What investment strategy does IFB Innovationsstarter focus on?

IFB Innovationsstarter focuses on VC, Growth strategies in the private equity space.

How many portfolio companies does IFB Innovationsstarter have?

IFB Innovationsstarter has 18 active portfolio companies and 6 completed exits and 4 funds tracked on GP Intel.

Where is IFB Innovationsstarter headquartered?

IFB Innovationsstarter is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany.

What is IFB Innovationsstarter's assets under management?

IFB Innovationsstarter manages approximately €46M in assets under management.

When was IFB Innovationsstarter founded?

IFB Innovationsstarter was founded in 2012.

What sectors does IFB Innovationsstarter invest in?

IFB Innovationsstarter invests across Software, Healthcare, TMT, Industrials.

What are IFB Innovationsstarter's recent exits?

Recent realized exits by IFB Innovationsstarter include: CustomCells (2025) to Family office consortium led by ABACON and SALVIA; GQ Bio Therapeutics (2025) to Pacira BioSciences; everii Group GmbH (2022) to BID Equity Fund II; HQLabs (2022) to BID Equity; KSK Diagnostics (2018) to Bosch Healthcare Solutions; bentekk (2017) to Draeger Safety.

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IFB Innovationsstarter

Hamburg, Germany·Founded 2012·

Venture Capital Growth Equity

·innovationsstarter.com

IFB Innovationsstarter GmbH is the venture-capital arm of Hamburg's public promotional bank IFB Hamburg, investing early-stage equity into innovative Hamburg-based startups. It manages the Innovationsstarter Fonds Hamburg (InnoStarterFonds) fund family I to III plus the growth-stage InnoVentureFonds, having backed more than 100 direct investments with 11 exits, alongside its InnoFounder, InnoRampUp, InnoImpact and InnoFinTech grant programmes.

AUM

€46M

Funds

vintages 2012–2024

Portfolio

Exits

IFB Innovationsstarter is a Hamburg venture capital firm with €46M AUM, 18 active companies and 6 exits.

SectorsSoftware Healthcare TMT Industrials

Key takeaways

·4 exits in the last 5 years · consistent DPI cadence.
·Average hold across 6 realized deals: 6 years.
·Fund cadence: ~4Y between vintages · last raise 2024.

Sector breakdown

24 companies

ClimateTech

3 · 13%

Biotech

3 · 13%

Software

3 · 13%

Industrials

3 · 13%

Deep Tech

2 · 8%

MedTech

2 · 8%

HealthTech

2 · 8%

FoodTech

1 · 4%

Key facts

HQHamburg, Germany

Founded2012

Employees30+

Websiteinnovationsstarter.com

Recent exits

IFB Innovationsstarter sold CustomCells to Family office consortium led by ABACON and SALVIA in 2025 after 12 years.

IFB Innovationsstarter sold GQ Bio Therapeutics to Pacira BioSciences in 2025 after 13 years.

IFB Innovationsstarter sold everii Group GmbH to BID Equity Fund II in 2022 after 5 years.

IFB Innovationsstarter sold HQLabs to BID Equity in 2022 after 5 years.

Coverage notes

4 funds tracked, 24 portfolio companies (18 active · 6 realized). Verified weekly from public filings and deal announcements.

Funds & portfolio

Every fund IFB Innovationsstarter has raised, with its portfolio companies. Hand-checked from public filings.

4 funds

Fund

Strategy

Vintage

Size

Assets

Exits

InnoVentureFonds

Growth2024€60M6 assets

Growth

2024 · 2yr

€60M

–

Unrealized

6 held

Company	Entry
Eleqtron Deep Tech · Germany	2026
Shipzero ClimateTech · Germany	2026
SMIN Therapeutics Germany	2025
Sportplatz Media GmbH Germany	2024
Tomorrow ClimateTech · Germany	2024
Vivere Germany	2024

Innovationsstarter Fonds Hamburg III

VC2021€15M5 assets1 exits

2021 · 5yr

€15M

Unrealized

5 held

Company	Entry
Colipi Biotech · Germany	2024
mo:re Biotech · Germany	2025
Planeteers Germany	2024
Traceless Materials Industrials · Germany	2023
TREELAX Partner Germany	2025

Realized

1 exit

Company	Entry	Exit	Type	Buyer	MOIC
everii Group GmbH Software · Germany	2017	2022	Trade Sale	BID Equity Fund II	–

Innovationsstarter Fonds Hamburg II

VC2017€12M5 assets2 exits

2017 · 9yr

€12M

Unrealized

5 held

Company	Entry
Bluu Seafood FoodTech · Germany	2020
LignoPure Industrials · Germany	2019
MindPeak HealthTech · Germany	2019
Resourcify Software · Germany	2018
Sympatient HealthTech · Germany	2020

Realized

2 exits

Company	Entry	Exit	Type	Buyer	MOIC
HQLabs Software · Germany	2017	2022	Secondary	BID Equity	–
KSK Diagnostics MedTech · Germany	2017	2018	Trade Sale	Bosch Healthcare Solutions	–

Innovationsstarter Fonds Hamburg I

VC2012€12M2 assets3 exits

2012 · 14yr

€12M

Unrealized

2 held

Company	Entry
i3 Membrane Deep Tech · Germany	2014
Protembis MedTech · Germany	2015

Realized

3 exits

Company	Entry	Exit	Type	Buyer	MOIC
bentekk Industrials · Germany	2016	2017	Trade Sale	Draeger Safety	–
CustomCells ClimateTech · Germany	2013	2025	Secondary	Family office consortium led by ABACON and SALVIA	–
GQ Bio Therapeutics Biotech · Germany	2012	2025	Trade Sale	Pacira BioSciences	–

Frequently asked questions

What investment strategy does IFB Innovationsstarter focus on?: IFB Innovationsstarter focuses on VC, Growth strategies in the private equity space.
How many portfolio companies does IFB Innovationsstarter have?: IFB Innovationsstarter has 18 active portfolio companies and 6 completed exits and 4 funds tracked on GP Intel.
Where is IFB Innovationsstarter headquartered?: IFB Innovationsstarter is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany.
What is IFB Innovationsstarter's assets under management?: IFB Innovationsstarter manages approximately €46M in assets under management.
When was IFB Innovationsstarter founded?: IFB Innovationsstarter was founded in 2012.
What sectors does IFB Innovationsstarter invest in?: IFB Innovationsstarter invests across Software, Healthcare, TMT, Industrials.
What are IFB Innovationsstarter's recent exits?: Recent realized exits by IFB Innovationsstarter include: CustomCells (2025) to Family office consortium led by ABACON and SALVIA; GQ Bio Therapeutics (2025) to Pacira BioSciences; everii Group GmbH (2022) to BID Equity Fund II; HQLabs (2022) to BID Equity; KSK Diagnostics (2018) to Bosch Healthcare Solutions; bentekk (2017) to Draeger Safety.