Your business is up and running. You’ve proven your idea, built your team, and won your first customers. Now it’s time to take the next step - growing sustainably, expanding your network, and unlocking new opportunities. Hamburg offers exactly what established startups need to scale successfully: an innovative ecosystem, access to funding, experienced partners, and a gateway to global markets.
From stability to sustainable growth
Growing a startup is about more than funding — it’s about strategy, scalability, and strong leadership. Once your business is stable, the next step is to professionalize processes, attract larger investments, and expand into new markets.
At this stage, founders focus on:
Professionalizing structures and processes
Attracting larger investments
Expanding into new markets
Strengthening their brand and leadership team
Hamburg’s dynamic startup ecosystem supports founders at every stage of growth with accelerators, incubators, mentoring programs, and funding opportunities that help you scale sustainably and build long-term success. Define your next milestone, identify a suitable program, and connect with mentors who can help you turn your growth goals into reality.
Quotes
Anne Lamp
CEO of traceless
Alex Kasinec
CEO & Co-Founder of Evitado Technologies Inc.
Lucy Larbi
Initiator of AiDiA
Benny Bennet Jürgens
Founder and CEO of Nect
Funding is key when your startup is ready to grow. In Hamburg, you’ll find a dynamic funding landscape that connects founders with private investors, venture capital, and public funding programs. Designed to support innovative startups at every stage, these opportunities help you scale sustainably, strengthen your market position, and attract long-term investment partners.
Access to growth capital: Series A & B-Funding
Whether you’re preparing for a larger funding round or seeking strategic partners, Hamburg offers direct access to a diverse and dynamic investor network. Through the Investors and funding overview
startups can connect with business angels, venture capital firms, and corporate investors who focus on sustainable, long-term growth. These partners don’t just invest capital — they invest in founders with a clear vision and the ambition to scale responsibly and internationally.
Hamburg Investors Network: Where startups meet capital
The Hamburg Investors Network (HIN) from IFB Innovationsstarter brings startups and private investors together to drive innovation across Northern Germany. As the region’s leading hub for business angels, family offices, VCs, and CVCs, HIN opens doors to one of the largest and most diverse startup portfolios in Hamburg.
By creating powerful connections between founders and investors, HIN helps startups secure capital, build trust, and accelerate growth in a competitive market.
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Insights
Discover the most important VCs in Germany
Venture capital remains a key growth driver for startups. Despite cautious investors, VCs are vital partners - especially for tech founders aiming to scale fast.
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Advice
Top 3 Business Angel networks for Hamburgs´ startups
Business angels provide startups with crucial capital and know-how. Discover three top networks from northern Germany that help founders find the right investors.
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Guide
Learn how to find an investor
Looking for startup funding to grow your business? Whether you're just starting out or ready to scale, here’s your guide to the main types of investment and how to find the right investor.
3 questions for investor Heidrun Twesten
Heidrun Twesten, CEO of Impacct GmbH, advises startups on transformation, investor relations, and capital market strategies - and knows how to turn ideas into successful funding stories.
As an investor and business angel, she shares in this video what she looks for in startups: strong teams, clear vision, and scalable business models.
Public funding programs that turn innovation into impact
The City of Hamburg and IFB Hamburg offer a broad range of tailored funding programs that help established startups take the next step in their development. These instruments are designed to strengthen innovative business models, accelerate market expansion, and support sustainable growth.
From innovation grants that back research and product development, to growth loans for scaling operations or hiring new talent, and venture capital funds that provide equity for ambitious expansion plans — Hamburg’s public funding landscape gives founders the financial flexibility they need to pursue their long-term goals.
In addition, advisory services and matchmaking support ensure that startups can identify the right program for their specific needs and growth stage.
Which IFB Innovationsstarter programme fits your startup?
Are you looking for the right public funding programme in Hamburg? This video could be a good place to start.
Quotes
Dörte Bunge
Head of Venture at IFB Innovationsstarter
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Hamburg Chamber of Commerce – Hamburg Next Level
The Hamburg Chamber of Commerce supports growing startups through its Hamburg Next Level program. With individual mentoring, access to international networks, and practical growth insights, it helps founders take their businesses to the next stage of scaling.
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Enterprise Europe Network Hamburg / Schleswig-Holstein (EEN HH/SH)
The Enterprise Europe Network Hamburg/ Schleswig-Holstein helps startups expand internationally and connect with research and business partners across Europe. Offering free services on EU funding, market access, and innovation projects, it is a key gateway for European growth and collaboration.
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Plug and Play Hamburg
The international accelerator Plug and Play Hamburg connects startups in logistics and commerce with leading corporates and investors. Through pilot projects, mentoring, and a global innovation network, it enables startups to scale their business models worldwide.
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Impossible Founders
Impossible Founders is a DeepTech startup factory based in Hamburg, turning scientific innovations into market-ready ventures. With deep technological expertise and hands-on support, they guide founders in building scalable companies from cutting-edge research.
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German Accelerator
The German Accelerator empowers German startups to expand into global markets, particularly in the US and Asia. With tailored mentoring, market validation, and access to international ecosystems, it supports scale-ups on their journey toward sustainable global growth.
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ZAL Hamburg
The ZAL Center for Applied Aeronautical Research is Hamburg’s innovation hub for the aviation of the future. Startups benefit from cutting-edge infrastructure, research access, and strong industry partnerships to accelerate development and bring their technologies to market.
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Food Lab Hamburg
The Food Lab Hamburg is an innovation space for food startups, gastronomy, and the food industry. It enables founders to test new products, explore business models, and successfully launch their ideas into the market.
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PwC Scale Programme
The PwC Scale Programme supports growth-oriented startups in entering new markets. Through strategic coaching, investor access, and international expertise, the program creates ideal conditions for accelerated growth and long-term success.
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Scaleup Hamburg
The Scaleup Hamburg Service offers startups the opportunity to apply for concrete use cases from venture clienting projects, test their solutions in pilot collaborations with established companies, and ideally gain both a paying customer and valuable market feedback.
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Sustainable Aero Lab
The Sustainable Aero Lab connects startups, investors, and industry experts to drive sustainable innovation in aviation. It focuses on climate-friendly technologies and strategic collaborations that help transform ideas into market-ready solutions.
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Digital Hub Commerce & Logistics
The Digital Hub Commerce & Logistics links startups with established companies from the trade and logistics sectors. Through joint projects and pilot initiatives, they develop innovative solutions and advance digital business models for future growth.
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Start2 Group
The Start2 Group supports startups in transitioning to their next growth phase. With practical programs, mentoring, and sales expertise, it helps young companies strengthen their market position and expand sustainably.
At the Series A and B funding stage, marketing and customer acquisition become key to sustainable growth. It’s about reaching the right audience, building trust, and turning engagement into long-term relationships. In Hamburg’s dynamic startup ecosystem, clear strategy and strong digital visibility help founders scale faster.
Key steps for effective customer acquisition:
Define your target group: Understand who your ideal customers are and what problems your product solves.
Sharpen your USP: Communicate clearly why your solution stands out from the competition.
Build your online presence and marketing: Create a strong website, optimize it for search engines (SEO), and use an integrated marketing approach, including social media, content, and online ads, to reach and engage your audience.
more about marketing for startupsNetwork strategically: Attend Hamburg’s startup events and industry meetups to connect with potential clients and partners.
Learn and adapt: Use customer feedback to improve your offer and strengthen loyalty.
Once these foundations are in place, startups can take the next step — forming strategic partnerships through venture clienting, where corporates become clients and growth accelerates through real market collaboration.
Venture clienting: When startups and corporates collaborate
In the growth phase, startups need more than funding — they need real customers to validate and scale their business. That’s where venture clienting comes in: established companies act as early clients, not investors, using innovative startup solutions. This model bridges corporate innovation and startup growth, creating mutual value:
Startups gain revenue, market validation, and enhanced credibility through real business use cases.
Corporates benefit from direct access to innovative technologies and agile solutions that strengthen their competitiveness.
Beyond the private sector, the City of Hamburg brings venture clienting into public administration. With its GovTecHH project, it links startups and government departments to co-create innovative solutions and advance Hamburg’s digital transformation.
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InterviewMutual benefits of startup-corporate cooperation
Gregor Gimmy, founder of BMW’s first venture client unit and later 27pilots, explains how startups can collaborate with established companies to scale faster and create real market impact.
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Deep diveHelloBonnie: A special case of venture clienting
Venture clienting means startups and established companies work together to benefit both sides. HelloBonnie and Möhrle Happ Luther show how close such partnerships can get
Quotes
Christoph Berger
CEO of Vilisto
Lena Weirauch
Founder & CEO of ai-omatic
Angela Relógio
Founder of TimeTeller
Dr. Mazen Rizk
CEO & Founder of Mushlabs
Where startups connect: Hubs & events in Hamburg
Collaboration drives innovation - and visibility attracts opportunity. Hamburg’s startup ecosystem is built on strong connections between founders, corporates, investors, research institutions, and public partners.
Across the city, numerous industry-specific hubs - from mobility and logistics to media, green tech, and health - make it easy to discover collaboration opportunities, pilot projects, and innovation partnerships. Many of these hubs also host regular meetups and demo days where startups can connect with potential clients and investors.
tecHHub connects business, science and startups
The new building is part of the Altona Innovation Park development. Life science companies can rent space and customised laboratories there to conduct research into innovative active ingredients, analysis methods and therapies.
So, Hamburg Invest, the city's economic development agency, built the tecHHub for the city's economic authority, and it opened in 2024. We went there.
Join local events & expand your network
Hamburg’s startup ecosystem offers a wide range of events that support founders in their growth phase. From investor meetups and scale-up conferences to sector-specific networking formats, these events provide valuable opportunities to exchange experiences, gain insights, and build partnerships that help startups move forward.
Event and co-working spaces such as Factory Hammerbrooklyn, betahaus, and projects like Startup Port regularly bring together founders, investors, and innovation experts. This active event culture makes it easier for growing startups to connect with key stakeholders, expand their network, and strengthen their presence within Hamburg’s innovation community.
Hamburg’s vibrant networking culture goes far beyond local borders – it’s a gateway to global startup ecosystems. Through a strong international presence, Hamburg startups connect with investors, corporates, and innovation hubs worldwide. With the support of Hamburg Invest and Startup City Hamburg, founders gain the visibility and partnerships they need to scale internationally.
Explore leading startup and tech events
Expanding their reach beyond Germany, Hamburg startups participate in key international startup and tech events that open doors to investors, partners, and new markets, such as:
Web Summit (Lisbon): Networking with thousands of tech leaders, startups, and VCs.
Slush (Helsinki): Building strategic partnerships and discovering growth opportunities.
Regional and national startup fairs: Strengthening ties within Europe’s innovation network.
These platforms provide direct access to investors, corporate partners, and media coverage, turning valuable connections into real business growth and international expansion.
Contact our Startup Unit for a consultation
Advisory Session for startups:
Reach out via mail at beratung@startupcity.hamburg
Book a free startup consultation (by phone or video call on request, 40 minutes) with the Hamburg Invest Startup Unit.