Furo founders return to Germany, secure $4M from U.S. VCs
Original: Furo’s founders left Silicon Valley — and it’s paying off
Why This Matters
Furo's model illustrates a growing trend of Europe-based startups successfully raising U.S. venture capital without relocating.
German startup Furo, which develops software for industrial battery storage systems, raised $4M led by TQ Ventures with participation from Neo and Sandberg Bernthal Venture Partners. Founded by three 28-year-olds who left Silicon Valley to return to Munich, the company landed Deutsche Bahn as an enterprise client within its first year.
Furo co-founders Lena Sophia Voß, Leonie Wagner, and Simon Wittner — all alumni of TU Munich's CDTM program who previously studied at Stanford and UC Berkeley — chose to leave Silicon Valley and relocate to Munich to build their energy software startup. The company develops software for industrial battery storage systems, targeting large enterprises looking to reduce electricity costs. Germany's recurring energy crises over the past five years made Europe a more pressing market than the U.S., according to Voß. The founders, who previously held roles at Apple, Google X, and AI startups, each had full-time offers with visa sponsorship but deliberately chose to return. The $4M round was led by U.S.-based TQ Ventures with Neo, Sandberg Bernthal Venture Partners, and Munich's CDTM also participating. Furo is incorporated as a Delaware C Corp. The move aligns with a recent observation by a16z that startups now benefit from maintaining a presence in both their home country and Silicon Valley. Voß credited the Munich network with enabling faster customer introductions and operational mentorship, noting: 'We're currently moving faster in Europe than if we'd have stayed in the U.S.'