Daily Insights into Startups: 468 Capital, 1Komma5 Grad, 3D-Avatare, Solarisbank, Snapchat, Diem, and More.

# Daily Startup News: Investments & Exits – Feb 2, 2022

In today’s daily update, we cover the following news:

– 468 Capital launches second fund
– 1Komma5 Grad acquires Swedish solar equipment supplier
– Solarisbank completes Contis acquisition
– GP Bullhound announces SPAC for tech startups
– WeTransfer cancels IPO plans
– Diem cryptocurrency officially discontinued
– Employees leave Better.com after CEO’s return
– Meta’s 3D avatars now available on Instagram and WhatsApp
– Snapchat hosts virtual concert with Jennifer Lopez
– Artist group aims to implant mice with Bitcoin

In this episode of “Investments & Exits,” we welcome Jasper Masemann, Partner at HV Capital, to discuss a range of topics. We discuss both a large and early-stage investment, both associated with extremely reputable investors.

## News Highlights

### 468 Capital Launches Second Fund

Berlin-based VC firm 468 Capital has announced the closing of its second fund, totaling $400 million. This makes it one of the largest early-stage investors in Germany. The fund will focus on investing in AI and automation, software, marketplaces, and consumer-oriented businesses, both in Germany and globally.

### 1Komma5 Grad Acquires L Solar

1Komma5 Grad, a Hamburg-based start-up building a platform for a carbon-neutral life, has acquired the majority stake of Swedish solar equipment supplier L Solar. The acquisition puts 1Komma5 Grad in a position to surpass the €100 million in monthly revenue mark. This acquisition will intensify competition with SolarNpar, Germany’s first green unicorn, which has a current valuation of over $1 billion.

### Solarisbank Completes Contis Acquisition

The Berlin-based Solarisbank has acquired UK-based fintech firm Contis. The bank aims to provide a complete package of financial solutions for FinTech companies and companies looking to integrate financial solutions. The acquisition is expected to help expand Solarisbank’s geographical coverage and gain additional market share in Europe.

### GP Bullhound Announces SPAC for Tech Startups

GP Bullhound, a London-based investment bank, has announced it will launch its SPAC within two months. The SPAC will focus on acquiring European and Israeli startups in the software, digital media, marketplace, and fintech industries worth between €800 million and €2 billion. The SPAC plans on raising €190 million for this investment.

### WeTransfer Cancels IPO Plans

WeTransfer, which has been dubbed the European Dropbox, has decided not to go public for the time being due to unfavorable market conditions. However, WeTransfer remains committed to serving its community of 87 million monthly active users.

### Diem Cryptocurrency Officially Discontinued

The Diem cryptocurrency project, initiated by Facebook, has officially been discontinued. The organization behind the project announced that it has sold its assets to Seragate, a bank specializing in digital currencies, for $200 million. The decision was made after it became clear that the Diem project could not proceed following discussions with government agencies.

For more on these topics and news from the startup world, watch the full video on [Startup Insider’s YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxxxx).

Heute u.a. mit folgenden Nachrichten:

– 468 Capital legt zweiten Fonds auf
– 1Komma5 Grad übernimmt schwedischen Solarausrüster
– Solarisbank schließt Contis-Übernahme ab
– GP Bullhound kündigt Spac für Tech-Startups an
– WeTransfer sagt IPO ab
– Kryptowährung Diem offiziell beerdigt
– Mitarbeiter verlassen better.com nach CEO-Rückkehr
– Metas 3D-Avatare ab sofort auf Instagram und Whatsapp verfügbar
– Snapchat veranstaltet virtuelles Konzert mit Jennifer Lopez
– Künstlergruppe will Mäusen Bitcoin einpflanzen

Heute begrüßen wir im Rahmen der Reihe “Investments & Exits” Jasper Masemann, Partner bei HV Capital.