3 startups from female founders that received funding in 2024
The number of female startup founders is on the decline and the current general investment situation is viewed negatively by the majority. These are two of the significant findings from the recently published German Startup Monitor 2024. Nevertheless, there is reason for optimism, as shown by three financing rounds of Hamburg startups from this year in which female founders take centre stage.
58 million US dollars for Infinite Roots
Infinite Roots has completed the highest endowed financing round of a Hamburg startup to date in 2024. Participants included a holding company of the confectionery company Haribo and the REWE Group. Infinite Roots develops vegan alternatives to meat products and completely new foods from the root network of mushrooms, the mycelium. The company was founded in 2018 by Dr Mazen Rizk, Dr Thibauld Godard and Cathy Hutz. Hutz has a master's degree in business psychology and food product development and is an expert in fermentation, all expertise that benefits her startup.
2.4 million euros for Lignopure
Three female founders are responsible for the success of Lignopure: Daniela Arango, Joana Gil Chavez and Wienke Reynolds. They studied engineering at Hamburg University of Technology, where their startup emerged from a research project. Lignopure processes lignin, a natural chemical substance found in plants that can serve as a basis for alternatives to fossil-based chemicals such as microplastics. It is suitable, for example, for cosmetics, food supplements or the production of vegan leather substitutes.
2 million euros for ai-omatic
ai-omatic was founded in 2020 by Lena Weirauch, Felix Kraft and Dario Ramming. The startup has developed a digital maintenance assistant supported by artificial intelligence that helps production companies to recognise anomalies in machine data at an early stage and thus prevent unplanned downtimes. This reduces maintenance costs and increases efficiency. In technical jargon, this approach is known as predictive maintenance. Lena Weirauch studied economics and psychology and discovered her penchant for statistics, which plays an important role in recognising deviations in production.
