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🚀 Big news! 🚀 We are thrilled to announce that NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) has invested in JOIN CAPITAL. This marks a significant milestone in our journey since 2015, throughout which we've focused on supporting pioneering industrial and deep tech in Europe. NIF is a fund whose decision-making and structure are fully independent from NATO, but whose members presently comprise 24 of the alliance’s nations. Together we focus on the broad scope of technologies that help solve the most pressing problems of NIF members’ citizens — namely AI, energy, novel materials, autonomy/robotics and more. We had the pleasure of welcoming Kelly Chen to our Portfolio Day in May, where she rightfully pointed out that deep tech requires patient capital and a unique fund structure — both of which NIF offers, making the team an ideal Limited Partner complementing our long-term strategy at Join. We are looking forward to the onward journey!

Venture capital’s big night in the heart of Berlin — hosted by Join Capital, Isomer Capital, Armilar, Heliad, Redalpine, Industry Ventures and additional corporate hosts — sees a record number of attendees.

Last Thursday, we welcomed our incredible network yet again to our Portfolio Day in the heart of Berlin. Like in previous years, we celebrated our ecosystem and invited brilliant founders to the stage to present their work. We enjoyed networking, barbecue, drinks and lovely spring weather...

We’re excited to share more about our Seed investment in SEMRON, the Dresden-based company developing revolutionary semiconductors that enable AI to run directly on your smartphone.

2023 was a breakthrough year for AI technology, marked by the rise of generative AI with a multitude of new GPT models and advanced diffusion models. These achievements, years in the making, were made possible by ongoing research and development far from the public eye. Yet, generative AI is only a part of the vast landscape of AI innovation. Specialized models are tackling unique challenges across various domains, including patent intelligence As we look ahead to 2024, the big questions are – how will 2024 and beyond shape up for the patent industry with respect to technology? How are the AI models that work in the background of patent search evolving? Where do the Large Language Models (LLMs) fit in? What big changes are heading our way?

A new Germany-based startup, Semron, is developing what it describes as “3D-scaled” chips to run AI models locally on smartphones, earbuds, VR headsets and other mobile devices. Co-created by Kai-Uwe Demasius and Aron Kirschen, engineering graduates from the Dresden University of Technology, Semron’s chips use electrical fields to perform calculations instead of electrical currents — the medium of conventional processors. This enables the chips to achieve higher energy efficiency while keeping the fabrication costs to produce them down, Kirschen claims.

Semron has raised $7.9 million (7.3 million euros) for AI chips with 3D packaging for mobile devices. Dresden, Germany-based Semron said its goal is to set a new standard for AI chips in mobile devices, addressing the evolving needs of the industry.Led by Join Capital and supported by SquareOne, OTB Ventures, and Onsight Ventures, this funding positions Semron for semiconductor innovation at a time when Moore’s Law is slowing down. In an era dominated by the demand for increasingly sophisticated AI capabilities, Semron is targeting development of advanced computer chips designed to power the smallest consumer devices like smartphones, earbuds, and VR headsets.

German Bionic, a developer of electrically powered exoskeletons, raised more than $16.3 million in an expanded Series A funding round. The funding is part of the company’s plan to intensify its relationship with its industrialization partner, Mubea. Mubea is a German automotive supplier. German Bionic said it’s leveling up its relationship with the supplier to better meet the escalating demand for smart occupational safety systems. “The strengthening of our partnership with German Bionic underscores Mubea’s commitment to play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable mobility solutions,” said Thomas Muhr, managing partner of Mubea. “This is increasingly the case in the field of micromobility, which operates within the group under the name Mubea U-Mobility. Our expertise in smart lightweight solutions coupled with a proven track record in successfully launching large-scale production projects and the global reach of the Mubea Group, align seamlessly with the shared growth objectives we are pursuing alongside German Bionic.

As we navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of geospatial technology, a crucial challenge emerges: the growing skill gap in the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) industry. This gap is not just a hurdle; it represents a significant opportunity for innovation and adaptation. At Picterra, we've been closely attuned to this challenge, recognising the need for tools and solutions that not only embrace technological advancements but also make them accessible and usable for professionals across various sectors.