IFB Innovationsstarter

IFB Innovationsstarter GmbH is a venture capital firm based in Hamburg, Germany, focusing on seed financing and supporting early-stage innovative companies. As a subsidiary of Hamburgische Investitions- und Förderbank, it aims to stimulate local entrepreneurship by investing in young companies with fewer than 50 employees and annual sales or balance sheets under €10 million. The firm typically invests up to €0.6 million per financing round, with a total possible investment of up to €1 million across multiple rounds. IFB Innovationsstarter primarily targets startups that are less than two years old, with plans to exit investments within three to eight years. The organization not only provides financial support but also plays a role in fostering innovation within the Hamburg region.

Dörte Bunge

Principal

Stefanie Hoehn

Investment Manager

Past deals in Germany

Mindpeak

Series A in 2024
MindPeak GmbH is a technology company based in Hamburg, Germany, founded in 2018. It specializes in developing artificial intelligence software tools aimed at enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of cancer diagnostics. The company's flagship product, BreastAI, is designed for the quantification of breast cancer immunohistochemistry (IHC) and can be integrated into third-party software systems. MindPeak's solutions automate tissue diagnostics, enabling pathologists to identify and quantify tumorous regions and detect breast cancer cells more effectively. By streamlining tasks such as cell and biomarker quantification, MindPeak's tools allow cancer specialists to focus on critical decision-making in clinical environments, ultimately improving patient care while making diagnostic processes more accessible and cost-effective.

SupplyET

Seed Round in 2024
SupplyET is a German deep-tech startup specializing in supply chain planning. Founded in 2022, it offers AI-powered software that enables manufacturers to efficiently plan capacities, adapt flexibly to market changes, and build resilient production networks. Its no-code approach allows for intuitive scenario modeling, optimizing machine allocation in seconds. With proven results at over 40 locations, the software increases planning efficiency by four times, boosts sales, reduces investment needs, and contributes to sustainability.

Resourcify

Series A in 2023
Resourcify GmbH, established in 2015 and headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, specializes in developing and operating a neutral cloud platform for waste management. This platform enables businesses to efficiently manage their waste and recycling operations online, reducing administrative tasks by up to 40% compared to conventional methods. Key features include container pick-up scheduling, real-time collection tracking, documentation management, and legally compliant reporting. Trusted by global corporations such as Cargill and McDonald's, Resourcify aims to facilitate a zero-waste future through digital transformation of recycling processes.

SupplyET

Grant in 2023
SupplyET is a German deep-tech startup specializing in supply chain planning. Founded in 2022, it offers AI-powered software that enables manufacturers to efficiently plan capacities, adapt flexibly to market changes, and build resilient production networks. Its no-code approach allows for intuitive scenario modeling, optimizing machine allocation in seconds. With proven results at over 40 locations, the software increases planning efficiency by four times, boosts sales, reduces investment needs, and contributes to sustainability.

Emmora

Seed Round in 2022
Emmora is a company focused on providing comprehensive digital solutions for the funeral industry, aiming to support individuals navigating the complexities of death, grief, and life. It organizes funerals according to clients' specific wishes, facilitating a smooth process through partnerships with local service providers. Emmora enables customers to find and book various funeral-related services, including undertakers, speakers, musicians, florists, and bereavement companions. This allows individuals to plan and arrange funerals conveniently online, from any location in Germany. By positioning itself as a personal companion in the funeral planning process, Emmora addresses the emotional and logistical challenges faced during such difficult times.

Resourcify

Venture Round in 2022
Resourcify GmbH, established in 2015 and headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, specializes in developing and operating a neutral cloud platform for waste management. This platform enables businesses to efficiently manage their waste and recycling operations online, reducing administrative tasks by up to 40% compared to conventional methods. Key features include container pick-up scheduling, real-time collection tracking, documentation management, and legally compliant reporting. Trusted by global corporations such as Cargill and McDonald's, Resourcify aims to facilitate a zero-waste future through digital transformation of recycling processes.

Resourcify

Venture Round in 2021
Resourcify GmbH, established in 2015 and headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, specializes in developing and operating a neutral cloud platform for waste management. This platform enables businesses to efficiently manage their waste and recycling operations online, reducing administrative tasks by up to 40% compared to conventional methods. Key features include container pick-up scheduling, real-time collection tracking, documentation management, and legally compliant reporting. Trusted by global corporations such as Cargill and McDonald's, Resourcify aims to facilitate a zero-waste future through digital transformation of recycling processes.

Sponsoo

Series A in 2020
Sponsoo GmbH is an online platform based in Hamburg, Germany, that facilitates connections between athletes, sports teams, and corporate sponsors. Founded in 2014, Sponsoo serves a wide range of clients, including individual athletes, sports clubs, associations, and event organizers. The platform allows users to create profiles, enabling sponsors to search for and identify suitable teams or athletes to sponsor. Additionally, Sponsoo is part of the INVEST grant program, which allows private investors in Germany to reclaim 20% of their investment as a grant from the German Department of Commerce. This innovative marketplace aims to enhance sports marketing and athlete branding by streamlining the sponsorship search process for enterprises.

Mindpeak

Seed Round in 2019
MindPeak GmbH is a technology company based in Hamburg, Germany, founded in 2018. It specializes in developing artificial intelligence software tools aimed at enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of cancer diagnostics. The company's flagship product, BreastAI, is designed for the quantification of breast cancer immunohistochemistry (IHC) and can be integrated into third-party software systems. MindPeak's solutions automate tissue diagnostics, enabling pathologists to identify and quantify tumorous regions and detect breast cancer cells more effectively. By streamlining tasks such as cell and biomarker quantification, MindPeak's tools allow cancer specialists to focus on critical decision-making in clinical environments, ultimately improving patient care while making diagnostic processes more accessible and cost-effective.

Closelink

Seed Round in 2019
Closelink GmbH is a technology company based in Hamburg, Germany, that specializes in developing a cloud-based purchasing platform for marine lubricants. Founded in 2016, Closelink aims to enhance the procurement process for ship managers and lubricant suppliers within the shipping industry. The platform streamlines the procurement of ship consumables by allowing buyers and sellers to collaborate effectively. It simplifies the purchasing process by generating a unified marine lubricant request that is automatically sent to multiple suppliers, allowing users to compare offers on a single interface tailored to their specific preferences. This approach enables shipping companies to reduce costs, ensure a reliable supply chain, and minimize manual efforts without the need for installation.

Wetterheld

Grant in 2019
Wetterheld is a German weather insurance provider offering an online platform that protects small and medium businesses from losses caused by rain, temperature shifts, or snow. The company aims to transform the weather insurance market by delivering coverage backed by a leading digital insurer and reinsured by a major global reinsurer. After two years of research and development, Wetterheld combines traditional weather-insurance know-how with big data and weather analytics to tailor policies to client parameters and station data, enabling clients such as farmers and other businesses to file claims for weather-related losses through a partner insurer. The approach focuses on accessible, data-driven coverage designed for the German market.

Resourcify

Venture Round in 2018
Resourcify GmbH, established in 2015 and headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, specializes in developing and operating a neutral cloud platform for waste management. This platform enables businesses to efficiently manage their waste and recycling operations online, reducing administrative tasks by up to 40% compared to conventional methods. Key features include container pick-up scheduling, real-time collection tracking, documentation management, and legally compliant reporting. Trusted by global corporations such as Cargill and McDonald's, Resourcify aims to facilitate a zero-waste future through digital transformation of recycling processes.

KitchenAdvisor

Seed Round in 2018
KitchenAdvisor GmbH, founded in 2017 and headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, operates an online platform that provides kitchen designing services and acts as a comparison portal for fitted kitchens. The company aims to bring transparency to the kitchen market by helping customers understand pricing and quotes through a short online questionnaire. This enables users to compare offers from regional dealers and make informed decisions during their kitchen redesign projects.

HQLabs

Venture Round in 2017
HQLabs GmbH, founded in 2012 and based in Hamburg, Germany, specializes in developing innovative software for project management. The company's flagship product, HQ, serves as a comprehensive tool that streamlines the entire agency process, encompassing project management, task management, and invoicing within a single platform. This software is designed to enhance productivity by replacing disorganized app setups and outdated spreadsheets with a cohesive workflow solution. HQLabs has garnered the trust of over 700 agencies and thousands of users, who benefit from its GDPR-compliant software, aimed at facilitating efficient collaboration and task execution.

Baqend

Seed Round in 2016
Baqend develops Speed Kit, a SaaS plugin solution to accelerate e-commerce websites by more than 50% within 2 days. Baqend is a research spin-off from the University of Hamburg on the mission of building a web without loading times. The founders pioneered a novel approach to speed up the delivery of dynamic data. Speed Kit bundles years of this research in a plugin for large-scale e-commerce and brand websites, that is easily implemented by just a line of JavaScript code. Today, some of the leading European e-commerce players like Decathlon, Galeria, and BMW already rely on Speed Kit to improve their conversion rates, user experience, and SEO ranking. Since the product’s speed uplift is cleanly proven by statistically sound A/B-tests, Baqend is one of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in Germany.

Bentekk

Seed Round in 2016
Bentekk GmbH, founded in 2014 and based in Hamburg, Germany, specializes in the development and manufacturing of intelligent gas measuring systems designed for on-site analysis of contaminants. The company focuses on portable gas measurement devices that utilize gas chromatography and photo ionization detection to accurately assess volatile organic compounds and other hazardous substances. This technology is applicable across various sectors, including environmental monitoring, first response, logistics, life sciences, and the chemical industry. By providing equipment that enhances occupational health and safety, Bentekk enables better monitoring of toxic gas levels, contributing to safer working environments. As a subsidiary of Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA since 2017, Bentekk continues to advance its mission of improving workplace safety through innovative measurement solutions.

Keeeb

Seed Round in 2015
Keeeb, Inc. is a software-as-a-service company that offers an enterprise intelligence platform designed to enhance productivity and collaboration within organizations. Founded in 2013 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with an additional office in Germany, Keeeb's platform enables users to collect, curate, and share information from various sources, including personal projects, images, text passages, videos, and creative ideas. By integrating knowledge into familiar digital environments, it transforms traditional search methods into an intuitive, automated discovery process. The platform not only facilitates individual and team collaboration but also aids in organizing and visually presenting content. Keeeb serves a diverse range of professionals, including web designers, social media experts, bloggers, journalists, and marketing managers, thereby supporting their digital transformation efforts through streamlined access to corporate intelligence and improved workflow. The company operates as a subsidiary of Keeeb GmbH, which was established in 2011.

Familonet

Series A in 2015
Familonet GmbH is a Hamburg-based company founded in 2012 that specializes in the development of the smartphone application FAMILO. This application enables users to share their location with family members and friends, facilitating improved communication for families, groups of friends, and colleagues. FAMILO incorporates intelligent geolocation features and offers additional tools such as emergency alerts, real-time location tracking, and the ability to send messages and photos within groups. Privacy is prioritized, as location sharing is voluntary, ensuring user control over their information. The app is designed to be user-friendly across all age groups and is recognized for its quality and low battery consumption, being branded as "Made in Germany." Familonet has received accolades, including the MobileTech Award and the Webfuture Award, and has been associated with the European Space Agency's Business Incubator Centre since 2015. With over 900,000 users worldwide, the app has core markets in Brazil, India, Germany, Turkey, and the USA. In 2019, Familonet became a subsidiary of FamiloApp GmbH.

RetroBrain R&D

Grant in 2014
RetroBrain R&D is a company based in Hamburg, Germany, specializing in the development of therapeutic video games aimed at enhancing the physical and mental fitness of elderly individuals. Founded in 2014, RetroBrain R&D focuses on gamifying established therapies for dementia and mild cognitive impairment, creating gesture-controlled medical video games that are accessible to users without prior gaming experience. By integrating proven therapeutic methods into engaging gameplay, the company not only addresses challenges in mental and physical healthcare but also promotes health and well-being among older adults. Its innovative solutions aim to delay the onset of age-related diseases and support ongoing therapy for conditions such as dementia and Parkinson's disease, even in advanced stages.

i3 Membrane

Seed Round in 2014
Founded in 2013, i3 Membrane specializes in manufacturing steel filter membranes primarily for life science markets. Its products are also used in medical and pharmaceutical sectors.
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