We empower successful startups from NRW to create global growth
Scale-up.NRW is where you expand next level opportunities, surrounded by a world-class community.
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Empowering Pioneers. Empowering You.
Using individualized scaling paths, we support high-growth start-ups from NRW in expanding into international markets in a demand-oriented manner.
In our 18-month program, we support your start-up on its way to an international breakthrough.
Deine Vorteile bei Scale-up.NRW
Together, we develop an individualized scaling path for your start-up and support you where you need it.
Top Mentoring
Get 1:1 support from your individual lead mentor and get your specific questions answered by industry and industry experts.
01
Investor formats
We connect you with suitable investors to secure your next round of financing.
02
Founding personalities as sources of inspiration
Successful series founders and entrepreneurs are there for you when you need them.
03
Internationale Softlanding Pads
We offer you an international network in relevant target markets to help your local start-up enter the market.
04
Scale-up.NRW Events
Pitch in front of investors, convince new customers and raise your profile at our exclusive Scale-up.NRW events and a variety of partner events.
05
Peer-2-Peer Learnings
Exchange ideas with other founders on equal terms and learn from your experiences and challenges together.
06
Learn from the best
Our top-class community will accompany you on your journey from an advanced start-up to the next UNICORN candidate.
Mirko Novakovic
Dr. Salima Douven
Tim Schumacher
Agnieszka Kühn
Jacob Fatih
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Mirko Novakovic
“If you want to grow fast, you don't have time to learn everything yourself.
To scale successfully, you need mentors, coaches, and VCs who support you with real practical knowledge.
Scale-up.NRW offers you exactly that, without costs or equity.”
Our strong
Partner network
Our Scale-up.NRW participants are at the center of a strong partner network — within the NRW ecosystem and internationally.
Unser starkes
Partner-Netzwerk
Unsere Scale-up.NRW Teilnehmer stehen im Mittelpunkt eines starken Partner-Netzwerks - innerhalb des NRW-Ökosystems sowie international:
Our media and research partners
Are you a Pioneer?
We're looking for ambitious teams of founders who are ready for rapid growth. The best teams are selected for our ambitious program.
Marketable product & convinced customers
Your product is already on the market and is being used by a significant number of customers. You are not (anymore) in pure project business, but have an ongoing product business.
Extraordinary & diverse team
The most important posts in your team have been filled and the skill set complements each other perfectly. In addition, your start-up has at least 15 employees.
Necessary growth capital available
Your start-up has sufficient growth capital through completed financing (≥€1 million) and own sales (≥€0.5 million per year).
Ambition to scale & internationalize
Your start-up not only has the potential and motivation to scale quickly, but also the ambition to internationalize.
Waitlist for Batch #5
Not just another accelerator program.
Scale-up.nrw sounds exciting to you and would you like to be part of our community?
Then join our waiting list for the next cohort (expected to start in March 2026).
votes about us
This is what the teams from our first batch, our network partners and ambassadors say about Scale-up.nrw:
& Mercedes-Benz Bank
NRW ambassador
“We should support start-ups in Germany much more strongly, especially in the scale-up process, because growth is difficult and that is where most start-ups fail. ”
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Participant batch #1
“Without Scale-up.NRW, we would not have met people like Mike Richardson, an expert in the field of 'agile manufacturing, 'who is well connected internationally. It is the mindset of the people we meet, with whom we have contact that inspires us. ”
Participant batch #1
“There is a big difference between starting out as a start-up and then growing quickly as a scale-up. Scale-up.NRW provides you with tailor-made support for scaling. ”
Participant batch #1
“Personally, I can really highly recommend Scale-up.NRW. It's a great program and super structured with really, really great mentors and ambassadors. ”
Ecosystem partner
“It is absolutely important that start-ups in the industry talk to each other, network and generate mutual growth from this — also through cooperation. ”
Participant batch #1
“Using the Scale-up.NRW network and taking the next steps in the NRW region with support is exactly the right step to move the company forward. ”
Ecosystem partners
“We have great early-stage programs in NRW, we do a great job of training start-ups, but the international leap in particular is being carried out without the necessary expertise. Scale-up.nrw fills this gap. ”
The most important faqs
The application phase for Batch #4 (program start March 2025) is over. You can here Add to the waitlist for batch #5. The application phase for Batch #5 is expected to start in November 2025. The program always starts in mid-March of the following year.
The program lasts a total of 18 months and starts in March every year. As a founding team, you should plan for around two days a month to actively participate in the program.
No, there is no cost to participate in the program and no shares have to be transferred.
The program is aimed exclusively at companies based in NRW.
Any Questions?
Have a look at our faqs or get in touch with our Scale-up.NRW team directly.
Markus Hafner
Senior Scaleup Manager
Anna Keup
Senior Scaleup Manager
Christopher Smolka
Senior Scaleup Manager