Five up-and-coming Cologne-based start-ups that warrant attention
Cologne, a city renowned for its vibrant culture and rich history, is now making waves in the startup world. The city's ecosystem is rapidly evolving, thanks to a combination of academic collaboration, public and private funding, strong industry connections, and targeted support for high-tech innovation.
One of the major accelerators is the Gateway Factory, a joint initiative by RWTH Aachen University, the University of Cologne, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, and several other regional institutions. This alliance brings together research expertise, talent, and resources from multiple universities, creating a fertile ground for deep tech startups. The consortium’s focus on "verticals" such as Future Health & Life Sciences, Sustainable Infrastructure & Mobility, Future Computing & Engineering, and Future Regulatory Demands ensures that startups have access to cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The ecosystem benefits from significant federal funding, with the Gateway Factory awarded up to €10 million over five years through a prestigious national competition organized by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Additionally, nearly €10 million in supplementary private funding has been committed by regional sponsors, reflecting strong local confidence in the startup potential. Startups also have access to production and laboratory spaces, particularly valuable for deep tech ventures that require specialized infrastructure.
Cologne's startup scene is closely linked with established industry partners and research institutions, enabling startups to collaborate on real-world challenges, secure early customers, and attract investment. Events such as the Cologne Startup Summer night and the ChemCologne Cooperation Day further facilitate networking between academia, industry, and entrepreneurs.
Cologne's startups are increasingly concentrated in deep tech sectors, areas requiring significant scientific or engineering innovation. Lennart Letzel and Julian Born founded KlymaKlyma, a ClimateTech company specializing in heat pump installation and operation for private households. Bhumi Bavarva founded Bawra's, a startup that offers Indian snacks with health-conscious, natural ingredients reflecting Gujarat's vegetarian tradition. Torsten Hupe is the founder of Buyout Buddy (BOB), a startup that offers software for the "simple calculation and comfortable management of usage rights", specifically developed for the advertising and model industry. Vanderplanki, founded by Stefan Schultze and Tim Berger, aims to be an archiving solution for emails and files, focusing on data sovereignty, security, redundancy, and long-term storage.
sekaro, a HR startup founded by Simon Kellermann, focuses on recruiting international talent in skilled-trade professions. The recognition, visa, and integration process at sekaro is digitally controlled.
The city is home to around 800 startups, supported by a lively startup scene, a strong investor landscape, and numerous coworking spaces, trade fairs, and networking events. Cologne's focus on deep tech innovation, coupled with Germany’s broader commitment to fostering agile, high-tech ventures, positions Cologne as a rising hub for impactful startups in Europe.
Sources: [1] Gateway Factory - https://www.gateway-factory.de/ [2] Cologne Business - https://www.cologne-business.de/ [3] German Government's National Infrastructure Plan - https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/themen/infrastruktur/investitionsprogramm-100-fuer-die-zukunft-1000264.html [4] Cologne Startup Summer - https://www.cologne-startup-summer.de/ [5] ChemCologne Cooperation Day - https://www.chemie-cologne.de/en/chemcologne-cooperation-day/
- The Gateway Factory, a significant contributor to Cologne's startup ecosystem, focuses on verticals such as Future Computing & Engineering, ensuring deep tech startups have access to cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- In the realm of lifestyle and home-and-garden, Bhumi Bavarva founded Bawra's, a startup offering Indian snacks with health-conscious, natural ingredients, reflecting Gujarat's vegetarian tradition.
- With a focus on business and technology, sekaro, a HR startup founded by Simon Kellermann, aims to simplify the recruitment of international talent in skilled-trade professions, offering a digitally controlled recognition, visa, and integration process.
