Vorwerk Ventures is an independent € 150m Venture Capital Fund with € 400m under management. We define ourselves through a strong commitment towards startups that drive positive impact for the people and the planet. We lead seed rounds within our clearly defined focus areas: Consumer, Food, Health, and Climate. Our unique experience in addition to an outstanding track record provides added value for forward-thinking tech entrepreneurs. Headquartered in Berlin Germany, we are constantly on the look-out for promising opportunities starting with Seed/Series A investments of €1m to €5m and ensuring continuous support by reserving up to €15m for upcoming financing rounds. An outstanding founding team, a unique product or service addressing a substantial market framed by a strong business model are key requirements to us when it comes to making an investment decision.

Vorwerk Ventures

Project A is an early-stage venture capital firm, combining financial and operational support for technology companies. In addition to $1bn in assets under management, Project A provides its portfolio companies with a wide range of operational support services. This includes more than 100 experts from key areas such as software engineering, business intelligence, marketing, and recruiting. The portfolio includes companies such as Trade Republic, sennder, KRY, Catawiki, WorldRemit, Spryker, and Voi.

Project A Ventures

#adm ventures is an advisory firm focused on digital and tech companies. The firm delivers a full range of products and services that can assist entrepreneurs and companies with creating a successful online business presence.

#adm VENTURES

U-Start is a professional advisory firm structuring club deals for a club of private investors. U-Start works alongside top-tier VC funds to scout and invest agnostically in digital and tech companies across Europe, Israel and the US. U-Start aggregates high-net worth Italian and Swiss families into one of the most comprehensive VC investor club active in the European VC landscape – The U-Start Club. The U-Start Club is a leading elite group of investors with a deep passion for innovation and VC investments. Through U-Start, U-Start Club members gain access and constant exposure to innovation globally. By being part of the U-Start Club, Family Offices and private investors can access the digital and tech space in a more holistic, strategic and conscious way, and can build up an efficient asset allocation.

U-Start

Monkfish Equity is the investment vehicle of the trivago founders. TRVG was started in 2004 and went IPO with over 1 b$ in revenue on NASDAQ in 2016. It was then labelled one of the first real Unicorns in Germany.  As Co-investors, with a focus on later stage phases, they invest in companies which can benefit from their entrepreneurial experience. As “low maintenance” investors, they offer the leeway that entrepreneurs need to build their businesses. So far, the Monkfish team has invested in over 50 start-ups in Europe, Asia, the US and South Africa.

Monkfish Equity

Perpetual partners with venture capital firms, private equity firms and founders to create enduring value.

Perpetual Ventures

MIP SGR is a global investment platform specialized in Venture Capital with multiple alternative and reserved funds, differentiated by growth stages of the portfolio companies and geographical scope, giving privileged access to growing markets. Established in Milan in 2017, MIP SGR is an Alternative Investment Fund Management Company focused mainly but not exclusively on Tech, Consumer & Lifestyle investments, managing several investment funds. After the success of MIP I fund, in 2021 Milano Investment Partners SGR launched U-Start Ventures, a Multi-compartment fund dedicated to Club Deals in the U.S and Northern Europe, and Cliffs, a new alternative and reserved fund for early-stage, deep-tech focused investments across U.S. Venture Capital landscape and other international hubs. MIP invests in the new class of excellence-driven entrepreneurs across the globe and supports founders and portfolio companies in their quest to go from solid businesses to global champions, combining decades of investing and operational/entrepreneurial experience with a truly global network to help our portfolio companies grow, faster and stronger.

Milano Investment Partners SGR

ASTUTIA Ventures invests since 2006 in innovative start-ups with outstanding growth potential. Their investment focus is in the areas of smart cities, future of commerce and digital lifestyle. To entrepreneurs and companies in their early growth stages, they offer venture capital, a truly international business network and specialized know-how in order to support successful development and sustainable growth.

Astutia Ventures

Horizn Studios

Horizn is a travel tech venture, headquartered in Berlin. Their hero hardware product is their Smart Luggage range. As first vertical, online player in the European luggage market, and Europe's first Smart Luggage brand, HS designs, develops and sells premium quality, innovative travel products at very competitive prices. Their products offer GPS, Chargers, Proximity Alerts, Travel App, Personal Travel Assistant, and more - subtly integrated in a very contemporary design.

<div>Horizn Studios is a German manufacturer of premium smart luggage built from recyclable materials that are PETA-Approved Vegan, and feature TSA-approved locks and/or cabin-approved detachable power banks with USB charging ports. As of February 2023, Horizn Studios had stores across nine European countries and shipped its products worldwide. Horizn Studios offers customizable, smart luggage options and its product range includes, Circle One (built from its patent hardshell solution, BioX, priced at USD 1,095); the H Series (USD 395&ndash;USD 595); the M Series (USD 445&ndash;USD 535); and Pro and Special Editions (USD 365&ndash;USD 845). Other product offerings include an array of backpacks and accessories.</div>

Travel Tech

Summer’s in the air with Horizn Studios’ sale

<div>
 
 Horizn Studios is a German manufacturer of premium smart luggage built from recyclable materials that are PETA-Approved Vegan, and feature TSA-approved locks and/or cabin-approved detachable power banks with USB charging ports. As of February 2023, Horizn Studios had stores across nine European countries and shipped its products worldwide. Horizn Studios offers customizable, smart luggage options and its product range includes, Circle One (built from its patent hardshell solution, BioX, priced at USD 1,095); the H Series (USD 395&ndash;USD 595); the M Series (USD 445&ndash;USD 535); and Pro and Special Editions (USD 365&ndash;USD 845). Other product offerings include an array of backpacks and accessories.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 Products designed through partnerships include that with the world&rsquo;s youngest astronaut, Alyssa Carlson (to launch a NASA-themed range in July 2019), private members&rsquo; social club, Soho House (to launch a Soho House range in November 2018), DJ Seth Troxler (to launch the Pro Model ST in October 2018), and artist Emekah Ogboh (to launch the Lagos Edition in March 2019).
 
 
 Other partnerships included that with supply chain solutions provider Flexport (to streamline its product distribution process in January 2020).
 
 
 
 
 
</div>

Sonder is a short-term rental startup that acquires and refurbishes apartments in popular urban areas and offers them for rent through various channels, including Airbnb, Expedia, and its own website. The company typically enters into three- to five-year leases (including fixed leases and mixed leases) or revenue-sharing agreements with landlords to occupy entire floors of buildings. Sonder’s contracts include provisions that reduce rates during economic downturns, such as a clause that decreased rents by 8% during the pandemic. Unlike other home-sharing firms that have faced difficulties with local lodging regulations, Sonder either holds hotel licenses or operates in buildings that permit short-term rentals.Its apartments offer hotel amenities, such as professional cleaning services, fresh designs, and a concierge service accessible through an app. With the help of its app and digital door locks, guests can check-in to their rooms without any face-to-face interactions. As a result, Sonder's offering was well-suited for maintaining social distance during the pandemic. Sonder aims to extend its reach by expanding to other regions, including Asia. Sonder is also planning to broaden its offerings to include properties such as resorts, villas, and residences. Moreover, Sonder aims to establish a franchise model and sell its software solutions to outside operators. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20463">July 2023 </a>, Sonder launched its first hotel collection, ‘Powered by Sonder’, a collection of boutique hotels, each with its own distinctive design aesthetic, utilizing Sonder's technology and operated by the company.As of January 2023, Sonder served more than one million guests in more than 9,000 live units, across more than 40 cities and 10 countries. It expected to grow its portfolio to 56,000 units by 2024.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27990">March 2024 </a>, Sonder lost some properties to competing companies such as Kasa Living, Placemakr, AvantStay, and Blueground. The shift in property management occurred after Sonder attempted to renegotiate lease terms or exit from master leases.Key customers and partnerships<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/32761">In August 2024</a>, Sonder signed a licensing agreement to sell 9,000+ of its units to Marriott International with plans to integrate 1,500 units more into the Marriott system in the future. Previously,In September 2022, Sonder partnered with RateGain Travel technologies to strengthen its presence on the GDS by introducing its own dedicated chain code titled SS. The company also partnered with Hotel Engine, a lodging performance network, to offer its services to its network of over 550,000 business travelers (October 2021).

Sonder

Ukio is a Barcelona-based company that provides short-term rental apartments directed at remote workers and other professionals on the move. Ukio offers rental apartments for stays ranging 1–11 months, with an average stay of four to five months. Guests can book for a set period and have the option to extend their stay through the company's online platform. Ukio signs 7- to 10-year leases for its apartments with individual property owners, real estate developers, and family offices.Ukio’s rentals range from EUR 1,750–5,000 (~USD 1,900–5,400) per month. The monthly payment covers utilities, maintenance, taxes, and all the standard amenities included in a hotel stay. Each apartment includes a concierge and reception area, with some having additional services, such as weekly-cleaning facilities. As of August 2024, Ukio operated in Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Berlin and Paris with Ukio planning to expand to other cities such as London, and Dublin.

Ukio

NUMA (formerly known as Cosi) is a German provider of alternative accommodation that offers short-term rental units in over 3,000 locations in cities like Berlin, Munich, Rome, and Vienna. The company signs long-term leases with property owners and remodels the apartments by furnishing and designing the interiors, before renting them out as a hotel alternative. NUMA uses automation and smart pricing to increase occupancy rates and provides a comprehensive digital service for the entire guest experience by reducing booking and check-in/checkout timing to less than 60 seconds. NUMA differentiates itself from similar companies like Sonder by targeting a broader demographic and offering a “tech franchise” solution called “NUMA Go,” where third-party hoteliers can use NUMA's technology for a share of their revenue. NUMA also offers B2B travel solutions through its dedicated corporate booking team and its offering of corporate travel rates.In June 2021, NUMA expanded its services to Spain, Italy, Austria, and the Czech Republic by acquiring local short-term rental provider, Friendly Rentals. NUMA planned to further expand its operations in existing and new markets, such as France, the UK, Ireland, and the Nordic region. Additionally, NUMA made plans to enter the Portuguese market with the opening of a 77-unit hotel in Lisbon in Q2 2024.

numa

TravelPerk offers business travel options for customers. TravelPerk is headquartered in Barcelona and has additional offices in London, Berlin, Chicago, and Miami. The platform uses proprietary technology to provide booking, management, and reporting for business trips. It allows travellers to compare and book various modes of transportation, such as trains, cars, flights, hotels and apartments from various providers including KAYAK, Skyscanner, Expedia, Booking.com, and Airbnb. The company aims to provide flexibility to travellers while giving companies control over travel expenses.In November 2021, TravelPerk launched “TravelPerk Events” to bring dispersed teams together for face-to-face meetings. To make in-person meetings more sustainable, TravelPerk also provides customers with the option to estimate their carbon footprint and neutralize their emissions, achieving this through the acquisition of Susterra (September 2021). This also includes GreenPerk, a sustainability tool that directly reduces carbon emissions through initiatives run by its partner, Atmosfair. Other notable acquisitions included that of AmTrav (<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates?industryIds=101">June 2024</a>), UK-based rival, Click Travel (July 2021) and US-based rival, NexTravel (January 2021).TravelPerk uses a subscription- and commission-based business model that includes a freemium plan, with paid plans starting at USD 99 per month and commission fees starting at 3% per booking.Key customers and partnershipsTravelPerk struck a partnership with Southwest Airlines in January 2021 to broaden its US-based inventory, becoming one of the first non-US travel management companies to enter a partnership with the airline company. Other partners include Lufthansa Group Airlines, Midnight Trains, Divvy, and Skyscanner.TravelPerk doubled its customer acquisition rate in 2020 and catered to more than 6,000 businesses, including brands like Wise, Farfetch, GetYourGuide, and Monzo, as of September 2024

TravelPerk

Omio is a Berlin-based travel platform that allows users to search, compare and book transportation options across Europe, the US, and Canada. Founded in 2013 as GoEuro, the company rebranded to Omio in 2019 to reflect its expanded global presence. Omio's platform aggregates and displays train, bus, flight, ferry and car rental options from over 1,000 transportation providers across 37 countries. Users can compare routes, prices, and travel times across different modes of transport in a single search.The company's technology integrates directly with transportation providers to offer real-time pricing and availability. Omio generates revenue through commissions on bookings as well as service fees. As of 2022, Omio's platform facilitated enough ticket sales to fill 30 trains and 300 buses daily. The company has seen significant growth, with ticket bookings in 2022 reaching 140% above pre-pandemic levels. Omio has also observed a shift toward mobile bookings, with 80% of tickets now purchased via its mobile app.Key customers and partnershipsOmio has partnerships with hundreds of transportation companies across Europe and North America, including major providers like Renfe, Deutsche Bahn, SNCF, Flixbus, and Amtrak. In 2022, Omio partnered with Uber to integrate its inventory into the Uber app in the UK, allowing Uber users to book train and coach tickets. In 2023, Omio collaborated with Ecosia to launch a "tree-planting rail travel search tool" that promotes train travel as a more sustainable transport option. Omio has also integrated its booking capabilities into platforms like Kayak and Huawei devices.&nbsp;In August 2024, Omio announced a partnership with Ryanair to sell the airline's tickets as an approved online travel agent.

Omio

Platforms to search, compare, plan, and/or book flights, hotels, buses, trains and travel packages.

Platforms to search, compare, plan, and book alternative lodging in privately owned properties, including apartments and homes

Platforms to search, compare, plan, and book tours, events, and other travel-related recreational activities

Providers of corporate travel management solutions that help businesses with planning, controlling, tracking, and reporting on business travel activities, as well as distribution solutions and B2B booking engines

Car rental and ride-sharing solutions for long-distance travel

Providers of battery-powered luggage products equipped with technologies such as USB charging, built-in scales, TSA-approved locks, and real-time location tracking via GPS and cellular networks

Providers of technology-enabled solutions to enhance the guest experience, such as contactless and automated check-in services.

Providers of technology-based solutions for accommodation providers, tour/experience operators to optimize revenue and operations.

Some solutions under the B2B travel solutions segment operate under a B2B SaaS model

Some online search/booking and revenue management solutions use AI/ML for product development

Horizn Studios

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