Germany boasts one of Europe’s leading startup ecosystems, with Berlin being a major hub for innovation. As of 2023, Germany is home to approximately 20,000 startups. The country benefits from strong government support, excellent infrastructure, and a robust industrial base. In 2022, German startups raised around €12 billion in venture capital funding. These factors collectively highlight Germany's dynamic and rapidly evolving startup landscape.
As of 2023, Germany's startup ecosystem encompasses around 20,000 startups. In 2022, these startups attracted approximately €12 billion in venture capital funding. This substantial investment underscores the ecosystem's growth potential and robust nature. The market's size and financial backing reflect its capacity to foster innovation and sustain a competitive edge within Europe and beyond.
Germany's startup ecosystem is characterized by several key strengths, including a strong engineering tradition, high-quality research institutions, and a central location in Europe. The country excels in sectors such as automotive tech, industrial manufacturing, and cleantech. These strengths are bolstered by Germany's robust industrial base and government support, positioning it as a leader in the European startup scene.
Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg are the primary hubs of Germany’s startup ecosystem. Berlin is renowned for its vibrant tech scene, attracting entrepreneurs from around the world. Munich is a key center for deep tech and industrial startups, benefiting from its proximity to major corporations and research institutions. Hamburg excels in logistics and e-commerce, leveraging its strategic location and strong infrastructure. These cities collectively drive Germany's innovation and economic growth.
In addition to the major cities, emerging hubs like Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Cologne are gaining prominence in Germany’s startup ecosystem. Frankfurt is known for its fintech and financial services, Stuttgart for automotive technology and manufacturing, and Cologne for media and entertainment. These emerging hubs are expanding the reach and diversity of Germany’s entrepreneurial landscape, offering new opportunities for innovation and growth.
Germany’s startup ecosystem benefits from a strong network of incubators, accelerators, and co-working spaces that provide essential support and resources for entrepreneurs. Programs like the German Accelerator and the High-Tech Gründerfonds have been instrumental in supporting early-stage startups by providing funding, mentorship, and resources. This supportive infrastructure is crucial for nurturing startups and fostering a collaborative entrepreneurial environment.
Despite its strengths, the German startup ecosystem faces challenges such as bureaucratic hurdles and a relatively risk-averse investment culture. Navigating regulatory frameworks can be time-consuming and complex for startups. Additionally, attracting venture capital can be more difficult compared to more risk-tolerant markets. Addressing these challenges requires strategic efforts and supportive policies to sustain growth and competitiveness.
Germany has significant opportunities for growth in sectors like automotive tech, industrial manufacturing, and cleantech. The country's strong focus on sustainability and green technology drives innovation in renewable energy and environmental technologies. Germany's strategic location in the heart of Europe provides startups with access to a large market and numerous opportunities for international expansion. With continued investment and innovation, Germany's startup ecosystem is poised for further growth, contributing significantly to the global innovation landscape.
Germany's startup ecosystem demonstrates remarkable resilience and adaptability. The country's commitment to innovation, coupled with strong government and institutional support, enables startups to navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities. The diverse talent pool and high-quality research institutions attract entrepreneurs and investors alike, ensuring sustained growth and success in the face of global economic shifts and market dynamics.
Palo Alto - California, U.S.A. - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • BioTech • A.I. (& Big Data) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Autonomous vehicles (& Cars) • Cloud Services (& Infrastructure) • Developer tools • Consumer
Most Interested In
API E-Commerce Education Enterprise Fintech Food and Beverage Future of Work Gaming Government Technology Hardware Health and Wellness Healthcare/Medtech Industrial Internet and Mobile IoT Life Sciences Productivity Proptech/Real Estate Robotics SaaS Social Supply Chain/Logistics Transportation Travel/Hospitality
Tel Aviv - London, U.K. - Israel - Germany - France
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • PropTech • FinTech (& Financials services) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Real Estate (& Construction) • Healthcare (& Wellness) • Consumer
Most Interested In
Marketplaces, digital health, fintech
Not Interested In
Ecommerce, hardware, biotech
Toby Coppel is a Co-Founder and serves as Partner at Mosaic Ventures. He also serves Board Member at Habito. He has a strong track record of principal investing in growth companies and strong operational experience. His background and expertise allow him to provide unique insights regarding the convergence of energy, communications and information technologies. Prior to VGF, he held a number of senior executive roles with Yahoo!, including Chief Strategy Officer and Managing Director, Yahoo! Europe & Canada. While at Yahoo!, Toby was responsible for almost $5 billion of acquisitions and investments. Toby was also the Executive sponsor for Yahoo's global sustainability program and led initiatives including the launch of Yahoo! Green and the management of Yahoo's carbon footprint across its global data centers and facilities. Prior to Yahoo!, Toby was a Founding Partner of Windsor Media a private investment company that acquires traditional media businesses and re-positions them for the digital future. Coppel also held investment and client advisory positions with Allen & Company and Goldman Sachs. He is an Industry Fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute, Henry Crown Fellow at The Aspen Institute and a Member of both the Israel-Britain and Palestine-Britain Business Councils. Coppel received his MA Philosophy, Politics & Economics (First Class) from Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom and an MBA (with Distinction) from Harvard Business School.
Boston - New York - Los Angeles - San Francisco Bay Area - California, U.S.A. - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Businesses Solutions • A.I. (& Big Data) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Developer tools • Woman Focused
Managing Director at Hack VC
Most Interested In
When we invest, we can help startups to hire engineers. We can do this because we run the world's largest programmer conference with a community of 125,000+.
Not Interested In
We typically co-invest alongside other larger seed fund and VCs since our check doesn't provide enough runway on its own. The best types of startups for us to meet come from referrals from other investors who need quality co-investors in their rounds, or from startups who have a round that needs additional participants to complement their lead investor..
Ed Roman serves as the Chief Executive Officer of HackHands and Founding Partner at Hack VC. He is also the Founder of hack.summit and was the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Ghostfire Games. He received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Cornell University in 1998.
Munich, Germany
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • FinTech (& Financials services) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Payments • Productivity
Executive Vice President Productmanagement @Wirecard - Managing Partner Paymentandbanking, Investor, Expert in FinTech
Network Partner - Investor at Picus Capital
Dubai - United Arab Emirates, U.S.A. - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
FinTech (& Financials services) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Developer tools
Co-founder & COO at Polygon (previously Matic Network)
Munich, Germany
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • FinTech (& Financials services) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Mobility • Consumer
B2B SaaS expert ▪ Mentor & Coach ▪ Active Angel Investor ▪ Owner of The SaaSgarage
Investor at Point Nine Capital
Angel investor and mentor for those having exciting business ideas, ready kicking off their company. Core competency and areas of interest: SaaS (eg. @freeagent @geckoboard @positionly @riskmethods @minubo @contentful @softgarden )
Sao Paulo - San Francisco Bay Area - New York - London, U.K. - Germany - Netherlands - Greece - Brazil - Mexico
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • BioTech • FinTech (& Financials services) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • A.I. (& Big Data) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Gaming (& eSports) • Analytics • Developer tools • Woman Focused
Partner at Hummingbird Ventures
Partner at Hummingbird Ventures
Melbourne Victoria, Australia - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
CleanTech • A.I. (& Big Data) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Nanotechnology • Woman Focused
Most Interested In
Passionate, driven, dreamers who are reworking old spaces and finding new ways to do things. Hardware that would have been deemed MAGIC a decade ago. People who have a view on the future and are happy to talk about it.
Not Interested In
All idea - no execution. A lick of paint given consideration as new and exciting, People with no listening skills. An idea, concept that can't be explained to me in 2 sentences.
London - Berlin, Germany - U.K. - Netherlands - France
FinTech (& Financials services) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Web Security (& Privacy) • Future Of Work
Most Interested In
Decentralization, Blockchain, Peer to peer networks, API ecosystems, automation, devtech, legaltech, logistics
Not Interested In
AdTech, E-Commerce, FoodTech, Media, HealthTech
New York, U.S.A. - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Education • FinTech (& Financials services) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • CleanTech • A.I. (& Big Data) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Cloud Services (& Infrastructure) • Developer tools • Woman Focused
Fabrice Grinda serves as Co-Founding Partner at FJ Labs. He also serves as a Partner at True Global Ventures. He serves as Industry Advisor at DN Capital. Previously he was a Co-Chief Executive Officer of OLX, Inc. Prior to OLX, he was the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Zingy Inc. In 1998, he co-founded and was the Chief Executive Officer of Aucland. Prior to that he worked as a Business Consultant for McKinsey & Company. He is an Investor at Knock.
San Francisco Bay Area - California, U.S.A. - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • FinTech (& Financials services) • A.I. (& Big Data) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Consumer
Dr. Elad Gil is a Co-Founder and serves as the Chairman at Color Genomics. He served as Chief Executive Officer at Color Genomics. He served as the Vice President of Corporate Starategy for Twitter. He was also Co-Founder and served as Chief Executive Officer at Mixer Labs / GeoAPIBefore GeoAPI.com. He has a long standing interest in location based services and mobile. He co-founded Google's Mobile Team where he was the first PM on Google Mobile Maps and was involved with the Android acquisition. Prior to Google, he worked at 3 venture backed startups and at McKinsey. He has a Ph.D. from MIT. He is currently an investor and advisor to a number of mobile and social media startups. He is an Advisor of Origami Logic, Bitwise and Anchorage.