Navigating Quantum Waters | APEX Ventures November Newsletter

As November brings showers and drizzles all around, we're here to brighten your day with our latest updates, achievements, and job opportunities.

October was a whirlwind of insightful events and innovative conferences for the APEX Ventures team, taking us from Stuttgart (QBN Quantum Industry Summit) to Vienna (Fintech Forum Austria) and Berlin (Stage Two) to Dresden (HTVD).

We were active at conferences and events, fostering innovation and networking. We also participated in startup competitions and shared insights at industry forums, all while making impactful connections and furthering our commitment to deep tech advancement.

Our portfolio companies have continued to make waves. From revolutionizing microgravity research with the "Eva" project, a collaboration between Yuri and ATMOS Space Cargo, to OroraTech advancing climate prediction through quantum machine learning and multiple companies across APEX Medical garnering accolades in the AI-driven drug discovery landscape.

Dive into this month's newsletter and enjoy a sneak peek into what's next in November. 🚀🌟

Upcoming Events

▶️ 3rd Nordic Quantum Life Science Roundtable) / November 14–15 / Helsinki, Finland / Ion Hauer

The event is an annual by-invitation gathering designed for key players exploring new possibilities within the intersection of Quantum Technologies and Life Sciences. The event will bring together interdisciplinary groups of scientists, entrepreneurs, funders, venture capitalists, and government representatives from the Nordic region and elsewhere working and interfacing with QLS.

▶️ APEX Ventures Panel — Rise of AI in drug discovery and development / November 24 / Online / Diana Röttger, Ion Hauer

Join us as Diana Röttger and Ion Hauer delve into AI's transformative potential in the world of pharmaceuticals alongside Ángel Alberich-Bayarri, CEO & Co-Founder of Quibim, Raphael Peralta, CEO & Co-Founder of CardiaTec and Thelma Zablocki, COO & Co-Founder of CardiaTec.

▶️ Slush / November 30 — December 1 / Helsinki, Finland / Andreas Riegler, Diana Röttger, Ion Hauer

Slush is a not-for-profit building the world's leading startup event and the largest gathering of VC — delivering actionable company-building advice and bringing together the who's who in the ecosystem.

▶️ APEX Ventures Deep Tech Meetup / December 7 / Munich, Germany / Ion Hauer

Join us for the APEX Ventures Deep Tech Meetup on December 7 in Munich, in collaboration with our portfolio company kiutra. Experience an evening with a lab tour, a fireside chat featuring Alexander Regnat (CEO kiutra) and Tomek Schulz (COO kiutra), moderated by Ion Hauer, followed by a flying dinner and plenty of networking opportunities. Engage with technology and industry leaders at this event.

Amadeus APEX Technology Fund

ATMOS Space Cargo and Yuri

Yuri, the space biotech company, is bringing its innovative modular bioreactors and incubators, specifically designed for microgravity environments, to a groundbreaking collaboration with Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) and ATMOS Space Cargo.

Together, they are launching "Eva", the world's first end-to-end microgravity service for biotech research and product development. Yuri operates the ScienceTaxi, which will be integrated into the Phoenix space capsule of ATMOS.

"Eva", set to take off in 2025, promises to shake up the world of microgravity research. It's not just an answer to the surging demand in the life sciences industry (projected to hit €7 billion by 2030) but a leap forward for space innovation itself.

We are very proud to see no less than two of our portfolio companies joining forces and driving this important mission.

OKAPI:Orbits

OKAPI:Orbits is boldly stepping into the future with ECHO2, where it's helping integrate Higher Airspace Operations into European Air Traffic Management. During the kickoff event held at EUROCONTROL HQ in Brussels, OKAPI:Orbits COO Jonas Radtke participated in discussions alongside other industry stakeholders.

planqc

planqc and d-fine have secured a €1 million contract from the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) to elevate climate models through the power of quantum machine learning. As part of the DLR Quantum Computing Initiative (DLR QCI), this collaboration is set to revolutionise climate prediction and enhance climate change strategies. For planqc, this marks a significant achievement, coming on the heels of its €29 million win for constructing Europe's inaugural digital quantum computer based on neutral atoms.

APEX Medical

CardiaTec Biosciences

CardiaTec Biosciences took centre stage at the recent TechBio UK conference in London, where it showcased its pioneering work and featured in a case study within the TechBio report, highlighting its innovative approach at the intersection of biotechnology and technology. Adding another feather to its cap, Cardiatech has earned a spot among the Top 10 AI Startups Advancing Drug Discovery in 2023, recognised by StartUs Insights.

Mindpeak

Mindpeak has revealed its latest project focused on AI development in gastric cancer in collaboration with pathologists and experts. This significant initiative, titled 'A Roadmap for Single-Cell Annotation Using Artificial Intelligence Algorithms: Analysis of Programmed Death Ligand 1 Immunohistochemistry Expression in Gastric Cancer Biopsies,' marks a pioneering step in the field.

Robeauté

Robeauté's co-founder and CEO, Bertrand Duplat presented the company's innovative technology at the recent MedTech Malta event to an audience filled with medtech specialists, entrepreneurs and keen investors. Meanwhile, co-founder and COO Joana Cartocci was invited to join an all-female panel at MedTech Malta, sharing valuable insights on nurturing strong partnerships between investors and entrepreneurs and shedding light on the key ingredients for building enduring connections.

Quibim

In a month filled with milestones, Quibim unveiled its trailblazing oncology research at ESMO 2023 in Madrid. Its presentation featured three groundbreaking abstracts introducing AI models for detecting cancer relapse and progression. Quibim also filed a new patent for an innovative image harmonisation method set to revolutionise MRI image analysis. Its dedication to innovation even earned Quibim a coveted finalist spot at the Digital Health Awards, specifically in the 'Best Use of AI in Health Tech' category. Quibim also partnered with Phillips to integrate its QP-Prostate solution and other future solutions directly into Philips' MRI console.

Upfront Diagnostics

Upfront Diagnostics is making significant strides in stroke diagnosis as its groundbreaking LVOne blood test for identifying severe strokes enters the final phase of clinical trials in the UK. This innovative technology, developed in collaboration with Newcastle University Stroke Research Group, has the potential to revolutionise stroke management. After many years of developing and testing its revolutionary technology, Upfront is now entering the exciting phase of trials before commercialisation.

SENISCA

SENISCA is gaining recognition for its pioneering approach to addressing the root causes of age-related diseases by targeting alternative splicing, a significant hallmark of ageing. The biotech spinout caught the attention of Sifted, a prominent European publication, in its article showcasing innovative longevity startups and their groundbreaking approaches and was featured at this year's Sifted Summit on the topic of longevity.

APEX One

contextflow

Georg Langs, Co-Founder of contextflow, recently shared insights in an interview with Der Standard, the Austrian daily newspaper. The discussion centred around the company's pioneering work at the Christian Doppler Laboratory, situated within the Medical University of Vienna.

ImageBiopsy Lab

ImageBiopsy Lab has achieved two new publications in esteemed journals (Springer and ASBMR), both linked to its groundbreaking osteoporosis tool, the IB Lab FLAMINGO, developed in partnership with UCB for opportunistic vertebral fracture detection on CT scans.

Mobius Labs

Mobius Labs and Nomad Media have joined forces to usher in a new era of artificial intelligence, placing powerful video and image analysis, as well as speech-to-text conversion, at the core of every content catalogue. Mobius Labs' partnership empowers Nomad Media to offer advanced AI services, including automatic video and image labelling, face detection, celebrity recognition, and segment detection.

OroraTech

OroraTech, the thermal-infrared data intelligence company, is expanding its dream team! Dr. Martin Langer takes the helm as CEO, co-founder Thomas Grübler, shifts into the role of Chief Strategy Officer, and Axel Roenneke and Viktor Gauk are welcomed as new Managing Directors. This stellar lineup is all about propelling the company to new heights, including international expansion and boosting climate change resilience efforts.

TriLite Technologies

Fantastic news as TriLite Technologies' co-founder and CTO, Dr. Jörg Reitterer, secures his place as a two-time honoree in the Photonics100 list, a prestigious recognition in the photonics industry. TriLite also had success at the HIGHTECH VENTURE DAYS event in Dresden, where CEO Dr. Peter Weigand forged connections with tech investors, explored emerging trends, and engaged in insightful discussions to further drive the company's growth.

VividQ

Excellent to see VividQ featured in Wired's article on the enduring innovation driven by the 'Cambridge Phenomenon'. VividQ, founded in 2016 as an offshoot of the University of Cambridge's photonics department, has gone on to achieve remarkable success in the augmented reality (AR) technology field. It provided insights into the article, representing the vibrant innovation and entrepreneurial spirit within the Cambridge ecosystem.

APEX Ventures added a flavourful twist to the global quantum tech leaders at the QBN Quantum Industry Summit, emphasising three key takeaways: robust innovation in the quantum tech sector, the need for European unity, and increased private funding for deep tech innovation. Two exciting days of networking and innovation in and around quantum technologies with brilliant minds from all around the world.

Our presence at the HIGHTECH VENTURE DAYS in Dresden was a dynamic experience, reflecting the vibrant momentum of the deeptech ecosystem. Among the highlights was portfolio company TriLite Technologies, generating significant interest with CEO Peter Weigand in attendance. APEX engaged in productive exchanges with numerous innovative corporations, including TRUMPF Venture, Aramco Ventures, Bosch, and many more, reaffirming a commitment to deep tech advancement. The event also provided an opportunity to reconnect with like-minded deep tech enthusiasts from Matterwave Ventures, High-Tech Gründerfonds, and many more.

More global adventures for the APEX team as Ion Hauer and Andreas Riegler attended Stage Two 2023, Europe's premier startup competition for university spin-offs, on 19 October in Berlin nominated teams pitched during the finals, gaining access to a European network of investors and industry leaders.

Christoph Kanneberger, Founder & General Partner at APEX Ventures, headed to Vienna for the Fintech Forum Austria, organised by Mastercard, on 10 October. He shared valuable insights and crucial advice for founders from the perspective of VCs in an engaging panel discussion alongside Sasha Lipman, Maximilian Schausberger, Dr. Andreas Nemeth and Thomas Kulnigg.

How does the fintech scene in the Alps work exactly? Tune in to listen to APEX Ventures' General Partner Stefan Haubner discuss the workings, trends and conditions of the burgeoning fintech scene in the Austrian Alps on the latest EY FinTech & bEYond podcast.