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Top 52 Düsseldorf Startups to Watch in 2026

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Düsseldorf is home to a diverse startup ecosystem spanning sectors from AI and enterprise software to biotech and cleantech. This variety highlights the city's broad economic base and appeal to different types of founders.

Leading the pack is the AI platform Cognigy, which has secured $169M in funding. Other notable companies include infrastructure developer metrofibre, which raised €120M in debt financing.

Below is our list of 52 Düsseldorf startups worth keeping an eye on.

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Cognigy creates a conversational AI platform that helps enterprises automate their customer and employee support. They specialize in building intelligent voice and chatbots powered by generative AI to handle complex service interactions.

Year Founded2016
FoundersBenjamin Mayr, Philipp Heltewig, Sascha Poggemann
Funding Amount$169M
Startup SizeMid-Size Team (51-250)
Last Funding StatusSeries C
Top InvestorsInsight Partners, Global Brain Corporation, DTCP, Eurazeo, Possible Ventures

vivenu offers a unified platform for event organizers to manage, market, and analyze ticket sales. Their software gives ticket sellers full control over branding and customer data, moving beyond the limitations of conventional ticketing systems.

Year Founded2018
FoundersJens Teichert, Simon Hennes, Simon Weber
Funding Amount$57M
Startup SizeMid-Size Team (51-250)
Last Funding StatusSeries B
Top InvestorsActivant Capital, Balderton Capital, redalpine, Hedosophia, Aurum Partners

Skleo Health develops digital solutions that aim to make healthcare accessible to everyone. Their work focuses on creating technology that removes barriers to care for patients, regardless of their location or circumstances.

Year Founded2024
Founders
Funding Amount€3.1M
Startup SizeLean Team (11-50)
Last Funding StatusSeed
Top InvestorsAntler, Sanoptis

Zendure developed the world's first plug-and-play energy storage system designed specifically for balconies. Their consumer-focused products make it simple for households to store and manage their own clean energy.

Year Founded2017
FoundersBryan Liu, Tom Haflinger
Funding Amount€15.7M
Startup SizeMid-Size Team (51-250)
Last Funding StatusSeries A
Top InvestorsJAFCO Asia, Sinovation Ventures, Korea Investment Partners, Houxue Capital, GP Capital

WR Group provides international logistics and certification services to help businesses expand into new markets. They specialize in handling complex supply chain needs, including customs clearance and project logistics solutions.

Year Founded2014
FoundersWadim Rosenstein
Funding Amount
Startup SizeLean Team (11-50)
Last Funding Status
Top Investors

Ubitium designs universal microprocessors built on the open-source RISC-V architecture. Their hardware aims to power the next wave of ubiquitous computing by embedding processing capabilities into a wide array of devices.

Year Founded2024
Founders
Funding Amount€3.7M
Startup SizeFounding Team (1-10)
Last Funding StatusSeed
Top InvestorsInflection.xyz, Runa Capital, KBC Focus Fund

Metalshub operates a digital marketplace for the metals, mining, and recycling industries. Their vertical SaaS solution provides data and tools to manage logistics, compliance, and pricing for raw material transactions.

Year Founded2016
FoundersFrank Jackel, Sebastian Kreft
Funding Amount€14.4M
Startup SizeMid-Size Team (51-250)
Last Funding StatusSeries A
Top InvestorsPoint Nine, Acton Capital, Flixfounders, Chromo Invest, Seed GmbH

LenioBio develops a rapid, plant-based system for cell-free protein expression. Their core technology, the ALiCE® platform, helps research and production teams scale protein discovery and manufacturing.

Year Founded2016
Founders
Funding Amount€18M
Startup SizeLean Team (11-50)
Last Funding StatusGrant
Top InvestorsEIT Food, Eurostars, Bridford Group, European Health and Digital Executive Agency

Dermanostic gives people direct access to dermatological care through its telehealth app. Patients can receive a diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan from a certified specialist in under 24 hours.

Year Founded2020
Founders
Funding Amount€7.9M
Startup SizeMid-Size Team (51-250)
Last Funding StatusSeed
Top InvestorsGoogle for Startups, DvH Ventures, Beiersdorf, Tina Mueller

metrofibre builds an independent, carrier-neutral dark fiber network for the city of Düsseldorf. This infrastructure offers businesses, carriers, and public institutions access to high-performance and scalable fiber optic connections.

Year Founded2022
FoundersChristopher Rautenberg
Funding Amount€120M
Startup SizeLean Team (11-50)
Last Funding StatusDebt Financing
Top InvestorsING Group, Kommunalkredit Austria, DIF, SEB (Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken)

42 Additional Düsseldorf Startups Worth Following

Our top picks are just the beginning of the story in Düsseldorf. Across the city, founders are building companies in fields like enterprise software and AI, raising billions of euros along the way.

Some are just getting started while others are growing quickly. Here is a look at the other startups that make Düsseldorf's scene so exciting.

StartupIndustryYear FoundedAmount RaisedLast Funding Round
OneFor logo OneForFintech2020€10MSeed
Springlane logo SpringlaneRetail2012€10MSeries C
CUREosity logo CUREosityHealthcare2018€8.4MSeed
COMPEON logo COMPEONEnterprise2012€29.5MCorporate Round
DABBEL logo DABBELAI2018$3.6MSeed
JustSpices logo JustSpicesFood2014€14.5MSeries B
LiSA logo LiSARetail2018$2.7MSeed
GETFASTER.IO logo GETFASTER.IORetail2020$9.5MConvertible Note
Pathmonk logo PathmonkAI2020€1.7MSeed
Elixion Medical logo Elixion MedicalAI2021€1.4MPre-Seed
EmmySoft logo EmmySoftData2021€4.5MSeed
Burnhard logo BurnhardFood2018€20MPrivate Equity
Steuerboard logo SteuerboardFintech2023€725kPre-Seed
Tonies logo ToniesMedia2013
Companyon Analytics logo Companyon AnalyticsFintech2020€2MPre-Seed
Nano4Imaging logo Nano4ImagingHealthcare2011€2.5MGrant
K Line Europe logo K Line EuropeManufacturing2014€5.3MSeries A
arttrade logo arttradeCrypto2021€2MPre-Seed
consalio logo consalioSaaS2021€2.4MSeed
FoxBase logo FoxBaseAI2016€2.5MCorporate Round
Kauz logo KauzAI2016€2.3MUndisclosed
EasyWeek logo EasyWeekMedia2019€500kPre-Seed
Bespoke HRMS logo Bespoke HRMSSaaS2023€2.2MSeed
Transimmune logo TransimmuneBiotech2012€5MSeed
O.C. Hairsystems logo O.C. HairsystemsFashion2019€5MSeries A
DNTOX logo DNTOXBiotech2022€1.4MSeed
iFactory3D logo iFactory3DHardware2020€1.4MEquity Crowdfunding
Weekend.com logo Weekend.comMedia2016€5.3MCorporate Round
ESG-X logo ESG-XEnterprise2024€327.5kGrant
auxmoney logo auxmoneyFintech2007€4.6BDebt Financing
GründerGeist logo GründerGeistMedia2018€5MSeed
Endaxis logo EndaxisSaaS2021€4MSeries A
Grid logo GridMarketing2020€2.5MSeed
Aimondo logo AimondoEnterprise2019€4MPrivate Equity
Geld-für-Flug logo Geld-für-FlugEnterprise2017€25MVenture Round
Cybervize logo CybervizeSecurity2022€850kGrant
Envalior logo EnvaliorManufacturing2023
Stylique logo StyliqueEnterprise2017€1.6MPre-Seed
helpcheck logo helpcheckEnterprise2016€2.4MSeed
Routine Health GmbH logo Routine Health GmbHHealthcare2018€1MSeed
widu logo widuMarketplace2021€1.3MPre-Seed
Resolve BioSciences logo Resolve BioSciencesBiotech2020€95MSeries B

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