APEX Ventures March Newsletter | Space Missions, Quantum and AI Innovations
Explore innovations in quantum computing, space technology, AI efficiency, and medical diagnostics transforming industries globally.
February witnessed significant advancements across quantum computing, space technology, and healthcare innovation, with numerous of our portfolio companies achieving important milestones.
ATMOS Space Cargo secured historic FAA approval for its PHOENIX re-entry capsule, set to become Europe's first private space re-entry mission in April 2025, while planqc continues making waves with its neutral atom quantum computing technology, earning recognition among the top 50 startups by trend magazine.
In the space sector, Yuri is preparing for an exciting ISS mission where its ScienceTaxi BioSpin 1.0 project will transport numerous commercial experiments aboard SpaceX's next resupply mission, while OKAPI:Orbits highlights the critical need for immediate action in space traffic coordination for collision prevention.
On the thought leadership front, gain valuable insights into AI discourse from Andreas Riegler on AI efficiency and sustainability challenges and Ion Hauer on what will reshape the artificial intelligence landscape in 2025. Additionally, Diana Röttger discusses International Women's Day and the critical transition needed from mentorship to active sponsorship and intentional investments in women-led startups across the technology and venture capital sectors.
The month also saw important developments in healthcare technology, with several companies achieving significant milestones: contextflow was selected by the Netherlands for an imaging pilot program testing its AI solution across five Dutch hospitals; Robeauté secured the prestigious EIC Accelerator Grant to advance its microrobot technology for neurosurgery, and CardiaTec Bio published pioneering research on quantum walk-based network analysis for long COVID.
Read on how these innovative companies create new opportunities across the deep tech ecosystem.
Amadeus APEX Technology Fund
ATMOS Space Cargo secured historic FAA approval for its PHOENIX re-entry capsule, set to become Europe's first private space re-entry mission on SpaceX's Bandwagon-3 in April 2025. Read the whole story.
The PHOENIX capsule aims to achieve an industry-leading payload efficiency ratio of 1:2 – ten times above current market standards.
OKAPI:Orbits highlights the critical need for space traffic coordination as the UNOOSA director emphasizes immediate action for collision prevention. Article here.
The Max Planck Society reports on planqc, which is developing quantum computers based on neutral atoms in optical lattices. Read in German. The company was also chosen among the top 50 startups highlighted by the trend. magazine.
The planqc team uses laser light to capture and manipulate atoms.
UniSieve and INGEOBRAS joined forces to drive industrial decarbonization through the advancement of the BIOenergHII project, which transforms industrial wastewater into key energy vectors such as hydrogen. Learn more.
APEX Medical
CardiaTec Bio’s CTO Namshik Han publishes a research study about applying quantum walk-based network analysis to uncover key dysregulated pathways in long COVID. Read it here.
contextflow has been selected by the Netherlands for an imaging pilot program where its AI solution for incidental pulmonary embolism detection is being tested across five Dutch hospitals, with plans for a nationwide rollout. Get the full story.
Read Lyfegen's 2024 Drug Pricing & Access Report for a comprehensive analysis of outcome-based agreements, gene therapy reimbursement models, and cost management tools, including installment payments, budget caps, and portfolio pricing in oncology.
Quibim’s latest study in Frontiers in Oncology shares how a machine learning model integrating clinical, molecular, and radiomic MRI features outperforms standard risk classification, leading to better survival prediction and personalized treatment strategies.
Mindpeak CEO Felix Faber reveals in a new PresseBox podcast how AI is revolutionizing cancer diagnostics through faster, more accessible world-class diagnoses. Listen here.
Robeauté has been named one of the winners of the EIC Accelerator Grant presented by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). More about the funding.
SpleenLab collaborates with Quantum Systems to transform defense technology and redefine unmanned aviation with AI-driven innovations. Learn more.
Upfront Diagnostics features in The Guardian as an LVOne test. Its rapid finger-prick blood test enters UK trials (currently being trialed in Cambridgeshire) and promises faster, more accurate stroke detection.
Yuri is preparing for an April 2025 ISS Mission where its ScienceTaxi BioSpin 1.0 project will transport 38 ScienceShells carrying commercial research and customer experiments alongside critical hardware tests in microgravity aboard SpaceX's next resupply mission. More here.
Yuri’s science shells are being prepared for its upcoming mission.
APEX One
kiutra expands cryogenic installations across the US to power quantum research with cutting-edge cooling technology for the Universities of Arkansas, Washington, Rochester, and Purdue. Full story here.
Mobius Labs CEO Appu Shaji discusses with Tech.eu how democratized AI models are shifting competition from funding to execution and innovation capabilities. Read on.
OroraTech and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) joined forces for fire emission tracking. The “FireFlux” challenge aims to enhance wildfire emission estimates using small satellite data. Learn more.
TriLite secured the Best Presenting Company Award at the TechTour Photonics event in Brussels, where Head of Sales Kevin Hockerman showcased its Augmented Reality display technology.
Kevin Hockerman receives the award for TriLite at TechTour Photonics.
Vitrealab captivated attendees at SPIE AR|VR|MR with its innovative integration of LCoS and laser technology for AR light engines. It demonstrated how the company's light engine delivers high-quality immersive visuals that bring truly wearable augmented reality within reach.
Vitrealab at SPIE 2025
VividQ’s CEO Darran Milne shared insights with LiveScience on Xanadu’s Aurora system, a breakthrough in modular quantum computing.
AI efficiency is becoming increasingly crucial as compute costs soar, according to General Partner Andreas Riegler in a recent interview with Business Insider. He highlighted that "the energy consumption of training a large AI model can produce emissions equivalent to the lifetime emissions of multiple cars."
Andreas flagged the work of APEX Ventures’ portfolio company, Mobius Labs, as an exemplary solution to combat this using its platform, reducing computing power needs tenfold by successfully "quantizing" Meta's Llama70B model to run on a single GPU instead of four, and without sacrificing output accuracy.
When discussing hardware innovations, Andreas emphasized the promising approach of portfolio company GEMESYS, which has developed neuromorphic chip technology mirroring the human brain's neural networks. He explained that neuromorphic chip technology is particularly effective for continuously running AI applications like smart sensors and robotics, representing a critical development for sustainable industry growth as AI models continue their exponential expansion in size.
Read more in Business Insider.
Response Source has compiled a list of AI experts available to comment on cutting-edge topics, including next-generation computing innovation, automated reasoning, and AI ethics and regulations. Principal Ion Hauer was included amongst these thought leaders, offering his predictions for AI development in 2025.
His forward-looking insights highlight several trends on the horizon, including trillion-parameter models, AI agents, and hyper-personalization technologies that he believes will fundamentally reshape the artificial intelligence landscape in the coming year.
Read the full AI predictions in Response Source.
In honor of International Women's Day, Diana Röttger shared her insights on the critical need for truly inclusive environments for women in both technology and venture capital sectors. Diana's message goes beyond celebration to call for meaningful action, stating: "To accelerate change, we need to move beyond mentorship to active sponsorship and intentional investments in women-led startups."
Diana believes transitioning from encouraging words to tangible opportunities is essential for transforming these traditionally male-dominated industries.
Read more on SheCanCode.
Meet the APEX Ventures team at the following events in the upcoming months:
▶️ Venture Sprind / 8 April / Berlin, Germany / Tim Hos, Vera Kunz
▶️ FutureSAX Roadshow / 24 April / Zurich, Switzerland / Ion Hauer