WIN initiative aims to raise 12 billion euros for startups
With the signing of a joint declaration at the Startup Germany Summit in Berlin, a broad alliance of business, associations, politicians and the KfW development bank has confirmed its intention to invest around 12 billion euros in further strengthening the German venture capital ecosystem and thus in startups by 2030.
Ten measures for more startup growth
Growth and innovation capital for startups and scaleups are important keys to economic dynamism. The annual deal volume on the German market has developed over the past 10 years from 1.5 billion euros in 2013 with an interim record high of 18.6 billion euros in 2021 to 7.1 billion euros in 2023. As part of the WIN initiative - WIN stands for growth and innovation - further steps are now being taken to mobilise additional capital. The initiative was launched at the suggestion of Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner and is supported by Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Dr Robert Habeck. KfW, with its Chief Executive Officer Stefan Wintels, plays a central role as coordinator and pioneer of the initiative.
The initiative comprises ten measures designed to sustainably strengthen the ecosystem for growth capital in Germany. The measures will be implemented by individual companies or sectors, by the federal government or with its support. For example, the federal government intends to expand cooperation between universities, investors and companies, initiate innovative financing solutions for first-of-a-kind (FOAK) financing and strengthen fund-of-funds structures. In addition, the framework conditions for IPOs and exits of startup shareholders from portfolio companies as well as for investments in growth and innovation capital are to be improved. The Federal Ministry of Finance has already launched the first individual measures from this package this summer with the draft bill for the Second Future Financing Act.
