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DeepL Plans IPO For Late 2025: What’s Next For German Tech Exits?

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

April 4, 2025

Reports from April 2025 reveal that German AI translation startup DeepL, founded in 2017 by Jarek Kutylowski (CEO), is considering an IPO as early as 2025, with a target for 2026. Currently valued at $2 billion and supported by top venture capital firms, DeepL is poised for a significant market entry.

While the IPO timeline remains tentative, sources suggest the company is closely monitoring current market dynamics to determine the optimal timing. This approach reflects a strategic focus on market conditions, with the final decision on timing still pending.

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DeepL’s Fundraising And Financial Performance

DeepL has raised $410 million in venture funding, with the latest $300 million Series B round in May 2024, bringing its valuation to $2 billion post-money. Index Ventures led the round, joined by ICONIQ Growth, Teachers’ Venture Growth, IVP, Atomico, and WiL.

The company achieved unicorn status in January 2023, after securing over $100 million in funding at a $1 billion valuation. By the end of 2024, DeepL’s revenue had surged to $185.2 million, propelled by an expanding customer base and premium offerings. Its year-over-year growth stands at 100%, with profitability on the horizon.

Core Offerings: AI Translation Services And “Clarify” Feature

DeepL offers AI-powered translation services, both free and premium, catering to high-demand B2B clients. The platform supports 32 languages, with recent additions like Arabic, Norwegian, and Korean.

In March 2025, DeepL introduced “Clarify,” a feature that offers multiple contextual interpretations of ambiguous phrases, enhancing its value for enterprise clients dealing with legal or technical documents.

DeepL serves over 100,000 businesses, governments, and organizations globally, including clients like Zendesk, Nikkei, Coursera, and Deutsche Bahn. In response to growing demand in its third-largest market, DeepL opened its first U.S. office in January 2024.

The company’s competitive advantage lies in its neural network architecture, training data, and human editor input. CEO Kutylowski emphasizes the company’s focus: “Translation isn’t Google’s core business—it’s just one of their 100 side projects… Our focus remains on one specific area.”

Germany’s Tech IPO Landscape

Germany’s tech sector attracted over €9.5 billion in 2024, with AI and deep tech leading the way. DeepL and Helsing’s major funding rounds highlight investor confidence in German startups.

Other notable companies, including solar unicorn 1Komma5° and process mining leader Celonis, are preparing for public listings. While 1Komma5° aims to expand its renewable energy platform across Europe by mid-2025, Celonis plans to go public within two years, valued at over $13 billion.

Despite regulatory hurdles and competition from hubs like London and Paris, Germany’s industrial legacy and government support, such as the €12 billion WIN program, provide strong foundations for startup growth and exits.

The Road Ahead For German IPOs

Germany’s IPO market is expected to remain strong in 2025, building on 2024’s four IPOs that raised $2.2 billion. Improving economic conditions and strong investor interest in profitable companies with proven business models, particularly in AI, fintech, and climate tech, suggest a thriving market. Munich is emerging as a key hub for deep tech, particularly aerospace and robotics.

DeepL’s anticipated IPO could inspire more exits in Germany’s startup ecosystem throughout 2025. With robust investment trends and global recognition of German deep tech companies, more startups may pursue public listings or strategic acquisitions this year.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Cyprus Tech Sector Propels Economic Growth and Reshapes Talent Landscape

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

May 17, 2025

Robust Economic Expansion

At the recent TechIsland Summit, Christophoros Anayiotos, Head of Deal Advisory at KPMG Cyprus, delivered a compelling assessment of the island’s burgeoning tech ecosystem. The 2024 report highlights that the technology sector now contributes 16% of Cyprus’ total Gross Value Added (GVA), up from 12.6% in the previous year. Overall, the sector’s economic impact is estimated at €8.5 billion, with direct contributions of €4.7 billion and an additional €3.8 billion generated indirectly.

Sectoral Contributions and Productivity

Using the Leontief Input-Output Model, the study covers key areas including ICT, professional scientific and technical activities, as well as tech-driven financial and insurance services. Notably, the ICT segment itself delivers €3.4 billion in direct GVA, while professional services and financial operations contribute €840 million and €505 million respectively. This horizontal spread of technological influence underscores the industry’s pivotal role in driving multifaceted business growth.

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Resilience During Economic Downturns

Even amid challenging economic conditions, the tech sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience. In the pandemic-stricken year of 2020, while the broader Cypriot economy contracted by 3%, the ICT sector experienced a robust growth rate of 21%. This momentum accelerated further to a striking 38% growth in 2021, reinforcing technology’s role as a stabilizing economic force.

Divergent Trends in Employment

Anayiotos’ analysis reveals that the tech sector now sustains over 62,000 full-time equivalent jobs in Cyprus, with 45,900 direct and 16,300 indirect roles. For every €1 million in increased sector revenue, approximately 13 jobs are generated. Despite the overall employment surge, there has been a significant shift in workforce composition. In 2015, Cypriot nationals comprised 88% of ICT employees; by 2024, this figure dropped to 50%, with non-EU nationals accounting for 42% and other EU citizens 8% of the workforce.

Cyprus as an EU Leader in ICT

Cyprus now holds a prominent place in the EU, ranking second in the EU27 for ICT’s share of national GVA at 11.4%, a notable rise from 9.4% in 2023. Furthermore, the island leads the bloc in ICT GVA growth, posting a remarkable 347% increase between 2015 and 2024. With a top-five ranking in GVA per ICT employee—whereby each contributes approximately €130,000, compared to the EU average of €116,000—the country’s technology workforce has expanded at an annual growth rate of 12.1%, from 9,300 in 2015 to 26,000 in 2024.

Strategic Imperatives for Future Growth

Anayiotos emphasizes the need for strategic enhancements to sustain this expansion. Key recommendations include improving air connectivity, joining the Schengen Area to boost mobility, and attracting more international banking institutions. Additionally, introducing tax incentives designed to favor stock options is considered crucial in luring and retaining skilled talent. Addressing the limited capacity in private education is also vital to accommodating professionals relocating with families.

Investing in Talent and Digital Transformation

Looking forward, investments in education and digital upskilling remain paramount. There is a clear call for a national initiative aimed at promoting STEM careers, elevating the digital skills of both students and educators, and accelerating the digital transformation of public services. Moreover, streamlining legal procedures will be critical to improving the overall business climate and competitiveness.