Bits & Pretzels
Munich, Germany · Event OrganisatorMunich-based organizer of the Bits & Pretzels founders festival and Oktoberfest networking day.
Event OrganisatorEventsStartup Ecosystem
Directory
European startups, investors, and accelerators
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Bits & Pretzels 2026
Munich, Germany · EventFounders festival organized by Bits & Pretzels. Next edition: Sep 28-30, 2026 in Munich.
EventEventsStartup Ecosystem
Campus Founders
Heilbronn, Germany · AcceleratorOpened 2018 with Dieter Schwarz Foundation support. Runs an Incubator for idea validation and a 12-week Accelerator for investor readiness; notable mobility and AI startups. Support: training, mentorship, foundation grants. Scope: Regional (Heilbronn-Franken).
AcceleratorMobilityAIGeneral Tech
Celonis
Munich, Germany · StartupCelonis is a Munich and New York-based enterprise software company that pioneered the field of process mining – technology that analyzes a company’s IT event logs to visualize and optimize its business processes. Founded in 2011 by three friends (Alexander Rinke, Bastian Nominacher, and Martin Klenk) out of university in Munich, Celonis bootstrapped in its early years and landed Siemens as a key pilot customer for its process analytics tool. The software proved invaluable in identifying inefficiencies in processes like order-to-cash, procurement, and inventory management. By 2015 Celonis was the leader in this niche, and it partnered with SAP which resold Celonis as SAP Process Mining by Celonis. Venture capital soon followed: Celonis raised $27.5M in 2016 (Series A) then $50M in 2018 (Series B). Its growth was massive – from €1M ARR in 2012 to well over €100M by late 2010s. In 2019, Celonis raised $290M at a $2.5B valuation, making it a unicorn. It wasn’t done: by June 2021, Celonis announced a $1B Series D round valuing it at $11 billion, one of Europe’s largest software funding rounds. And in 2022, Celonis reportedly reached a $13B+ valuation, firmly cementing it among Europe’s most valuable private tech companies. The company’s product evolved into the Celonis Execution Management System (EMS), which not only discovers processes but also suggests and implements improvements (sometimes via RPA bots or triggering workflows). Celonis counts thousands of enterprise customers – including Siemens, BMW, Coca-Cola, Uber – and its software helps them save billions by cutting throughput times, reducing errors, and optimizing resource use. With dual HQs in Munich and New York, Celonis has aggressively expanded in the U.S., competing with companies like IBM’s process mining. The firm is also eyeing an IPO; CEO Rinke has mentioned that Celonis is positioning itself for a public listing when market conditions are right. In the meantime, Celonis keeps growing (estimated $400M+ ARR in 2023) and acquiring smaller tech startups to bolster its platform. Celonis epitomizes the success of enterprise software from Europe – deeply technical, essentially creating a new category, and achieving decacorn status within a decade.
StartupGrowthSoftwareData
Cherry Ventures
Berlin, Germany · Venture CapitalEarly-stage generalist fund backing founders who build European platform companies.
Venture CapitalSeed to Series AGeneralistTechnology
CIMIx 2026 - The Transformation of Creative Industries
Berlin, Germany · EventHybrid conference on creative industries and digital transformation, spanning art, media, design, and technology.
EventEventsCreative Tech
DeepL
Cologne, Germany · StartupDeepL is a Cologne-based AI translation company founded in 2017 by CEO Jarosław Kutylowski. Renowned for its neural machine translation quality, DeepL quickly surpassed competitors in accuracy and nuance. The company’s cloud platform serves over 100,000 business and government customers worldwide, including enterprises like Zendesk and Deutsche Bahn. DeepL achieved unicorn status in 2023 with a €1 billion valuation and continued to grow explosively – by early 2025 it had raised $410 million (led by investors like Index Ventures and Atomico) and reached a $2 billion valuation. In late 2025, reports emerged that DeepL is considering an IPO amid surging revenue, which doubled year-on-year to $185 million in 2024. DeepL’s core product is an AI-driven translator supporting 30+ languages, used for real-time document and content translation. The firm also launched DeepL Write to improve monolingual writing and an AI Agent to automate business tasks. As of 2025, DeepL is recognized as one of Europe’s premier AI startups, combining cutting-edge NLP research with a fast-growing SaaS business. The company’s success – valued at $2 billion and poised for a public offering – underscores Europe’s strength in deep-tech innovation.
StartupGrowthAISoftware
DIGITALHUB.de
Bonn, Germany · AcceleratorDigital innovation hub founded in 2017 for the Rhineland region offering structured accelerator programs, mentorship, networking, and investor access to digital startups. Focus on digital transformation with alumni in cybersecurity and enterprise software. Scope: Local (Bonn/Rhineland).
AcceleratorDigital TransformationCybersecurityEnterprise Software
DIGITALHUB.de
Bonn, Germany · Innovation HubFounded 2017 as a digital innovation hub for the Rhineland region. Runs structured accelerator programs with mentorship, networking, and investor access; alumni include cybersecurity and enterprise software startups. Support: accelerator program, coworking, corporate partner access. Scope: Local (Bonn/Rhineland).
Innovation HubCybersecurityEnterprise SoftwareDigital Transformation
DLD (Digital Life Design)
Munich, Germany · Event OrganisatorOrganizer of DLD Munich, an international innovation conference series.
Event OrganisatorEventsInnovation
DLD Munich 26
Munich, Germany · EventFlagship innovation conference with 250+ speakers across tech, science, business, and the arts.
EventEventsInnovation
E.ON:agile
Essen, Germany · AcceleratorLaunched 2013. Energy and cleantech accelerator with a 3-month program, up to EUR 22,000 funding, coaching, and access to E.ON's network. Support: seed funding, mentorship, utility industry access. Scope: National.
AcceleratorEnergyCleanTech
EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator (Berlin)
Berlin, Germany · AcceleratorEuropean cleantech accelerator offering a three-stage program with grants, mentorship, and industry network access. Notable projects include carbon management and sustainable agriculture startups. Support: non-dilutive funding, expert coaching, EU network. Scope: International (EU-wide).
AcceleratorClimateAgriTechSustainability
Flix
Munich, Germany · StartupLong-distance mobility network operating intercity buses and trains across Europe.
StartupGrowthMobilityConsumer
GetYourGuide
Berlin, Germany · StartupExperiential travel marketplace curating tours, attractions, and local guides across Europe.
StartupGrowthTravelMarketplace
Hanson Wade
Berlin, Germany · Event OrganisatorOrganizer of the mRNA-Based Therapeutics Summit Europe series.
Event OrganisatorEventsBiotech
Helsing
Munich, Germany · StartupDefense AI company creating mission software and autonomous drone systems for European armed forces.
StartupGrowthDefenseAI
Hubraum
Berlin, Germany · AcceleratorDeutsche Telekom's tech incubator founded in 2012 with campuses in Berlin and Kraków, focusing on 5G, IoT, and AI startups. Support: corporate seed funding, technical resources, co-creation programs, and access to Telekom's network. Notable alumni include telecom IoT ventures integrated into Deutsche Telekom. Scope: International.
AcceleratorTelecommunicationsIoTAI
Hubraum
Berlin & Krakow, Germany · IncubatorFounded 2012. Deutsche Telekom's tech incubator focused on 5G, IoT, and AI with campuses in Berlin and Krakow. Support: corporate seed funding, infrastructure access, expert mentoring, and co-creation pilots with Telekom. Notable alumni include IoT ventures integrated into Deutsche Telekom. Scope: International.
Incubator5GIoTAITelecom
Infarm
Berlin, Germany · StartupModular vertical farming network bringing fresh, low-footprint produce into urban retail and hospitality.
StartupGrowthAgriTechClimate
International Green Week (Grune Woche)
Berlin, Germany · Event OrganisatorOrganizer of International Green Week, the major food, agriculture, and green tech fair.
Event OrganisatorEventsAgri-Food Tech
International Green Week 2026
Berlin, Germany · EventMajor food, agriculture, and green tech trade fair featuring Startup Days for agri-food innovators.
EventEventsAgri-Food Tech
Isar Aerospace
Munich, Germany · StartupSpace launch company developing cost-efficient small and medium-lift rockets to give Europe independent access to orbit.
StartupGrowthSpaceAerospace
La Famiglia
Berlin, Germany · Venture CapitalCommunity-backed fund supporting founders across Berlin, Paris, and Lisbon in SaaS and marketplaces.
Venture CapitalSeed to Series ASaaSMarketplace
Lilium
Munich, Germany · StartupElectric vertical takeoff and landing jets designed to unlock zero-emission regional air travel.
StartupGrowthAerospaceMobility
Mambu
Berlin, Germany · StartupComposable banking platform letting digital lenders and neobanks launch services quickly.
StartupGrowthFintechSoftware
Microsoft Accelerator Berlin
Berlin, Germany · AcceleratorRan 2013-2016 as part of Microsoft for Startups. Four-month cohort with expert mentorship, Azure credits, and investor connections. Support: coaching, cloud infrastructure, partner network. Scope: Global.
AcceleratorSoftwareCloudAI
mRNA-Based Therapeutics Summit Europe 2026
Berlin, Germany · EventBiotech summit covering R&D and clinical progress in mRNA vaccines and therapeutics.
EventEventsBiotech
Net Zero Events
Berlin, Germany · Event OrganisatorConference organizer behind the Net-Zero Data Centre Summit Europe.
Event OrganisatorEventsClimate Tech
Net-Zero Data Centre Summit Europe 2026
Berlin, Germany · EventConference on sustainable digital infrastructure, data center efficiency, and net-zero strategies.
EventEventsClimate Tech
Personio
Munich, Germany · StartupPersonio is a Munich-based HR software company that has become one of Europe’s most valuable SaaS startups. Founded in 2015 by Hanno Renner (CEO) and three co-founders from the Technical University of Munich, Personio set out to streamline HR management for small and mid-sized businesses. Its cloud platform offers an “all-in-one” suite – from recruiting and applicant tracking to payroll, attendance, and performance management. Personio’s focus on Europe’s underserved SME segment paid off spectacularly: as of 2024, the company serves 12,000+ customers across 70 countries (primarily firms with 10–2,000 employees). This rapid growth attracted major VC funding. Personio became a unicorn in January 2021 with a $1.7 billion valuation, and by October 2022 it raised a $200 million Series E extension at a staggering $8.5 billion valuation – making it one of Europe’s most valuable private tech companies at the time. Investors like Index Ventures, Accel, Lightspeed, and Greenoaks have backed Personio. The company has since expanded to 8 offices (including London, Dublin and Amsterdam) and grown to about 2,000 employees. Despite the size, Personio continues to post strong metrics: in 2023, revenue reportedly doubled and the firm reached over 15,000 customers by 2025. Personio’s success is often attributed to its user-friendly, modular platform tailored to non-technical HR teams at smaller companies. It integrates with 100+ other business tools and emphasizes automation of routine HR tasks. Now valued at $8.5 billion+, Personio is widely seen as a future IPO candidate and a role model for Europe’s B2B SaaS boom – proving that an “SMB HR” niche can scale to a global category leader.
StartupGrowthHR TechSoftware
Pitch
Berlin, Germany · StartupCollaborative presentation platform built for modern teams rolling out investor decks and roadmaps.
StartupGrowthProductivitySaaS
Point Nine
Berlin, Germany · Venture CapitalEarly-stage fund specializing in B2B SaaS and marketplaces across Europe and North America.
Venture CapitalSeed to Series AB2B SaaSMarketplace
Quantum Systems
Gilching, Germany · StartupManufacturer of autonomous fixed-wing VTOL drones used for battlefield reconnaissance and intelligence.
StartupGrowthAerospaceDefense
Siemens Technology Accelerator
Munich, Germany · AcceleratorThe Siemens Technology Accelerator (STA) is a unique corporate accelerator program run by Siemens AG since 2001, aimed at spinning out non-core technologies from Siemens’ R&D into independent startups. Based in Munich, STA essentially identifies promising internal innovations (often developed at Siemens Corporate Technology labs) that don’t fit Siemens’ core business, and forms new ventures around them. STA provides seed funding, co-founding management, and access to Siemens’ infrastructure to these ventures, effectively acting as a venture builder. Over its history, the Siemens Technology Accelerator has spun out more than 12 companies across sectors like energy, industrial automation, healthcare, and materials. Notable spin-offs include MetisMotion (advanced actuators), Magazino (warehouse robotics – which STA helped early on), and Epiqo (a digital twin software). One high-profile case is Rethink Robotics GmbH: in 2020, STA helped relaunch assets of Rethink Robotics (the US cobot pioneer) in a joint venture, integrating it with Siemens technology. The typical STA project starts with identifying a tech with market potential. STA then recruits external entrepreneurs or Siemens intrapreneurs to lead the startup, develops a business plan, secures intellectual property rights (license or assign IP from Siemens to the newco), and provides initial funding (often low millions of euros). Siemens often remains a minority shareholder and provides pilot customers or manufacturing help. The time from project inception to an independent company launch is around 18–24 months. STA’s model addresses a common big-corporate problem: great inventions that don’t make it to market. By essentially incubating startups from within, Siemens both creates value from dormant IP and fosters innovation culture. Many STA spin-outs go on to raise venture capital or get acquired. For example, Ionity (an EV charging network) was seeded by Siemens’ STA and later became a major joint venture with automakers. The Siemens Technology Accelerator operates with a small specialized team and has won awards for corporate venturing. It serves as a best-practice example of how large industrial firms can proactively spin off new ventures rather than let R&D sit on a shelf. In essence, STA extends Siemens’ innovation beyond its core by unleashing startups that bring cutting-edge tech (like novel sensors, new materials, etc.) to the broader market.
AcceleratorEnergyIndustrialHealthcare
Solarisbank
Berlin, Germany · StartupEmbedded banking platform providing regulated accounts, cards, and payments APIs.
StartupGrowthFintechBanking
SpielFabrique
Cologne (Franco-German), Germany · AcceleratorFounded 2016. Accelerator for the video game industry connecting German and French hubs; provides workshops, industry mentoring, and investor access. Notable studios: Burning Glass Creative, HandyGames. Support: game-specific mentorship, networking, funding access. Scope: Regional.
AcceleratorGamingMedia
SpinLab - The HHL Accelerator
Leipzig, Germany · AcceleratorFounded 2014. Six-month program for entrepreneurial teams with coworking, mentoring, and technology partners; alumni include energy and healthcare startups. Support: mentorship, workspace, partner resources. Scope: Regional (East Germany).
AcceleratorGeneral TechEnergyHealthcare
The Exploration Company
Munich, Germany · StartupBuilding reusable Nyx capsules to ferry cargo to the ISS and future commercial space stations.
StartupGrowthSpaceLogistics
TIER Mobility
Berlin, Germany · StartupSustainable micromobility operator running e-scooters, e-bikes, and shared mopeds in cities.
StartupGrowthMobilitySustainability
VentureVilla
Hanover, Germany · AcceleratorEstablished 2016. 100-day accelerator for web and software startups with intensive coaching, mentoring, and free workspace. Focus on B2B software with SaaS and fintech alumni. Support: mentorship, coworking, investor connections. Scope: Regional (Northern Germany).
AcceleratorB2B SaaSFintechSoftware