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Seiratherm is working on innovative products for the controlled regulation of the body-core temperature. The therapy is intended to cool-down the patient (“hypothermia”), maintain a specific target temperature and subsequently rewarm the patient automatically.

The systematic lowering of the body-core temperature reduces the metabolic rate resulting in reduced neurological damages. This is beneficial for a multitude of indications in conjunction with hypoxia or insufficient oxygen supply affiliated with stroke. 

Seiratherm combines clinically effective methods with state-of the art technology; the device application is fast, easy and favorably priced in comparison to competitors.

The investment by High-Tech Gruenderfonds, Bayern Kapital and the partner will enable seiratherm to develop the first generation of devices towards CE-certification.

Rosi Keimerl of Bayern Kapital and Dr. Martin Pfister of High-Tech Gründerfonds emphasized: “the automation of a clinical effective method with a patented technology will result in a better and cost-effective treatment option for critically-ill patients. This represents a very promising market potential and has upside potential withfurther indications. The involvement of a strategic partner further emphasizes the potential of seiratherm.

About seiratherm GmbH
The seiratherm GmbH was founded in 2011, however the interdisciplinary team of physicians and engineers is working since 2008 on innovative concepts for the regulation of the body-core temperature. Through the combination of clinically proven methods and state-of the art technology, seiratherm is able to develop innovative devices specially designed for the actual clinical demand. The company is based in Herzogenaurach.

Contact:
seiratherm GmbH
Dr. Matthias Roth
managing director
Beethovenstrasse 10
D-91074 Herzogenaurach
Tel: +49 (0) 89 5484 268 0
Fax: +49 (0) 89 5484 268 0
info@seiratherm.de
www.seiratherm.de

About Bayern Kapital/ Seedfonds Bayern
Seedfonds Bayern is existing since 2003, in 2010 the Clusterfonds Seed GmbH & Co. KG was founded with a volume of 24 Mio. Euro to continue this seed-investment activities. The fund managed by Bayern Kapital GmbH invests venture capital in young and innovative Bavarian technology-companies with high prospects that are transferring promising research results to business enterprises. Bayern Kapital GmbH is a public Bavarian venture capital company and was founded as part of the “Bavarian Future Initiative” at the end of 1995. Bayern Kapital and its funds invested about 171 Mio. Euro in more than 210 companies. Overall, Bayern Kapital now manages a fund volume of 200 Mio. Euro.

Contact:
Bayern Kapital GmbH
Rosi Keimerl
Ländgasse 135 a
D-84028 Landshut
Tel: +49 871 92325-0
Fax: +49 871 92325-55
info@bayernkapital.de
www.bayernkapital.de

About High-Tech Gruenderfonds
High-Tech Gruenderfonds invests in young, high potential high-tech start-ups. The seed financing provided is designed to enable start-ups to take an idea through prototyping and to market launch. Typically, High-Tech Gruenderfonds invests EUR 500,000 in the seed stage, with the potential for up to a total of EUR 2 million per portfolio company in follow-on financing. Investors in this public/private partnership include the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the KfW Banking Group, as well as twelve industrial groups of ALTANA, BASF, B. Braun, Robert Bosch, CEWE Color, Daimler, Deutsche Post DHL, Deutsche Telekom, Qiagen, RWE Innogy, Tengelmann and Carl Zeiss. High-Tech Gruenderfonds has about EUR 560.5 million under management in two funds (EUR 272 million EUR HTGF I, EUR 288.5 million HTGF II).

Contact:
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Dr. Martin Pfister
Investment Manager
Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2
D-53175 Bonn
Tel: +49 228 823001-00
Fax: +49 228 823000-50
info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de

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The primary objective of plant breeding is to optimise specific traits such as resistances, crop yield or taste. „This is not always an easy task – particularly for traits, which are controlled by more than one gene“, Dr. Martina Schad, biochemist and one of the two founders of the OakLabs GmbH explains. Traits, which are only determined by one gene, can usually be reliably predicted with today’s DNA markers. In the case of complex traits such as crop yield or taste however, the prognosis does not provide sufficient reliability to be economically useful in breeding. „We are bridging this gap. OakLabs develops reliable diagnostic DNA markers for complex traits“, Dr. Schad states. The analysis of these markers allows for the prognosis of the traits at an early stage of development. „With the help of our technology, the offspring can be purposefully selected in regard to complex traits at a much earlier stage. In doing so, the developmental period for a new type of plant with improved quality characteristics is reduced by up to ten years.“

The founders combine in-depth knowledge in molecular biology with modern mathematics for their intelligent method. „We combine an innovative lab procedure, which is based on DNA microarrays, with dedicated algorithms“, Dr. Jim Kallarackal, theoretical quantum physicist and co-founder, explains. „We are using the investment High-Tech Gründerfonds made to develop our technology to market maturity and will launch it on the market in the summer of 2012.“

Kay Balster, investment manager at High-Tech Gründerfonds, explains the reasons for High-Tech Gründerfonds’ investment: „Although there are several competitors in the market, the technology developed by OakLabs convinced us. So far, it is not possible for the competitors to analyse a large number of DNA markers in a small amount of samples cost-effectively using the existing methods. However, the large number of DNA markers is imperative for developing reliable diagnostic DNA markers.“

In the future, more and more will be expected of domesticated plants. The agricultural area utilised for farming, which continues to decrease in size, as well as the increasing demand for foodstuffs calls for highly productive plants. „Plant breeding is a research-driven field with a large potential for growth. The market volume for OakLabs’ offer convinced us“, Balster states in conclusion for the decision to invest.

The OakLabs GmbH will make its technology available to animal and plant breeding clients as well as to research institutes in the autumn of 2012.

About the OakLabs GmbH
The OakLabs GmbH was founded in 2011 by Dr. Martina Schad and Dr. Jim Kallarackal. The OakLabs GmbH develops reliable diagnostic DNA markers for complex traits in plants. Their analysis allows for the prognosis of certain traits in the early developmental period of the plants and therefore, reduces the breeding of a new type of plant by up to ten years.

Contact:
OakLabs GmbH
Dr. Martina Schad
Neuendorfstraße 20b
16761 Hennigsdorf
Tel.: +49 178 357 67 21
m.schad@oak-labs.com
www.oak-labs.com

About High-Tech Gruenderfonds
High-Tech Gründerfonds invests risk capital in young, promising technology companies that implement auspicious research results in an entrepreneurial way. The start-up companies use the seed funding to help them conduct their research and development plans until a prototype/proof of concept is provided or the product is launched on the market. The fund generally invests EUR 500,000 million, and up to EUR 2 million is available per company. Investors in the public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the KfW Banking Group and the 12 industrial groups ALTANA, BASF, B. Braun, Robert Bosch, CEWE Color, Daimler, Deutsche Post DHL, Deutsche Telekom, Qiagen, RWE Innogy, Tengelmann and Carl Zeiss. High-Tech Gründerfonds has a total fund volume of approximately EUR 560.5 million (EUR 272 million for Fund I and EUR 288.5 million for fund II).

Contact:
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Kay Balster
Investmentmanager
Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2
53175 Bonn
Tel: +49 228 823001-0
Fax: +49 228 823000-50
info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de

crossvertise is an online marketplace where agencies and companies engaged in advertising gather comprehensive information and, for the first time, can directly and easily book advertising media of all types online.

The successful conclusion of the financing round coincides with the kick-off for open beta testing of the booking platform. A majority of advertising media from the radio and outdoor advertising sectors can already be directly booked online. Advertising media from print, TV, cinema, online and mobile are currently available on request and will be gradually integrated into the marketplace by the official launch in the second quarter of 2012.

By offering a media buying platform that is accessible to all, crossvertise wants to establish itself as an innovative player in the advertising/media market (2010 overall market volume in Germany of €29.5 billion, worldwide over €300 billion). This allows the Munich-based start-up to provide small and medium-sized companies, in particular, and agencies as well with efficient access to the highly fragmented and almost incomprehensible variety of advertising media options. CEO Matthias Völcker explains: “The successfully concluded financing allows us to look to the future with confidence and gives us a stronger position for market entry. Although we already have a large number of registered users on the platform, we look forward to having many more, whose help will enable us to optimize our platform in accordance with customer needs.”

In addition to the private investors Michael Streich and Dr. Maximilian Levasier (the founder of BambooVentures GmbH) and Dr. Hellmut Kirchner (5K Investment GmbH) as well, the BambooMedia investment consortium includes FIRST VALUE AG with numerous financially strong and experienced shareholders. “Although BambooVentures is primarily specialized in the cleantech sector, we were still ultimately convince by the fact that the team’s strength of purpose enabled them to build the largest comprehensive media database in Germany and generate revenues in the 6-figure range even during the closed beta phase,” said Dr. Maximilian Levasier. “High-Tech Gründerfonds firmly believes in the success of the business idea and is happy to have crossvertise as another promising start-up in its portfolio,” said Christine Schmidl, responsible Investment Manager of the lead investor.

About crossvertise
The project, initiated in 2009 under the name of werbetraeger24 and operating as crossvertise GmbH since the start of 2011, was well received from the start. It was thus able to obtain joint funding from the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and the EU (EXIST Founder Scholarship) and also use offices free of charge at the LMU Entrepreneurship Center. The project was also one of the winners in the 2011 Munich Business Plan Competition. This enabled the founding trio of Matthias Völcker, Thomas Masek and Maximilian Balback to put together a motivated team and acquire many industry experts with years of experience, who were of assistance in developing the booking platform and establishing an extensive network. The team is now working at full speed to prepare market entry. Additional information: http://www.crossvertise.com

Contact:
Denise Böck
Phone: 089/21557903-0
Fax: 089/21557903-9
presse@crossvertise.com
crossvertise GmbH
Landwehrstraße 39
80336 Munich
Germany

About High-Tech Gruenderfonds
High-Tech Gruenderfonds invests in young, high potential high-tech start-ups. The seed financing provided is designed to enable start-ups to take an idea through prototyping and to market launch. Typically, High Tech Gruenderfonds invests EUR 500,000 in the seed stage, with the potential for up to a total of EUR 2mm per portfolio company in follow-on financing. Investors in this public/private partnership include the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the KfW Banking Group, as well as twelve industrial groups of ALTANA, BASF, B. Braun, Robert Bosch, CEWE Color, Daimler, Deutsche Post DHL, Deutsche Telekom, Qiagen, RWE Innogy, Tengelmann and Carl Zeiss. High-Tech Gruenderfonds has about EUR 560.5 million under management in two funds (EUR 272 million EUR HTGF I, EUR 288.5 million HTGF II).

Contact
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Christine Schmidl
Investmentmanagerin
Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2
53175 Bonn
Germany
Tel: +49 228 823001-00
Fax: +49 228 823000-50
info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de

With its cloud software the Conceptboard team offers a new approach to online collaboration: Multiple users are able to work on documents and concepts on an online whiteboard – at the same time and from anywhere. High-Tech Gründerfonds and Seedfonds BW see the potential of these Conceptboards and secure the next development steps with their investment.

“Conceptboard addresses a central problem of our global society with its platform: The direct and efficient collaboration independent of location. We are convinced, that the motivated Conceptboard team will successfully establish its solution in the market.”, explains Roman Loch from the LBBW Venture Capital GmbH, which co-manages the Seedfonds BW. 

So far Conceptboard is mostly being used by the creative industry and within educational institutions. In the future new user groups will be targeted through branch-specific enhancements.

“We are excited about the investment of the High-Tech Gründerfonds and the Seedfonds BW.”, says Daniel Bohn, CEO of Conceptboard, “With the capital we are able to further develop our product and to extend our team. In the long term we are planning to set up Conceptboard as an open platform and to co-operate with software and hardware suppliers.”

Conceptboard GmbH
Conceptboard is a platform whose usability in the modern collaborative business environment ranges from brainstorming and conception, elaboration and feedback cycles to managing change requests.  Documents, concepts and ideas are shared efficiently through its visual interface and can be directly discussed by the team.

The Conceptboard GmbH was founded in 2010 by Daniel Bohn and Christian Schröder. Shortly after that the private investors Michael Pott, Matthias Storch und Christopher Münchhoff acquired shares of the Suttgart based startup.

Contact:
Conceptboard GmbH
Daniel Bohn
Stöckachstraße 16
70190 Stuttgart
Germany
Tel.: +49 711 50 888 02 40
Fax: +49 711 50 888 02 49
daniel.bohn@conceptboard.com
www.conceptboard.com

About Seedfonds BW
Together with the High-Tech Gründerfonds the Seedfonds BW supports technology companies based in Baden-Württemberg in the early start-up or seed stage with private equity. The investors of Seedfonds BW are the federal state of Baden-Württemberg (Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs), the L-Bank, MBG Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg GmbH and LBBW Venture Capital GmbH.

Contact:
LBBW Venture Capital GmbH
Roman Loch
Investmentmanager
Königstr. 10c
70173 Stuttgart
Germany
Tel.: +49 711 3058920-32
Fax: +49 711 3058920-99
roman.loch@lbbw-venture.de
www.lbbw-venture.de
www.seedfonds-bw.de

About High-Tech Gruenderfonds
High-Tech Gruenderfonds invests in young, high potential high-tech start-ups. The seed financing provided is designed to enable start-ups to take an idea through prototyping and to market launch. Typically, High Tech Gruenderfonds invests EUR 500,000 in the seed stage, with the potential for up to a total of EUR 2mm per portfolio company in follow-on financing. Investors in this public/private partnership include the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the KfW Banking Group, as well as twelve industrial groups of ALTANA, BASF, B. Braun, Robert Bosch, CEWE Color, Daimler, Deutsche Post DHL, Deutsche Telekom, Qiagen, RWE Innogy, Tengelmann and Carl Zeiss. High-Tech Gruenderfonds has about EUR 560.5 million under management in two funds (EUR 272 million EUR HTGF I, EUR 288.5 million HTGF II).

Contact:
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Jan Sessenhausen
Investmentmanager
Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2
53175 Bonn
Germany
Tel: +49 228 823001-42
Fax: +49 228 823000-50
info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de

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Implandata Ophthalmic Products GmbH has developed a new kind of system that makes it possible to continuously measure the intraocular pressure of glaucoma patients. This enables early diagnosis of the disease for protecting patients against blindness. This new type of telemedical diagnosis tool will eliminate the need for frequent doctor visits, because they are consequently no longer absolutely necessary.

The IOP system consists of a minimally invasive micro-sensor and a hand-held unit. Patients can thereby easily measure their intraocular pressure at home as often as they wish. Patients and doctors alike are convinced by the easy and safe handling and acceptance of the IOP system was already high during the test phase. This is because the precise and constant monitoring of intraocular pressure is expected to yield initial therapy successes after only a brief period of use. Moreover, patients feel safe and well looked after with the system, even outside the medical practice. When the IOP system is used continuously, the therapy can be entirely adapted to the patient’s individual needs. As a further consequence, there is little danger of either excessive or insufficient medication.

The company has already begun the CE approval process, carried out the first implantations and expects market entry in the next 12 to 18 months. Health professionals worldwide have expressed great interest in employing the IOP system and globally represented companies are also becoming increasingly interested in possible partnerships.

“With the first closing round of €1.4 m we have laid the foundation for the continued expansion of the company,” said Max G. Ostermeier, co-founder and Managing Director of IOP. “In the first quarter of 2012 we will be raising at least another €800,000 of new money, specifically in order to implement complementary product lines and to press ahead with internationalization,” added Ostermeier. Talks with possible investors for a second closing round are said to be at an advanced stage and the closing round should be completed by the end of March 2012, stated Max G. Ostermeier.

“We are happy that, with seed financing from High-Tech Gründerfonds and Hannover Innovations Fonds, the Implandata team has succeeded in reaching major milestones such as the first implantations and getting other investors excited,” added Dr. Matthias Dill, responsible Investment Manager at High-Tech Gründerfonds.

Glaucoma is a common and chronic eye disease where increased intraocular pressure leads to irreversible damage to the optic nerve and ultimately to blindness of the patient. Present diagnostic methods permit only inadequate monitoring of intraocular pressure, which is why the primarily pressure-lowering treatment methods frequently fail.

Contact Implandata:
Implandata Ophthalmic Products GmbH
Max G. Ostermeier
Vahrenwalder Straße 7
30165 Hannover
Phone: +49 511 – 9357213
Fax: +49 511 – 9357217
mostermeier@implandata.com

About High-Tech Gründerfonds
High-Tech Gruenderfonds invests in young, high potential high-tech start-ups. The seed financing provided is designed to enable start-ups to take an idea through prototyping and to market launch. Typically, High-Tech Gruenderfonds invests EUR 500,000 in the seed stage, with the potential for up to a total of EUR 2 million per portfolio company in follow-on financing. Investors in this public/private partnership include the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the KfW Banking Group, as well as twelve industrial groups of ALTANA, BASF, B. Braun, Robert Bosch, CEWE Color, Daimler, Deutsche Post DHL, Deutsche Telekom, Qiagen, RWE Innogy, Tengelmann and Carl Zeiss. High-Tech Gruenderfonds has about EUR 560.5 million under management in two funds (EUR 272 million EUR HTGF I, EUR 288.5 million HTGF II).

Contact:
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Dr. Matthias Dill
Investment Manager
Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2
53175 Bonn
Phone: +49 228 823001-00
Fax: +49 228 823000-50
info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
http://www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de/

The energy policy of the German government sends a clear signal in the direction of cleantech, and thus to clean, environmentally-sound technologies. The objective is a steady, secured and inexpensive energy supply in Germany. This presents major challenges to energy companies, especially in the field of renewable energies. The trend is also towards innovative solutions from small start-ups. Dr. Fritz Vahrenholt, CEO of RWE Innogy GmbH, Oliver Stahl, CEO of Entelios AG and Dr. Michael Brandkamp, Executive Director of High-Tech Gründerfonds will be discussing the challenges of the German energy industry and presenting new approaches at a press conference being held at the High-Tech Partnering Conference in Bonn on 1st February 2012.

In the cleantech sector, renewable energies have great importance. Not least due to the German government’s energy scheme, major energy companies are gradually switching over to wind, biomass and other sources of energy. Technological innovations are the prerequisite for facing the challenges of the energy transformation. Yet energy companies are confronted by a dilemma. Despite monetary resources becoming ever scarcer investments must be made in these new technologies. Sensible synergies are in demand.

This is where High-Tech Gründerfonds II  and its portfolio companies come in. Today the fund is already promoting technology start-ups covering a variety of renewable technologies, such as system solutions for offshore safety technology, new measurement technologies for biogas plants, modular mini hydro power plants and innovative approaches in the field of solar energy.

Fritz Vahrenholt explains: “Energy transformation means utilizing novel ways of generating electricity on a large scale and not just accepting new ideas, but also supporting them. RWE Innogy is now among the leading venture capital investors in Europe in the renewable energies sector. Its involvement in High-Tech Gründerfonds II takes this development into account. The fund is an important step for the success of new technologies that we urgently need for the reorganisation of our energy supply in Germany and in Europe.”

Trends and innovations in the energy markets will be discussed by corporations and founders in the “Smart Energy – Innovative, Environmental, Economical” workshop as well as the press conference at the High-Tech Partnering Conference, being held for the third time in Bonn. High-Tech Gründerfonds’ technology conference has become a pivotal networking platform between innovative technology companies and the established industry. Awaiting the approx. 200 high-ranking representatives from industry and commerce are a mixture of demanding specialist workshops, prominent keynote speakers and top-class panel discussions.

Further information about the technology conference programme is available at www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de.

 Members of the media are cordially invited to the technology conference as well as to the press conference on the topic of Cleantech – Energy of the Future and can register by e-mail (s.zillikens@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de).

About High-Tech Gründerfonds
High-Tech Gründerfonds invests venture capital in promising technology start-ups that transform promising research into viable business models. The seed financing provided is designed to enable start-ups to take the R&D idea through prototyping or a “proof of concept” and to market launch. Typically, High-Tech Gründerfonds invests €500,000 in the seed stage, with the potential for up to a total of €2 m per company. Investors in this public/private partnership include the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the KfW Banking Group, as well as the twelve industrial groups of ALTANA, BASF, B. Braun, Robert Bosch, CEWE Color, Daimler, Deutsche Post DHL, Deutsche Telekom, Qiagen, RWE Innogy, Tengelmann and Carl Zeiss. High-Tech Gründerfonds has about €560.5 m under management (€272 m for Fund I, €288.5 m Fund II).

Press contact:
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Stefanie Zillikens – Marketing & Communications Manager
Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2 – 53175 Bonn, Germany
Phone: +49 228 823001-07 – Fax: +49 228 823000-50
s.zillikens@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de

Get in touch – under this motto, the High-Tech Partnering Conference is initiating cooperation between innovative high-tech start-ups and major corporations. After all, how does industry attain future-oriented technologies? How can start-ups utilize the synergies and sharing expertise of corporations? The technology conference has established itself as a unique platform laying the foundation for successful cooperation between big and small.

Over 200 one-to-one meetings have already been organized for this purpose. Industry representatives will also be coming together with the innovative high-tech companies from High-Tech Gründerfonds’ portfolio in six workshops focusing on the topics of cleantech, automation, cloud computing & IT infrastructure, web-based business models as well as medical technology and biotechnology.

In addition to networking, prestigious speakers, including Dr. Fritz Vahrenholt, CEO of RWE Innogy, Dr. Malte Bahner, CEO of Mivenion GmbH, Dr. Ulrich Schriek, Senior Vice President Corporate Business Development of Qiagen GmbH and Felix Thalmann, Chairman of CEWE Color AG & Co. OHG will be contributing to making this event a success.

Further information about the technology conference programme is available at www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de.

Members of the media are cordially invited to the technology conference as well as to the press conference on the topic of Cleantech – Energy of the Future and can register by e-mail (s.zillikens@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de).

 About High-Tech Gründerfonds
High-Tech Gruenderfonds invests in young, high potential high-tech start-ups. The seed financing provided is designed to enable start-ups to take an idea through prototyping and to market launch. Typically, High-Tech Gruenderfonds invests EUR 500,000 in the seed stage, with the potential for up to a total of EUR 2 million per portfolio company in follow-on financing. Investors in this public/private partnership include the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the KfW Banking Group, as well as twelve industrial groups of ALTANA, BASF, B. Braun, Robert Bosch, CEWE Color, Daimler, Deutsche Post DHL, Deutsche Telekom, Qiagen, RWE Innogy, Tengelmann and Carl Zeiss. High-Tech Gruenderfonds has about EUR 560.5 million under management in two funds (EUR 272 million EUR HTGF I, EUR 288.5 million HTGF II).

Press contact:
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Stefanie Zillikens – Marketing & Communications Manager
Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2 – 53175 Bonn, Germany
Phone: +49 228 823001-07 – Fax: +49 228 823000-50
s.zillikens@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de