Plug and Play Tech Center

We are dedicated to driving innovation within large organizations, helping them stay ahead of the curve and thrive in today's rapidly evolving business landscape. By selecting strategically-aligned startups that meet their unique tech challenges, our partners benefit from firsthand insights into technological trends and networking opportunities with industry leaders.

We invest in 3 stages We start to support companies at Seed stage and invest in Series A, B, and beyond. We unite 3 groups of select, like-minded stakeholders European Founders We are looking for teams in the GSA & CEE region with the clear intention to make a difference in the world Leading Global VCs We co-invest in syndicates with Tier 1 funds (eg. Forbes’ Midas List) with the ability to proactively support these teams Regional Fund Investors (LPs) We are backed by investors who choose to focus on best-in-class teams and who share our vision of driving the European startup ecosystem forward A strong entrepreneurial DNA We are ambitious entrepreneurs at heart and we back our founders' vision on the basis of a strictly entrepreneurial mindset. A focus on quality, not quantity We are highly selective when it comes to our approach to partnership and always optimize for quality instead of quantity. A diverse team, acting as one. Being a diverse team of ambitious and passionate individuals, we always act as one: no hierarchies, no red tape, but a tight-knit operational skill set that profits from our varied fields of expertise. Which means: transparent communication and constructive criticism always.

High-Tech Gründerfonds is Germany's leading and most active early-stage investor, specializing in pre-seed and seed financing for technology-driven startups. Since 2005, HTGF has invested in over 800 companies across three core sectors: Industrial, Climate & Deep Tech, Life Sciences & Chemistry, and Digital Tech. As a public-private partnership backed by the German Federal Ministry, KfW Capital, and leading industrial corporations, HTGF brings more than capital to the table. The firm provides deep technical expertise, entrepreneurial experience, and an extensive network of industry leaders, scientists, and investors to help founders build international market leaders. HTGF's investment team combines backgrounds in venture capital, technology, and startup operations to support companies through every stage of early development. With a fund volume exceeding €2 billion and the ability to follow on in later financing rounds, HTGF offers comprehensive support from initial concept through growth phases. The firm's portfolio includes successful exits and IPOs across diverse technology sectors, demonstrating a proven track record of identifying and nurturing breakthrough innovations. HTGF strengthens Germany's technological backbone by empowering visionary founders who have the courage to shape the future.

Medtronic exists to solve the world's most challenging health problems through bold innovation and advanced technology. For over 75 years, the company has pioneered groundbreaking health tech that transforms lives, treating more than 70 conditions across the human body - from heart failure to Parkinson's disease. As a global leader in healthcare technology, Medtronic leverages data, AI, and cutting-edge therapies to address complex healthcare challenges that affect millions of people worldwide. With 95,000 employees across 150 countries, the company's mission-driven approach combines medical expertise with technological innovation to restore health, extend life, and alleviate pain for patients everywhere. From its humble beginnings in a Minneapolis garage to becoming the world's largest medical technology company, Medtronic continues to push boundaries and redefine what's possible in healthcare, making a meaningful impact on global health outcomes every day through innovations that put more life into patients' years.

We’ve invested in hundreds of companies throughout over a decade of experience, creating products that have generated billions in enterprise value. Need an operating partner for your seed-stage startup? Our unique launch & scale playbook makes us the best partner for founders at all stages of their entrepreneurial journey, driving them towards sustainable success. Product: Ensure your product is not only functional but also irresistible to users Engineering: Empower your product with innovative technology solutions Admin & Finance: Optimize your financial strategy for sustainable growth HR & Talent: Build with you exceptional teams and foster workplace creativity Business Development: Open strategic doors and forge alliances to accelerate your growth Fundraising / M&A: Connect you with investors and successfully manage fundraising Legal: Protect your company and overcome obstacles with our expert legal advice Business Operations: Optimise your operations to allow a focus on growing the startup

XRC Labs runs programs that bring together entrepreneurs, investors, brands and retailers to foster rapid innovation and unlock new opportunities in retail. We select startups that are positioned to create significant change in the retail or consumer goods industries. Startups receive capital, mentoring, operational support, and exclusive access to a prestigious network of entrepreneurs, investors, and seasoned industry leaders. They graduate from XRC Labs with solid business plans and a priceless new network. Mission Our mission is to foster companies and products that innovate the face of retail and consumer goods fulfillment in a rapidly changing marketplace using design thinking as a key driving process. Vision The XRC Labs vision is to be at the forefront of change, disrupting the conventional system of supply chain, promoting the best experience for consumers and producers, and creating an ecosystem that matches partners for success. At XRC We… Embrace sustainability so the Earth we leave to future generations is a better place than when we inhabited it Advocate for moderate consumption to promote a flight to quality and legacy - less is more, for a longer period of time Endorse economic well-being that fosters a global improvement in the economic condition of participants in the global economy Demand integrity, honesty, and fairness in our internal and external relationships Recognize and nurture excellence in people, technology and products Mentor the next generation of innovators Share and exchange ideas in an open forum to generate new solutions Encourage solutions from multiple sectors, applied to retail and consumer products Why It Matters Design really matters. Consumers are buying products and shopping at omnichannel stores that deliver a great experience. Disruptive companies are more likely to be founded by designers than by hard-core technologists. Even though the retail world still dwarfs ecommerce in size it will be more and more influenced by software and great design. The old bricks vs. clicks question isn’t relevant anymore. Customers want a single, well-designed experience for the products they use and the shops they visit, both online and offline. The facts speak for themselves: 71 percent of consumers want access to in-store inventory when shopping online 50 percent of consumers expect to buy online and pick up in-store Nearly 50 percent of in-store retail sales are influenced or start online, representing nearly $2 trillion in commerce An omnichannel, ubiquitous, and well-designed experience is the new norm. As companies like Warby Parker, Bonobos, and Athleta demonstrate, an online experience is not sufficient for many customers. Customers expect a common, branded, and engaging experience, everywhere. The new rule is: one brand, one experience. Despite the size of the opportunity, both building a brand online and selling to retail offline is really hard. The brand has to engage, resonate, and compel people to buy, immediately. And yet the needs of each channel – online, mobile, offline – are very different. New entrants into consumer and retail markets need specialized expertise and light-speed innovation. Failing hyperfast and nanosecond reinvention are just table stakes.