Aleph Alpha vs Helsing

Aleph Alpha veröffentlicht Kolibri

Aleph Alpha hat Kolibri, ein neues souveränes Open-Weight-Modell, veröffentlicht und präsentiert es auf der SCCON in Berlin. Zudem wurde ein CEO-Wechsel angekündigt: Reto Spörri verlässt das Unternehmen, Ilhan Scheer bleibt CEO.

Aleph Alpha's Kolibri Lags Behind Open-Weight Leaders

Aleph Alpha has released Kolibri, a new open-source German-English AI model under the Apache-2.0 license, designed for mission-critical applications in public administration and industry. Kolibri features a Mixture-of-Experts architecture with 78 billion total parameters and about 3.46 billion active per token. Trained on 20 trillion tokens, with 23% in German and a German-optimized tokenizer, it supports context lengths up to one million tokens. The model excels in agentic workflows, RAG, and native tool calling, while emphasizing data sovereignty and compliance, including a blocklist of 4.5 million URLs and GDPR/EU AI Act adherence. Independent benchmarks, however, place it behind at least 20 other open-weight models. Aleph Alpha is merging with Cohere to form a transatlantic sovereign AI company, subject to regulatory approval. In a broader economic debate, Reid Hoffman argues AI infrastructure expansion is the 'only reason' the US avoids recession, though economists dispute this.

• Aleph Alpha released Kolibri under Apache-2.0, with 78B total parameters and ~3.46B active per token.
• Kolibri trained on 20T tokens, with 23% German data and a German-optimized tokenizer, supporting 1M context.
• Independent benchmarks rank Kolibri behind at least 20 other open-weight models.

Cohere and Aleph Alpha Sign Merger Deal, New Leadership

Cohere and Aleph Alpha have signed a binding merger agreement on September 16, 2026, creating a combined entity valued at approximately $20 billion, subject to regulatory approval and expected to close later this year. The combined company will operate under the Cohere name, with dual headquarters in Toronto and Berlin, while Heidelberg remains a research hub. Upon completion, the team will exceed 1,000 employees. Schwarz Group, parent of Lidl and Kaufland, invests €500 million in structured financing and provides sovereign cloud infrastructure via STACKIT, deepening the partnership with Schwarz Digits. Key executive appointments include Aleph Alpha's Ilhan Scheer as COO and Samuel Weinbach as Chief Research Officer. The merger aims to position Cohere as a leading transatlantic provider of secure, controllable sovereign AI for governments and regulated industries. Cohere reported annual revenue of $240 million, while Aleph Alpha earned less than €1 million in 2023.

• Merger agreement signed on September 16, 2026, valued at approximately $20 billion, subject to regulatory approval and expected to close later that year.
• Combined company operates as Cohere with dual headquarters in Toronto and Berlin; Heidelberg remains a research hub; team to exceed 1,000 employees.
• Ilhan Scheer (formerly Co-CEO of Aleph Alpha) becomes COO, and Samuel Weinbach becomes Chief Research Officer of Cohere.

LinkedIn Top Startups 2026: Germany's 20 Fast-Growing Companies

LinkedIn's annual 'Top Startups 2026' ranking for Germany highlights 20 fast-growing young companies, with Berlin-based Langdock taking the top spot. The list reflects major trends: AI is a foundational technology across sectors, and defense tech has become a significant growth area, with Helsing, Stark, and Swarm Biotactics in the top ten. Other notable startups include Peec AI (AI search visibility), energy/climate companies like 1KOMMA5°, and deep tech firms such as The Exploration Company and QuantumDiamonds. The ranking is based on employment growth, member interest, job posting engagement, and talent attraction from top companies, with at least 10% headcount growth required. 17 of 20 startups are based in Berlin or Munich, highlighting these as key innovation hubs. LinkedIn editor Matthias Bergleiter sees the list as a signal of Germany's urgency to develop key technologies and attract top talent to remain globally competitive.

• Langdock, a Berlin-based AI software startup, tops LinkedIn's 'Top Startups 2026' ranking.
• Defense tech companies Helsing, Stark, and Swarm Biotactics rank in the top ten of the list.
• 12 of the 20 ranked startups are based in Berlin and its surroundings, while 5 are from Munich.

LinkedIn Top Startups 2026: AI and DefenseTech Lead

LinkedIn's 'Top Startups 2026' ranking for Germany highlights 20 fast-growing young companies, with AI and defense technology (DefenseTech) as dominant themes. Berlin-based Langdock, which develops software for integrating AI into corporate workflows, takes the top spot. Munich's Helsing, a developer of AI-powered defense systems, ranks second, followed by Berlin drone specialist Stark, backed by Peter Thiel. The ranking reflects Germany's 'Zeitenwende' in security policy, with three defense tech companies in the top ten, including Swarm Biotactics. The list also features AI applications across sectors, energy transition companies like 1KOMMA5° and Cloover, and deep tech from Munich such as The Exploration Company and QuantumDiamonds. LinkedIn's methodology focuses on employment growth, engagement, and talent attraction, not revenue or valuation. The ranking underscores the shift of entrepreneurial energy into AI and defense, positioning Berlin and Munich as key hubs.

• LinkedIn released its 'Top Startups 2026' ranking for Germany, featuring 20 startups.
• Langdock, a Berlin-based AI integration software startup, ranked number one.
• Helsing, a Munich-based AI defense systems company, ranked second.

LinkedIn Top Startups 2026: AI and Defense Lead

LinkedIn's 'Top Startups 2026' ranking for Germany highlights the rise of AI and defense technology. Berlin's Langdock, which helps companies integrate AI into workflows, tops the list. Munich's Helsing, an AI-powered defense company, is second, and Berlin drone maker Stark is third. The ranking shows a shift toward deep tech and security, reflecting Germany's 'Zeitenwende' after the Ukraine war. Other notable startups include Peec AI, which measures brand visibility in AI search, and several energy and climate tech companies. Berlin and Munich dominate, with 17 of the 20 startups based there. LinkedIn's methodology focuses on employment growth, employee interest, and talent attraction, not revenue or valuation. The list is seen as a barometer of where talent and entrepreneurial energy are flowing in Germany.

• LinkedIn ranking 'Top Startups 2026' for Germany: Langdock (Berlin) #1, Helsing (Munich) #2, Stark (Berlin) #3.
• Ranking period: July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.
• 13 of 20 startups are new to the list compared to previous year.