The 15th HHL SpinLab Investors Day started with the keynote "CEE from a VC perspective" by Alexandru Agatinei from How to Web. Events such as the Wolves Summit or the Latitude59 have made a lasting impact on us over the years. According to a recent report by Dealroom, CEE startups are now worth €213 billion, with Poland, Ukraine, and Estonia contributing 50% of the region's enterprise value. 

At this year’s HHL SpinLab Investors Day #15, more than 200 guests, including venture capital funds, business angels, and corporates from all over Europe – France, Belgium, Tallinn, Poland, and Italy – came to Leipzig. One of this year's topics was shifting from software to hardware startups. 

In 2014, 27pilots founder Gregor Gimmy, while working at BMW's innovation strategy department, conceived an approach to enhance how BMW engaged with startups. He established specific processes, resources, and a new value system, leading to the creation of the BMW Startup Garage, the world's first official Venture Client Unit. In Venture Clienting, established companies actively engage with startups by becoming targeted clients. This involvement goes beyond mere financial support, it provides valuable feedback, expertise, and market access to startups in their early stages. In return, startups deliver innovative solutions and technologies that can be seamlessly integrated into the companies' operational processes. During a pilot project, the utility of the purchased technologies for the company is assessed over several weeks to months. Upon successful adoption, a long-term collaboration is sought, aiming to provide competitive advantages for both parties.

At this year's HHL SpinLab Investor Days, Bjorn Tremmerie, Head of Venture Capital and Impact Investing at the European Investment Fund (EIF), took the stage to deliver the opening keynote. He discussed the future of Funds of Funds and why Europe has become THE center for entrepreneurship. In this article, we explore the key takeaways from Tremmerie's speech and its implications for European ventures.

This year's HHL SpinLab Investors day edition was an incredible showcase of innovative startups and visionary venture capitalists, all under one roof! This time, it wasn't just the startups that pitched, but also the venture capitalists who took the stage. Each fund brings its unique approach, expertise, and financial backing to the table, ensuring that promising early-stage companies receive the support they need to thrive. With a focus on sectors such as clean energy, mobility, and health, these venture capital firms are reshaping the European startup ecosystem and empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs. Here are six European venture capital funds that you need to check out.

Digital health applications have been transforming the way we approach healthcare, empowering individuals to take control of their well-being with the help of technology. Germany has embraced this digital revolution, paving the way for the emergence of a unique class of digital applications called DiGA. The German Digital Healthcare Act was implemented on December 19, 2019, with the aim of facilitating the integration of digital health applications into the medical field.

Drones are taking on more and more tasks and will soon be an essential part of everyday life. These small flying machines can do much more than just deliver packages or take beautiful video recordings. The drone industry is booming: By 2025, the German drone market will grow to more than €1.6 billion. One of the pioneers of drone technology is FlyNex.

At SpinLab, we always act in the interests of the environment, society and our employees. We are committed to driving social change and sustainable development in order to make an effective contribution to a future worth living.

Climate change and, most recently, Russia's invasion of Ukraine have plunged energy policy in crisis. In order to become independent of Russian oil and gas, numerous countries are currently putting their energy and climate policies on the test bench. Alternatives are needed. Times have never been more promising for founders in the energy sector. As the energy system undergoes a far-reaching transformation, new digital solutions, technologies and innovative business models are needed. In this article, we introduce you to upcoming energy startups from Germany.

Never before has so much venture capital flowed into startups as in the past year. 2021 was a record year with mega deals and new unicorns. For the first time ever, European startups raised over $100 billion. This represented a 115% increase in the funding amount from 2020. Currently, VC funding receives the most attention in the media. For young startups, it seems to be the best way of funding. However, there are more alternatives to the classic VC money. As part of the 13th edition of the HHL SpinLab Investors Day, Damian Polok (Silicon Valley Bank), Isabella Hermann-Schön (Round2 Capital), Paul Becker (re:cap) and Patrick Walsh (uncapped) came together in Leipzig to discuss venture capital alternatives. This panel dives into the questions whether the alternatives are in conflict with the VC world, what factors to be aware of when it comes to financing and how the diffrent options work.