Top Nordrhein-Westfalen Startups to Watch [2023]

Have you ever wondered who is on the list of companies with the highest growth rates in Nordrhein-Westfalen?

You’re not alone.

There are hundreds of companies founded there, and it can be challenging to keep track of the hottest new startups.

But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are the top 22 fast-growing startups in Nordrhein-Westfalen that have top-tier venture capital funding.

Top 22 Fastest-Growing Startups In Nordrhein-Westfalen

1) DHL

DHL is a company that offers worldwide express mail services.

Details of the startup:

• Started in: 1969
• Industries: Logistics, Supply Chain Management
• Number of employees: 1-10
• Funding amount: SEK32,000,000
• Number of funding rounds: 1
• Number of investors: 1

You can find their website here.

2) Cognigy GmbH

Cognigy is the most popular Enterprise Conversational AI Platform for automating customer and employee support processes.

Details of the startup:

• Started in: 2016
• Founders: Benjamin Mayr, Philipp Heltewig, Sascha Poggemann
• Industries: Artificial Intelligence, Customer Service, Digital Marketing, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Information Technology, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Sales Automation, Virtual Assistant
• Number of employees: 51-100
• Funding amount: € 44,900,000
• Number of funding rounds: 6
• Number of investors: 6

You can find their website here.

3) Silexica

Silexica offers software development services that help intelligent products, such as self-driving cars, move from concept to reality.

Details of the startup:

• Started in: 2014
• Founders: Johannes Emigholz, Maximilian Odendahl, Weihua Sheng
• Industries: Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Developer Tools, Embedded Software, Embedded Systems, Enterprise Software, Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Software
• Number of employees: 51-100
• Funding amount: $29,360,037
• Number of funding rounds: 4
• Number of investors: 6

You can find their website here.

4) CHRONEXT

Clients can buy and sell luxury watches on Chronext’s full-service platform for luxury watch trading.

Details of the startup:

• Started in: 2013
• Founders: Ludwig Wurlitzer, Philipp Man
• Industries: Collectibles, E-Commerce, Fashion, Lifestyle, Retail
• Number of employees: 101-250
• Funding amount: $116,629,212
• Number of funding rounds: 5
• Number of investors: 17

You can find their website here.

5) DABBEL

DABBEL is an Ai Building Management System (Ai-BMS) that allows building control systems to self-manage.

Details of the startup:

• Started in: 2018
• Founders: Abel Samaniego
• Industries: Artificial Intelligence, Energy Efficiency, Internet of Things, Machine Learning, Smart Building
• Number of employees: 1-10
• Funding amount: € 3,600,000
• Number of funding rounds: 2
• Number of investors: 4

You can find their website here.

6) ESL

Professional gaming, commonly known as e-sports, is the emphasis of ESL, a gaming news and information network.

Details of the startup:

• Started in: 1996
• Founders: William Perry
• Industries: Electronics, eSports, Sports
• Number of employees: 251-500
• Funding amount: $30,000,000
• Number of funding rounds: 1

You can find their website here.

7) Metalshub

Metalshub is the most popular site for metals trading and price analysis.

Details of the startup:

• Started in: 2016
• Founders: Frank Jackel, Sebastian Kreft
• Industries: Logistics, Mining, Software
• Number of employees: 11-50
• Funding amount: $14,429,825
• Number of funding rounds: 3
• Number of investors: 6

You can find their website here.

8) GETFASTER.IO

In Germany, a new generation of express delivery grocery merchant has launched, with delivery times starting at 10 minutes.

Details of the startup:

• Started in: 2020
• Founders: Anton Zakharov, Dmitry Bergelson, George Skalsky, Kirill Solonitsyn
• Industries: Consumer, Consumer Goods, Delivery, E-Commerce, Food and Beverage, Food Delivery, Grocery, Retail, Retail Technology, Same Day Delivery
• Number of employees: 11-50
• Funding amount: € 1,500,000
• Number of funding rounds: 4
• Number of investors: 2

You can find their website here.

9) Schüttflix

Schüttflix is a bulk construction supply digital marketplace and delivery platform.

Details of the startup:

• Started in: 2018
• Founders: Christian Hülsewig, Thomas Hagedorn
• Industries: Construction, Marketplace
• Number of employees: 11-50
• Funding amount: € 14,000,000
• Number of funding rounds: 2
• Number of investors: 2

You can find their website here.

10) nextmarkets

nextmarkets is a commission-free internet broker in Europe.

Details of the startup:

• Started in: 2014
• Founders: Dominic Heyden, Manuel Heyden
• Industries: Financial Services, FinTech, Stock Exchanges, Trading Platform
• Number of employees: 11-50
• Funding amount: $43,318,971
• Number of funding rounds: 4
• Number of investors: 9

You can find their website here.

11) McLaren Group

McLaren Group is a sports car manufacturer that specializes in automotive, motorsport, and technology.

Details of the startup:

• Started in: 2017
• Founders: Bruce McLaren, Ron Dennis
• Industries: Automotive, Information Technology, Manufacturing, Sports
• Number of employees: 1001-5000
• Funding amount: £353,800,000
• Number of funding rounds: 2
• Number of investors: 2

You can find their website here.

12) Homelike

Homelike is an online marketplace for corporations and corporate travelers to rent furnished and serviced apartments on a temporary basis.

Details of the startup:

• Started in: 2014
• Founders: Christoph Kasper, Dustin Figge
• Industries: Furniture, Real Estate, Rental, Rental Property, Travel, Travel Accommodations
• Number of employees: 101-250
• Funding amount: $18,756,282
• Number of funding rounds: 3
• Number of investors: 8

You can find their website here.

13) RightNow

By acquiring legal claims and paying a major percentage of the claim within 24 hours, RightNow gives consumers access to justice.

Details of the startup:

• Started in: 2017
• Founders: Benedikt Martin Quarch, Phillip Eischet, Torben Antretter
• Industries: Consumer, FinTech, Legal Tech
• Number of employees: 11-50
• Funding amount: $10,300,000
• Number of funding rounds: 4
• Number of investors: 8

You can find their website here.

14) vivenu

Vivenu provides a unified platform for ticket sales management, marketing, and analysis.

Details of the startup:

• Started in: 2018
• Industries: Event Management, Events, Ticketing
• Number of employees: 11-50
• Funding amount: € 14,000,000
• Number of funding rounds: 2
• Number of investors: 3

You can find their website here.

15) clickworker

Clickworker.com is a crowdsourcing platform that provides a virtual workforce for projects or businesses on demand.

Details of the startup:

• Started in: 2005
• Founders: Alexander Linden
• Industries: Crowdsourcing, SEO
• Number of employees: 11-50
• Funding amount: € 10,650,000
• Number of funding rounds: 6
• Number of investors: 9

You can find their website here.

16) VMRay

The VMRay Analyzer is a game-changing tool for dynamic threat analysis, including zero-day and targeted attacks.

Details of the startup:

• Started in: 2013
• Founders: Carsten Willems, Ralf Hund
• Industries: Cyber Security, Information Technology, Network Security
• Number of employees: 51-100
• Funding amount: $28,900,000
• Number of funding rounds: 4
• Number of investors: 3

You can find their website here.

17) JustSpices

Just Spices is a spice blend and meal prep company that produces and sells food.

Details of the startup:

• Started in: 2014
• Founders: Bela Seebach, Florian Falk, Ole Strohschnieder
• Industries: Food and Beverage, Food Delivery, Food Processing
• Number of employees: 11-50
• Funding amount: € 13,000,000
• Number of funding rounds: 3
• Number of investors: 5

You can find their website here.

18) Studitemps

Experts in Digital Work

Details of the startup:

• Started in: 2008
• Founders: Andreas Wels, Benjamin Roos
• Industries: Career Planning, Education, Recruiting, Staffing Agency
• Number of employees: 251-500
• Funding amount: € 24,200,000
• Number of funding rounds: 11
• Number of investors: 7

You can find their website here.

19) COMPEON

COMPEON is a full-service supplier of SME financing that is product and vendor agnostic.

Details of the startup:

• Started in: 2012
• Founders: Frank Wuller, Kai Boringschulte, Nico Peters
• Industries: B2B, Finance, Financial Services, FinTech, Small and Medium Businesses
• Number of employees: 51-100
• Funding amount: € 29,500,000
• Number of funding rounds: 4
• Number of investors: 9

You can find their website here.

20) e.GO Mobile

e.GO Mobile AG is a company that designs and manufactures electronic automobiles.

Details of the startup:

• Started in: 2015
• Founders: Günther Schuh
• Industries: Automotive, Electric Vehicle, Sustainability, Transportation
• Number of employees: 251-500
• Funding amount: € 30,000,000
• Number of funding rounds: 1
• Number of investors: 4

You can find their website here.

21) Frontastic

Frontastic is an API-First eCommerce and headless CMS frontend as a service.

Details of the startup:

• Started in: 2017
• Founders: Henning Emmrich, Thomas Gottheil, Tobias Schlitt, Udo Rauch
• Industries: Computer, E-Commerce, Software
• Number of employees: 11-50
• Funding amount: € 3,000,000
• Number of funding rounds: 3
• Number of investors: 5

You can find their website here.

22) Learnship

Learnship is a company that provides online business language training through an unique web conferencing service.

Details of the startup:

• Started in: 2008
• Founders: Sushel Bijganath, Thomas Sonntag
• Industries: Education, Language Learning, Training
• Number of employees: 251-500
• Funding amount: € 10,000,000
• Number of funding rounds: 3
• Number of investors: 6

You can find their website here.

FAQs

What Is The Average Investment In Nordrhein-Westfalen?

According to a recent report by the German startup association Startups Nordrhein-Westfalen, the average startup investment in the region was €5 million in 2016.

Is Nordrhein-Westfalen A Good State To Start A Business?

Yes, Nordrhein-Westfalen is an excellent state to start a business. The state has a strong economy and a supportive business environment. Additionally, the state offers a variety of resources and support for businesses.

How Many Startups Are There In Nordrhein-Westfalen?

There are an estimated 1,000 startups in Nordrhein-Westfalen.