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This week in Deep Tech Now, we're spotlighting Marvin Urban, Managing Director of Dörken Digital Ventures. Here are 5 reasons to pay attention:
Lasting heritage: Dörken is a 125+ year-old family business specialising in coatings and membranes that protect small components and entire buildings, making them last longer.
Tradition and innovation: Dörken is convinced that the basis for its ongoing success is the innovation culture it nurtures across all levels — including through Dörken Digital Ventures.
Extended hand: With over 1,000 employees, Dörken also collaborates with startups to keep on transforming the construction industry — don’t miss the Q&A to find out more.
Intrapreneur mindset: In addition to his various roles at Dörken over the last decade, Marvin Urban also ran several ventures, including XPIM, which automates product data.
Next steps: Connect with Marvin Urban on LinkedIn for his insights on digitalisation, and stay tuned for future Dörken hackathons.
Also in this issue:
A look at Europe’s hottest Q3 robotics rounds — a strong quarter for the sector, from AI-powered warehouse arms to NATO-backed underwater repair bots.
Plus, a free 1:1 coaching session with Renita Kalhorn, who’s spent over a decade coaching high-performers from Fortune 500s to Special Forces.
VENTURE CLIENTING CHRONICLES
Marvin Urban — Managing Director — Dörken Digital Ventures
In which Deep Tech fields are you actively seeking startup collaborations right now?
Build Tech is our core focus, and we are actively seeking collaborations with startups that rethink how buildings are designed, protected and modernised, with a particular focus on the building envelope —roofs, façades and foundations.
What matters most to us are new, high-performance materials that are recyclable, circular and economically scalable. We believe the future of Deep Tech in construction lies in combining functionality with sustainability.
At the same time, affordable housing is a key challenge. Therefore, we are especially interested in solutions that enable cost-efficient construction and renovation without compromising quality or sustainability. Startups that bring together circularity, smart functionality and scalability are the ideal partners for us.
Which three startup teams have inspired you the most in the last year—and why?
Gropyus — which uses automation to deliver affordable residential projects. They truly combine sustainability and digitalisation, treating both not as add-ons but as core principles of their model. This holistic ambition – to industrialise construction, create circular value, and build for the future – is exactly the kind of bold thinking our industry needs.
Traceless — transforming agricultural residues into materials designed to leave no trace. What inspires me most is their mindset — they aim to redefine what sustainable materials can be. This level of vision, paired with execution, makes them a role model for the entire materials and manufacturing sector.
FenX — transforming waste into mineral foams for building insulation. Their technological depth, material innovation and clear industrialisation strategy show that eco-friendly solutions don’t have to compromise on performance or scalability.
How do you usually identify and select promising startup partners?
We use a structured but very hands-on approach. First, we conduct research using databases and market intelligence, with a strong focus on clusters that show high funding momentum and technological relevance.
In addition, we stay very close to the ecosystem through our network and startup events, which often give us early access to emerging teams. We also run targeted screenings and leverage our international contacts.
When it comes to evaluation, we rely on a clear internal scoring model that assesses technological fit, scalability, team strength and strategic relevance. The final decision on next steps is always made collaboratively, ensuring strategic alignment and fast execution.
What’s your top advice for startups aiming to partner with your company?
We look for startups that have innovation in sustainability and digitalisation truly embedded in their business model, not just as a feature.
At the same time, it’s important to understand the current market reality while still having the ambition to drive large-scale change. It’s a fine line — but if you can walk it, that’s the perfect fit.
Resilience is crucial, especially in the construction industry, which is highly traditional and slow to change. Take the time to understand its logic and dynamics, then apply pressure in the right places to create transformation. In short: combine realism with bold vision, and stay persistent.
What helps most in moving from PoC to commercial partnership?
Startups often struggle to gain traction on their own. Many industrial players want to drive change but tend to innovate too slowly. Finding the right industrial partner is the ultimate challenge — but also the biggest factor for success.
Some common hurdles include pricing levels, which are often too high for new technologies, and underutilised production capacity at established companies.
Combining these thoughtfully can create the perfect synergy: Startups that connect with forward-looking mid-sized companies willing to embrace change have a real chance to create something new and impactful.
DEEP TECH OPEN | ROBOTICS
Top 5 Robotics Seed Rounds in Europe | Q3 2025
THEKER Robotics | Barcelona, Spain | €18M round led by Kibo Ventures
Technology: Robotic arm with integrated deep learning-based vision and control systems that adapt to new tasks autonomously
Use cases: Automated picking and packing in retail warehouses, food processing lines, waste sorting facilities, and manufacturing assembly
Traction: Fast acquiring customers, and Zara’s owner Inditex participated in the round
Technology: Cognitive AI platform for autonomous vehicles
Use case: Autonomous buses and shuttles for public transit systems
Why it matters: European safety regulations require explainable decision-making architecture that can also deal with untested scenarios
Traction: MOTOR Ai received its official autonomous vehicle testing permit in March of this year, for tests in road traffic in several German districts
Kongsberg Ferrotech | Kongsberg, Norway | €12M round led by NATO Innovation Fund (NIF)
Technology: Underwater robots for the inspection, maintenance and repair of offshore infrastructure
Use case: Fixing oil & gas pipelines, power cables, fibre optic lines, and other maritime infrastructure in-situ
Why it matters: Supporting key infrastructure amid growing threats to subsea cables
Traction: Already working with world leading energy operators including Aramco, Petrobras and Total Energies
SR Robotics | Katowice, Poland | €8.4M seed funding from Vinci Fund
Technology: Autonomous and remotely operated underwater robots with AI navigation and magnetic eco-friendly hull cleaning
Use cases: Ship hull maintenance, underwater infrastructure inspection and repair, dual-use for industry and defense
Why it matters: Reduces shipping costs and emissions, helps protect Europe’s energy infrastructure and maritime security
Traction: Scaling production; partnering with operators to deploy RaaS model for subsea maintenance
Nautica Technologies | Zurich, Switzerland | $4M round led by b2venture
Technology: Autonomous underwater robots for proactive ship hull cleaning
Use case: Preventive maintenance for commercial shipping fleets
Why it matters: Algae on a ship’s hull increase drag, with huge financial and environmental costs
Traction: Pilot projects underway with global shipping operators
DEEP TECH OPEN | OPPORTUNITIES
Start November Strong: Science Summit & €6M Challenge
🗓️ Falling Walls Science Summit | Berlin, Germany | November 6–9
Meet with Nobel laureates, CEOs, and policymakers to turn science into impact; discuss innovation & knowledge transfer; and watch 25 science startups pitch a high-caliber jury.
➔ Get your discounted ticket here with special code VCs25_Venture_Special
💰 SPRIND Tech Metal Transformation Challenge
Promoter: Germany’s Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation, SPRIN-D
Target: Teams developing breakthrough processes to recover and reuse critical metals from e-waste, batteries, and electronics
Amount: Up to €6M non-dilutive funding
Eligibility: Open to applicants across Europe, plus UK & Israel
➔ Next steps: Find out more and apply by November 7
ECOSYSTEM GIFT
Get 30 Minutes of EQ Mastery with a Coach Who Trains Special Forces
This week's ecosystem gift is a mentoring session with executive coach Renita Kalhorn, your soon-to-be guide for leading with emotional intelligence (EQ).
5 things to know about Renita
She trains military Special Forces and high performers in leadership and resilience
Her business clients include executives at Fortune 500 companies and top startups
A trained concert pianist and martial arts black belt, she brings 20+ years of performance coaching expertise
Her conviction: EQ matters more than IQ in growing a successful company
She hosts The High-EQ Founder podcast and designed a programme specifically for tech founders to develop their EQ and unlock their full potential
Think this could help you? Click here to enter the draw and claim your session.
Last Week’s Winner: Congratulations to Luca Schettino, Jannis Duckek, and Alexander Türpe, who secured their Da Vinci-inspired DTM merch by being first to reply. We'll be in touch soon.
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