Hamburg's startup scene is buzzing. But let's be honest, figuring out where to start, who to talk to, and which funding is actually relevant for you, can feel like a full-time job on its own.
That's where the Startup City Hamburg Guides come in. We're your free, neutral first point of contact, specifically for tech and knowledge-based startups in Hamburg. Whether you're still validating your idea, deep in your first funding round, or ready to scale, we help you cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters for your next steps. No complicated forms, no consulting fees, no runaround. Just straight-forward guidance, the right connections, and a consistent point of contact throughout your entire journey - from first idea to growth stage.
We offer more than just guidance for startups!
We make the scene more visible and help founders and startups connect through Hamburg’s startup support system.
We bring together information resources, marketing activities, networking initiatives and collaborative projects – with the aim of providing startups with the best possible support as they launch, grow and expand internationally.
We provide guidance on: funding and financing programmes, advisory services offered by the city and external partners, key networks, investors and corporates.
We recommend relevant events and services and attend many startup events and conferences ourselves
We take startups to international conferences and tech events to enable them to network with international investors and other key players.
We actively bring the ecosystem together by designing and running founder‑needs‑driven formats that close gaps, strengthen collaboration and foster meaningful exchange between startups, investors, corporates, support organisations and public stakeholders.
In a free consultation with our Startup Guides
Every founder's journey is different, and that's exactly how we treat it. In a compact online session, we get straight to the point: your stage, your next big move, your open questions about the founding process. We connect you with the right organisations in Hamburg's ecosystem and share tips from years of experience working with founders and startups, the stuff that's actually relevant for you.
You'll walk away with a clear picture of funding options, the right advisory services for your stage, and the ecosystem events and programmes actually worth your time. One conversation, and you'll know exactly where you stand and what to do next.
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Sarah Meyn
Startup Guide from Startup City Hamburg
Ricarda Rattay
Startup-Guide from Startup City Hamburg
Yu Chen
Startup Guide from Startup City Hamburg
Ongoing support for Hamburg founders
Your first session is just the beginning. As your startup grows, so does our support:
Founder workshops and group consultations on financing, market entry and other key growth topics
Access to strong local and global networks – including worldwide partner networks such as Scale Cities and the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), as well as Hamburg’s local tech and startup communities
Visible and approachable across the ecosystem: present at major startup events throughout Hamburg, always open for a conversation, quick advice or direct matchmaking
Curated funding opportunities: Open calls, conference tickets and travel grants, regularly updated on our tenders page
Networking: Opening doors at the right time
Building the right network and finding your place in a new ecosystem takes time - we help you get there faster. Whether you're a local founder looking to grow your community or an international founder just landing in Hamburg, we've got you covered:
Network & Community: We shape Hamburg's startup community and connect you with the people who can move the needle: through our own events and meetups, partnerships with local and international players, and a community that spans early-stage founders all the way to scaleups.
International Founders & Global Expansion: Coming from abroad and looking to build in Hamburg? Or ready to take your startup global? We guide you through visas, company registration and finding the right workspace, and connect you with investor networks and industry clusters across HealthTech, Logistics, Aviation and more.
Hamburg isn't just a great place to build your startup - it's your launchpad to the global scene. In recent years, we've taken Hamburg startups to some of the world's most exciting stages, from conferences and tech events like Slush in Helsinki to VivaTech in Paris, Web Summit in Lisbon, TNW in Amsterdam and more. For 2026, we're already planning the next round of delegation trips and conference appearances — new calls for applications are expected to launch in spring. Check our tenders page regularly, subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on LinkedIn so you don't miss a thing.
Your ticket to the global startup scene
Tech events, startup festivals, international conferences - the right room can change everything. We take you there: to the world's biggest stages, in front of international investors and partners, and with everything you need to make it count.
Here's what we offer:
Conference tickets & travel grants for international tech events
Pitch slots and delegation trips to international markets
Trade fair participations and startup awards
Reverse missions bringing international players straight to Hamburg
