From November 25 to 28, 2024, seven deep tech startups from across Europe took part in an exciting four-day business trip to Berlin, Germany, as part of the Ready2Scale project. This mission wasn’t just a trip—it was a deep dive into the German market, packed with insights on starting a company, navigating legal and tax frameworks, and exploring investment opportunities in one of Europe’s most dynamic hubs.
The adventure kicked off at the AsiaBerlin Summit 2024, where startups dove into internationalization strategies, AI trends, and entry into Asian markets.
Some key points from the day:
- The importance of a global startup ecosystem was highlighted.
- AI adoption: Asia leads the way, while Europe’s skepticism and overregulation might hold it back.
- Harmonized regulations across regions are essential for startups to thrive globally.
- Governments should not only regulate but actively support AI innovation and adoption.
The day ended on a high note with a networking dinner, and Franziska Giffey’s inspiring speech set the tone for collaboration and learning.
Day two offered a closer look at Berlin’s MedTech cluster, showcasing opportunities for startups in the sector. After a networking lunch, participants attended a workshop by Philipp Kövener from Germany Trade and Invest, who shared practical tips for doing business in Germany.
On the third day, participants explored Berlin’s startup ecosystem with personalized guided tours. These tours offered a hands-on opportunity to connect with key players in their industries and see innovation in action.
The day also included various satellite events, from networking with startups in Incheon to a Tech Innovation Challenge with Japan. For those focused on funding, sessions like Finance for Founders offered practical advice on securing investment.
The last day was dedicated to actionable takeaways through workshops and training sessions, focusing on integrating into the German entrepreneurial ecosystem, navigating investment opportunities while understanding the German investment scene, and mastering legal, tax, and intellectual property frameworks for startups. Participants concluded the mission equipped with valuable knowledge, strong connections, and fresh opportunities to elevate their ventures to the next level.
The Ready2Scale Market Discovery Mission proved that Berlin isn’t just a city—it’s a hub of innovation and opportunities. The city’s vibrant startup ecosystem and access to international markets make it the perfect gateway for scaling businesses.
Impressions from participating startups
“Coming from Ireland, the scale of start-up resources available in Germany was truly eye-opening, with over 70 accelerators. During our exploration, we made some interesting connections including Philipp Kovener from GTAI, Johann Sonnenburg from Data Spree, and Flavia Kruse from Partner Berlin, who provided insights into the Climate Tech Hub. Our next steps for the German market include accelerator programs relevant to our mission of building digital carbon footprints. With a German customer already onboard, we’ll explore opportunities for expansion in this significant market,” said Eamonn Galvin, the CEO of Knowcarbon.
“First of all, German market is attractive to deep tech, specifically medtech/health tech, startup because of the market size. Healthcare spending in Germany exceeded EUR ~500 billion in last year, not including expenditure for wellness and fitness. The market has grown at a rate of 5.4 percent over the past five years. Germany is in the European Union, so many laws and regulations are similar to other EU countries. From Lithuanian founders perspective, it’s a market where our country has the most contacts for export and import. So it’s long time lasting export/import relations and well developed practice to work together.
Second, there are many healthcare and hospital facilities owned by different public and private organisations in different regions of Germany. It’s a wide opportunity to find first clients, first adopter faster,” said Neringa Seperiene, the CEO of Brachy Dose.
