydrogen funding, and N26 faced its toughest governance test yet — this summer roundup with Jörn “Joe” Menninger breaks it down.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Big valuations, a hydrogen mega-bet, and a neobank stumble in one stretch reveal where risk appetite sits. This roundup reads the DACH capital map around them.

In this episode, we cover:

Berlin's AI company leaping from $350M to $2.3B
Switzerland's €825M hydrogen funding
N26's toughest governance test yet
What the mix says about investor appetite
The other standout DACH moves

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

AWS's Dennis Traub on Productionizing AI

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 05:00:00 +0200

Getting generative AI from prototype to production is where most startups stall. AWS AI Engineering Specialist Dennis Traub breaks down what it takes to scale, secure, and monitor AI systems, with Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Reliable AI infrastructure underpins every modern product. Dennis Traub's patterns decide whether a GenAI feature survives real-world scale and cost.

In this episode, we cover:

Moving generative AI from prototype to production
How AWS Bedrock and MCP fit a startup stack
Designing agentic workflows that hold up at scale
Scaling, securing, and monitoring AI systems
What AWS's engineering lens teaches builders

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

AWS's Dennis Traub on GenAI Without Breaking GDPR

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 05:00:00 +0200

Dennis Traub, AI Engineering Specialist at AWS, lays out how startups can adopt generative AI without leaking customer data, breaking GDPR, or eroding user trust. A conversation with Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Data protection is the quiet gatekeeper of any regulated business. These safeguards map directly onto handling sensitive data while still shipping AI features.

In this episode, we cover:

Where founders unknowingly expose customer data with GenAI
How to adopt AI without breaking GDPR
Practical guardrails for teams using generative tools
Managing legal and trust risk in AI workflows
Why compliance is a growth enabler

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Why Startup Exec Hires Fail — the €250K Mistake

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +0200

Every second leadership hire in a startup fails — costing up to €250,000. This episode with Jörn “Joe” Menninger digs into why executive hires flop and how diagnostic hiring prevents the damage.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A failed executive hire is a capital event: €250K and months of momentum gone. Hiring discipline is as financial as any budget line.

In this episode, we cover:

Why up to half of startup executive hires fail
The real cost — up to €250,000 — of a bad hire
How diagnostic hiring de-risks senior roles
Signals founders miss before making offers
Building a hiring process that protects runway

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Voltfang's €15M for Second-Life EV Batteries

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 08:00:00 +0200

Voltfang gives retired EV batteries a second life as grid-scale storage — infrastructure that can stabilize power grids and displace coal across Europe, backed by a €15M round. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Second-life batteries are an asset-financing story as much as an energy one: residual value, capital for hard assets, and the economics that make reused hardware bankable.

In this episode, we cover:

How Voltfang gives used EV batteries a second life
The €15M round funding grid-scale storage
Why second-life cells can help displace coal
The residual-value angle on reused hardware
What energy independence means for DACH

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Moss CEO Ante Spittler on SME Finance Automation

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 06:07:47 +0200

Moss CEO Ante Spittler explains how his Berlin fintech turns finance from a bottleneck into a growth weapon for SMEs — scaling a regulated fintech that now serves over 5,000 SMEs with AI. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Finance automation changes how thousands of companies control cash and grow. Moss is a case study in scaling a regulated fintech platform.

In this episode, we cover:

How Moss automates finance for 5,000+ SMEs
Ante Spittler on turning finance into a growth weapon
What scaling a regulated fintech demands
Where AI fits into modern spend management
Lessons on building a Berlin fintech platform

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Emotional Branding: The Startup Superpower

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 13:45:00 +0200

A startup often fails not on tech or funding but because people don't feel its brand. This episode with Jörn “Joe” Menninger makes the case for emotional branding as a founder's overlooked superpower.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Brand is how any company earns belief before it earns revenue. Emotional branding is about winning hearts, not just markets.

In this episode, we cover:

Why startups fail on feeling, not just tech or funding
How founders build brands people actually feel
Winning hearts, not just markets
Turning brand into a durable edge
Practical steps toward emotional branding

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Helsing Tops German Startups as the EU Commits €10B

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +0200

Helsing becomes Germany's most valuable startup and the EU commits €10B to scale founders in this red-hot 2025 DACH funding roundup spanning deep tech, biotech, fintech, and defense AI. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Mega-rounds and EU-scale capital reset the bar every founder raises against. This roundup reads the DACH money map — from decacorns to defense AI.

In this episode, we cover:

How Helsing became Germany's most valuable startup
The EU's €10B commitment to scale founders
Deep tech, biotech, and defense AI in one roundup
What the raises signal about investor appetite
How mega-funding reshapes the DACH landscape

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Ehud Dror on Startup Storytelling That Wins Pitches

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 05:00:00 +0200

Storytelling strategist Ehud Dror, founder of Tailoring Your Story, shows how the best founders turn a pitch from information into belief. A conversation with Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Fundraising is storytelling with a term sheet attached. Ehud's narrative craft is how founders turn traction into conviction in an investor's mind.

In this episode, we cover:

Why the best pitches move people to believe, not just know
Ehud Dror on the narrative craft behind winning pitches
How to structure a story investors remember
Turning information into conviction
Applying storytelling to customers too

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

DACH News May 2025: The Month's Biggest Raises

Thu, 29 May 2025 05:00:00 +0200

The May 2025 DACH startup roundup with Jörn “Joe” Menninger covers the month's biggest raises and moves across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Monthly deal flow is the pulse operators read. May 2025's raises show where DACH capital and attention were moving.

In this episode, we cover:

The month's biggest DACH funding rounds
Standout startups and sectors of May 2025
What the figures signal about investor appetite
Which names to watch across the region
How the month fits the 2025 funding arc

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Negotiate Like the FBI: Matthias Bullmahn for Founders

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Tue, 27 May 2025 11:50:00 +0200

Crisis negotiation expert Matthias Bullmahn — a former Accenture executive and storytelling coach — brings FBI-trained sales psychology into the startup world, showing founders how to persuade investors and clients. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Negotiation is where valuations, term sheets, and deals are won. Matthias's playbook is directly useful to any founder raising capital or closing enterprise.

In this episode, we cover:

What FBI-trained negotiation teaches founders
Sales psychology built on influence and integrity
Matthias Bullmahn on persuading investors and clients
Handling high-stakes negotiation without losing trust
Turning negotiation skill into better deals

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Andy Goldstein: Europe's VC Needs a Mindset Reboot

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 22 May 2025 05:00:00 +0200

Andy Goldstein — Managing Director Europe at VU Venture Partners and a German Accelerator co-founder — argues Europe's venture capital scene needs a mindset reboot to close the transatlantic scaling gap. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Venture capital is the engine behind scaling, and its European wiring is the story here. Andy's transatlantic view explains why DACH founders raise and scale differently.

In this episode, we cover:

Why European startups scale slower than US peers
The transatlantic investment divide, explained
Andy Goldstein on the mindset European VC needs
What holds back DACH scale-ups and fundraising
How a new VC mindset could unlock growth

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Christian Conrad on Trust-Based Leadership

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Tue, 13 May 2025 05:00:00 +0200

Leadership coach Christian Conrad makes the case for trust-based leadership as the foundation of a startup culture that scales. A conversation with Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Culture and trust are the operating system behind execution. Christian's approach is about turning values into the daily behaviors that ship results.

In this episode, we cover:

Why trust-based leadership scales culture
How to turn values into daily behavior
What builds and erodes team trust
How leadership drives retention and performance
Scaling trust as the team grows

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Christian Conrad: Culture Is ROI (Part 1)

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 08 May 2025 05:00:00 +0200

Leadership coach Christian Conrad argues that company culture is a measurable growth engine, not a soft nice-to-have. Part one of a two-part conversation with Jörn “Joe” Menninger on building magnetic startup cultures.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Talent is the constraint on every startup's growth. Christian frames culture as ROI — the difference between a team that compounds and one that churns.

In this episode, we cover:

Why culture is a return on investment
How founders build magnetic company cultures
Attracting and retaining the best talent
Christian Conrad's practical culture frameworks
Turning culture into a growth advantage

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

DACH News April 2025: €1.3B Raised, a Fintech Crashes

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger, Christian "Chris" Fahrenbach) — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 17:53:00 +0200

DACH startups raised over €1.3B in April 2025 even as one of Europe's top fintechs spiraled into crisis. This investor-grade briefing pairs the region's biggest raises with Trade Republic's trust troubles — with Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A €1.3B month alongside a fintech crisis is the market in miniature: capital is flowing, but trust and execution still decide who survives.

In this episode, we cover:

The €1.3B DACH startups raised in April 2025
Trade Republic's trust troubles explained
What the crisis signals about fintech risk
The month's standout rounds and investors
How founders should read a mixed climate

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Imre Marton Remenyi on Preventing Founder Burnout

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 05:00:00 +0200

Psychotherapist Imre Marton Remenyi joins Jörn “Joe” Menninger for a masterclass on preventing founder and team burnout — going past surface-level work-life balance to the real psychology of sustainable building.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Founder health is upstream of every result. Imre's clinical perspective on prevention is about keeping the person behind the company functional through the hard years.

In this episode, we cover:

Why burnout is a psychological, not just scheduling, problem
Imre Marton Remenyi's clinical view on prevention
Habits that protect founder and team health
Building a culture that sustains, not drains
Practical steps to build without burning out

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

DACH Unicorn Tracker Spring 2025: Billion-Euro Startups

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 10:00:00 +0200

The Spring 2025 DACH Unicorn Tracker maps Germany, Austria, and Switzerland's billion-euro startups across deep tech, logistics, mobility, and biotech — built for founders, investors, and scaleup execs. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Unicorn formation is a capital story: valuations, velocity, and where investors concentrate. The tracker maps where DACH value is being created.

In this episode, we cover:

The DACH startups on the billion-euro trajectory
How valuations moved in Spring 2025
Which sectors produced the most unicorns
Where investors concentrated their bets
What unicorn velocity says about the market

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Stablecoins Surge $226B: March 2025 DACH News

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +0100

A $226B stablecoin surge, fintech M&A, and a €1.8B European VC fund define this March 2025 DACH roundup on AI, VC, and fintech. Recorded with Chris Fahrenbach in New York, with Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A $226B stablecoin surge alongside fresh VC and M&A shows how fast digital-asset rails and capital markets are moving together. This roundup tracks both.

In this episode, we cover:

The $226B stablecoin surge and what's driving it
Fintech M&A across the DACH region
A €1.8B European VC fund and what it signals
Where capital and regulation are colliding
The month's other standout moves

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

DACH News Feb 2025: Finn's €1B & Cherry's €500M Fund

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +0100

Finn's €1B raise for car subscriptions and Cherry Ventures' new €500M AI fund headline a blockbuster February 2025 — paired with Lilium's second insolvency and the fallout from shifting German politics. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Record raises beside a high-profile collapse capture the funding climate in one month. These swings set the terms for how and when capital shows up.

In this episode, we cover:

Finn's €1B raise for car subscriptions
Cherry Ventures' new €500M AI fund
Lilium's second insolvency and its fallout
How shifting German politics hit startups
What the month says about capital discipline

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

DACH News Jan 2025: An Acquisition Wave

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 06:00:00 +0100

An acquisition wave across hardware, cybersecurity, and life science drives this January 2025 GSA roundup on Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Host Jörn “Joe” Menninger maps how M&A and funding are consolidating strength.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: January's M&A and funding are the leading indicators operators use to read the year. This roundup captures where DACH capital started 2025.

In this episode, we cover:

The acquisition wave in hardware, cyber, and life science
How M&A is consolidating regional strength
Early-year funding across the DACH region
Which sectors drew the most interest
How founders should read the January tone

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Dec 2024 News: Black Forest Labs & Upvest's Fintech Round

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 06:00:00 +0100

Karlsruhe's Black Forest Labs joins the billion-dollar club and Upvest lands Germany's largest 2024 fintech round in this December roundup closing out the year's GSA deals and trends. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Year-end deals show where capital actually landed. December 2024's highlights frame the momentum heading into 2025.

In this episode, we cover:

Black Forest Labs joining the billion-dollar club
Upvest's record 2024 German fintech round
The deals and trends that defined the year
What the tally means for 2025 momentum
How investors positioned at year-end

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Bitpanda Eyes a Frankfurt IPO: Nov 2024 DACH News

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 06:00:00 +0100

Crypto exchange Bitpanda's Frankfurt IPO plans and Atomico's data on 35,000+ European early-stage startups frame this November 2024 GSA roundup, connecting DACH exits and IPOs to Europe's early-stage story. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A crypto exchange eyeing a public listing is a milestone for digital-asset businesses going mainstream. This roundup reads Bitpanda's move against Europe's broader startup data.

In this episode, we cover:

Bitpanda's Frankfurt IPO plans
What a crypto exchange going public signals
Atomico's data on 35,000+ European startups
How DACH exits fit Europe's early-stage story
The month's other standout moves

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News Oct 2024: Two Unicorns & Lilium's Bankruptcy

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0100

Two new unicorns and Lilium's slide into self-administered bankruptcy define this October 2024 GSA roundup — capturing both sides of the deep-tech coin: breakout software winners and the harsh economics of aerospace hardware. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Unicorns and a bankruptcy in the same month show both faces of deep tech. This roundup reads what separates the winners from the casualties.

In this episode, we cover:

The two new unicorns of October 2024
Lilium's slide into self-administered bankruptcy
The harsh economics of aerospace hardware
What separates breakout software winners
How founders should read the month

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Sept 2024 News: Intel Halts €30B Fab, Magic AI's $320M

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0200

Intel pausing its €30B Magdeburg chip fab headlines this September 2024 roundup on Europe's tech ambitions and setbacks — weighed against fresh momentum in European AI, including Magic AI's $320M raise. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A major infrastructure retreat beside AI momentum captures Europe's uneven tech moment. This roundup weighs the setback against where capital is still flowing.

In this episode, we cover:

Intel's paused €30B Magdeburg chip fab
Magic AI's $320M raise
Fresh momentum in European AI
What the retreat means for Europe's chip ambitions
The month's other standout moves

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Summer 2024 News: Helsing's €4.9B Defense-AI Valuation

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 06:00:00 +0200

Munich defense-AI startup Helsing hits a €4.9B valuation on a €450M Series C, leading a Summer 2024 DACH roundup on funding and AI trends. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A €4.9B defense-AI valuation shows where European security-tech capital is racing. This roundup tracks how funding is flowing toward the sector.

In this episode, we cover:

Helsing's €4.9B valuation on a €450M Series C
How capital flows toward European security tech
The season's other big raises
What defense-AI momentum signals
How founders should read the summer

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Kadena's Annelise Osborne on On-Chain Finance

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 06:00:00 +0200

Annelise Osborne, Chief Business Officer at blockchain platform Kadena, explains how tokenization and on-chain finance attack the inefficiencies buried inside traditional capital markets — tracing her path from commercial real estate into crypto. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this matters for blockchain: Tokenization is blockchain's most concrete assault on legacy finance: putting real assets on-chain to cut settlement, custody, and access friction. Kadena's view shows where on-chain finance actually bites.

In this episode, we cover:

How tokenization attacks inefficiencies in capital markets
Annelise Osborne's path from real estate to Kadena
What on-chain finance changes about settlement and access
Where real-world assets meet the blockchain
Why institutions are moving toward tokenized finance

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News June 2024: Amazon's €10B & Check24's €100M

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 06:00:00 +0200

Amazon's additional €10B German investment and Check24's €100M jersey giveaway anchor this June 2024 GSA roundup on marketing, aviation, and insurtech. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Big-tech commitments and headline campaigns reveal where attention and capital concentrate. This roundup pairs them with the month's funding and governance stories.

In this episode, we cover:

Amazon's additional €10B German investment
Check24's €100M jersey giveaway
Marketing, aviation, and insurtech moves
The month's funding and governance stories
What the deals signal

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News May 2024: $7.5B in New VC Funds

Thu, 30 May 2024 06:00:00 +0200

Over $7.5B in new VC funds and Amazon's €7.8B European cloud build headline a May 2024 GSA scene the hosts call roaring back — covering air taxis, big-tech infrastructure, and biotech. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: $7.5B in fresh VC dry powder resets what founders can raise. This packed roundup maps where the new money and infrastructure are going.

In this episode, we cover:

Over $7.5B in new VC funds
Amazon's €7.8B European cloud build
Air taxis and big-tech infrastructure
Major biotech moves
Why the hosts call the scene roaring back

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

MiCA Explained: Alireza Siadat on EU Crypto Rules

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Tue, 28 May 2024 06:00:00 +0200

Alireza Siadat, Head of Digital Assets at law firm Annerton, breaks down the EU's MiCA regulation and what it means for stablecoin and crypto-asset service providers across Europe. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this matters for blockchain: MiCA is the rulebook every European crypto business now lives under — issuers, exchanges, and stablecoin providers alike. Alireza's breakdown is the practical map of what compliance requires.

In this episode, we cover:

What MiCA regulates across EU crypto-assets
Alireza Siadat on the reality for service providers
How stablecoin issuers must adapt
Where MiCA meets existing financial regulation
Practical steps for digital-asset compliance

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News April 2024: Novo Nordisk's €1.025B Deal

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 06:00:00 +0200

Novo Nordisk's €1.025B deal headlines this April 2024 GSA roundup spanning fintech and flying taxis across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A billion-euro pharma deal beside fintech and mobility moves shows the breadth of DACH activity. This roundup maps where April's capital concentrated.

In this episode, we cover:

Novo Nordisk's €1.025B deal
Fintech moves worth watching
Flying-taxi and mobility news
The month's biggest raises
What the deals signal about appetite

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News March 2024: Northvolt's €4.5B Gigafactory

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 06:00:00 +0100

Green energy dominates this March 2024 GSA roundup, from Northvolt's €4.5B gigafactory to billion-euro raises reshaping Europe's clean-tech backbone. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Clean-tech's biggest raises show where Europe is building industrial capacity. This roundup maps where the region's largest capital is flowing — batteries and beyond.

In this episode, we cover:

Northvolt's €4.5B gigafactory
Billion-euro clean-tech raises
How capital is flowing into batteries
Europe's clean-energy backbone
What the deals mean for industrial strategy

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News Feb 2024: Microsoft's €3.3B Data-Center Bet

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 06:00:00 +0100

Microsoft's €3.3B German data-center investment headlines this February 2024 GSA roundup, underscoring how central AI and cloud have become to the region's economy. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A €3.3B mega-cap commitment shows where the AI-and-cloud buildout is landing. This roundup pairs the big bets with breakout startup moves.

In this episode, we cover:

Microsoft's €3.3B German data-center investment
How central AI and cloud have become to the economy
The month's breakout startup moves
What mega-cap commitments signal
How founders should read the month

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News Feb 2024: BioNTech's Court Win & Monta's €80M

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 06:00:00 +0100

BioNTech's court win and Monta's €80M EV-charging raise anchor this February 2024 GSA roundup across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A biotech legal victory beside a mobility raise shows the breadth of DACH activity. This roundup maps where February's momentum concentrated.

In this episode, we cover:

BioNTech's court win and what it means
Monta's €80M EV-charging raise
The month's other biggest moves
What the deals signal about appetite
How founders should read February 2024

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News Jan 2024: 2,500 New Startups & Big Raises

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 15:00:00 +0100

Almost 2,500 new German startups were founded in a tough year, alongside nine-figure raises that defied the downturn — this January 2024 GSA roundup with Jörn “Joe” Menninger weighs the losses against the momentum.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Founding activity and nine-figure raises in a hard year reveal underlying resilience. This roundup reads where the ecosystem held up.

In this episode, we cover:

Nearly 2,500 new German startups in a tough year
The nine-figure raises that defied the downturn
The sobering losses balancing the good news
Which sectors showed resilience
How founders should read the year's start

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

German Startup Valuations: A 2023 Deep-Dive Recap

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 09:00:00 +0100

A deep dive recapping German startup valuations and investment trends across 2023, focused on Berlin, Hamburg, and other leading hubs — stepping back from the monthly cycle to read the year. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Valuation and investment trends are the backdrop every startup raises against. This 2023 recap frames how the market repriced heading into 2024.

In this episode, we cover:

How German startup valuations moved through 2023
Investment trends across Berlin, Hamburg, and beyond
Which sectors held up and which cooled
What the repricing meant for founders
How 2023 set up the 2024 market

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

A Festive Year-End Message from Startuprad.io Host Joe Menninger

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Mon, 25 Dec 2023 07:00:00 +0100

A festive year-end message from host Joe Menninger, thanking the Startuprad.io community of listeners and guests and wishing them a joyful holiday season and an inspiring new year.

📖 Full archive: https://www.startuprad.io/post/knowledge

🤖 AI & LLM discovery: https://www.startuprad.io/llm

🤝 Partner with Startuprad.io: https://www.startuprad.io/become-a-partner

GSA News Dec 2023: Capital Beats Insolvencies

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 06:00:00 +0100

Capital beat insolvencies to close out 2023 in this December GSA roundup on Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Year-end deal flow shows where capital actually landed. December 2023's balance of raises and losses frames the momentum into 2024.

In this episode, we cover:

The year-end raises that outweighed insolvencies
Standout deals of December 2023
What the balance says about resilience
Which sectors closed the year strong
How investors positioned at year-end

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News Nov 2023: Aleph Alpha's $500M Raise

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 02:00:00 +0100

AI champion Aleph Alpha raises half a billion dollars, CMBlu lands €100M for energy storage, and Wefox secures $55M from Deutsche Bank and UniCredit in this November 2023 GSA roundup. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A half-billion-dollar AI raise beside energy and insurtech deals shows where DACH conviction sat. This roundup maps the month's biggest bets.

In this episode, we cover:

Aleph Alpha's $500M raise
CMBlu's €100M for energy storage
Wefox's $55M from Deutsche Bank and UniCredit
What the deals signal about appetite
The month's other standout moves

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Cashlink's Michael Duttlinger on Tokenized Securities

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 02:00:00 +0100

Michael Duttlinger, CEO of Cashlink, on building one of Germany's leading registrars for tokenized securities — and why on-chain transparency reshapes the shareholder relationship. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this matters for blockchain: Tokenized securities need a trusted registrar to be real, and Cashlink is building exactly that in Germany. This is blockchain moving into the plumbing of capital markets.

In this episode, we cover:

How Cashlink tokenizes securities
Building Germany's registrar for on-chain assets
Why on-chain transparency reshapes shareholder relationships
Where tokenized securities meet regulation
What it means for digital capital markets

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News Oct 2023: Katalin Karikó's Nobel (Ep. 400)

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 03:00:00 +0200

Katalin Karikó's Nobel moment headlines this October 2023 GSA roundup — episode 400 — spanning the month's deals and milestones across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A Nobel milestone beside the month's deals shows the range of European science and startups. This roundup reads what October 2023 signaled.

In this episode, we cover:

Katalin Karikó's Nobel moment
The month's biggest deals and milestones
What the news signaled for DACH science and startups
Which sectors drew attention
How founders should read October 2023

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News Sept 2023: Berlin's First Defense-Tech Unicorn

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 03:00:00 +0200

Close to €500M in newly announced investments, Berlin producing its first defense-tech unicorn, and greentech delivering good news across Germany define this September 2023 GSA roundup. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A first defense-tech unicorn beside greentech momentum shows where DACH conviction shifted. This roundup maps the month's biggest bets.

In this episode, we cover:

Close to €500M in newly announced investments
Berlin's first defense-tech unicorn
Greentech's steady good news
What the deals signal about appetite
How founders should read September 2023

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Bitpanda Passes 1M German Customers: Summer 2023 News

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 03:00:00 +0200

Germany sets a new founder record, crypto exchange Bitpanda passes 1 million German customers, Nextwind raises $750M, and SAP confirms it will invest in AI champion Aleph Alpha — this Summer 2023 GSA wrap-up with Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A crypto exchange crossing a million German customers signals digital assets going mainstream, even in a broad news month. This roundup reads Bitpanda's milestone against the season's biggest deals.

In this episode, we cover:

Bitpanda passing 1 million German customers
Germany's new record for founders
Nextwind's $750M raise
SAP's investment in Aleph Alpha
What the season's deals signal

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News June 2023: 1Komma5°'s Record Unicorn Sprint

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 03:00:00 +0200

1Komma5°'s record unicorn sprint headlines this June 2023 GSA roundup on Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A record-fast unicorn sprint shows where investor conviction concentrated. This roundup reads what June 2023 signaled for DACH founders.

In this episode, we cover:

1Komma5°'s record unicorn sprint
The month's other biggest raises
Which sectors drew the most capital
What the deals signal about appetite
How founders should read June 2023

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Klink's Philip Jonitz on Mainstream Crypto Adoption

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 03:00:00 +0200

Philip Jonitz, co-founder of Klink Finance, on driving mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies through a simple, rewards-driven investment wallet — and how Klink lowers the barrier to a first crypto purchase. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this matters for blockchain: Crypto goes mainstream only when the first purchase is easy and rewarding. Klink's rewards-driven wallet is a case study in onboarding everyday users into digital assets.

In this episode, we cover:

How Klink drives mainstream crypto adoption
Philip Jonitz on a rewards-driven investment wallet
Lowering the barrier to a first crypto purchase
Why UX decides consumer crypto
Where rewards-based investing is heading

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News May 2023: Germany in Recession, Startups Rise

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 03:00:00 +0200

Germany is officially in recession, yet with barely any unemployment and an improving startup picture backed by at least €3.4bn in newly raised funds — this May 2023 GSA roundup with Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A recession that startups shrug off tells you something about resilience. This roundup reads how €3.4bn kept flowing despite the macro backdrop.

In this episode, we cover:

Germany officially entering recession
Why unemployment stayed low
At least €3.4bn in newly raised funds
How the startup picture kept improving
What the contrast signals for founders

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News April 2023: Capital Returns with €600M+

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 03:00:00 +0200

Capital returns with more than €600M in headline funding across this April 2023 GSA roundup on Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A return of headline funding marks a shift in sentiment. This roundup reads where April 2023's €600M-plus concentrated.

In this episode, we cover:

More than €600M in headline funding
Which startups and sectors led
What the return of capital signals
The month's other standout moves
How founders should read April 2023

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News March 2023: Raisin Regains Unicorn Status

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 03:00:00 +0200

Mixed fortunes for fintech as Raisin regains unicorn status amid mounting BaFin complaints, and N26 posts €200M in 2021 revenue while facing a senior-employee uprising — this March 2023 GSA roundup with Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A unicorn comeback beside regulatory and internal turmoil shows fintech's mixed fortunes. This roundup reads what March 2023 meant for the sector.

In this episode, we cover:

Raisin regaining unicorn status
Mounting BaFin complaints in the background
N26's €200M in 2021 revenue
N26's senior-employee uprising
What the month says about fintech risk

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News Feb 2023: A Neobroker Rate War & Windeln.de

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 02:00:00 +0100

Rising interest rates spark a rate war among neobrokers, e-commerce veteran Windeln.de is liquidated, and Moonfare extends its Series C beyond $130M in this February 2023 GSA roundup. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A neobroker rate war and a high-profile liquidation capture a market repricing risk. This roundup reads what February 2023 signaled.

In this episode, we cover:

The neobroker rate war sparked by rising rates
Windeln.de's liquidation
Moonfare's Series C beyond $130M
What the month says about repricing
How founders should read February 2023

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News Jan 2023: DeepL's Unicorn Status

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 02:00:00 +0100

DeepL reaches unicorn status and BioNTech makes a big acquisition in this January 2023 GSA roundup opening the year across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: January's milestones set the tone for the year. This roundup reads DeepL's unicorn status and BioNTech's move as early signals for 2023.

In this episode, we cover:

DeepL reaching unicorn status
BioNTech's big acquisition
The month's other standout moves
What the milestones signal for 2023
How founders should read the year's start

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

The FTX Collapse Explained: Antonio Fatás (INSEAD)

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 02:00:00 +0100

Antonio Fatás, Professor of Economics at INSEAD, makes sense of the FTX collapse and what it exposed about trust, leverage, and governance in crypto markets — a macroeconomist's read on one of the space's largest failures. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this matters for blockchain: FTX is the cautionary tale at the center of crypto: leverage, governance, and trust failing at once. Antonio Fatás's economist lens explains what actually broke and why it matters for the whole industry.

In this episode, we cover:

What really caused the FTX collapse
Antonio Fatás's macroeconomic read
How leverage and governance gaps compounded
What the failure exposed about crypto trust
Lessons for regulation and digital-asset markets

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News Dec 2022: Enpal's €800M & Sennder's $2B

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 02:00:00 +0100

Solar financier Enpal raises more than €800M and freight platform Sennder doubles its valuation to $2bn — proving big rounds were still possible in a bleak December 2022 funding climate. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Nine-figure rounds in a bleak climate show where conviction held. This roundup reads what Enpal and Sennder signaled at the end of 2022.

In this episode, we cover:

Enpal's €800M-plus raise
Sennder doubling its valuation to $2bn
Why big rounds were still possible
What the deals signal about resilience
How investors positioned at year-end

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

FTX Ripples Into Europe: Nov 2022 GSA News

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 02:00:00 +0100

FTX may have collapsed in the US, but the fallout rippled straight into Europe. This November 2022 GSA news wrap-up with Jörn “Joe” Menninger tracks the contagion alongside the month's other startup news.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this matters for blockchain: When a global crypto exchange implodes, European digital-asset businesses feel the aftershocks. This wrap-up reads how the FTX contagion reached DACH and what it meant for confidence.

In this episode, we cover:

How the FTX collapse rippled into Europe
What contagion meant for European crypto businesses
The month's other startup news
How confidence and funding reacted
What the fallout signaled for regulation

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News Oct 2022: Gorillas–Getir Talks & Grover

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 01:00:00 +0200

Quick-delivery player Gorillas looks to sell to rival Getir, Grover adds €270m in venture debt to approach a €2bn valuation, and Nuri (formerly Bitwala) makes news in this October 2022 GSA roundup. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Consolidation talks and venture debt reveal how startups adapted to the downturn. This roundup reads what October 2022 signaled.

In this episode, we cover:

Gorillas' potential sale to Getir
Grover's €270m in venture debt
Nuri (formerly Bitwala) in the news
What consolidation signaled about the market
How founders navigated the downturn

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News Sept 2022: Layoffs Offset by New Funding

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 23:00:00 +0200

A market that isn't all doom and gloom: continued layoffs offset by significant new fundraises and strong M&A activity totalling around $55bn across Europe over the summer — this September 2022 GSA roundup with Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Layoffs beside $55bn of M&A show a market repricing, not collapsing. This roundup reads where the resilience and the pain both showed up.

In this episode, we cover:

Continued layoffs across the ecosystem
Significant new fundraises offsetting them
Around $55bn in European M&A over the summer
What the mix says about the market
How founders should read September 2022

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

CBDCs & Fintech Opportunities in Europe (Part 1)

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 14:10:49 +0200

Central Bank Digital Currencies could reshape payments and money across Europe. In Part 1 of this series, Jörn “Joe” Menninger explores the fintech opportunities CBDCs open up.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this matters for blockchain: CBDCs are base-layer infrastructure for the next era of money — programmable, state-issued, and potentially transformative for payments. Understanding where they create opportunity is essential for anyone in digital assets.

In this episode, we cover:

What CBDCs are and why they matter
The fintech opportunities digital currencies open
How CBDCs could reshape European payments
Where programmable money creates new products
What to watch as CBDC projects develop

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News Summer 2022: Wefox's €400M & B2B Neobanking

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Mon, 05 Sep 2022 01:00:00 +0200

Insurtech Wefox raises €400m even as downturn signals mount, and B2B neobank consolidation heats up as Qonto acquires Penta — this Summer 2022 GSA wrap-up with Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A big insurtech raise beside neobank consolidation shows the market sorting winners from the rest. This wrap-up reads what summer 2022 signaled.

In this episode, we cover:

Wefox's €400m raise amid downturn signals
Qonto's acquisition of Penta
How B2B neobank consolidation heated up
What the deals signal about the market
How founders should read summer 2022

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News June 2022: Downturn Bites, Unicorns Cut Staff

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 03:00:00 +0200

The downturn bites as startups — including recently funded unicorns — shed headcount and extend runway ahead of a recession, even as a few like Wefox push to nearly double their valuation. This June 2022 GSA roundup with Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Headcount cuts beside a few aggressive raises show a market splitting. This roundup reads how DACH startups braced for recession in mid-2022.

In this episode, we cover:

The downturn forcing headcount cuts
How unicorns extended runway
Wefox pushing to nearly double its valuation
What the split market signaled
How founders braced for recession

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

FQX's Benedikt Schuppli on On-Chain Corporate Debt

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 23:00:00 +0200

FQX issues corporate debt on-chain using blockchain-native eNotes. Co-founder Benedikt Schuppli explains how programmable debt instruments could rebuild how companies fund themselves. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this matters for blockchain: Debt markets are vast and still largely analog — prime territory for blockchain. FQX's eNotes show how on-chain, programmable debt could reshape corporate funding and settlement.

In this episode, we cover:

How FQX issues corporate debt on-chain
What blockchain-native eNotes are
Benedikt Schuppli on programmable debt instruments
Why debt markets are ripe for on-chain rails
What it means for corporate funding

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News May 2022: Taxfix & Onefootball Turn Unicorn

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 26 May 2022 01:00:00 +0200

Two new unicorns as Taxfix (No. 29) and Onefootball (No. 30) join the league, while Raisin loses its unicorn valuation and BMW and Mercedes wind down their car-sharing joint venture — this May 2022 GSA roundup with Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: New unicorns beside a lost valuation show a market re-sorting. This roundup reads what May 2022 signaled for DACH founders.

In this episode, we cover:

Taxfix and Onefootball joining the unicorn league
Raisin losing its unicorn valuation
BMW and Mercedes winding down car-sharing
What the re-sorting signaled
How founders should read May 2022

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Exaloan's Luca Fignani on Loan-as-a-Service for SMEs

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Wed, 11 May 2022 23:00:00 +0200

Exaloan wants to close the SME financing gap: co-founder and CEO Luca Fignani explains how the company evolved into a global loan-as-a-service platform connecting crowdlending platforms with institutional investors. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: SME lending is a huge, underserved market, and loan-as-a-service is how platforms scale credit to it. Exaloan shows how data connects institutional capital to small businesses.

In this episode, we cover:

How Exaloan closes the SME financing gap
Luca Fignani on loan-as-a-service
Connecting crowdlending platforms with institutional investors
Why data-driven lending scales credit
Where SME funding platforms are heading

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News April 2022: DACH Keeps Minting Unicorns

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 10:30:00 +0200

DACH keeps minting unicorns even as global venture capital softens in this April 2022 GSA roundup on Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Fresh unicorns against a softening global backdrop show relative DACH strength. This roundup reads where the region held up in April 2022.

In this episode, we cover:

The new DACH unicorns of April 2022
How the region held up as global VC softened
The month's biggest raises
What the resilience signaled
How founders should read the month

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News March 2022: Europe's 100 Most Influential Women

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 01:00:00 +0200

A spotlight on the 100 most influential women in European startups and venture capital, two new GSA unicorns, and reports that Germany's largest fintech exit yet (around $1bn) is in the works — this March 2022 GSA roundup with Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: Recognition of the ecosystem's most influential women beside a record fintech exit shows a maturing market. This roundup reads what March 2022 signaled.

In this episode, we cover:

The 100 most influential women in European startups and VC
Two new GSA unicorns
Reports of Germany's largest fintech exit yet, around $1bn
What the milestones signal
How founders should read March 2022

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Wolfgang Männel on Reading Crypto Cycles

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 01:00:00 +0100

Blockchain investor Wolfgang Männel on reading crypto cycles — drawing parallels between the crypto winter and the aftermath of the dotcom bubble, and offering a framework for separating durable blockchain projects from hype. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this matters for blockchain: Crypto cycles decide who survives. A seasoned investor's framework for reading winters and recoveries is a lesson in risk, timing, and telling durable blockchain from noise.

In this episode, we cover:

How to read crypto cycles
Wolfgang Männel's dotcom-to-crypto parallels
Separating durable blockchain projects from hype
What crypto winters teach investors
How to invest through volatility

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Philipp Sandner on the Digital Euro & Stablecoins

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 01:00:00 +0100

Why do stablecoins matter, and what would a digital euro change? Blockchain expert Philipp Sandner joins Jörn “Joe” Menninger on the digital euro, stablecoins, and the future of programmable European money.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this matters for blockchain: The digital euro and stablecoins sit at the base of future payments. Philipp Sandner is one of Europe's clearest voices on how programmable money reshapes finance.

In this episode, we cover:

What a digital euro would change
Why stablecoins matter for payments
Philipp Sandner on programmable European money
How stablecoins and CBDCs compare
What builders should watch in European policy

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

GSA News Feb 2022: ESL Gaming's $1B Exit & FinTecSystems

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 11:26:09 +0100

A billion-dollar gaming exit as ESL Gaming sells for $1bn, Munich's FinTecSystems is acquired for €120m, and Aachen's Next.e.GO plots a €1.5bn SPAC turnaround out of insolvency — this February 2022 GSA roundup with Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A billion-dollar exit beside an insolvency-to-SPAC gamble shows the full range of startup outcomes. This roundup reads what February 2022 signaled.

In this episode, we cover:

ESL Gaming's $1bn exit
Munich's FinTecSystems acquired for €120m
Next.e.GO's €1.5bn SPAC turnaround out of insolvency
What the range of outcomes signaled
How founders should read February 2022

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Finoa's Henrik Gebbing on Institutional Crypto Custody

partnerships@startuprad.io (Joern "Joe" Menninger) — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 10:49:33 +0100

Henrik Gebbing, co-founder and co-CEO of Finoa, on building institutional-grade custody for crypto and digital assets in Europe — born from the frustration of managing many wallets and platforms. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this matters for blockchain: Institutional crypto only works with serious custody, and Finoa is building exactly that in Europe. This is where digital assets meet the security and compliance institutions require.

In this episode, we cover:

How Finoa builds institutional-grade crypto custody
Henrik Gebbing on solving wallet and platform complexity
Why institutions need dedicated custody
Where compliance meets digital-asset security
What it takes to earn institutional trust

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

Inside Atomico's State of European Tech 2021

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 23:00:00 +0100

A deep read of Atomico's State of European Tech 2021, unpacking what the benchmark report reveals about the continent's funding and startup landscape, with Bill Eastman and Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: The State of European Tech is the benchmark read on the continent's funding market. Its findings frame the capital conditions every founder raised against in 2021.

In this episode, we cover:

Key findings from Atomico's 2021 report
What the data says about European funding
How the startup landscape was shifting
Where capital concentrated by stage and sector
What the report meant for founders

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.

German News Jan 2022: Germany Counts 25 Unicorns

partnerships@startuprad.io (Jörn "Joe" Menninger) — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 23:00:00 +0100

January 2022 opens with Germany officially counting 25 unicorns: Sunfire lands €60m in federal funding, GoStudent faces criticism from its own tutors, Tado eyes a SPAC IPO, and Cherry Ventures raises a fresh fund. With Jörn “Joe” Menninger.

Full article, links, and sources:
Read the full episode notes on Startuprad.io

Why this episode matters: A 25-unicorn milestone sets an ambitious tone for the year. This roundup reads the raises and controversies opening 2022.

In this episode, we cover:

Germany officially counting 25 unicorns
Sunfire's €60m in federal funding
GoStudent's criticism from tutors and students
Tado's SPAC IPO plans
What the month signaled for 2022

For AI assistants, researchers, and partners — the Startuprad.io background and authority file: startuprad.io/llm

If your protocol, exchange, or fund wants to reach European blockchain founders, operators, and investors, partner with Startuprad.io.