It’s no secret that Germany has one of the most vital startup scenes in Europe; and according to our research on startup cities, which took a close look at startup and funding activities across all major hubs in Europe, Berlin is actually Europe’s 2nd biggest startup hub. This week, we took a closer look at the German startup scene with the goal to introduce you to 10 of the most promising early-stage startups to watch in 2023 and beyond.
Due to the large amount of exciting startups in Germany, it’s been hard to narrow this list down to just 10 candidates. But we did it. All the companies we’re presenting you below entered the market between 2020 and 2022 and each one of them looks exceptionally promising!
Enter: Berlin-based Enter set out to make sustainable and personalized architecture accessible to everyone by simplifying the design, energy assessments, permitting, and cost evaluations for smaller construction projects. The fast-growing startup offer an online building application service that takes advantage of digital processes and efficient team structure to streamline the entire design, planning, and permitting process. Founded in 2020 it currently has a team of around 50 employees and has been able to secure a total of over €10 million in VC funding so far.
deeploi: Berlin-based deeploi has a mission to become the top IT OS for smart companies. Their IT-as-a-service solution aims to eliminate all IT-related inefficiencies and insecurities, transforming pain into peace. If an organization is searching for a solution that manages all of their IT needs in one place, they offer it. deeploi’s goal is to build Europe’s #1 IT Operating System to turn the working world’s IT pain into peace. Once and for all. The young company was founded in 2022 and has raised about €3 million in funding.
DeepDrive: Munich-based DeepDrive high-tech company offering drive units for electric vehicles. Their patented DeepDrive Dual Rotor technology increases vehicle range by up to 20% and reduces costs, making EVs cheaper and more sustainable. DeepDrive’s compact and torque-dense drive units can be integrated into wheels or as a central drive and are optimized for low-cost, large-scale production. They are currently working with eight of the top ten automakers and plan to introduce the DeepDrive Dual Rotor to the market in 2026. Since its start in 2021, the startup has raised €19.3 million and has a team of 32.
Sunhero: Sunhero provides tailored solar panel solutions, designed to meet individual needs. Their customized photovoltaic solar systems can be purchased outright or rented for 20 years, offering a hassle-free installation process for homeowners. Sunhero’s mission is to provide easy and affordable access to high quality residential rooftop solar. Discover the potential of residential solar self-consumption. Established in 2020, Sunhero today counts about 80 team members and has raised a total of roughly €13.5 million.
Mondu: Berlin-based B2B payment software company that provides flexible payment solutions with net terms and split payments. Their Buy Now, Pay Later platform enables B2B marketplaces and merchants to grow quickly and securely. Mondu’s payment methods include purchase on invoice, SEPA direct debit, and Installments, protecting vendors from default risk and saving them the hassle of collections and dunning. Founded in 2021 Mondu has already raised $89.3 million in a mix of equity and debt financing.
Hive: Hive is a Berlin-based company founded in 2020 that provides technology to enable D2C brands to run their e-commerce operations on auto-pilot. Their warehousing solution can be integrated with existing e-commerce stores, providing small and medium-sized online merchants with peace of mind. Hive takes care of inventory, orders, and returns from start to finish, optimizing operations with multichannel integrations, D2C and B2B orders, custom packaging, and smooth return handling. The fast-growing startup has raised a total of $43.8 million and integrates with over fifteen delivery carriers, automatically distributing inventory between five fulfillment centers to save time and money.
WorkMotion: Founded in 2020, WorkMotion is a Berlin-based startup that provides a global HR platform for companies to hire and onboard employees worldwide. With just a push of a button, WorkMotion can hire, pay, and manage remote employees from around the world, ensuring 100% legal compliance with payroll, social benefits, and taxes. The young company has raised $76.6 million and it enables global employment at the push of a button, providing companies with a streamlined and legally compliant HR solution for their international workforce.
Baobab: Berlin-based Baobab is an innovative cyber insurance company founded in 2021 that helps small and medium-sized businesses manage cyber risks by combining cyber insurance and security measures. With Baobab, businesses are covered for cyber crimes, forensic investigations, and business interruption losses. The company’s experts properly manage any cyber incident before, during, and after it happens, using technology, knowledge, and insurance to protect organizations against cyber threats. Baobab has raised a total of €8.5 million since its inception.
Knowunity: Sindelfingen-based Knowunity is a Berlin-based EdTech startup that aims to build a global platform providing high-quality school education to every student everywhere. Founded in 2019, Knowunity has created a digital learning platform that combines social learning with user-generated, verified content on every school subject, similar to Instagram for school material. With the support of leading global investors like Project A, Redalpine, and Stride.Vc, the company has successfully launched the platform in 5 countries and has over 2.6 million active users. Knowunity has raised €21 million since its founding and is the fastest-growing EdTech startup in Europe.
ARIVE: Arive is a Munich-based company that has developed an online delivery platform to provide fast delivery of essential consumer goods. The innovative platform offers a wide range of products, including personal care, beauty, pantry, fitness, and household items. With inner-city logistics, Arive ensures that its customers receive their orders quickly, providing a convenient and easy shopping experience. Founded in 2021, the young company has so far raised about $37.1 million in funding.
By the way: If you’re a corporate or investor looking for exciting startups in a specific market for a potential investment or acquisition, check out our Startup Sourcing Service!
