About us
Our mission
Scale-up.NRW empowers high-potential startups from North Rhine-Westphalia to expand onto the global stage and attractiveness of our ecosystem across Germany. This is a key step toward establishing our region as one of Europe’s top startup destinations.
The program is carried out on behalf of the Ministry of Economics, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.
NRW start-up ecosystem
North Rhine-Westphalia has become one of the most important startup locations in Germany - this is also shown by the positive results of NRW Start-up Reports 2020. The in-depth analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the ecosystem of “Startup Genome” However, 2020 also showed that further support is needed in the development of larger tech start-ups — the so-called “scale-up segment”.
Scale-up.NRW will therefore help start-ups achieve rapid growth and will address challenges such as scaling the business model internationally, expanding the management team and implementing far-reaching organizational changes.
Research Report #1
What are the biggest challenges for scale-ups and how will NRW develop as a start-up region?
As part of the program's kick-off event, Scale-up.NRW and the Handelsblatt Research Institute conducted a survey among participants.
Research Report #2
It is no secret that AI is widely used in start-ups. The use of artificial intelligence increases efficiency and productivity, improves the customer experience and reduces error rates and staffing requirements.
As part of the launch night of Scale-up.NRW, the Handelsblatt Research Institute conducted a survey among participants. The results clearly show that the use of AI opens up greater growth opportunities for start-ups. More details and all results can be found in the full report.
About us
What our Community says about Scale-up.NRW:
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. ”
Who's behind
Scale-up.NRW?
The program is implemented by the Digital Innovation Hub (digihub) Düsseldorf/Rheinland and Start2 Group. The consortium provides the necessary local and international experience in scaling startups and ecosystem development.
Several team members have founded startups themselves or spent years working in them. This hands-on experience enables us to engage with startups, VCs and the broader ecosystem as true peers. The program team is further backed by an extensive network of mentors, investors, and supporters.
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About Digital Innovation Hub Düsseldorf/Rhineland
The digihub Düsseldorf/Rheinland with its own seed- accelerator program “ignition” is a central ecosystem player in NRW.
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About Start2
Founded in 2008 Start2 Group has always played a central role in the success stories of thousands of startups and has accompanied them seamlessly from initial capital raising to global expansion. They operate in key markets in Europe, America, Asia and the Middle East and are shaping the future of innovation on a global level.
Meet the Team
Nadine Thees
Program Director & Managing Director
digihub
Lisa Brauer
Deputy Program Director & Managing Director digihub
Marius Rosenberg
Deputy Program Director & CPO
Start2 Group
Matthias Notz
Deputy Program Director & CEO
Markus Hafner
Senior Scaleup Manager
Anna Keup
Senior Scaleup Manager
Dr. Christopher Smolka
Senior Scaleup manager
Larissa Wagner
Senior Marketing Manager &
Team Lead
Tim Ohly
Operations & People Manager
Vincent Merbecks
Visual Design & Communications Manager
Christopher Nils Meyer
Senior Event Manager
Lisa Frommann
Junior Content Manager