Startups are a central driver of innovation and mirror the innovative strength of an economy. These entrepreneurial companies distinguish themselves not only in their own high growth potential, but also foster and challenge the agility and innovation in well-established companies. Startups in Switzerland, which has held the top spot of the yearly published Global Innovation Index for the last couple of years, benefit from an attractive business environment with access to a talent pool formed in a business-oriented dual educational system. The for startups typical industries IT, life sciences and finances are strongly rooted in Switzerland and with numerous leading companies as well as the two Federal Institutes of Technology ETH Zurich and EPFL offer the ideal breeding ground for innovations in the fields of Fintech, Cleantech, Biotech, Medtech, Blockchain and various others.

EY startup makes a valuable contribution to the promotion of young companies and their spirit of innovation, true to our purpose of “building a better working world”.

Startups have the opportunity to crack rigid systems, rewrite worn paths and change entire markets. Particularly in the field of digitization there are many spheres of action where we can benefit from new ideas. Startups are an important driver behind optimizing the economy in our Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region.
The example of SAP, a former startup, illustrates the impact successful startups can have on a region. We at EY not only support startups in all phases of their life cycle, but we also offer them an outstanding platform to grow and access to our worldwide customer network through our global accelerator “EY Startup Challenge”. We live in an industrial region that is crucial for Germany and Europe, and through startups we promote the shift to an information society.

Munich is home to seven DAX 30, 11 M-DAX, seven Tec-DAX and eight S-DAX companies. Alongside Berlin, the Bavarian capital is now one of the leading startup and tech hubs in Germany. Many financial investors are represented in Bavaria, in particular venture capital and private equity firms relevant for startups.

Our diverse Bavarian startup team in Munich and Nuremberg is composed of motivated employees from a broad range of disciplines. Each of them has extensive professional knowledge, a passion for the startup scene and can draw on several years of valuable experience. This allows us to comprehensively advise and accompany startups throughout all stages of the life cycle. Our expertise covers all issues in the fields of tax, law, assurance, strategy and transaction advisory services.

Our goal is to connect innovative startups with established large companies, medium-sized enterprises and investors to exploit mutual synergies and promote the exchange of experiences, for the benefit of all involved. We look forward to talking to you!

Startups have an immense importance based on their innovative energy: On the one hand, the entire economy benefits when startups develop into large companies. On the other hand, startups are extremely important as innovation suppliers for corporates and medium-sized companies. EY wants to be a bridge builder between established companies – the carriers of the economy – and ambitious startups.

Based on Baden-Württemberg’s longstanding and vibrant startup culture, we are convinced of the huge potential in our region and believe in the opportunities this offers for each and every one of us and society as a whole. We want to offer platforms and networks that bring together young entrepreneurs and established players. Thanks to our multidisciplinary approach and international network, EY is ideally suited to comprehensively advise both startups and investors on all relevant tax, business and legal issues and to support companies and investments competently at every step of their journey. It is always a pleasure to watch fledgling companies grow and to be inspired by the commitment and visions of their founders. We can provide support at every stage – from incorporation to IPO.

In Hamburg, we aim to promote networking within Hamburg’s startup ecosystem and support and advance young entrepreneurs with our professional expertise. We draw on our internal startup advisors’ many years of expertise as needed across a range of disciplines, such as tax/ESOP, subsidies, law, consulting, transactions and assurance. When working with startups, we value above all the refreshing impulses they bring to “Building a better working world” with their innovative business models. We would also like to bring cooperation between startups and SMEs to a new level, so that both can mutually benefit. Our Hamburg EY Startup Team engages in active dialog with innovative startups to discuss the challenges and trends of the future.

North-Rhine Westphalia is a startup wonderland: diverse, interconnected, innovative and international. North-Rhine Westphalia is state with many burgeoning startup hotspots and excellent market opportunities for new business ideas. North-Rhine Westphalia stands for B2B, since founders benefit from regional links to numerous DAX companies, global market leaders, hidden champions and countless SMEs. An outstanding talent pool, proximity to industry and research, high purchasing power and excellent infrastructure offer the best conditions for entrepreneurs.

Our EY Startup Team is just as diverse as North-Rhine Westphalia: a vibrant mix of colleagues from a broad range of disciplines, with one thing in common – a passion for startups and entrepreneurship. Our goal is to advise and support innovative and high-growth companies by connecting them with investors, pairing them with established companies and helping them to develop business models sustainably and secure long-term success.

The Melitta filter bag, the 35mm camera, porcelain: Saxony has a longstanding tradition of invention. Just how fertile the ground is for creative thinkers can be seen in several places. And we are usually right at the heart:

• Whether matchmaking between startups, established companies or investors
• As an advisor of the International Startup Campus
• As a coach and mentor in programs such as the Startup Weekends in Saxony, the Thuringian regional innovation program TRIP or at the Life Science Accelerator in Saxony-Anhalt
• As a guest speaker at workshops with partners such as the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research UFZ, the Social Impact Lab or Basislager Coworking
• As a sponsor of events, workshops and initiatives such as the ACOD Congress, the Pitch Days at the Saxony-Anhalt INVESTFORUM, Investor Days Thuringia or the VC Campus in Ilmenau
• As a member of the jury at the IQ Innovationspreis Mitteldeutschland or the SCIDEA Stage
• And last but not least… as the organizers of the Public Value Award in Leipzig

FSO Strategy & Transaction provides startups in the financial sector with support, from formulating the initial business idea to seed financing to the exit via a sale or IPO. We also ensure startups can make contacts with other players in the ecosystem. Using our extensive experience, we also support investors, medium-sized and large enterprises and public institutions across the entire startup cycle in their search for meaningful targets, in designing innovative business models and developing digital strategies. Together with colleagues from other disciplines, we are also available to advise on regulatory requirements, valuations and capital measures, as well as for traditional due diligence. We have been publishing studies on FinTech and InsurTech for years and are involved in developing innovation hubs such as the TechQuartier in Frankfurt or Cologne’s InsurLab. Since 2017, we have hosted the EY Startup Academy, an accelerator for early-stage startups. Since mid 2020, we have also produced the podcast EY FinTech & bEYond.

Life is diverse and innovative in Berlin, Germany’s hotspot for startups. This vibrant and highly concentrated startup culture naturally attracts investors, established companies and the economy to the German capital.

Our Berlin office has made it their mission to bring together and connect different parties within the ecosystem, creating an ideal forum to exchange experiences. We want to offer startups and scaleups the opportunity to profit from our know-how, which extends far beyond finance and tax, so they are optimally positioned in all areas. Through events such as the CEO Roundtable or the Investors’ Dinner, we offer a diverse range of networking platforms for startups and investors to get to know each other and exchange ideas in an exclusive setting. Inspired by Berlin’s strong entrepreneurial spirit, we support startups and scaleups on their journey to the top.