Rocket Internet: So viel nahm der Samwer-SPAC beim Börsengang in New York ein
Die Aktie von Oliver Samwers leerer Börsenhülle "Rocket Internet Growth Opportunies" ist mit Kursverlusten in ihren ersten Handelstag an der Wall Street gestartet.
Rocket Internet hat mit seinem SPAC-Börsengang an der Wall Street 250 Mio. Dollar eingenommen. Das Unternehmen von Oliver Samwer brachte die Gesellschaft “Rocket Internet Growth Opportunies” am Dienstag erfolgreich an die New Yorker Börse. Es wurden 25 Millionen Aktien zu je 10 Dollar verkauft.
In den Handel startete die Aktie am Dienstagnachmittag dann aber mit Kursverlusten. Am Abend stand sie zuletzt bei 9,93 Dollar und lag damit gegenüber dem Ausgabepreis 0,70 Prozent im Minus.
Bei dem Unternehmen handelt es sich um eine Special Purpose Acquisition Company, eine sogenannte leere Börsenhülle. So wird eine Gesellschaft ohne operatives Geschäft bezeichnet, deren einziger Zweck es ist, mit einem anderen Unternehmen zu fusionieren und dieses damit an die Börse zu bringen. Auf diesem Weg ging im Vorjahr etwa der umstrittene Tesla-Konkurrent Nikola an die Nasdaq oder Anfang März die Satellitenfirma Spire Global des österreichischen Cofounders Peter Platzer an die New York Stock Exchange.
SPACs-Boom hält an
In den USA ist im Vorjahr ein regelrechter SPACs-Boom losgebrochen, der sich im neuen Jahr noch intensivierte – und sich langsam auch auf Europa ausweitete. In Deutschland brachte im Februar der Investor Klaus Hommels die „Lakestar SPAC 1“ erfolgreich an die Frankfurter Börse und sammelte dabei 275 Mio. Euro ein. Es war der erste SPAC-Börsengang in Deutschland seit mehr als zehn Jahren.
Zwei Jahre Zeit für Suche nach fusionswilligem Unternehmen
Schon damals war es ein offenes Geheimnis, dass auch Samwer einen SPAC-Börsengang plant. Der Rocket-Internet-Gründer wählte dafür aber die New Yorker Börse als Handelsplatz. Nun hat er zwei Jahre Zeit, ein passendes und vor allem auch fusionswilliges Unternehmen zu finden.
Samwer fungiert in der Gesellschaft als Vorsitzender des Verwaltungsrats. Zumindest formal ist die operative Leitung bei Soheil Mirpour als CEO. Mirpour ist seit dem Vorjahr neben Samwer selbst der zweite Mann im Vorstand von Rocket Internet. Seit 2017 leitete er im Samwer-Imperium den Bereich Global Founders Capital.
Die Börsennotierung von Rocket Internet stellte Samwer im Vorjahr ein. Dies brachte ihm viel Kritik ein, da das Rückkaufsangebot an die Aktionäre zum Delisting nur bei 18,57 Euro lag. Ausgegeben worden war die Aktie dagegen im Jahr 2014 zu einem Preis vom 42,50 Euro.
aws First Incubator: Austria as a Launchpad for International Startup Teams
Austria is becoming a hub for international startup teams. The aws First Incubator, starting again in spring 2025 with a special focus call for international founders, offers financial support, mentoring, and networking to help them succeed — as proven by success stories like the Styrian startup Redeem Solar Technologies.
aws First Incubator: Austria as a Launchpad for International Startup Teams
Austria is becoming a hub for international startup teams. The aws First Incubator, starting again in spring 2025 with a special focus call for international founders, offers financial support, mentoring, and networking to help them succeed — as proven by success stories like the Styrian startup Redeem Solar Technologies.
The team around Redeem Solar Technologies Co-Founder Florian Ehrlich-Sommer benefited from the aws First International Incubator
Austria is increasingly positioning itself as an international hub for innovative entrepreneurs. A significant contributor to this development is the aws First Incubator, which will kick off a new round with a special focus call for international founders in spring 2025. This program, run by the Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws), is designed for startup founders and founding teams, and students who want to establish a startup in Austria or have recently done so.
The aws First Incubator offers a combination of financial support, targeted mentoring, and a dynamic network – a package that helps international founders integrate into Austria’s vibrant startup ecosystem.
Financial Support for Early-Stage Startups
Financial barriers are among the biggest challenges for early-stage founders. The aws First Incubator addresses this by providing monthly personnel cost subsidies and grants for project, rental, and travel expenses. This financial support allows founders to focus fully on developing their business ideas.
However, the program goes beyond financial aid. It offers a comprehensive package of workshops, project-specific mentoring, and specialized coaching sessions. These resources ensure that startups receive not only financial support but also strategic and operational guidance.
Knowledge Transfer Through Practical Workshops
The program’s workshops deliver targeted knowledge on topics critical to startups, such as business model development, marketing strategies, patent law, and funding planning. The practical approach ensures that the content is directly tailored to the needs of the founders.
A key highlight of the program is the direct access to experts and mentors who share their years of experience in the startup and business world. This individualized support helps participants overcome specific challenges and refine their business ideas.
Success Story: Redeem Solar Technologies
An example of the program’s success is the startup Redeem Solar Technologies. Founded by Florian Ehrlich-Sommer (COO) and his international team, the company develops photocatalytic reactors for sustainable hydrogen production. Ehrlich-Sommer explains how the program helped his team sharpen their vision and gain new perspectives: “Interacting with founders from different industries and countries gave us fresh perspectives and helped refine our business model. As engineers, we tend to communicate in technical language. Through the program, we learned to present our idea clearly and understandably.”
The international team of Redeem Solar Technologies | (c) Redeem Solar Technologies
Redeem Solar Technologies uses light energy to enable chemical reactions, in order to produce hydrogen in an environmentally friendly way. The startup’s solutions are particularly relevant to the pharmaceutical and fine chemicals industries. Through the aws program, the team not only secured financial support but also made valuable connections in the Austrian startup scene.
Interdisciplinary and International Exchange
One of the most significant benefits of the aws First Incubator’s special international call is the interdisciplinary and international exchange. The participating teams come from various industries – from software startups to sustainability technologies and innovative food products. This diversity allows founders to gain insights beyond their own fields and learn from each other.
Ehrlich-Sommer highlights this exchange as a critical factor: “It was fascinating to talk to founders developing completely different solutions. This helped us question and improve our own approaches.”
Program Structure
The program lasts up to 12 months and includes regular workshops and coaching sessions. Participants meet in Vienna to attend these sessions and learn from experts. Teams rooted outside the city will need to commute to attend the program. This, however, is far worth the effort, as co-founder Ehrlich-Sommer emphasizes: “Being in Vienna helped us get to know the local startup scene and establish valuable connections.”
An essential part of the program is the intensive selection process. During this phase, founders work with mentors and experts to refine their ideas and prepare for the program. This preparation is crucial for consecutive success.
Austria as a Startup Hub for International Founders
The aws First Incubator plays a significant role in positioning Austria as an attractive destination for international founders. The combination of financial support, targeted knowledge transfer, and a dynamic network creates optimal conditions for innovative business ideas.
The program not only supports the individual development of participating startups but also strengthens Austria’s startup ecosystem as a whole. International founders bring new impulses, ideas, and perspectives to Austria, helping to enhance the country’s innovation potential.
Applications for 2025
The next round of the aws First Incubator’s international call starts in spring 2025. Founders with an international team who want to establish their startup in Austria or have recently done so should not miss this opportunity. Applications will soon be open – a chance that could be a crucial step for a startup’s future.
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