€100M+ Deals, AI Chips & Fintech M&A: German Startup News (Sept 2025)
Deep tech, fintech, and funding reshape DACH startups.
Some months in the startup world feel like a blur.
This September in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, it felt like a signal.
€100M+ rounds in Berlin, AI chips modeled on the human brain in Dresden, and fintech acquisitions reshaping youth banking — the DACH ecosystem didn’t just make news, it made moves that could define the next five years.
So I pulled together the highlights for you. If you’re a founder, investor, or operator, here’s what you need to know — without the noise.
Value Drop / What This Is About
In this month’s Startup News edition, we cover:
🚀 The VC rounds north of €100M that prove capital is still flowing.
🧠 Deep tech breakthroughs: neuromorphic AI chips, quantum comms, defense drones.
💳 Fintech shakeups: Bitpanda doubling revenues, Bling acquiring Finstep.
🌱 Green tech innovation: salt-based energy storage, EV wiring resilience.
📊 M&A and exits: Nect, Lemon Markets, Scanbot SDK.
This isn’t just a news list. It’s a snapshot of where Europe’s innovation energy is heading.
Core Insights
1. Capital Isn’t Dead — It’s Selective
Berlin’s Talon One ($114M) and Munich’s Neuclidium (€84M) show investors are doubling down on SaaS + biotech, even when markets look cautious.
2. Deep Tech Is Europe’s Edge
Neuromorphic chips in Dresden, quantum comms in Vienna, defense drones in Munich — all hint at Europe’s unique advantage: dual-use innovation.
3. Fintech’s Quiet Reinvention
Bitpanda approaches €1B revenue, while Berlin’s Bling buys Finstep to dominate youth finance. The lesson? Vertical specialization beats generic banking.
4. Green Transition Needs Survivors
Austria’s salt batteries and Leonie’s EV wiring pivot prove that climate tech is both capital-intensive and unavoidable.
5. Exit Paths Are Opening Again
From Nect to Scanbot SDK, strategic M&A is returning as corporates and VCs reposition portfolios.
🎙 Hosted by Jörn “Joe” Menninger, founder of Startuprad.io, joined by Christian “Chris” Fahrenbach, Co-Founder of Startuprad.io
📖 Blog Recap → https://www.startuprad.io/post/dach-startup-news-july-and-august-2025-unicorn-surge-825m-hydrogen-win-fintech-shakeups
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If you were building in Europe today — would you go after deep tech, fintech, or climate tech?
👉 Hit reply and tell me. I read every response.