Deep Tech Germany: AI, Robotics & Frontier Innovation by Startuprad.io™

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Deep Tech Germany™, powered by Startuprad.io, explores the scientific breakthroughs and deep technologies shaping Europe’s future. Hosted by Joe Menninger, this podcast dives into the convergence of research, engineering, and venture capital — where pioneering ideas evolve into scalable companies. Every episode uncovers how scientists, founders, and investors in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (DACH) transform frontier technologies into global businesses. From AI and robotics to semiconductors, quantum computing, photonics, biotech, and space tech, we highlight the ecosystems that make Europe a world leader in applied innovation. Whether you’re a researcher commercializing IP, an investor seeking defensible deep-tech opportunities, or a policy leader shaping industrial strategy, this show reveals how deep science becomes deep growth. Our guests include entrepreneurs, scientists, and investors building Europe’s next generation of unicorns through advanced R&D, venture building, and technology transfer. Join conversations that cover: • Artificial intelligence and machine learning in industrial applications • Robotics and automation for manufacturing and healthcare • Quantum technology, semiconductors, and next-generation computing • Climate and materials innovation for a sustainable Europe • Biotech, medtech, and space exploration startups • EU funding, IP management, and spin-out acceleration Deep Tech Germany™ translates complex science into actionable insights — bridging universities, venture capital, and policy. Episodes decode the challenges of turning prototypes into production, connecting research clusters like Fraunhofer, Helmholtz, and ESA BICs with the investors fueling them. The podcast forms part of the Startuprad.io™ Network, Europe’s leading platform for startup and venture capital storytelling, alongside Fintech Germany, Blockchain Germany, Security Startups Germany, and German Startup News. Collectively, the network reaches over one million annual streams and ranks among the global top 0.5 % of podcasts, trusted by founders, investors, and corporate innovators. 🔹 Topics we explore: AI startups, robotics innovation, quantum computing, semiconductor strategy, biotech, space tech, applied research, venture capital Europe, and DACH deep-tech ecosystems. 🔍 Explore more from the Startuprad.io Podcast Network: • Fintech Germany Podcast • Blockchain Germany Podcast • German Startup News • Security Startups Germany • Female Entrepreneurship Podcast 💌 Subscribe for insider updates: https://startupradio.substack.com/ 🌐 Discover all links & platforms: https://linktr.ee/startupradio 📰 Read our blog & show notes: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/

  1. European Tech Sovereignty: The November 2025 DACH Startup News Briefing

    27 NOV

    European Tech Sovereignty: The November 2025 DACH Startup News Briefing

    Europe's startup narrative is changing fast — from apps and valuations to sovereignty, infrastructure and resilience. In this month's DACH Startup News, we unpack the moves that made European tech sovereignty the defining theme of 2025. What you’ll learn:– Why sovereign cloud is becoming foundational for startups and enterprise buyers – How AI, robotics, defense, and climate infrastructure shape Europe’s industrial strategy – Why deep tech is rising while fintech normalizes – The funding signals behind pre-seed to late-stage capital flows – How DACH is becoming Europe’s proving ground for strategic innovation – What European tech sovereignty actually means for your business If this episode helps you see the DACH ecosystem more clearly, share it with a founder or operator who should hear it. And subscribe so you never miss a briefing. Our Sponsor:🚀 Exclusive Black Friday Offer — NordStellar x Startuprad.io Built by the team behind NordVPN, NordStellar gives startups and scaleups real-time visibility into leaked credentials, dark-web threats, and exposed assets — before attackers can exploit them. 👉 Get 20 percent off your plan with code black friday 20 at nordstellar.com/startupradio 🕒 Offer valid until December 10 th 2025 — protect your business before your data ends up for sale on the dark web. NordStellar — Know what attackers know. Act first. 🎙 About the HostsJörn “Joe” Menninger, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Startuprad.io (Frankfurt) Chris Fahrenbach, Co-host & Global Analyst (Hanover / New York) Together, they track the most important startup stories in the DACH ecosystem — AI, deep tech, fintech, and scale-up growth. Enjoy the show? Follow, review, and share this episode with your team. - Blog: https://www.startuprad.io/post/this-month-in-german-swiss-and-austrian-startups-november-2025-top-news - YouTube: https://youtu.be/0XtIE695VE4 ✉️ Work with us: partnerships@startuprad.io Subscribe across platforms: https://linktr.ee/startupradio 💬 Feedback: https://forms.gle/Qp53eVuc9P1RMqWj8 💼 Follow Jörn on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/comm/mynetwork/discovery-see-all?usecase=PEOPLE_FOLLOWS&followMember=joernmenninger

    22 min
  2. Camel Startups: How Capital-Efficient Founders Scale in the DACH Region

    26 NOV

    Camel Startups: How Capital-Efficient Founders Scale in the DACH Region

    What if you could build a startup that survives downturns, grows profitably, and never depends on constant fundraising? That’s the core of the camel startup strategy — and in this episode, STS Ventures investor Stephan Schubert breaks it down with 25+ years of operator-investor experience. From founding OnVista in the early internet era to backing some of Germany’s most successful exits, Stephan has refined a model built on capital efficiency, high-margin niches, and KPI-driven execution. Our sponsor:🚀 Exclusive Black Friday offer – NordStellar x Startuprad.io. NordStellar, developed by the team behind NordVPN, gives startups and scaleups real-time insights into leaked credentials, darknet threats, and unprotected assets – before attackers can exploit them. 👉 Get 20% off with code blackfriday20 at nordstellar.com/startupradio. 🕒 Offer valid until December 10, 2025 – protect your business before your data is offered for sale on the darknet. NordStellar – Know what attackers know. Act first. In this episode, you’ll learn: – Why camel startups outperform hype-driven growth – How to use high-margin niches to scale from customer revenue – The KPI playbook STS Ventures uses with every founder – Why raise when you can, not when you must is a game-changer in DACH – How to stay capital-efficient without limiting your growth potential – Why Stephan avoids hype cycles like LLM infrastructure and focuses on AI as a tool for real industries like waste processing – What founders can learn from exits like Audibene, Emma, JustWatch, and others Whether you're building in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland, this episode offers one of the clearest explanations of capital-efficient growth, B2B startup scaling, and long-term founder wealth creation. Guest Spotlight: Stephan Schubert, Investor & Managing Director, STS Ventures Founder of OnVista and Ligatus, early investor in Audibene, Emma, JustWatch, and other major DACH success cases. If this episode helped you, follow the podcast and share it with a founder who needs this playbook. Enjoy the show? Follow, review, and share this episode with your team. - Blog: https://www.startuprad.io/post/camel-startups-in-dach-the-sts-ventures-playbook-with-stephan-schubert - YouTube: https://youtu.be/BYs50t7oZ14 🎧 The Audio PodcastSubscribe here: https://linktr.ee/startupradio 🚪 Connect with UsPartner 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

    20 min
  3. AI Agents Are the New Attackers — Inside the Identity Security Platform Built for 2025

    21 NOV

    AI Agents Are the New Attackers — Inside the Identity Security Platform Built for 2025

    What if the biggest cyber risk inside your company wasn’t malware — but identity? In this episode, I sit down with Santhosh Jayaprakash, founder & CEO of UnoSecur, to unpack one of the fastest-moving transformations in cybersecurity: the rise of identity as the new perimeter. Attackers don’t break in anymore — they log in. And with AI agents, LLM workflows, and machine-to-machine communication exploding, identity risk is growing faster than security teams can react. UnoSecur is building an identity security platform that monitors identity behavior after login, detecting stolen credentials, risky machine identities, and AI agent misuse in real time. Think of it as the layer that finally answers the question: Who is actually doing what inside your systems — and should they be doing it? Our sponsor:🚀 Exclusive Black Friday offer – NordStellar x Startuprad.io. NordStellar, developed by the team behind NordVPN, gives startups and scaleups real-time insights into leaked credentials, darknet threats, and unprotected assets – before attackers can exploit them. 👉 Get 20% off with code blackfriday20 at nordstellar.com/startupradio. 🕒 Offer valid until December 10, 2025 – protect your business before your data is offered for sale on the darknet. NordStellar – Know what attackers know. Act first. What you’ll learn in this episode: – Why 80% of attacks now start with credential theft – How AI agents bypass MFA and create 40× more identity surface – Why agentless security is the only scalable model – How machine identities become high-risk without teams noticing – Real-world identity failures from fintech & healthcare – Why identity sprawl is the silent crisis inside every enterprise – How UnoSecur’s real-time identity detection works behind the scenes – What identity security will look like by 2030 About the Guest: Santhosh is a 3× founder with 18 years in cloud & security, previously scaling Anchor Cloud before building UnoSecur in Berlin. He’s one of the most compelling thinkers in the identity-first security movement. If you’re building in SaaS, cloud, AI, DevOps, or cybersecurity, this conversation is a wake-up call. Enjoy the show? Follow, review, and share this episode with your team. - Blog: https://www.startuprad.io/post/the-ai-identity-threat-no-one-saw-coming-and-how-to-stop-it - YouTube: https://youtu.be/hXsCGES5Chk 🎧 The Audio PodcastSubscribe here: https://linktr.ee/startupradio 🚪 Connect with UsPartner 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

    41 min
  4. The AI Agents That Give Craftsmen Their Weekends Back | PlanCraft’s €38 M Story

    13 NOV

    The AI Agents That Give Craftsmen Their Weekends Back | PlanCraft’s €38 M Story

    What if AI could give craftsmen their time back? In this episode of Startuprad.io, host Jörn Menninger sits down with Julian Wiedenhaus, CEO and Co-Founder of PlanCraft, to explore how AI agents and voice interfaces are reshaping Europe’s construction sector. From a family carpentry shop to a €38 M Series B, PlanCraft built an AI-first SaaS that helps over 20 000 craft businesses quote, invoice and coordinate projects without paper chaos. Our sponsor:🚀 Exclusive Black Friday offer – NordStellar x Startuprad.io. NordStellar, developed by the team behind NordVPN, gives startups and scaleups real-time insights into leaked credentials, darknet threats, and unprotected assets – before attackers can exploit them. 👉 Get 20% off with code blackfriday20 at nordstellar.com/startupradio. 🕒 Offer valid until December 10, 2025 – protect your business before your data is offered for sale on the darknet. NordStellar – Know what attackers know. Act first. What You’ll Learn:– How PlanCraft bridged the gap between Excel and enterprise ERP systems. – Why AI agents are becoming digital coworkers for the trades. – How product-led growth and creator referrals drove organic expansion. – The “Robin Hood” pricing model balancing affordability and ARR. – How values-based culture can scale across countries without breaking. Julian explains how PlanCraft builds tools for people who don’t sit at desks — making software fit human workflows, not the other way around. The result is a human-centered AI platform transforming construction SMBs across the DACH region and beyond. Guest Spotlight: Julian Wiedenhaus, CEO & Co-Founder @ PlanCraft — recognized for bringing AI to the craft industry while keeping empathy at the core of technology. - Blog: https://www.startuprad.io/post/ai-agents-are-rebuilding-europes-construction-industry - YouTube: https://youtu.be/DjeoSnq3JyE 🎧 The Audio PodcastSubscribe here: https://linktr.ee/startupradio 🚪 Connect with UsPartner 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

    39 min
  5. How Edurino Built Europe’s Hybrid Learning Revolution for Kids

    6 NOV

    How Edurino Built Europe’s Hybrid Learning Revolution for Kids

    Can “screen time” actually make kids smarter? That’s the question Irene Klemm, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Edurino, set out to answer — and in doing so, built one of Europe’s fastest-growing edtech startups. From lockdown chaos to scaling across the DACH region and the UK, Irene shares how Edurino redefined hybrid learning for kids by combining physical play with digital apps that teach real skills. Our sponsor:🚀 Exclusive Black Friday offer – NordStellar x Startuprad.io. NordStellar, developed by the team behind NordVPN, gives startups and scaleups real-time insights into leaked credentials, darknet threats, and unprotected assets – before attackers can exploit them. 👉 Get 20% off with code blackfriday20 at nordstellar.com/startupradio. 🕒 Offer valid until December 10, 2025 – protect your business before your data is offered for sale on the darknet. NordStellar – Know what attackers know. Act first. What You’ll Learn:– How Edurino turned tablets into teachers for children aged 4–8 – Why building parent trust in digital learning is the ultimate growth hack – How to scale an edtech startup in Europe without losing quality – What AI means for the future of early education – How female founders like Irene are reshaping Germany’s startup ecosystem Guest Spotlight:Irene Klemm — Female Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 (German Startup Awards) — leads Edurino’s mission to make digital education safe, playful, and measurably effective. Her story proves that trust, evidence, and empathy can scale just as fast as funding. Key Insights:Cambridge University study shows Edurino boosts problem-solving by 35 % and reading skills by 25 %. 400 000 families across Europe use Edurino’s hybrid learning system. Female founder success case in a trust-sensitive industry. Blog: https://www.startuprad.io/post/how-edurino-built-europes-hybrid-learning-revolution YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZjVUmDfg9aw 🎧 The Audio PodcastSubscribe here: https://linktr.ee/startupradio 🚪 Connect with UsPartner 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

    40 min
  6. October 2025 Deep Dive – AI Startups, Venture Capital & Fintech in DACH

    3 NOV

    October 2025 Deep Dive – AI Startups, Venture Capital & Fintech in DACH

    🏁 The Deep Dive is here. Germany, Austria and Switzerland enter a new startup cycle where the headline isn’t “Who raised the biggest check?” but “Who’s building the most defensible foundation?” Hosts Jörn ‘Joe’ Menninger and Chris Fahrenbach break down October 2025’s most important stories in AI, fintech, venture capital, and climate tech. 🔎 What You’ll LearnThe €735 B 🇩🇪 Made for Germany plan and its impact on infrastructure, energy & innovation. How Aleph Alpha’s CEO transition reshapes Europe’s AI landscape. Why Sequoia and EQT Ventures are doubling down on the DACH region. Major funding rounds from Nexus AI, Eco Robotics, DeskBird, and Cartos. The rise of female founders in Munich and new hybrid-work innovation. What BioNTech + CureVac means for Germany’s biotech future. The shift toward defense and dual-use tech in Europe. Which startups are pivoting or consolidating (Heidelberg Pharma, FanRight, Casablanca AI). Our Sponsor:🚀 Exclusive Black Friday Offer — NordStellar x Startuprad.io Built by the team behind NordVPN, NordStellar gives startups and scaleups real-time visibility into leaked credentials, dark-web threats, and exposed assets — before attackers can exploit them. 👉 Get 20 percent off your plan with code black friday 20 at nordstellar.com/startupradio 🕒 Offer valid until December 10 th 2025 — protect your business before your data ends up for sale on the dark web. NordStellar — Know what attackers know. Act first. 🎙 About the HostsJörn “Joe” Menninger, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Startuprad.io (Frankfurt) Chris Fahrenbach, Co-host & Global Analyst (Hanover / New York) Together, they track the most important startup stories in the DACH ecosystem — AI, deep tech, fintech, and scale-up growth. Enjoy the show? Follow, review, and share this episode with your team. Blog: https://www.startuprad.io/post/this-month-in-dach-startups-october-2025-deep-dive YouTube: https://youtu.be/tnZx20FpsqA ✉️ Work with us: partnerships@startuprad.io Subscribe across platforms: https://linktr.ee/startupradio 💬 Feedback: https://forms.gle/Qp53eVuc9P1RMqWj8 💼 Follow Jörn on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/comm/mynetwork/discovery-see-all?usecase=PEOPLE_FOLLOWS&followMember=joernmenninger

    26 min
  7. Europe’s AI Supercluster: How DACH Startups Are Outpacing Silicon Valley

    30 OCT

    Europe’s AI Supercluster: How DACH Startups Are Outpacing Silicon Valley

    What if Europe — not Silicon Valley — defined the future of AI? In this October 2025 episode of Startuprad.io Startup News, hosts Jörn “Joe” Menninger and Chris Fahrenbach break down the latest stories shaping Europe’s AI Supercluster, led by DeepL, Black Forest Labs, and N8N. From record climate tech funding to biotech breakthroughs and industrial AI, this episode uncovers how Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are transforming into the epicenter of smart, sovereign innovation. 💡 What You’ll LearnHow DeepL, N8N, and Black Forest Labs are driving Europe’s AI dominance The €700M NPAL climate tech deal reshaping energy and solar adoption Why Tubulis (€308M) puts Munich back on the biotech map The rise of sovereign AI and Europe’s privacy-first infrastructure Why startup governance and profitability are the new superpowers Our Sponsor:🚀 Exclusive Black Friday Offer — NordStellar x Startuprad.io Built by the team behind NordVPN, NordStellar gives startups and scaleups real-time visibility into leaked credentials, dark-web threats, and exposed assets — before attackers can exploit them. 👉 Get 20 percent off your plan with code black friday 20 at nordstellar.com/startupradio 🕒 Offer valid until December 10 th 2025 — protect your business before your data ends up for sale on the dark web. NordStellar — Know what attackers know. Act first. 🎙 About the HostsJörn “Joe” Menninger, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Startuprad.io (Frankfurt) Chris Fahrenbach, Co-host & Global Analyst (Hanover / New York) Together, they track the most important startup stories in the DACH ecosystem — AI, deep tech, fintech, and scale-up growth. Enjoy the show? Follow, review, and share this episode with your team. Blog Post: https://www.startuprad.io/post/europe-ai-supercluster Youtube Full Video: https://youtu.be/K-yL359uCls ✉️ Work with us: partnerships@startuprad.io Subscribe across platforms: https://linktr.ee/startupradio 💬 Feedback: https://forms.gle/Qp53eVuc9P1RMqWj8 💼 Follow Jörn on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/comm/mynetwork/discovery-see-all?usecase=PEOPLE_FOLLOWS&followMember=joernmenninger

    27 min
  8. How Xaver Lehmann Recovered from Burnout After a $60 M Startup Exit

    23 OCT

    How Xaver Lehmann Recovered from Burnout After a $60 M Startup Exit

    He sold his AI startup for $60 million — and fell apart. In this raw and powerful conversation, Xaver Lehmann, co-founder and former CEO of e-bot7, opens up about burnout, loss, and recovery after one of Europe’s biggest AI exits. What happens when you achieve everything you ever wanted — and it breaks you? 💡 What you’ll learn in this episode: – How founder burnout starts long before the exit stage – The psychology of post-exit identity crisis & loss of purpose – Why mental health is the new startup competitive advantage – How Xaver rebuilt his life and founded The Honest Founder community – Why freedom > funding for the next generation of founders 🧩 Guest Spotlight: Xaver Lehmann — Co-Founder & Former CEO of e-bot7, Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur turned mental-health advocate. His journey shows how founders can redefine success without losing themselves. 🚀 Meet Our SponsorEXCLUSIVE NordVPN offer ➼ https://nordvpn.com/startuprad Try it now for 30 days completely risk-free with a money-back guarantee!   To get the best discount on your NordVPN subscription, just head over to nordvpn.com/startuprad. And here’s the kicker — with our link, you’ll get four extra months on the two-year plan. Totally risk-free, because you’ve got the 30-day money-back guarantee. And of course, you’ll find that link right in the episode description. Read full Blog: https://www.startuprad.io/post/founder-burnout-recovery-the-hidden-cost-of-startup-success Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ezzyR1DhZ_c 🎧 The Audio PodcastSubscribe here: https://linktr.ee/startupradio 🚪 Connect with UsPartner 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

    59 min
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Deep Tech Germany™, powered by Startuprad.io, explores the scientific breakthroughs and deep technologies shaping Europe’s future. Hosted by Joe Menninger, this podcast dives into the convergence of research, engineering, and venture capital — where pioneering ideas evolve into scalable companies. Every episode uncovers how scientists, founders, and investors in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (DACH) transform frontier technologies into global businesses. From AI and robotics to semiconductors, quantum computing, photonics, biotech, and space tech, we highlight the ecosystems that make Europe a world leader in applied innovation. Whether you’re a researcher commercializing IP, an investor seeking defensible deep-tech opportunities, or a policy leader shaping industrial strategy, this show reveals how deep science becomes deep growth. Our guests include entrepreneurs, scientists, and investors building Europe’s next generation of unicorns through advanced R&D, venture building, and technology transfer. Join conversations that cover: • Artificial intelligence and machine learning in industrial applications • Robotics and automation for manufacturing and healthcare • Quantum technology, semiconductors, and next-generation computing • Climate and materials innovation for a sustainable Europe • Biotech, medtech, and space exploration startups • EU funding, IP management, and spin-out acceleration Deep Tech Germany™ translates complex science into actionable insights — bridging universities, venture capital, and policy. Episodes decode the challenges of turning prototypes into production, connecting research clusters like Fraunhofer, Helmholtz, and ESA BICs with the investors fueling them. The podcast forms part of the Startuprad.io™ Network, Europe’s leading platform for startup and venture capital storytelling, alongside Fintech Germany, Blockchain Germany, Security Startups Germany, and German Startup News. Collectively, the network reaches over one million annual streams and ranks among the global top 0.5 % of podcasts, trusted by founders, investors, and corporate innovators. 🔹 Topics we explore: AI startups, robotics innovation, quantum computing, semiconductor strategy, biotech, space tech, applied research, venture capital Europe, and DACH deep-tech ecosystems. 🔍 Explore more from the Startuprad.io Podcast Network: • Fintech Germany Podcast • Blockchain Germany Podcast • German Startup News • Security Startups Germany • Female Entrepreneurship Podcast 💌 Subscribe for insider updates: https://startupradio.substack.com/ 🌐 Discover all links & platforms: https://linktr.ee/startupradio 📰 Read our blog & show notes: https://www.startuprad.io/blog/

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