Deutsche Boerse Venture Network and Minister Matthias Machnig

Deutsche Boerse: Twenty-seven start-ups had registered for the Deutsche Boerse Venture Network at the time of the launch, including online furniture retailer Home 24, online glasses company Mister Spex and chauffeur start-up Blacklane, in which German carmaker Daimler holds a stake, according to Euro News. Deputy Economy Minister Matthias Machnig described the platform as an important instrument and said the aim was to attract at least 100 companies. Concerned that German industry risks falling behind in a digital age, Chancellor Angela Merkel governing coalition is keen to promote start-ups and smooth the path for initial public offerings . At the moment there a big, gaping hole for growth financing, Deutsche Boerse Deputy Chief Executive Andreas Preuss said at the launch of the platform in Berlin on Thursday. To qualify, start-ups need to have proven initial business success and meet certain criteria, such as growth in annual revenue or net profit. The 42 investors currently registered on the platform include Accel Partners, Earlybird and the part state-owned High-Tech Gruenderfonds. The platform is not open to the public, in terms of investors, and targets venture capital and private equity firms. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.