Germany
Source: European Innovation Scoreboard
For a Country Overview, click
Download
European Innovation Scoreboard
Download
Regional Innovation Scoreboard
Initiatives & Institutions
This Website gives an overview over the startup ecosystem, incubators, competitions and venture capital.
Startup Genome is the world-leading policy advisory and research organization for public and private organizations committed to accelerating the success of their startup ecosystem.
"StartupBlink is the world’s most comprehensive startup ecosystem map and research center, providing public sector ecosystem developers, innovative organisations, and researchers with the knowledge and tools to map, brand, and grow their startup ecosystems."
Venture Capital
List of Startup Investors
List of the biggest and most important Startup Investors in Germany
Target Global
The Berlin-based financier Target Global has been investing in startups and growing companies since 2015. In the process, the German venture capitalist provided companies like Auto1, Delivery Hero, Omio, McMakler, WeFox and Grover with money.
Fund Growth (2020): 400 million euros; Early Stage Fund (2020): 120 million euros.
468 Capital
Early stage investor 468 Capital, launched in 2020 by Alexander Kudlich, Ludwig Ensthaler and Florian Leibert, invests in DeepTech startups in particular. 468 Capital's investments include young companies such as Vectornator, Mayd and arive.
Fund (2022): 355 million euros
e.ventures
Since 1999, Berlin-based (formerly Hamburg-based) funder e.ventures has invested in more than 200 large and small startups worldwide.
Fund: (2019): 355 million euros
Digital + Partners
Venture capitalist Digital+ Partners, founded in 2015, invests up to 50 million in "B2B companies from the industrial and financial technology sector." In the past, Digital+ Partners has invested in companies such as movingimage, orderbird and riskmethods.
Fund (2018): 350 million euros
Hightech Founder Fonds
High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) has been investing in young startups since 2005. In recent years, the Bonn-based funder has provided capital to more than 600 companies. These include companies such as Hornetsecurity, grandcentrix, nfon, 6Wunderkinder (wunderlist), plista and emma.
Fund (2017): 319.5 million euros
Cherry Ventures
Since 2012, the Berlin-based investor Cherry Ventures, started by Christian Meermann, Daniel Glasner, Filip Dames, has invested in more than 50 startups across Europe. In Germany, the backer provided capital to Quandoo, Auto1, Amorelie, flaschenpost.de, infarm and Moss, among others.
Fund: (2021): 300 million euros
Cusp Capital
Behind Cusp Capital from Essen in the Ruhr region is the former of the venture capital firm Tengelmann Ventures. In recent years, the multi-million dollar backer has invested in startups and growups such as zalando, Delivery Hero, Uber, Klarna, Westwing and Stylight.
Fund (2021): 300 million euros
DTCP
DTCP formerly known as Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners, has been investing in startups since 2015. The Hamburg-based backer now sees itself as an "autonomous investment management group". In recent years, DTCP has invested in Auth0, relayr and LeanIX, among others.
Fund (2019): 290 million euros
Coparion
The co-investment fund coparion was launched by KfW and BMWi in 2016. The capital provider invests in companies if a private lead investor provides capital of at least the same amount and on the same economic terms.
Fund (2016): 275 million euros
Endeit Capital
Dutch-German capital provider Endeit Capital, which has been investing in startups since 2006, recently launched its third fund. Endeit's current and previous portfolio companies include: Bux, Gastrofix, Comtravo, Contorion, Chronext and Tourradar.
Fund (2021): 250 million euros
Future Energy Ventures
The well-known Essen-based energy company E.ON launched Future Energy Ventures in 2020, an investor in energy startups. Future Energy Ventures' portfolio includes young companies such as Doozer, gridX, Kiwigrid, Lemonbeat, tado and Tracks.
Fund (2020): 250 million euros
Acton Capital
Munich-based Acton Capital has invested in over 80 startups worldwide since 1999. These include well-known names such as alando, audibene, Home24, etsy, Cyberport and momox. Per company Acton Capital, formerly known as Burda Digital Ventures, invests between 2 and 20 million US dollars.
Fund (2019): 193 million euros
Speedinvest
Vienna-based early-stage investor Speedinvest has been investing in startups from the fintech, deep tech, marketplaces, industrial tech, digital health and consumer tech segments since 2011. In recent years, Speedinvest has invested in Tier, WeFox and CoachHub, among others.
Fund (2020): 190 million euros
Project A Ventures
The Berlin-based financier Project A Ventures, which is backed in particular by Florian Heinemann, recently launched its third fund (180 million euros). In the past years, Project A Ventures, which was launched in 2012, invested in companies such as Contorion, uberall, Spryker, Homeday, Kry, Voi and sennder.
Fund (2019): 180 million euros
Earlybird Venture Capital
The Munich-based early-stage investor Earlybird Venture Capital has been investing in emerging start-ups since 1997. In recent years, Earlybird Venture Capital has invested globally in companies such as 6wunderkinder (wunderlist), payhawk, UiPath, Bitwala, N26 and smava.
Fund - Digital West (2018): 175 million euros; Fund - Digital East (2021): 200 million euros.
Bayern Kapital
Bayern Kapital has been investing in "innovative and technology-oriented start-ups" from Bavaria since 1995. The general condition for an investment by Bayern Kapital is that at least one other private investor commits on the same terms.
Fund II - Growth Fund (2020): 165 million euros; Fund II - Innovation Fund: 65 million euros; Fund EFRE: 20 million euros
Nauta Capital
The pan-European funder Nauta Capital, which has offices in London, Barcelona and Berlin, invests in enterprise software companies. In Germany, Nauta Capital has invested in the past in young companies such as zenloop, airfocus, talentry, bird eats bug and insureQ, among others,
Fund (2020): 160 million euros
UVC Partners
The Munich-based early-stage venture capital firm UVC Partners invests "in technology-based start-ups in the European region". The focus is on B2B start-ups. UVC Partners invests between 500,000 euros and 5 million, and up to 20 million in total per startup.
Fund (2020): 150 million euros
​Vorwerk Ventures
The Berlin-based financial backer Vorwerk Ventures has been investing in start-ups since 2007. Since 2019, Vorwerk Ventures has been operating independently of the Wuppertal-based Vorwerk Group. In recent years, Vorwerk Ventures has invested in companies such as flaschenpost.de, HelloFresh and Thermondo.
Fund (2019): 150 million euros
Cadence Growth Capital
The Munich-based capital provider Cadence Growth Capital (CGC) positions itself as a growth private equity fund. The team around Leonard Clemens, Sebastian Eiseler and Co. focuses on investments in "later stage scaleups during later development phases".
Fund (2020): 150 million euros
Bitkraft Ventures
The Berlin-based capital provider Bitkraft Ventures, which was launched in 2019, invests in particular in up-and-coming e-sports companies and digital entertainment companies. Among others, the well-known e-sports veteran Jens Hilgers is behind Bitkraft Ventures.
Fund (2020): 140 million euros
Elevat3
Among others, Ribopharma founder Christian Angermayer is behind Elevat3. The Elevat3 team invests in start-ups from the blockchain, fintech, artificial intelligence, cyber security and space tech segments. Low double-digit million amounts are possible per company.
Fund (2020): 125 million euros
Redalpine
The Swiss early-stage funder Redalpine has been investing in young startups since 2007. Redalpine's portfolio includes young and emerging startups such as Taxfix, N26, Zenjob, magaloop, Jodel and Robin Hood. The exit list includes companies such as bexio, veeseo and givve.
Fund (2019): 120 million euros
Capnamic Ventures
Cologne-based funder Capnamic Ventures, which launched in 2013, invested in particular "in seed and Series A rounds in B2B start-ups that have a focus on digital transformation and digital infrastructure". Capnamic inverts between 500,000 euros and 3 million euros.
Fund (2017): 115 million euros
Alstin Capital
The Munich-based capital provider Alstin Capital, which is led by Carsten Maschmeyer among others, initially invests between 1 and 3 million in start-ups from the FinTech, InsurTech and Cyber Security segments. Alstin's portfolio includes companies such as stocard, Usercentrics and The Stryze Group.
Fund (2018): 108 million euros
Point Nine Capital
The Berlin-based early-stage financier Point Nine Capital, which was launched in 2008, recently launched its fifth fund. In recent years, the funder has invested in start-ups such as Mambu, Contentful, Typeform, Zendesk, Westwing and Delivery Hero.
Fund (2020): 100 million euros
Planet A Ventures
Behind the early-stage investor Planet A Ventures are Jimdo founder Fridtjof Detzner and Tobias Seikel (previously Hanse Ventures), among others. The team focuses on impact investments that take a scientific view of the eco-balance.
Fund (2021): 100 million euros
Heal capital
The Berlin-based capital provider Heal Capital, which was launched in 2020, invests in topics such as digital health and health technology. The fund was launched under the Private Health Insurance Association (PKV). Heartbeat Labs and Flying Health are also involved.
Fund (2020): 100 million euros
eCAPITAL
eCAPITAL from Münster has been investing in young companies since 1999. Most recently, the financier launched its fourth fund and a special fund for the topic of cyber security. In recent years, eCAPITAL has invested in companies such as VMRay, Jedox and sonnen.
Fund (2017): 100 million euros; Fund - Cybersecurity (2019): 30 million euros
Signals Venture Capital
The Berlin-based financier signals Venture Capital has been investing in "technology-based market leaders of tomorrow" since 2017. The focus is on B2B software companies. The signals Venture Capital portfolio includes companies such as Monite, CoachHub and Workpath.
Fund (2017): 100 million euros
Visionaries Club
The Berlin-based financier Visionaries Club, which is backed by the well-known scene heads Robert Lacher and Sebastian Pollok, has been investing in young and up-and-coming startups since 2019. In the past years, the team invested in companies such as Choco, tacto, Taxdoo, Xentral, Trana and Acapela.
Fund - Seed (2019): 85 million euros; Fund - Growth (2019): 85 million euros
Cavalry Ventures
The Berlin-based seed capital provider Cavalry Ventures, which was launched in 2016, recently launched its second fund. In recent years, the team led by Rouven Dresselhaus and Stefan Walter has invested in start-ups such as caroobi, Bryter, Forto, HeavenHR, McMakler and medbelle.
Fund (2020): 80 million euros
Aws Gründerfonds
The Viennese capital provider aws Gründerfonds invests in Austrian start-ups from the digital, deep tech and life science segments (Later Seed and Series-A). The venture capitalist's portfolio includes companies such as Cashy, Rendity, Breathe Ilo, Prewave and PlanRadar.
Fund (2013): 68.5 million euros
Dieter von Holtzbrinck Ventures (DvH Ventures)
Der Kölner Early Stage-Investor investiert seit 2014 in junge Technologieunternehmen. Anfangs war Verleger Dieter von Holtzbrinck Geldgeber des Investors. Inzwischen wird DvH Ventures auch von anderen Geldgebern finanziert. Im Portfolio sind Firmen wie Liqid, Nect, LiveEO, Studysmarter oder mymoria.
Digital Health Fund (2020): 65 Millionen Euro; Digital Tech Fund (2018): 45 Millionen Euro
VSquared Ventures
Venture capitalist Vsquared Ventures, backed by Munich-based investors Thomas Oehl, Herbert Mangesius and Benedikt von Schoeler (Vito Ventures), launched its first fund, a 65 million fund for B2B deep tech startups, in 2020.
Fund (2020): 65 million euros
IBB Ventures
The Berlin-based investor IBB Ventures, formerly known as IBB Beteiligungsgesellschaft, has been investing in young start-ups since 1997. The funder's focus is on "outstanding teams and ideas that redefine industries". In recent years, IBB Ventures has invested in more than 80 young companies.
Fund - Technology (2015): €60 million; Fund - Creative (2015): €40 million
Fly Ventures
The Berlin-based seed capital provider Fly Ventures recently launched its second fund. Fly Ventures invests between 500,000 and 1.3 million euros in young companies. The focus is on DeepTech topics. The portfolio includes start-ups such as 9fin, Candis, garden, Harold, Metaview and pylot.
Fund (2020): 53 million euros
DX Ventures
At the beginning of 2021, delivery service provider Delivery Hero set up its own investment arm, DX Ventures. The corporate venture offshoot was initially equipped with 50 million euros. The focus is on topics such as on-demand service, food technology and logistics.
Fund (2021): 50 million euros
Revent
The Berlin-based investor Revent primarily targets very young start-ups from the ClimateTech, EdTech and E-Health segments. The funder's team includes well-known scene heads Emily Brooke, Otto Birnbaum, Lauren Lentz and Henrik Grosse-Hokamp.
Fund (2021): 50 million euros
La Famiglia
The Berlin-based investor La Famiglia recently launched its second fund. The young investor invests up to 1.5 million euros each in young start-ups. Focus: B2B. The first fund of La Famiglia, which is led by Jeannette zu Fürstenberg, had 35 million euros.
Fund (2020): 50 million euros
42Cap
The Munich-based early-stage investor 42Cap recently launched its second fund. Among others, Alex Meyer and Thomas Wilke (eCircle), Joseph Brunner (Relayr) and Moritz Zimmermann (Hybris/SAP) are behind 42Cap. With their first fund, the 42Cap founders invested in thirteen start-ups.
Fund (2019): 50 million euros
Join Capital
The Berlin-based capital provider Join Capital has been investing up to 3 million euros in young start-ups since 2016. The investment focus is on start-ups in the B2B software segment with a focus on Industry 4.0. Join Capital's portfolio includes companies such as Proxyclick, Valispace and IPRally.
Fund (2016): 50 million euros
Global Founders Capital
The early stage investor Global Founders Capital (GFC), which belongs to Rocket Internet and thus to the founder and investor Oliver Samwer, has been investing in startups worldwide since 2013. In recent years, the Global Founders Capital team has invested in over 400 startups.
Fund: 1.5 billion euros
EMH Partners
The Munich-based private equity firm EMH Partners recently launched a second growth fund. The funder provides targeted capital support to medium-sized companies. In recent years, EMH Partners has invested in companies such as cleverbridge, Native Instruments and Brainlab.
Fund Growth (2020): 650 million euros.
HV Capital
Munich-based financier HV Capital, formerly known as Holtzbrinck Ventures, has been investing in startups since 2000. In recent years, the capital provider's team has invested in around 200 startups - including well-known companies such as zalando, Delivery Hero, HelloFresh, Flixbus, SumUp and Westwing.
Fund (2020): 535 million euros