Acadian Ventures, Delin Ventures, and Robin Capital invest in Penzilla’s seed round

Munich, May 5, 2025 – Munich-based HR tech startup Penzilla has raised €3.2 million in its seed round. The company’s vision: to radically simplify the administration of occupational pension schemes (bAV) through software that takes over the entire bAV process for companies.

The round was led by Acadian Ventures and Delin Ventures. Robin Capital also joined, along with existing investors such as Motive Ventures and WENVEST Capital. Additionally, prominent German angel investor Diana zur Löwen participated in the round.

Focused on Growth and Innovation

With this funding, Penzilla plans to accelerate market expansion and strengthen its position as the leading software platform for managing occupational pensions (bAV). “bAV is an underestimated lever in HR strategy – but it’s often trapped in Excel hell,” says co-founder Christoph Leser. “Penzilla is the first operating system that unites all stakeholders – HR, payroll, and pension providers – on a single platform. This helps companies save time and money, reduce risk, and boost employer attractiveness.” Renowned companies such as Lacoste, Notebooksbilliger.de, and ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE already rely on Penzilla’s solutions.

Acadian Ventures agrees. Thomas Otter emphasizes: “We’ve analyzed the occupational pension space deeply and thoroughly. While many players act primarily as online brokers, we see huge untapped potential for technological innovation. Penzilla’s software-first approach truly convinced us. This superior technology enables companies – from large mid-sized businesses to global enterprises – to solve the complex challenges of bAV in a scalable, transparent, and future-proof way. That’s a fundamental difference from existing solutions.”

For Iskender Dirik of Delin Ventures, Penzilla’s purpose is key: “We’re committed to backing startups that move Germany forward. Penzilla is the first investment from our fund – because occupational pensions aren’t a niche topic, they’re about securing the future for millions.”

Strong Track Record as a Foundation for Growth

This successful funding round builds on a series of key milestones:

• Development of a holistic solution that enables companies to manage bAV simply and efficiently;
• Partnerships for automated integration with major HR and payroll systems (e.g. Personio, HiBob, Rexx, DATEV, among others); and
• Distribution partnerships with leading bAV providers such as Allianz, Swiss Life, Canada Life, WWK, and Signal Iduna.

Today, respected companies like Lacoste, Notebooksbilliger.de, and ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE already trust Penzilla’s platform. Across its customer base, Penzilla helps manage the occupational pensions of thousands of employees and retirees – reducing admin costs, minimizing legal risks, and clearly communicating the value of bAV to their workforce.

Looking Ahead

“This funding is a major milestone for Penzilla. It allows us to further develop our product and continue our growth journey with confidence,” says co-founder Catherine Leser. “We’re proud to work with such renowned investors who share our vision – and we’re excited to take the next steps together.”

With this successful seed round, Penzilla positions itself as a central player in a growing market. Through strategic partnerships, innovative approaches, and a strong focus on company needs, Penzilla aims to further expand its leadership in the occupational pensions space.