Berlin/Hamburg/Cologne/Munich, May 2025 – YPOG has been involved in several transactions in the start-up sector in recent weeks. Among others, we were able to work with investors and companies such as Ventech, Matterwave Ventures, Expansion Ventures, Expon Capital, amberra, Acton Capital and Penzilla.
YPOG advises Ventech and Matterwave Ventures on seed financing round in OKAPI:Orbits
Cologne, April 25, 2025 – YPOG has advised venture capital investors Ventech - as lead investor - and Matterwave Ventures on their participation in the seed financing round of OKAPI:Orbits GmbH. The Braunschweig-based space technology company successfully raised a total of EUR 13 million. Alongside Ventech and Matterwave Ventures, renowned international investors including Amadeus Capital Partners, Herius Capital, APEX Ventures, Dolby Family Ventures, Munich Re Ventures, and business angel Christian Miele participated in the round.
OKAPI:Orbits develops AI-powered software solutions for space traffic management, supporting satellite operators worldwide in collision avoidance and regulatory compliance. Key applications include orbital object tracking and satellite mission optimization.
With the fresh capital, OKAPI:Orbits plans to further expand its technology platform, tap into new markets, and strengthen its position as a key infrastructure provider for safe and sustainable space operations. The company aims to solidify its leading role in a rapidly growing market and foster international partnerships.
YPOG has successfully advised Ventech on multiple investments in German start-ups in the past.
Team
Dr. Johannes Janning (Lead, Transactions), Partner, Cologne
Laura Franke (Transactions), Senior Project Lawyer, Cologne
Nina Ahlert (Transactions), Senior Associate, Cologne
Paul Harenberg (Transactions), Associate, Cologne
Danêl Buchholz (Transactions), Associate, Cologne
Janic Salcedas (Transactions), Associate, Cologne
Dr. Benedikt Flöter (IP/IT/Data Protection), Partner, Berlin
Charlotte Petrasch (IP/IT/Data Protection), Associate, Berlin
Anna Eickmeier (IP/IT/Data Protection), Senior Associate, Berlin
Dr. Christoph Cordes (IP/IT/Data Protection), Associate, Berlin
YPOG advises Expansion Ventures and Expon Capital on seed funding round for Exobiosphere
Berlin, 30 April 2025 – YPOG has advised Expansion Ventures and Expon Capital on a €2 million seed funding round for Luxembourg-based start-up Exobiosphere. The company is the world’s first contract research organisation dedicated exclusively to drug discovery in space. The round was led by Expansion Ventures, a pan-European venture capital fund focused on aerospace and defence, and co-led by Expon Capital. Other investors included Boryung, and Space Data Inc.
Exobiosphere combines space technology, automated lab systems, and bioinformatics to identify new drug candidates more efficiently under microgravity conditions. By enabling more precise disease modelling in space, the company aims to accelerate pharmaceutical R&D and significantly increase success rates.
The funds will be used to further develop Exobiosphere’s autonomous laboratory platform, the Orbital High-Throughput Screener, expand its engineering and bioinformatics teams, prepare for market entry in the US, and launch the first missions into orbit.
Team
Dr. Martin Scharper (Lead, Transactions), Partner, Berlin
Anja Schindler (Transactions), Senior Associate, Berlin
Boris Schinzel (Transactions), Associate, Berlin
Dr. Christoph Cordes (IP/IT/Data Protection), Associate, Berlin
YPOG advises amberra on its investment in EdTech startup ubiMaster
Cologne, 2 May 2025 – YPOG has advised amberra on its participation in the Series A financing round of Munich-based education provider ubiMaster. amberra joined Owl Ventures, Bayern Kapital, Auxxo, Zanichelli Ventures and the mpa Learning Fund in investing a total of €7 million in the award-winning EdTech company. The funds will be used to further scale ubiMaster’s operations, expand its product portfolio, and support international growth.
ubiMaster offers personalised tutoring via chat or video call for students from grade five onwards – seven days a week regardless of social background. The platform is available directly to families and also as an employee benefit through corporate partnerships. To date, the company has supported more than 500,000 students across the German-speaking region.
amberra is the Corporate Venturing Studio of the genossenschaftliche FinanzGruppe. Through its amberra fund, launched in 2024, it targets innovative startups in the fields of housing, health, sustainability and regional economy. With this investment, amberra reaffirms its commitment to supporting forward-looking education initiatives and promoting equal opportunities in the education sector across Germany and Europe.
Team
Dr. Johannes Janning (Lead, Transactions), Partner, Cologne
Nina Ahlert (Transactions), Senior Associate, Cologne
Laura Franke (Transactions), Senior Project Lawyer, Cologne
Janic Salcedas (Transactions), Associate, Cologne
Dr. Benedikt Flöter (IP/IT/Data Protection), Partner, Berlin
Charlotte Petrasch (IP/IT/Data Protection), Associate, Berlin
Anna Eickmeier (IP/IT/Data Protection), Senior Associate, Berlin
Dr. Christoph Cordes (IP/IT/Data Protection), Associate, Berlin
YPOG advises Acton Capital on Series B financing round in 7Learnings
Hamburg, May 12, 2025 – YPOG has advised Munich-based venture capital investor Acton Capital on a Series B financing round in Berlin-based AI startup 7Learnings. Together with existing investor High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), Acton Capital invested more than €10 million in the AI-powered pricing platform.
Founded in 2019 by Felix Hoffmann, Eiko van Hettinga, and Martin Nowak, 7Learnings offers retailers and brands an AI-based solution for optimizing pricing, performance marketing, and product ordering. The technology has been validated through extensive A/B testing and, according to customers, delivers significant increases in revenue and profit margins. Its clients include international companies such as Westwing, Bonprix, Tom Tailor, Tamaris, and DK Company.
Unlike many high-growth startups, 7Learnings had already reached profitability prior to closing the financing round. With the new capital, the company aims to further strengthen its market leadership in predictive pricing across Europe and scale its retail AI technology internationally – with a particular focus on entering the North American market.
Team
Dr. Adrian Haase (Lead, Transactions), Partner, Hamburg
Miriam Peer (Transactions), Associate, Hamburg
Dr. Gerrit Breetholt (Transactions), Associate, Hamburg
Dr. Lutz Schreiber (IP/IT/Data Protection), Partner, Hamburg
Matthias Treude (IP/IT/Data Protection), Senior Associate, Hamburg
YPOG advises Acton Capital on €6.5 million seed funding round of JUPUS
Hamburg/Cologne/Munich, May 21, 2025 – YPOG has advised Acton Capital on the seed funding round of Cologne-based legal tech startup JUPUS. The round was successfully closed with a total volume of €6.5 million. Acton Capital led the round, supported by existing investors such as High-Tech Gründerfonds and several business angels.
With the fresh capital, JUPUS plans to further develop its AI-based software solution and expand its market presence – with the goal of fundamentally transforming the legal profession. JUPUS offers the first fully automated AI solution for law firms that not only handles administrative processes but also communicates directly with clients. The software fully automates standard workflows – from answering phone calls to drafting legal documents.
Acton Capital is an international venture capital firm with offices in Munich and Vancouver. Since 1999, the team has been investing in technology-driven business models across Europe and North America. With over two decades of experience and a deep understanding of digital transformation, Acton Capital has already supported more than 100 startups in building successful businesses.
Team
Dr. Adrian Haase (Lead, Transactions), Partner, Hamburg
Miriam Peer (Transactions), Associate, Hamburg
Dr. Lutz Schreiber (IP/IT/Data Protection), Partner, Hamburg
Dr. Florian Wittner (IP/IT/Data Protection), Associate, Hamburg
YPOG advises Penzilla on new funding round
Berlin, May 21, 2025 – YPOG has once again advised Munich-based HR tech startup Penzilla on its latest €3.2 million funding round. The round was led by venture capital firms Acadian Ventures and Delin Ventures. Additional investors include Robin Capital, Motive Ventures, WENVEST Capital, and angel investor and entrepreneur Diana zur Löwen.
Penzilla, founded by Christoph and Catherine Leser, offers a digital platform that helps companies manage and distribute occupational pension plans. The company digitizes existing contracts, acts as a broker, and supports large employers in streamlining their corporate pension schemes, including well-known brands such as Lacoste, Notebooksbilliger.de, and ProSiebenSat.1.
Penzilla currently manages around 5,000 contracts, serving as a product intermediary for approximately 80% of them. The new capital will be used to scale the business further and strengthen its focus on large enterprise clients, aiming to solidify the company’s position as the leading software platform for managing occupational pension schemes in Germany.
Team
Dr. Benjamin Ullrich (Co-Lead, Transactions), Partner, Berlin
Tobias Lovett (Co-Lead, Transactions), Associated Partner, Berlin
Theresia Heinrich (Transactions), Senior Associate, Hamburg
Contact
Lucas Isajiw
T +49 171 8338591 | E presse@ypog.law
Senior Corporate Communications Manager
Ivan Koric
T +49 176 8345 8343 | E presse@ypog.law
