N26 vs Provinzial

N26 Appoints Former Postbank CFO Marc Heß as New CFO

N26, the Berlin-based digital bank, has appointed Marc Heß as its new Chief Financial Officer. Heß, a former CFO of Postbank and Aareal Bank, will assume the role this week, pending regulatory approval. His appointment completes the executive board, according to supervisory board chairman Andreas Dombret. Heß brings extensive financial expertise and regulatory knowledge. The move is part of a broader management overhaul led by CEO Mike Dargan, who joined in April, focusing on traditional banking leadership. N26 reported its first annual profit in 2025, with a net income of €1.6 million, despite regulatory challenges with BaFin. Heß will succeed Arnd Schwierholz, who left in late August.

• N26 appoints Marc Heß as new CFO, effective this week.
• Heß previously served as CFO of Postbank and Aareal Bank.
• This completes N26's executive board.

Finmid Raises €17M, Partners with Bolt

Berlin-based fintech Finmid, founded in 2021 by former N26 executives Max Schertel and Alexander Talkanitsa, has raised a €17 million Series A extension round led by Big Pi Ventures and Mainset, with participation from Earlybird. The company provides white-label embedded lending services to platforms. Finmid also announced a multi-year vehicle financing deal with Estonian ride-hailing firm Bolt, offering up to €400,000 per fleet operator over four years, and a merchant lending agreement with Greek marketplace Skroutz. The new funds will support expansion into asset finance, infrastructure, underwriting, and further growth in mobility and e-commerce sectors. With this round, Finmid's total funding stands at €52 million.

• Finmid raised €17 million in a Series A extension round led by Big Pi Ventures and Mainset, with participation from Earlybird.
• The company was founded by former N26 employees Max Schertel and Alexander Talkanitsa.
• Finmid signed a multi-year vehicle financing deal with Bolt, providing up to €400,000 per fleet operator over four years.

Germany Sees Record Unicorns, but IPOs Head to US

According to the 'Deutsche Startup Monitor' report, Germany has produced ten new unicorns (startups valued at over €1 billion) by end of September 2026, the highest number since 2021, bringing the total to a record 39. The surge is driven by investments in AI and defense startups. Venture capital inflows reached €8 billion in 2026, exceeding the previous year's total. However, 62% of startups prefer a US IPO over Germany (27%), and 64% rely predominantly on US technology providers due to lack of European alternatives. The report highlights a concentration of capital at the top, with financing rounds down 25% from 2021 levels. Founders call for more European venture capital and simplified EU incorporation (EU Inc.).

• Germany produced 10 new unicorns (startups valued over €1B) by end of September 2026, a record total of 39.
• Venture capital inflows to German startups reached €8 billion in 2026, surpassing the €7.5 billion of the previous year.
• 62% of startups prefer a US IPO, while only 27% prefer Germany.

Max Merschformann gewinnt den Preis der Provinzial Versicherung beim Al Shira’aa Turnier der Sieger in Münster

Bereits seit über 25 Jahren fördert die Provinzial Versicherung mit dem Junioren Förderpreis den Reitsportnachwuchs. Bei insgesamt vier Qualifikationsturnieren traten die talentiertesten Junioren und Juniorinnen gegeneinander an, um sich einen Platz für das Finale zu sichern. Nun fand dies im Rahmen des Al Shira’aa Turnier der Sieger in Münster statt. In diesem Jahr entschied Max Merschformann mit Igne de Felines das Finale auf dem Schlossplatz für sich.