Five fast-rising scaleups from the DACH region have qualified for TECH5 — the “Champions League of Technology.”
The DACH entrants fought off off stiff competition to reach the finals, which will crown the hottest scaleup in Europe.
Comprising Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, DACH blends deep industrial roots, high R&D spending, elite research institutions, and a growing startup scene. Collectively, the three nations have created a regional tech powerhouse. Individually, each of them has unique strengths.
Germany leads with a booming startup scene in Berlin and a deep tech hub in Munich. The county also had Europe’s second-highest total VC investment last year, after the UK.
Austria’s compact but vibrant ecosystem has an impressive track record of greentech and health innovation. The industry centres in Vienna, which was named the world’s most liveable city for the third year running in 2024 by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
Switzerland blends scientific excellence, fintech nous, and blockchain leadership. In 2024, the country ranked number one in the Global Innovation Index (GII) for the 14th consecutive year.
Funding in DACH has also enjoyed a solid start to 2025, growing in deal value year-on-year. The region aggregated €12bn in exit value in Q1 — 20% more than its average quarter over the past five years — according to Pitchbook.
Scaleups from all three DACH nations have qualified for TECH5. Our judges picked them based on an analysis of their growth, impact, and future potential and then placed them in random order. It’s time to introduce them.
1. The Exploration Company
The Exploration Company is an emerging European leader in the limitless universe of space travel.
The Franco-German scaleup develops reusable, modular spacecraft that make access to the cosmos more affordable, sustainable, and open to a broader ecosystem. Hélène Huby, the company’s founder and CEO, said she plans to democratise the routes to space.
“By working together across borders and sectors, we can make space exploration a cooperative effort rather than a competition between nations, ensuring it remains accessible and drives innovation that benefits many, not just a few,” Huby told TNW.
The Exploration Company enjoyed a banner 2024, raising a whopping €151.6mn in a Series B round and winning a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop cargo shuttle vehicles for low Earth orbit. This year has also had a strong start, with the German aerospace agency becoming an anchor customer for the scaleup’s Nyx spacecraft.
2. Neustark
Swiss sustainability scaleup Neustark has an ambitious target: remove 1 million tons of CO₂ by 2030.
The company plans to achieve this by storing CO₂ from the air in recycled mineral waste — specifically demolished concrete, which Neustark calls “the world’s largest waste stream.” The scaleup’s solution mineralises CO₂ in demolished concrete aggregate, removing the compound from the atmosphere and permanently storing it.
“We need to exponentially accelerate the removal of CO2 if we want to reach net-zero goals by 2050,” said Johannes Tiefenthaler, Neustark’s co-founder and co-CEO. “This target will only be possible by globally deploying highly scalable, measurable, and commercially viable carbon removal solutions at the scale of millions of tons per year.”
Tiefenthaler founded Neustark alongside Valentin Gutknecht in 2019 as an ETH Zurich spin-off. Last year, they secured their biggest funding round yet, raising $69mn to take their carbon capture tech global.
3. Metaloop
The sole Austrian contender in the DACH finals, Metaloop aims to fundamentally reshape the global metal recycling industry. To reach that goal, the scaleup has developed an all-in-one platform for metal scrap trading.
The company’s matchmaking system connects buyers and sellers in real time. Consequently, clients can generate revenue, safe time, and fosters sustainability. The software also eliminates fraud, enhances transparency, and optimises supply chains — valuable services for the traditionally opaque and fragmented metal scrap sector.
The solution has enjoyed a rapid rise. In 2024, Metaloop was named by the Financial Times as one of Europe’s fastest-growing companies for a third year in a row.
“By directly connecting industrial manufacturers with certified smelters, we ensure fair pricing, consistent quality, and streamlined logistics — turning scrap metal from a risk factor into a reliable, high-value asset,” the company told TNW. “Ultimately, we see Metaloop as a catalyst for a more sustainable, circular economy.”
4. Vytal
Before contending for TECH5, Germany’s Vytal had already claimed an impressive title: the world’s largest provider of smart reusable packaging solutions.
Founded in 2019, Vytal has created a new form of sustainable containers for takeaway and delivery food.
Investors have been impressed, injecting a steady stream of cash into the scaleup. Just last month, the company secured another €14.2mn to accelerate its international growth. The round was led by Inven Capital, a VC firm that specialises in scaling climate tech.
“This new funding comes less than nine months after our last raise and reflects an incredibly successful 2024 for the Vytal team,” said Dr Tim Breker, Vytal’s co-founder and managing director.
“With Inven Capital’s expertise in supporting international growth strategies, we are well-positioned to scale our impact further and make tech-enabled reusable packaging the new standard in gastronomy, events, and entertainment globally.”
5. Yokoy
The second Swiss contender in the DACH finals, Yokoy develops a powerful all-in-one spend management solution. The AI-powered platform simplifies the management of expenses, invoices, and corporate cards, while delivering new insights, eliminating routine work, and providing full control.
Founded in 2019, Yokoy is a resident of TNW City. Last year, the company topped Sifted’s inaugural rankings of Central Europe’s fastest-growing startups by revenue. Across the past three financial years, the company had hit a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 281.88%.
In January, Yokoy was acquired by the Spanish travel-management company TravelPerk. Philippe Sahli, the scaleup’s co-founder and CEO, heralded the deal as the beginning of a new era for intelligent spend management.
“Starting the next chapter in our story presents an incredible opportunity to combine Yokoy’s innovative AI and automation with TravelPerk’s industry-leading platform to deliver a first-of-its-kind experience to all our customers,” he said.
What’s next for the TECH5 scaleups?
The DACH quintet join rivals from Benelux and the Nordics in the finals of TECH5. Contenders from a further four European regions will also be announced in the weeks to come. All the challengers will then compete for the title of hottest scaleup in Europe.
Stay tuned next week to meet the TECH5 qualifiers from France.
TECH5 is part of a packed programme for TNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event are now on sale. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out to get 30% off the price tag.
