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.
London - San Francisco Bay Area - Berlin, Germany - U.K. - France
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Businesses Solutions • Sales (& Marketing) • Analytics • Developer tools • Impact • Local commerce • Woman Focused
SaaSicionado. First investor in Zendesk, Algolia, Contentful, Typeform,...
Most Interested In
Vertical SaaS, bottom-up land & expand, strong tech co-founders, startups from all around the world
Not Interested In
Copycats. Over-hyped pre-seed rounds.
Christoph Janz is a Co-Founder and serves as Partner at Point Nine Capital. Janz is an Angel Investor. He also serves as a Board Member at FreeAgent Holdings and Qwilr. Before co-founding Point Nine Capital in 2011, Christoph was active as a private angel investor, working together closely with Team Europe on a variety of investments. Prior to that, Christoph co-founded several software and Internet startups, including comparison shopping engine DealPilot.com (funded by Bertelsmann, acquired by Shopping.com) and personalized startpage Pageflakes (funded by Balderton Capital, acquired by LiveUniverse). With investments in Zendesk, FreeAgent Central, Clio, Propertybase and other highly successful SaaS companies Christoph is a recognized expert in the field of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). Christoph Janz serves as Board Member at ShiftPlanning, mention, Contentful, Propertybase and Zendesk. He also serves on Board of Infogr.am.
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
Munich - Marketing automation, Spain
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Hospitality (& Events) • FinTech (& Financials services) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • Sales (& Marketing) • CleanTech • A.I. (& Big Data) • Gaming (& eSports) • Analytics • Logistics (& Distribution)
Angel Investor / Co-Founder Global Super Angels Club
Most Interested In
B2C Subscription Services
Not Interested In
MedTech
London - San Francisco Bay Area - California, U.S.A. - Germany - U.K. - Israel - France
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Businesses Solutions • FinTech (& Financials services) • Sales (& Marketing) • Web Security (& Privacy) • Analytics • Cloud Services (& Infrastructure) • Developer tools
Most Interested In
Promising B2B technology companies. Key focus: SaaS / enterprise software, fintech, AI.
Not Interested In
Life sciences, capital intensive projects, B2C.
David Mes is a Co-Founder and serves as Managing Partner at Off The Grid Ventures. He also serves as a Venture Partner at US Invest LLC. He was a Co-Founder of Arc Venture Partners and served as a Managing Partner.
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..) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • A.I. (& Big Data) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Gaming (& eSports) • Advertising • Analytics • Developer tools • Future Of Work • Food & Beverage • Healthcare (& Wellness) • Consumer
Co-Founder at New Food CPG Co.
Zurich - Berlin, Germany
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Hospitality (& Events) • FinTech (& Financials services) • Hardware (& Manufacturing) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • A.I. (& Big Data) • Advertising • Analytics • Food & Beverage • Insurance (& InsurTech) • Payments • Mobile Apps • Investment Management
business angel // entrepreneur // founder lieferando.de
Product Manager, MBA, data scientist & passionate technologist.
, Germany
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • BioTech • Businesses Solutions • FinTech (& Financials services) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • Sales (& Marketing) • IoT (& Wearables) • CleanTech • A.I. (& Big Data) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Web Security (& Privacy) • Analytics • Cloud Services (& Infrastructure) • Food & Beverage • Impact • Logistics (& Distribution) • Medical Devices (& Hospital Services) • Aerospace (& Defense) • Real Estate (& Construction) • DeepTech • Healthcare (& Wellness) • Investment Management • LegalTech • Mobile • Mobility • Consumer • Restaurants
Target Global is a venture capital firm that seeks to make early, growth and later stage investments in companies operating in the consumer product and services, e-commerce, travel, mobile, information technology and retail sectors. The firm prefers to invest $200-500k in seed stage deals, $1-5M in early stage deals and $5-50M in growth stage deals. Target Global was founded in 2012 and is based in Berlin, Germany.
Palo Alto - San Francisco Bay Area - Tel Aviv - New York City, Israel - Germany
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • FinTech (& Financials services) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • A.I. (& Big Data) • Analytics • Cloud Services (& Infrastructure) • Food & Beverage • Logistics (& Distribution) • Mobility
Partner at Target Global
VP @goldman-sachs
London - Berlin Germany - New York City (NY) - San Francisco California - Boston Massachusetts - Los Angeles California, United States
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Education • BioTech • AgroTech • Businesses Solutions • FinTech (& Financials services) • Hardware (& Manufacturing) • Energy • Retail (& E-Commerce) • IoT (& Wearables) • CleanTech • A.I. (& Big Data) • Analytics • Developer tools • Food & Beverage • Life Science • Consumer
Founder of The Impact Seat / Technology Investor
Founder of The Impact Seat / Technology Investor
Investor, economist and entrepreneur, Barbara Clarke enjoys interacting with professionals who believe in creating diverse teams to drive innovation and business success. Called ‘The Force’, Clarke fuels change in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, stimulates growth in early stage tech startups and boosts organizational excellence with her investment expertise and global insights. Founder and president of The Impact Seat, Clarke has been investing in emerging technologies, including medical devices, for almost a decade. To date, Clarke has invested in more than 60 companies and 12 funds in North America and Europe. She has been creating opportunities for under-represented entrepreneurs by investing in companies that are either led by women of color or have women on their funding teams – even before it became fashionable to do so. As a key member of the investment community, she also advises entrepreneurs and innovators on launching companies, accessing capital, and leveraging the international network of investors. Barbara serves on several boards, including Portfolia, an investment fund focused on women as venture capitalists, Founders First Capital Partners, an accelerator and finance firm that invests in a diverse group of founders and Boost, an artificial intelligence (AI) platform using computer vision technology. Prior to launching The Impact Seat, Clarke spent more than a decade in management consulting firms, including KPMG and PwC and launched a nationwide nonprofit to support grieving children. She holds a bachelor’s degree in quantitative economics from Tufts University and master’s in international economics and finance from Brandeis University. A polyglot, she speaks several languages, including German, French and Italian. When she is not scoping out promising startups to invest in, Clarke enjoys exploring new cities, supporting local artists and listening to alternative/indie rock.
Austin Texas, U.S.A. - Europe: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Norway, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland, Monaco
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • IT (& TMT) • Education • Businesses Solutions • Hardware (& Manufacturing) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • Analytics • Healthcare (& Wellness)
Joel Trammell serves as President and Chief Executive Officer at Black Box. He is also the Founder & serves as the Chief Executive Officer at Khorus Software. He also has been a Managing Partner of Lone Rock Technology Group, a private equity firm, since 2011, and a Managing Partner of Lake Austin Advisors, a hedge fund, since 2013. He was a founder and the Chief Executive Officer of CacheIQ, Inc., a network computing company, from June 2010 until it was acquired by NetApp, Inc. in November 2012. Previously, he was a founder and served as the Chief Executive Officer of NetQoS, Inc., a network management software and services company, from June 2000 to November 2009. Trammell has significant experience in the technology and computer networking sphere and served as the chief executive officer for two (2) startup technology companies which grew to significant size prior to successful exit transactions. He brings to the Board broad experience in management, operations, strategic growth and sales. His service on the boards of other technology-based companies and his experience in the industry allows him to provide valuable insight to Black Box Board with respect to industry practices and the challenges and risks facing the Company. He also serves as Board Member at CM First Group, iGrafx and Packet Design.
Singapore - Frankfurt Germany - Stuttgart Germany - Auckland New Zealand - San Francisco California - Los Angeles California - Germany - Bengaluru India - Kochi Kerala India - New Zealand - Earth Texas, U.S.A.
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • IT (& TMT) • BioTech • Businesses Solutions • Retail (& E-Commerce) • IoT (& Wearables) • A.I. (& Big Data) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Analytics • Cloud Services (& Infrastructure) • DeepTech • Mobile • Online Social • Consumer
Toby Ruckert is a Co-Founder and serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Board Member at Unified Inbox. He is also an Angel Investor.