NRW.BANK is the state development bank of North Rhine-Westphalia. Its mission is to support its owner – the state of North Rhine-Westphalia – in the completion of its structural and economic policy tasks. For this purpose NRW.BANK uses a wide range of promotion tools – from lowinterest promotion loans to equity financing to advisory services. It cooperates with all banks and savings banks based in NRW on a competition neutral basis. The clients of NRW.BANK benefit from favorable conditions as well as from long maturities and fixed interest periods. Regional seed funds and the “NRW.BANK.Venture Fund” support early-stage financing in NRW. Young high-tech companies are promoted with up to five million euros. In addition to that the NRW.BANK provides contacts to private investors within the “win Business Angels initiative”. Furthermore there is the “NRW.BANK.Venture Center”, a unit specialized in advising technology-oriented founders in universities and research institutions.

As the central point of contact and service for the economy, the EWG - Essen Economic Development Agency promotes entrepreneurial commitment in Essen. With our range of services, we help to secure and create jobs in Essen and to constantly improve the framework conditions for the commercial success of Essen's economy. Whether for investment or expansion projects at the location, official approval procedures, questions about public subsidy programs, the establishment of international cooperation or when looking for real estate and land - we advise and support you with your projects - competently, confidentially and quickly. Numerous partners from business, associations and institutions, politics and administration are at our side. Together we form a strong network for your entrepreneurial success.

Bryan, Garnier & Co is a European, full service growth-focused independent investment banking partnership founded in 1996. The firm provides equity research, sales and trading, private and public capital raising as well as M&A services to growth companies and their investors. It focuses on key growth sectors of the economy including Technology, Media & Telecoms, Healthcare, Smart Industries & Energy, Consumer, Brands & Retail and Business Services. Bryan, Garnier & Co is a fully registered broker dealer authorised and regulated by the FCA in Europe and the FINRA in the U.S. Bryan, Garnier & Co is headquartered in London, with additional offices in Paris, Munich and New York. The firm is a member of the London Stock Exchange and Euronext.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, focus on key issues that define the future: we are pushing ahead with the digital transformation of state government services and support businesses on their path into the digital age. When it comes to the energy transition, we are banking on innovation and technological advances in the pursuit of our aim to turn North Rhine-Westphalia into Europe’s most modern, climate-friendly and environmentally sustainable centre of industry. North Rhine-Westphalia is Germany's most populous state and also the most densely populated region. In 2021 the state in west Germany generated 21 percent of the national GDP, topping all other states. The economy of North Rhine-Westphalia is extremelly well connected internationally with a global focus.

Evonik stands for attractive business and innovative prowess. Our corporate culture is geared toward results, profitable growth, and increasing the value of the company. Operating in over 100 countries, we benefit from close customer relationships and leading market positions. Over 32,000 employees are united by the understanding that no product is so perfect that you can't make it better.

The RAG-Stiftung is a private foundation that was established in 2007. At the beginning of 2019, the RAG-Stiftung took over the responsibility for financing the perpetual obligations of the German hard coal mining industry in the Ruhr and Saar regions and in Ibbenbüren. In addition, the RAG-Stiftung supports numerous projects in the areas of education, science and culture in order to promote progress in the former mining regions. Further information on the RAG-Stiftung is available at: www.rag-stiftung.de

Silverpeak provides independent advice on M&A and financing transactions to outstanding growth technology companies. Our team has 150 years combined experience and over 200 completed deals in technology investment banking with deep domain expertise in Enterprise Software & SaaS, FinTech, Enabling Technologies, Business Services, Internet & Digital Media, Healthtech and Mobility. Our network of relationships and reach is truly global, serving clients across Europe and beyond: the vast majority of our deals involve counterparties from the US, Europe and Asia. In addition to our multi-national team, Silverpeak is a member of Globalscope, the international M&A advisor network, with people on the ground in over 45 countries across every continent.

Since 1981, we have built an expertise in product design applied across a broad portfolio of interface devices that are the “last inch” between you and your computer or your console game, digital music or home-entertainment system. With products sold in almost every country in the world, Logitech’s leadership in innovation now encompasses a wide variety of personal peripherals (both cordless and corded), with special emphasis on products for PC navigation, gaming, Internet communications, digital music and home-entertainment control. For each of our product categories, we study how our customers use their digital devices, and then our designers and engineers set their sights on how we can create a better experience with those devices – richer, more comfortable, more fun, more productive, more convenient, more delightful.

Zaz Ventures helps high-impact deeptech startups raise EU and Swiss funding. With their pure success fee model, they have established themselves as leaders for the most competitive funding instruments—with over €1bn funding raised for 140+ startups since 2021 and consistently market-leading success rates. Their focus is on the EIC Accelerator & Transition, the Innovation Fund and the Swiss Accelerator & Startup Innovation Projects.