CV Tag: Entrepreneurship

Cyber Valley and UTokyo IPC Announce Yugen Space as Winner of ‘Valley and Sunrise’ – Market Exploration Program

STUTTGART/TÜBINGEN, TOKYO, March 3, 2026 – Cyber Valley GmbH und UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. have announced Yugen Space as the winner of the ‘Valley and Sunrise’ Program’s first edition.

The ‘Valley and Sunrise’ Program empowers start-ups working in AI and robotics to find entry into the Japanese market. Driven by its goal of fostering international growth, the program offers participants hands-on mentorship, strategic insights, and access to UTokyo IPC’s network of industry leaders and partners.

‘We designed Valley and Sunrise to help talented founders accelerate their impact,’ said Angelina Jukic, Program Manager of Valley and Sunrise at Cyber Valley GmbH. ‘The quality of applications was exceptional, and our judges were impressed with how Yugen Space combined a bold vision with real-world traction.’

Yugen Space was selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants for its innovative approach as well as its strong market potential. The start-up was founded by Anand Waghmare (CEO) and Parikshit Joshi (CTO) in June 2025 and has its headquarters in Tübingen. Yugen Space’s mission is to build the intelligence engine for satellite-driven decisions.

Yugen Space combines raw satellite imagery and real-world decisions. It integrates multi-source satellite data, applies scientific and machine learning models, and converts planetary signals into decision-ready intelligence. Users select a location, ask a question, and receive decision-ready insights within minutes.

Over the course of the program, Yugen Space will work closely with mentors and industry experts to refine its market strategy and develop a roadmap for scaling its products and services.

Anand Waghmare, CEO of Yugen Space:

‘Being selected for the Valley and Sunrise program is a pivotal milestone for Yugen Space. It allows us to bridge two of the world’s most advanced AI and deep-tech ecosystems: Cyber Valley here in Germany and UTokyo IPC in Japan. For us, this is a vital opportunity to scale our mission of democratizing planetary intelligence internationally. We look forward to working with Japanese industry leaders to prove how our products can solve complex environmental and industrial challenges on a global scale.’

Hideki Nagasaka, Partner and Director, 1stRound, UTokyo IPC:

‘This selection marks a meaningful milestone in the collaboration framework we have steadily built between Japan and Germany over the years. We are confident that this milestone will serve as a critical step for Yugen Space as it accelerates its business development with a clear view toward expansion into the Japanese market. Through this initiative, we hope not only to contribute to the continued growth of the German innovation community, including Cyber Valley, but also to further deepen the ties between the German and Japanese ecosystems. We remain committed to strengthening the Japan-Germany network and advancing sustainable, long-term collaboration.‘

For more information about Valley and Sunrise and future opportunities, visit: https://cyber-valley.de/en/websites/cyber-valley/pages/valley-and-sunrise-program/

About UTokyo IPC

UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. (UTokyo IPC) is a venture capital firm wholly owned by the University of Tokyo, established in 2016 to strengthen Japan’s global industrial competitiveness through startup investment and ecosystem building. As a public–private venture capital firm, UTokyo IPC has invested in more than 80 university-affiliated startups and venture funds both in Japan and overseas. Beyond investment, UTokyo IPC operates the Startup Building Program, which supports the commercialization of research outcomes; 1stRound, Japan’s largest academia-linked accelerator; and DeepTech Dive, a program dedicated to cultivating deep-tech talent. In 2024, UTokyo IPC launched the ASA Fund under the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s initiative to promote global collaboration and establish Japan as a hub for deep-tech innovation.

About Cyber Valley

Cyber Valley is Europe’s largest and leading center for excellence in artificial intelligence and modern robotics. Its mission and public mandate are to advocate for research, development, application, and acceptance of technologies and methods in intelligent systems. Cyber Valley encourages entrepreneurship by uniting scientific excellence with innovation and technology transfer. In addition, Cyber Valley facilitates critical reflection on the ethical and social implications of AI through public engagement. Cyber Valley envisions a future in which the full potential of intelligent systems is leveraged for the greater good of the world.

Media Contact

Silke Dutz, Cyber Valley GmbH: silke.dutz@cyber-valley.de

Akiko Tsuchiya, UTokyo IPC: info2@utokyo-ipc.co.jp

March 3, 2026
Cyber Valley Start-up Meshcapade draws Epic Games to Tübingen

Meshcapade has been acquired by Epic Games. As part of the acquisition, Epic Games is establishing a presence in Cyber Valley. The Meshcapade team will join Epic’s AI research team, contributing to technologies for Unreal Engine and MetaHuman.

Meshcapade, is a spin-off of the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) in Tübingen and one of the earliest members of the Cyber Valley Start-up Network. The start-up develops advanced technologies for the creation and animation of digital humans. Founded in 2018, the start-up received the inaugural Max Planck Startup Award from the Stifterverband in 2022. Epic Games is a U.S. game developer and creator of Unreal Engine, a game development technology.

Meshcapade’s technology builds on the Institute’s SMPL (Skinned Multi-Person Linear) body model, a highly realistic 3D representation of the human body trained on thousands of 3D scans. Licensed through Max Planck Innovation, the technology transfer arm of the Max Planck Society, SMPL has become the de facto standard for 3D human representation in both academia and industry. The technology was developed by co-founders Naureen Mahmood and Talha Zaman together with Michael J. Black, Director of Perceiving Systems at MPI-IS.

The Meshcapade team will now join Epic Games, which is opening a new office in Tübingen. This move strengthens Epic’s presence in Cyber Valley, one of Europe’s leading AI innovation ecosystems, and underscores the region’s role as a hub for cutting-edge research and industry collaboration in artificial intelligence, computer vision, and digital human technologies.

Read the full news story from the Max Planck Society here:

https://www.mpg.de/26082348/max-planck-spin-off-meshcapade-draws-epic-games-to-tuebingen

February 18, 2026
DenkBox, kausable, and polybot join the Cyber Valley Start-up Network

Cyber Valley welcomes three new members to its Start-up Network: DenkBox, kausable, and polybot. These start-ups are using bold ideas and groundbreaking technologies to shape the future of AI and robotics in Baden-Württemberg.

polybot envisions unlocking a sustainable future for humanity’s food production. The start-up builds small, dexterous robots that can perform a variety of complex, labor-intensive tasks, like weeding, precision pruning, and harvesting delicate crops like tomatoes and cucumbers. By automating manual fieldwork, polybot helps farmers address labor shortages while boosting long-term productivity and sustainability.

DenkBox uses the latest open-source LLMs to provide a locally hosted AI chatbot. The start-up puts its users’ privacy first: it does not require connection to an external cloud, ensuring full compliance with GDPR. Meanwhile, DenkBox offers access to state-of-the-art open-source LLMs. The start-up offers both hardware and software from a single source, requiring minimal IT configuration that integrates seamlessly into existing infrastructures.

kausable is pioneering a new reasoning-first approach to AI, moving beyond pattern-based large language models. Their agentic AI learns in-context from only a few examples, opens new domains without retraining, and generalizes across tasks and modalities. Backed by leading investors such as Mätch VC, LDV Partners, and experts from Black Forest Labs, kausable is building efficient, general-purpose intelligence that is made in Europe.

The Cyber Valley Community is excited to welcome DenkBox, kausable, and polybot to its growing ecosystem. These start-ups are strengthening Cyber Valley’s mission to unite groundbreaking science with innovation and technology transfer to solve real-world problems.

The Cyber Valley Start-up Network

The Cyber Valley Start-up Network brings together more than 90 innovative AI and robotics start-ups across Baden-Württemberg, forming a strong and growing entrepreneurial community within one of Europe’s leading AI and robotics ecosystems. The network spans a broad range of applications and industries, from foundational AI technologies to applied and industry-specific solutions. Connected through their close ties to Cyber Valley, members benefit from access to world-class research, industry partners, investors, and public stakeholders, jointly strengthening the region’s AI and robotics ecosystem.

January 30, 2026
Call for applications: Next Frontier AI
The goal is clear: to ensure Europe is not only a user of advanced AI systems, but a creator of the next generation of AI technologies.

Why Next Frontier AI?

While Europe leads in AI research and adoption, many of today’s frontier AI systems are developed and scaled elsewhere. Next Frontier AI addresses this gap by supporting teams willing to take high-risk, high-impact bets on what comes after today’s dominant AI paradigms. Rather than prescribing what the “next frontier” should be, the initiative invites researchers and builders to define it themselves – whether through new algorithms, training paradigms, data modalities, architectures, or entirely new approaches to AI.
A challenge-based approach

Next Frontier AI follows a challenge-based funding model designed to maximize experimentation and learning:
- €125M in total challenge funding
- Initial selection of 10 teams, each receiving €3M in non-dilutive funding
- Multiple phases with progressive funding and selection
- Full freedom to experiment, pivot, and pursue bold hypotheses
- A long-term pathway toward up to €1B per team for those ready to scale globally
The objective of the early phases is not to produce a finished frontier lab, but to identify and prepare exceptional teams capable of scaling transformative AI systems over the long term.
Who should apply

The initiative is aimed at:
- AI researchers, engineers, and technical builders
- Small, highly skilled teams (typically 3–5 people)
- Existing startups or newly formed teams
- Applicants with bold visions – entrepreneurial experience is not required
SPRIN-D supports participating teams not only with funding, but also with company-building support and ecosystem access.

Europe at the center

Next Frontier AI is designed to strengthen European AI sovereignty by building AI systems in Europe, aligned with European values, markets, and industrial needs while remaining globally competitive. Cyber Valley is one of Europe’s leading AI and robotics ecosystems. We are amplifying these initiatives to reach frontier builders in Europe and Europeans working abroad who may be ready to come back.

All details on eligibility, timelines, and the application process are available on the Next Frontier AI website.

If you want to join the challenge, sign up here: https://next-frontier.ai/join

For deeper context on the vision behind Next Frontier AI, listen to the SPRIN-D podcast episode with Mirko Holzer and Dr. Johannes Otterbach.
January 9, 2026
Mirelo AI: Shaping the Future of AI from Cyber Valley
Carl Johann Simon-Gabriel’s career exemplifies the successful translation of cutting-edge research into entrepreneurial innovation. After completing his PhD under the supervision of Prof. Bernhard Schölkopf at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Tübingen, he spent several years working in leading technology companies in the United States before co-founding Mirelo AI.

Mirelo AI develops generative AI models capable of producing high-quality, production-ready sound effects directly from video content. This technology addresses a largely untapped area of audiovisual production and offers substantial potential for applications in film, gaming, and advertising.

Founded in 2023, since joining the Cyber Valley Startup Network in 2024, Mirelo AI has become a strong example of how scientific excellence, ambitious vision, and effective execution converge within the region’s AI ecosystem. The successful completion of this seed round underscores both the company’s potential and the international relevance of the Cyber Valley research and innovation environment.

Image: Flügelmann

At the Demo Day of the Cyber Valley AI Incubator (Batch #6), Carl Johann Simon-Gabriel participated as a keynote speaker, sharing insights from his entrepreneurial journey and inspiring the next generation of founders. Reflecting on his experience, he noted:

“Cyber Valley is a great initiative for emerging AI startups, especially because it is rooted in Tübingen’s world-renowned AI research scene and its talent pool.”

Mirelo AI is continuing to expand its team and is actively recruiting talent to develop next-generation generative AI models for audio and video. Open positions are available on the company’s website: Mirelo.ai
Related Start-Ups
Mirelo AI
December 18, 2025
Cyber Valley at Heilbronn Slush’D

Heilbronn Slush’D is organized by Campus Founders, a start-up and innovation hub based in Heilbronn. The event was sold out, with over 1,000 participants from across Europe taking part in talks, panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions. The festival enabled start-ups and founders to connect with key stakeholders and develop their ideas.

For CELLnROLL (recipients of the Cyber Valley Innovation Fellowship Program) Heilbronn Slush’D was ‘an inspiring event bringing together founders, investors, and innovation leaders from across Europe.’ Following the event, they were ‘inspired, energized, and full of new ideas for what’s next!’

Maximilian Bode, Co-founder of Cyber Valley Start-up Biocompile, was in attendance for the first time: ‘Despite the bad weather, it was a great experience!’ For Max, events like Heilbronn Slush’D are ‘places where the most interesting people meet.’

Maximilian Bode (Biocompile) at Heilbronn Slush’D. Photo courtesy of Maximilian Bode

Johanna Kreßel from the University of Tübingen’s Startup Center also shared her impressions from her first time at Heilbronn Slush’D: ‘I really enjoyed the energy and open atmosphere that made it so easy to connect and have meaningful conversations.’

Johanna Kreßel (Tübingen Startup Center) at Heilbronn Slush’D. Photo courtesy of Johanna Kreßel

KIT Gründerschmiede took part too. For them, Heilbronn Slush’D ‘was again a real experience – not only because of the wild weather, but above all because of the incredible energy that could be felt between impulses on stage, networking around the campfire, and conversations at the food trucks.’

KIT Gründerschmiede at Heilbronn Slush’D. Photo courtesy of KIT Gründerschmiede

Members of the Cyber Valley Start-up Network have been recognized at previous iterations of the festival. Ventus Technologies secured the top prize of €100,000 in investment in 2023, followed by Tabularis AI claiming the same award in 2024. These examples show how Cyber Valley start-ups have benefited from the support provided by Campus Founders at Heilbronn Slush’D.

By attending Heilbronn Slush’D, members of the Cyber Valley Community demonstrated the value of collaboration and were impressed by the growing momentum in Heilbronn. Through their scientific expertise and diverse perspectives, they are playing an essential role in the success of Germany’s research and innovation ecosystem.

Photo courtesy of Heilbronn Slush’D

October 30, 2025
UTokyo IPC and Cyber Valley launch ‘Valley and Sunrise’
The Valley and Sunrise program originates from a strategic partnership between Cyber Valley, Europe’s leading center for excellence in AI and modern robotics, and UTokyo IPC, the venture investment arm of the University of Tokyo. It opens up UTokyo IPC’s academic and corporate networks to Cyber Valley start-ups, accelerating their market entry and commercialization in Japan and offering them a competitive advantage in global markets.

Selected start-ups will receive:
- Up to €50,000 in financial support for initial market entry.
- Access to Japanese corporate executives, strategic investors, and regulatory expertise.
- Customized Proof of Concept (PoC) partnerships with top-tier Japanese enterprises.
- Six months of personalized mentorship, networking opportunities, and guidance for successful market integration.
Applications for Valley and Sunrise will be open from November 5 until December 5, 2025, with selected start-ups beginning the program in spring 2026. Up to two start-ups from the Cyber Valley Start-up Network will participate in the program.

Florian Mayer, Managing Director, Cyber Valley GmbH:

‘The Valley and Sunrise program offers German start-ups a unique opportunity to gain insights and connections in one of the world’s most advanced economies. The program encourages cross-border innovation between Germany and Japan, supporting deep-tech start-ups from the Cyber Valley ecosystem in Baden-Württemberg to thrive on a global scale.’

Angelina Jukic, Program Manager, Cyber Valley GmbH:

‘This initiative has come to life through our close collaboration with UTokyo IPC. The Valley and Sunrise program turns our shared vision into reality – connecting German AI and robotics start-ups with Japan’s leading investors, corporates, and researchers, and strengthening collaboration between our two innovation ecosystems.’

Hideki Nagasaka, Partner & Director, 1stRound, UTokyo IPC:

‘Through our collaboration with Cyber Valley, we are building a truly global platform, empowering German start-ups not only to succeed in the Japanese market but also to thrive internationally. We envision a dynamic ecosystem where innovation seamlessly flows between Germany, Japan, and beyond, creating lasting global impact.’

About UTokyo IPC

UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. (UTokyo IPC) is a venture capital firm wholly owned by the University of Tokyo, established in 2016 to strengthen Japan’s global industrial competitiveness through startup investment and ecosystem building.

As a public–private venture capital firm, UTokyo IPC has invested in more than 80 university-affiliated startups and venture funds both in Japan and overseas.
Beyond investment, UTokyo IPC operates the Startup Building Program, which supports the commercialization of research outcomes; 1stRound, Japan’s largest academia-linked accelerator; and DeepTech Dive, a program dedicated to cultivating deep-tech talent. In 2024, UTokyo IPC launched the ASA Fund under the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s initiative to promote global collaboration and establish Japan as a hub for deep-tech innovation.

About Cyber Valley

Cyber Valley is Europe’s largest and leading center for excellence in artificial intelligence and modern robotics. Its mission and public mandate are to advocate for research, development, application, and acceptance of technologies and methods in intelligent systems. Cyber Valley encourages entrepreneurship by uniting scientific excellence with innovation and technology transfer. In addition, Cyber Valley facilitates critical reflection on the ethical and social implications of AI through public engagement. Cyber Valley envisions a future in which the full potential of intelligent systems is leveraged for the greater good of the world.

Media Contact

Hazel Rowland, Cyber Valley GmbH: hazel.rowland@cyber-valley.de
Akiko Tsuchiya, UTokyo IPC: info2@utokyo-ipc.co.jp
October 23, 2025
How to start up at the University of Stuttgart?
Many aspiring founders are unsure where to start or which support services can help them turn an idea into a business. This event aims to change that.

Together with the Institute for Entrepreneurship (ENI), TTI Technologie-Transfer-Initative GmbH, the University’s transfer center TRACES, NXTGN, and a guest startup, participants get to explore how innovative ideas can grow into successful ventures at the University of Stuttgart.

Participants will:
- Learn about the university’s startup support programs and initiatives
- Meet the people driving entrepreneurship in Stuttgart
- Hear first-hand experiences from founders
As a special guest, Michael Ilewicz, co-founder of Ecalia, will share his story of building a Stuttgart-based startup developing next-generation compressor-expander technology.

This event is open to students, doctoral candidates, researchers, and anyone curious about entrepreneurship. No business idea or prior experience is needed – just curiosity and an open mind.

Snacks and drinks will be available in a relaxed, informal atmosphere.

Interested?

No registration is required for this event. Just drop by!

Contact

For any questions regarding the event, please contact Mia Zsohár (mia.zsohar@eni.uni-stuttgart.de).

You already have an idea you would like to get started with? Get in touch with startupcoaching@traces.uni-stuttgart.de for a first touchpoint.
October 16, 2025
Demo Day of the Cyber Valley AI Incubator

Over the past six weeks, the Batch #7 teams of the Cyber Valley AI Incubator have been developing their AI-powered start-up ideas, guided by mentors from the Cyber Valley Community. Now, they’re ready to pitch their ventures to a panel of judges and an audience of investors, researchers, corporate leaders, and entrepreneurs.

The jury will recognize top-performing teams, who will win exciting prizes. Discover cutting-edge AI solutions and connect with key players from the region’s thriving AI landscape in an energetic atmosphere over drinks and finger food.

When?

Thursday, November 20, 2025
16:00–19:45 CET

Where?

Amazon Research & Development Center

Friedrich-Mieschler-Straße 4, 72076 Tübingen

Registration

Please register via Eventbrite in advance as the number of participants is limited.

The Cyber Valley AI Incubator

The Cyber Valley AI Incubator is a six-week program for AI talent with brilliant ideas. It encourages scientists, technologists, and business talent to found their own companies, fostering the next generation of AI start-ups. The AI Incubator equips participants with the right knowledge, tools, and skills to transfer their groundbreaking AI and robotics research into products and applications.

It covers topics such as AI prototyping, product-market fit, business strategy, and funding. The program also provides participants with access to a network of experts, mentors, founders, and investors who offer guidance and inspiration on their journey into the AI business world.

The Cyber Valley AI Incubator is organized by the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems and funded by the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung.

October 6, 2025
Expanding the AI Frontier: DxOmics and pi_optimal join the Start-up Network

DxOmics

DxOmics is revolutionizing genetic diagnostics and research with AI-driven software that decodes complex genomic data. Their solutions support everything from cancer detection to rare disease diagnosis, all while enabling personalized treatment strategies. With cloud-based bioinformatics, smart clinical reporting, and AI classifiers at their core, DxOmics helps researchers, clinicians, and biotech pioneers unlock the future of precision medicine.

pi_optimal

With pi_optimal, reinforcement learning (RL) becomes refreshingly simple and accessible. Their open-source platform reduces the complexity of implementing RL to just a few lines of code – no deep ML expertise required. Built for developers, scientists, and visionary businesses, pi_optimal is democratizing cutting-edge AI and empowering users to solve complex optimization problems and build smarter systems, faster.

By joining the Cyber Valley Start-up Network, DxOmics and pi_optimal help strengthen the Community with their innovative approaches to applied AI – from decoding the human genome to scaling intelligent decision-making across industries.

Welcome to the Community!

June 23, 2025