Get an instant head start

Innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and know-how are the foundation of our successful startup ecosystem in Germany. This vibrant startup culture links members closely to each other and attracts not only investors, but also established companies as well as the business community.

EY Startup has found its task in connecting different parties within the ecosystem for an ideal exchange. We support your startup in all relevant fields such as strategic questions, tax, business development, legal counseling or financial decision making. On this page you will find out about our know-how, events, activities and EY contacts in your region.

Updates

EY Startup-Barometer Germany – January 2024

German startups raise just EUR 6 billion in investment capital in 2023, a decline of 39 percent compared to 2022 and 65 percent compared to 2021. The number of financing rounds also falls by 15 percent. However, investment in AI startups quadruple.

You can find more information here.

EY Startup

Early stage

Is your business plan gaining traction? We can help you with your financial reporting, the identification of state funds for your sustainability and R&D activities, support your approach reaching out to investors, and many other topics that help you to bring your idea forward. These steps involve also setting up a strategic plan for funding your startup (via private or public channels), as well as the valuation of your business model.

Formats:

Scaleup

Sales are increasing and your company is growing. We are at your side when it comes to financing the innovative development of your products and services through public funding, raising venture capital and putting growth on a sound footing. Our experts will provide you with advice and support to ensure that your growth results in sustainable business success.

Formats:

  • CEO Roundtable
  • Investor Dinner
  • Funding Matinée (selection process)

Grownup

Your Grownup grows and establishes itself as a brand.You already participate succesful in the market? We integrate you into innovation ecosystems and assist you with further financing rounds, up to a partial exit or IPO. On the way to new milestones you have to find the right answers to bigger challenges.

Formats:

  • IPO Readiness Assessment
  • Funding advice

Investors

You are looking for innovative solutions, smart investments and a great startup team? We organize networking and matchmaking events, support investment monitoring & value creation and conduct target screenings for you.

Corporates

To connect your startup to established companies is something very important, we are happy to support you here. We bring startups together with German SMEs and communicate about the establishment of cooperations, the integration of your company as well as trend analyses (EY Startup Barometer). With our help, you could find the perfect partner for your startup to participate in innovative collaborations.

Other institutions

We also provide support on the regional level and direct on your site. Among other things, we help identify suitable funding programs and apply for tenders, as well as regional activities.

Events and Workshops

News and Publications

25.01.2024
German startups raise just EUR 6 billion in investment capital in 2023, a decline of 39 percent compared to 2022 and 65 percent compared to 2021.
04.08.2023
Significant setback for the German startup scene: Compared to the first half of 2022, the total volume of investments was halved to €3.1 billion in the first six months of this…
12.01.2023
Despite market uncertainties and 43 percent less venture capital investments in 2022, the German startup industry recorded its second strongest full-year result. In addition, the…
29.07.2022
Despite the market uncertainties, investments in German startups remain at a high level: The total value of investments in German startups decreased by 20% in the first six months…

Further topics

Contacts

Francesco Pisani

Francesco Pisani

Strategy and Transactions | EY Parthenon

Phone: +49 160 939 25657
Francesco.Pisani@parthenon.ey.com

Markus Fischer

Markus Fischer

TCF-Lead Advisory

Phone: +49 89 14331 23475
Markus.Fischer@de.ey.com

Dr. Thomas Prüver

Dr. Thomas Prüver

Head of EY Startup, TCF-Transaction Diligence

Phone: +49 30 25471 10164
Thomas.Pruever@de.ey.com

Christopher Schmitz

Christopher Schmitz

EYP-Transaction Strategy & Execution

Phone: +49 6196 996 13545
Christopher.Schmitz@de.ey.com

Jan Berodt

Jan Berodt

Audit

Phone: +49 40 36132 19541
Jan.Berodt@de.ey.com

Christoph Niemann

Christoph Niemann

Global Compliance & Reporting

Phone: +49 231 55011 24094
Christoph.Niemann@de.ey.com

Olivia Weindorf

Olivia Weindorf

Audit

Phone: +49 160 939 15133
Olivia.Weindorf@de.ey.com

Leif Aldinger

Leif Aldinger

TCF-Transaction

Phone: +49 160 939 17051
Leif.Aldinger@de.ey.com

Jochen Schmitz

Jochen Schmitz

Marketing

Phone: +49 6196 996 24035
Jochen.Schmitz@de.ey.com

Michael Bätz

Michael Bätz

Audit and Finance

Phone: +49 160 93923247
Michael.Baetz@de.ey.com

Arash Nasirifar

Arash Nasirifar

Assurance

Phone: +49 160 939 29559
Arash.Nasirifar@de.ey.com

Nina Reinecke

Nina Reinecke

Law

Phone: +49 160 939 21318
Nina.Reinecke@de.ey.com

Frederick-Maximilian Schnoor

Frederick-Maximilian Schnoor

Financial Accounting Advisory Services

Phone: +49 711 9881 27181
Frederick-Maximilian.Schnoor@de.ey.com

Martin Neutzner

Martin Neutzner

Tax & ESOP

Phone: +49 711 9881 17291
Martin.Neutzner@de.ey.com

Dr. Ines Fritz

Dr. Ines Fritz

Law

Phone: +49 89 14331 22580
Ines.Fritz@de.ey.com

Varinia Prüfer

Varinia Prüfer

Business Development

Phone: +49 30 25471 21522
Varinia.Pruefer@de.ey.com

Nina Reinecke

Startups Meet Investors

„We are positively surprised at how many contacts we were able to make with VCs at the event. In addition, the VCs are almost exclusively organizations that are an excellent match for our phase and our content (seed/tech focus). Of course, this is not yet a guarantee for a term sheet, but it has helped us a lot so far and also equipped us with the necessary confidence to take a next development step soon.“
(Nicolas March, Vathos GmbH)

Once again, we invite you to our popular pitch event Startups Meet Investors and look forward to exciting presentations, many new contacts and a real atmosphere of optimism. The event on May 23, 2023 from 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm is a real highlight for all startups looking for capital. In addition, our keynote speaker Dr. Ulrich Schmitt from the High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) will hold a keynote speech about “Ideas need capital. Financing in uncertain times” and will be available for further questions.

The event is organized by EY Startup together with NRWalley, the startup association and the voice of startups in NRW.

NRWalley is the network of startups in North Rhine-Westphalia. As the only organization in the region, they aim to link all the regions of our federal state with each other. From Münsterland to South Westphalia, from the Lower Rhine to Lippe. They represent the interests of the entire ecosystem vis-à-vis society, promote a new start-up era and a culture of self-employment.

Your startup is from the Connectivity, HealthTech, FinTech, FrontierTech & Big Data, Industry 4.0 or Transport & Logistic sector? Then apply now via our application form until 30.04.2023 for one of the six highly coveted pitches to present your business model to selected investors and family offices! The final participants will be decided in a selection process. In addition, your startup should already have first traction and investment rounds and be in the second seed round or Series-A.

You want to join as an investor or financier? Then please use our application form here. Due to the exclusivity of the event, places are limited. We will check each registration and get back to you as soon as possible with a confirmation of participation.

[GERMAN] Startups Meet Investors

[GERMAN]

„Wir sind positiv überrascht, wie viele Kontakte wir über das Event zu VCs knüpfen konnten. Zudem sind unter den VCs fast ausschließlich Organisationen dabei, die ausgezeichnet zu unserer Phase und unseren Inhalten passen (Seed /Techfokus). Natürlich ist das noch keine Garantie für ein Termsheet, aber es hat uns bis jetzt sehr geholfen und uns auch mit dem nötigen Vertrauen ausgestattet, bald einen nächsten Entwicklungsschritt zu nehmen.“
(Nicolas March, Vathos GmbH)

Erneut laden wir zu unserem beliebten Pitch-Event Startups Meet Investors ein und freuen uns auf spannende Präsentationen, viele neue Kontakte und echte Aufbruchstimmung. Das Event am 22. Juni 2022 von 18:00 – 23:00 ist ein echtes Highlight für alle Startups, die auf der Suche nach Kapital sind.

Ausgerichtet wird die Veranstaltung von EY Startup gemeinsam mit der Wirtschaftsförderung Düsseldorf und in Kooperation mit NRWalley, dem Startup-Verband und Sprachrohr der Startups NRW.

Die Startup-Unit der Wirtschaftsförderung Düsseldorf berät und begleitet Startups und Investoren. Sie ist Türöffner in die Düsseldorfer Startup-Szene und hat sich zum Ziel gesetzt, die Rahmenbedingungen für Gründungen in der Region stetig zu verbessern.

NRWalley ist das Netzwerk der Startups in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Als einziger Verein landesweit haben sie dabei den Anspruch, alle Regionen unseres Bundeslandes miteinander zu verknüpfen. Vom Münsterland bis Südwestfalen, von Niederrhein bis Lippe. Sie vertreten die Interessen des gesamten Ökosystems gegenüber der Gesellschaft, werben für eine neue Gründerzeit und eine Kultur der Selbstständigkeit.

Dein Startup kommt aus der Branche Connectivity, HealthTech, FinTech, FrontierTech & Big Data, Industrie 4.0 oder Transport & Logistic? Dann bewirb Dich jetzt über unser Bewerbungsformular bis zum 29. Mai 2022 auf einen der vier begehrten Pitch-Plätze, um dein Geschäftsmodell ausgewählten Investoren und Family Offices zu präsentieren! In einem Auswahlprozess wird über die finalen Teilnehmer entschieden. Zudem sollte Dein Startup bereits erste Traction und Investitionsrunden vorweisen können und sich bereits in der zweiten Seed-Runde bzw. Series-A befinden.

Du willst als Investor oder Kapitalgeber einsteigen? Dann nutze bitte unser Anmeldeformular hier. Aufgrund der Exklusivität der Veranstaltung sind die Plätze begrenzt. Wir prüfen jede Anmeldung und melden uns dann schnellstmöglich mit einer Teilnahmebestätigung zurück.

Christoph Niemann