Sifted, a tech media brand backed by the Financial Times (FT), has released its annual ranking of Germany’s fastest-growing startups, showcasing the resilience and dynamism of the country’s tech ecosystem.
The Sifted 50: Germany Leaderboard, released in September, ranks the 50 startups with the strongest revenue growth in the country over the past three financial years. These companies have achieved remarkable revenue growth despite double-digit inflation and sharply rising interest rates.
This year’s average two-year revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) stands at a remarkable 162.08%, with the top three companies surpassing the 500% CAGR mark.
Geographically, Berlin leads as the hub for innovation, with 22 of the top 50 companies based in the capital, followed by Munich with nine and Cologne and Hamburg with three each.
Combined, these 50 companies have raised EUR 6.98 billion in funding and generated revenues of EUR 3.03 billion over the past three financial years.
This year, fintech dominates the leaderboard, with 12 companies offering cutting-edge solutions in areas including personal finance, expense management and regtech. This underscores fintech’s prominence in Germany.
Today, we look at the 12 fintech companies that made it into this year’s Sifted 50: Germany Leaderboard, highlighting their value propositions and recent achievements.
Anybill (+328.17% revenue CAGR)
Founded in 2019, Anybill allows retailers of all sizes to issue receipts digitally, directly at checkout. The solution integrates with merchant apps, wallets, banking, and payment apps, bridging gaps in payment infrastructure.
Anybill, which is based in Munich, has secured EUR 5 million in funding, and recorded a two-year revenue CAGR of 328.17%. The figure makes it the 6th fastest-growing German startups of the past two years, according to Sifted.
Finanzguru (+168.67% revenue CAGR)
Launched in 2018, Finanzguru is a financial assistant app that leverages artificial intelligence (AI). The platform allows users to manage all of their banking accounts and contracts in one place, and provides them with advice on insurance and financial products based on a digital analysis of their banking data.
Operated by Frankfurt am Main-based dwins, Finanzguru claims more than 1.5 million registered users, making it the largest bank-independent financial app in the German market. The company achieved a revenue CAGR of 168.67% these past two years, making it the 15th fastest-growing startup in Germany.
HeyData (+144.9% revenue CAGR)
Established in 2020, HeyData is a leading compliance startup headquartered in Berlin. The company provides an all-in-one compliance solution, helping more than 1,500 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups manage their data protection and compliance requirements.
HeyData secured a EUR 3.3 million seed funding round in September 2022 to fund its product expansion and venture into new markets. The company achieved a revenue CAGR of 144.9% during the prior two years, making it the 18th fastest-growing startup in Germany.
Circula (+140.48% revenue CAGR)
Founded in 2017, Circula is a leading expense management solution for SMEs in Europe. The platform helps businesses manage employee expenses, such as travel costs, out-of-pocket expenses, and benefits. It automates the process of submitting and approving expense reports, and seamlessly integrates with existing enterprise resource planning (ERP), accounting and human resources (HR) software.
Circula claims 2,000+ business customers. The company has secured US$25 million in venture capital (VC) to date, and recorded a revenue CAGR of 140.48% in the last two years, making it the 20th fastest-growing German startup.
Hawk (+105.74% revenue CAGR)
Founded in Munich in 2018, Hawk uses explainable artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize anti-money laundering (AML) and regulatory compliance for financial institutions. The company’s technology combines AML transaction monitoring, payment screening, know-your-customer (KYC), and fraud detection to provide comprehensive tools that help institutions fight financial crime effectively while saving costs.
Hawk, which works with leading financial institutions and partners such as Moss, Mambu, Visa, and LexisNexis, has raised US$27 million in funding. The company recorded a revenue CAGR of 105.74% in the last two years, making it the 25th fastest-growing German startup.
Bezahl (+102.96% revenue CAGR)
Bezahl is a digital payment management platform for car dealerships. The platform automates, digitizes and simplifies the entire receivables process, from payment request to 100% data quality for automated posting in accounting systems.
Operated by Aufinity Group, a company founded in 2018 and based in Cologne, Bezahl claims it has already won more than 80% of the top 100 German car dealers and is now starting its internationalization in Europe. In the last two years, Bezahl achieved a revenue CAGR of 102.96%, making it the 26th fastest-growing startup in Germany.
Secjur (+84.8% revenue CAGR)
Founded in 2018, Secjur is a Hamburg-based company that provides an automated compliance platform using AI technology. The company’s platform, known as the Digital Compliance Office (DCO), helps businesses streamline compliance processes in areas such as data security, AML and whistleblowing.
Secjur has already gained significant traction with partnerships established with the likes of Mercedes Benz, Samsung and Tomorrow Bank. The startup secured EUR 5.5 million in December 2022. It recorded a revenue CAGR of 84.8 in the last two years, making it the 33rd fastest-growing German startup.
Timeless (+76.27% revenue CAGR)
Timeless is a wealthtech startup specialized in unique collectibles such as art, watches, classic cars, and whiskies. Through its digital platform and the use of blockchain technology, Timeless enables fractional investments starting at just EUR 50, allowing individuals to benefit from the value appreciation of these tangible assets.
Timeless, a brand of New Horizon, a company based in Berlin and founded in 2018, claims it has tokenized over 600 collectibles to date, totaling more than EUR 27 million in value. The company achieved a revenue CAGR of 76.27% in the last two years, making it the 35th fastest-growing startup in Germany.
Spotixx (+73.21% revenue CAGR)
Founded in 2019, Spotixx specializes in AI-driven solutions for financial crime detection. The company’s advanced solutions help banks effectively address the challenges of fraud and money laundering.
With safeAML, a large-scale project developed in collaboration with industry partners, Spotixx connects banking data to create a powerful tool in the fight against financial crime. At the same time, its add-on products AMALIA and FREDDY bring AML- and fraud monitoring into the AI-era, enhancing banks’ existing systems with advanced AI capabilities.
Spotixx achieved a revenue CAGR of 73.21% in the last two years, making it the 38th fastest-growing startup in Germany.
ProNoblis (+66.4% revenue CAGR)
Founded in 2013, ProNoblis is a SME financing company based in Berlin. The company’s core product is a buy now, pay later (BNPL) solution for business-to-business (B2B) clients that helps SMEs financing the purchase of goods.
ProNoblis leverages a strong distribution network, strategic partnerships, and AI-driven technology to deliver scalable, automated financial solutions through its flagship product, CreditEngine. CreditEngine is a digital platform that offers a fully automated credit process with a three-minute decision time, self-service features, and AI-powered rating.
ProNoblis achieved a revenue CAGR of 66.4% in the last two years, making it the 41st fastest-growing startup in Germany.
Prestatech (+41.42% revenue CAGR)
Founded in 2021, Prestatech is a cloud-based platform that provides modern underwriting solutions for lenders and innovative embedded finance products for commercial players. Through its platform, Prestatech offers banks API solutions based on AI, algorithms and big data. The services focus on end-to-end digital credit processes.
Prestatech is currently active with major European players including Fabrick and Banca AideXa. The startup achieved a revenue CAGR of 41.42% in the last two years, making it the 46th fastest-growing startup in Germany.
Pair Finance (+35.32% revenue CAGR)
Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Berlin, Pair Finance s a leading fintech for digital debt collection and receivables management. The company is transforming the debt collection industry with its sustainable, digital, efficient, and customer-centric approach. Using AI, behavioral psychology and data science, Pair Finance is setting a new standard in debt collection that supports businesses and consumers alike.
Pair Finance, which claims more than 500 business customers, achieved a revenue CAGR of 35.32% in the last two years, making it the 49th fastest-growing startup in Germany.
Featured image credit: edited from freepik
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