4Investors Day 2025: Research-based Start-ups Meet Investors in Berlin


40 teams from Fraunhofer, Helmholtz, Leibniz and Max Planck Society present their innovations

© Dr. Florian Kirschenhofer

On October 16, 2025, the second 4Investors Day took place at the Alte Münze in Berlin. Forty research-based start-ups from the four major German non-university research organizations – Fraunhofer Society, Helmholtz Association, Leibniz Association and Max Planck Society – presented their innovative business ideas in the fields of Deep Tech, Artificial Intelligence, Life Sciences, Green Energy, Sustainability and Space & Advanced Materials to around 200 participants. Numerous investors from venture capital firms, family offices and business angels seized the opportunity to connect with the teams and explore potential collaborations. This year’s edition was hosted by the Helmholtz Association.

The event format offered two stages for the start-ups to pitch their business models. In addition, each team showcased its project at an individual booth, enabling investors to engage directly and address specific questions. This created a dynamic atmosphere characterized by lively exchange and networking.

“The 4Investors Day impressively demonstrates the enormous potential of research-based spin-offs. The strong response from investors and the many in-depth discussions confirm that this joint format makes an important contribution to accelerating the transfer of Deep Tech and Life Sciences from research into the market,” says Dr. Florian Kirschenhofer, co-initiator of the 4Investors Day and Senior Start-up and Portfolio Manager at Max Planck Innovation GmbH.

Innovations for the Future

Among the presenting teams were several spin-offs from the Max Planck Society: AGAS Theranostics, eversyn, FlexPower, JYMMiN, MagniKeen, Prevacta, Separa, SURFACto BioTech and Quantilight.
Quantilight, a spin-off from the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research founded in 2025, develops bioluminescent sensors that can detect biomarkers and drug concentrations with high precision and speed. The technology is so easy to use that it is suitable for at-home self-testing, providing reliable results within just 15 minutes – a significant improvement over conventional diagnostic methods. For investors, Quantilight offers the opportunity to support a highly promising technology from the very beginning.

Investors as Key Partners

The innovations presented form the basis for future market-ready products and thus make an important contribution to solutions for society and the economy. To realize this potential, investors are indispensable partners. Venture capital firms, business angels and family offices, with their capital and expertise, enable the crucial step from scientific idea to successful company. The 4Investors Day provides the ideal platform to start this dialogue early and shape future collaborations.

4Investors Day 2025 once again demonstrated how successfully science and business can join forces to drive innovation for the future.

Contact

Marketing & Public Relations

Markus Berninger

Diplom-Kaufmann

Phone: +49 (89) / 29 09 19-30
Email:
berninger@max-planck-innovation.de

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