Over 25 Significant Exits That Shaped the German Startup Scene
The German startup ecosystem experienced remarkable exits in 2025. Major transactions included the billion-dollar acquisition of Hornetsecurity by Proofpoint, Cognigy's sale to NiCE for $955 million, and sevdesk's acquisition by Cegid.
The German startup ecosystem witnessed numerous significant exits and acquisitions throughout 2025. Hornetsecurity, a Hannover-based cybersecurity company, was acquired by American security provider Proofpoint for over $1 billion. Cognigy, a Düsseldorf-based AI startup, was purchased by NiCE for $955 million.
sevdesk, an accounting software company, was acquired by Paris-based Cegid for a mid-triple-digit million euro amount. IDnow received investment from Corsair Capital at a $300 million valuation. Contentserv was bought by Centric Software for €220 million.
Other notable acquisitions included FreeNow's sale to Lyft, Komoot's acquisition by Bending Spoons, and Urban Sports Club's purchase by Wellhub. These exits demonstrate the strength of German innovation in AI, cybersecurity, and digital transformation sectors.
This article has been summarized and translated using AI to help you practice reading and comprehension. While we strive for accuracy, some nuances may be lost in translation.