Nordrhein-Westfalen provides a strong foundation for new companies in Germany. The region's accelerators and incubators support startups across many different fields.
Among them, SAIS has made over 100 investments, primarily in the agriculture sector. Coparion is another active firm with nearly 100 investments and over 10 exits.
Below is our list of the best 11 accelerators and incubators in Nordrhein-Westfalen.
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2,189 Accelerators & Incubators
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1,600+ Unicorns
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250 BioTech & Health Investors
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250 AI Investors
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250 Fintech Investors
List of 250 startup investors in the FinTech and Finance industries, along with their Twitter, LinkedIn, and email addresses.
Get the Sheet for $50coparion provides venture capital to young German technology companies, helping them navigate the startup and early growth phases. With a portfolio that includes the insurtech unicorn Clark, they use their €275 million fund to prepare promising businesses for international growth rounds.
| Year Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 96 |
| Nº of Exits | 11 |
Operating as the corporate venture capital arm for the Aschendorff Group, Aschendorff NEXT backs early-stage media, digital, and technology startups. They equip founders with the capital, network, and industry knowledge needed to grow and succeed.
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 11 |
| Nº of Exits | 3 |
| Program Type | Online |
STARTPLATZ functions as a key accelerator and incubator for Germany's startup scene, giving early-stage tech companies the resources and community to get off the ground. They place a special emphasis on supporting the next wave of innovation, particularly for ventures building in the Web3 and Metaverse sectors.
| Year Founded | 2012 |
| Founders | Matthias Graf, Lorenz Graef |
| Nº of Investments | 11 |
| Nº of Exits | 1 |
| Program Type | Online |
| Duration (Weeks) | 16 |
Digital Incubation and Growth helps entrepreneurs and established companies transform their ideas into viable digital businesses. Acting as a hands-on partner, they guide ventures through validation, product development, and scaling to ensure long-term growth.
| Year Founded | — |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 1 |
| Nº of Exits | 1 |
Inncubator Investments champions early-stage technology companies by providing the resources they need to grow. The venture capital firm primarily supports startups in B2B software, fintech, and digital health with capital, mentorship, and network access.
| Year Founded | 2004 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 6 |
| Nº of Exits | 1 |
As an independent incubator, Betafabrik helps build digital business models for the consumer and mobile internet. They specialize in supporting early-stage ventures, guiding them from initial concept to a fully-formed company.
| Year Founded | 2011 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 4 |
| Nº of Exits | 1 |
xdeck champions early-stage, data-enabled B2B tech startups with its founder-centric venture platform. They connect entrepreneurs to a powerful network of mentors and corporate partners to help them scale.
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | Oliver Steinki, Nils Eiteneyer |
| Nº of Investments | 23 |
| Nº of Exits | — |
SAIS champions African startups in the AgTech and FoodTech sectors, helping them scale innovations to improve food security across the continent. The program provides investment readiness support, expert coaching, and access to a wide network to create a lasting social and economic impact.
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 103 |
| Nº of Exits | — |
Climate Founders operates as a talent investor, backing exceptional individuals to build climate-focused companies from the ground up. They provide a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to find co-founders, develop their concepts, and tackle significant environmental challenges.
| Year Founded | 2020 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 5 |
| Nº of Exits | — |
Acting as a digital matchmaker, digihub brings together startups, established companies, and universities to accelerate innovation. Their programs create valuable connections across the ecosystem, providing the resources and partnerships needed for digital transformation and growth.
| Year Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 1 |
| Nº of Exits | — |
1 Additional Nordrhein-Westfalen Accelerator Worth Applying To
While our main list covers some of the most active players, the support for founders in the area doesn't stop there. Other programs have been contributing since as early as 2015, with a focus on building corporate startups.
Below are the details for another accelerator worth checking out in Nordrhein-Westfalen.