Detailed Case Studies — Deep-Tech Ventures from Founding to Exit

AixPoint reference projects document end-to-end execution: technology validation, IP strategy, fundraising, GTM, partnership development and exit. Each case below is hands-on work by Dirk Vandenhirtz as founder, board member, advisor or interim executive — not third-party reporting.

Featured engagements

• LemnaTec — Plant phenotyping and TERRA-REF field scanner for the USDA. Contributed to Nyxoah’s €100M+ IPO on Euronext Brussels.
• Zasso / crop.zone — Electroherb electric weed control. Distribution with John Deere, licensing with CNH Industrial, DLG Agrifuture Award 2023.
• ENANTIOS — ETH Zürich spin-off in Raman Optical Activity spectroscopy for pharma quality control. CE-certified hardware platform.
• Zealquest AgiBot — Shanghai-based robotics automating phenotyping in China’s largest rice breeding programs.
• Néboda Farms — Vertical farming with proprietary LED spectrum optimization for arid-region leafy greens. First UAE harvests delivered.
• KuroVia — Pyrolysis-based biochar carbon removal. Carbon credits certified, industrial ceramic pilots in Germany.
• PureSurf — Bio-based surfactants replacing petrochemical ingredients. Validation by BASF and Henkel.
• AckerKapital — Agrivoltaics investment platform across three pilot sites in North Rhine-Westphalia.
• Tielsa — IoT smart kitchen systems with patented sensor integration.

What makes these references useful

Most consulting case studies stop at “we advised X”. AixPoint references include the metrics that matter: round size, valuation movement, IP filed, partnerships signed, and exit multiple where applicable. They are written to help future founders pattern-match against their own situation.

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