The Germany Fund
'The future is unmanned'
The new ‘Scale-up Direct’ programme, operating as part of Germany Fund ('Deutschlandfonds'), paves the way for the first time for the KfW Group to make co-investments in innovative growth companies. Quantum Systems, a Munich-based company that has been developing unmanned aerial systems for over a decade, was the first scale-up to benefit from this in a funding round at the end of 2025.
Dual-use aviation systems
Quantum Systems
From a relatively insignificant start-up to an internationally operating unicorn in the space of just ten years.
Just outside Munich, on the A96 motorway between the Bavarian capital and Lake Ammersee, lies the tranquil town of Gilching. Here, in just a few years, an insignificant start-up with just seven employees at the outset has developed into Europe’s leading manufacturer of unmanned aerial systems for both civil and military applications (dual-use).
In the entrance hall, the company’s motto ('The Future is Unmanned'), displayed in large English letters, reflects its business model and objectives. Quantum Systems is highly successful in producing unmanned aerial systems that can be used for both civilian and military purposes. The company has also specialised in aerial imagery analysis. Its proprietary platforms and software are now used in the military sector by NATO forces and in Ukraine. With over 1,000 employees worldwide, Quantum Systems continues to grow strongly in the fields of hardware, software and artificial intelligence.
'The Germany Fund - Quantum Systems' (2:10 min.) - in German with English subtitels
(Source: KfW / Detlev Karres / Thomas Schuch)
Companies on a growth trajectory
Manufactory
At the production facility, the drone’s individual components are assembled by Quantum staff.
It was only at the beginning of July 2026 that the next German ‘unicorn’ more than doubled its previous valuation to around 8 billion euros and has just completed Europe’s largest dual-use funding round, raising 1.2 billion euros.
Quantum Systems combines innovative hardware and AI software to automate missions and provide easy access to aerial intelligence via automated drone networks.
Aviation expert with many years’ experience in the German Armed Forces
Inner workings
Das Gehirn der Drohne:. Es steuert die Motoren, stabilisiert die Drohne und verarbeitet Sensordaten.
Florian Seibel, a graduate in aerospace engineering and former army aviator, has, together with his co-CEO Sven Kruck, developed Quantum Systems into a scale-up specialising in so-called UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems), i.e. unmanned aerial vehicles, particularly drones. These are aircraft that fly without a crew on board, either by remote control, semi-autonomously or fully autonomously.
Florian Seibel
Before Florian Seibel set up his own business as the founder and later co-CEO of Quantum Systems, he worked, amongst other things, as a helicopter pilot in the German Armed Forces from 1999 to 2015 and completed a degree in aerospace engineering at the University of the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) in Munich.
For CEO Seibel, the new KfW financial instrument ‘Scale-up Direct’ in particular has laid the foundations for his company’s next phase of growth:
“As part of the Germany Fund, KfW has now invested in Quantum via ‘Scale-up Direct’. This is interesting and important for Germany and for us in two respects. Firstly, it shows that the state is prepared to invest in dual-use technologies. Until now, this was either impossible or difficult. There has been a shift here, partly due to the current political situation in Europe and globally. And secondly, it means that sums of money are now being made available that were previously out of reach, enabling us to simply move into the scaling-up phase.”
From drone manufacturer to integrated systems provider
Development at Quantum Systems has been exceptionally rapid, particularly in recent months. With its MOSAIC UxS software platform, the company has created an operating system that enables unmanned air, land and sea systems to be controlled jointly with comprehensive AI support.
As a result, the Munich-based scale-up has, within a short space of time, successfully evolved from a previously highly specialised drone manufacturer into a leading platform provider for unmanned systems in this segment.
The Germany Fund
The Germany Fund
The Germany Fund has created a framework that makes it easier for private and local authority-owned companies to invest on a large scale in Germany.
To the Germany FundThe Germany Fund ('Deutschlandfonds'), launched at the end of December 2025, makes it easier for private and local authority-owned companies to make major investments in Germany. To this end, the Federal Government is providing around 30 billion euros in funding and guarantees – thereby leveraging total investments of around 130 billion euros.
KfW coordinates the Germany Fund and advises national and international investors. The focus is on industry, small and medium-sized enterprises, energy infrastructure companies and venture capital financing – for example, for new technologies, renewable energies, raw materials, deep tech, artificial intelligence, biotech and strengthening defence capabilities.
‘The Germany Fund – Explanatory video’ (1:30 mins)
(Source: KfW / Thomas Schuch)
Co-Investment
KfW Capital and the venture capital fund HV Capital have jointly made their first direct investment in a growth company as part of the Germany Fund. The Germany Fund supports the German economy by channelling private capital into various sectors such as industry, small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups. The new ‘Scale-up Direct’ programme, which invests directly in innovative companies, has been in place since December 2025. Quantum Systems was the first growth company to benefit from KfW’s direct investment via the Deutschlandfonds during its latest funding round.
With its innovative, artificial intelligence-controlled electric drones, Quantum Systems perfectly matched the profile sought by Jörg Goschin, Managing Director of KfW Capital: a fast-growing company operating in a technology sector that is particularly important and forward-looking for Germany, and which impresses with its high level of innovation.
Dr Jörg Goschin
Managing Director of KfW Capital
'With the launch of the Scale-Up Direct programme as part of the Germany Fund, KfW Capital now has the opportunity, for the first time, to invest directly in start-ups in collaboration with private fund managers from its portfolio. The programme is designed to provide targeted support to innovative technology companies that have the potential to achieve significant growth, both economically and technologically, thereby strengthening the competitiveness of Germany and Europe in the long term. A total of one billion euros is available for this purpose until 2030.'
Venture Tech Growth Financing
Venture Tech Growth Financing (VTGF)
Through its ‘Venture Tech Growth Financing’ programme, KfW supports young, innovative technology companies based in Germany that are in their growth phase.
To the VTGF programmeFurthermore, Quantum Systems has also been supported by the KfW Venture Tech Growth Financing programme since February 2026. The programme is aimed at young, innovative and fast-growing technology companies, providing loans ( venture debt) to finance future growth. As part of the German government’s 'Zukunftsfonds' (Future Fund), the programme primarily improves financing conditions during the capital-intensive scaling phase of start-ups.
For KfW Executive Board member Melanie Kehr, this commitment is a key building block for Europe’s sovereignty and its ability to act independently in a changing security environment:
Melanie Kehr
is the KfW Executive Board member responsible, among other areas, for domestic development financeand for export and project finance at KfW IPEX-Bank.
'Through its ‘Venture Tech Growth Financing’ programme, KfW is supporting Quantum Systems’ continued growth in Europe. By providing targeted growth capital – including equity via KfW Capital and debt financing – we are strengthening Europe’s technological resilience and contributing to security-related capabilities that are developed, financed and established in Europe.'
Strengthening Germany as a centre for business and innovation.
Through new financial instruments, the Germany Fund and KfW are supporting venture capital financing for promising scale-ups, thereby strengthening Germany’s position as a centre for business and innovation in the long term.
Published on KfW Stories on 30 September 2026.
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