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Innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and know-how are the foundation of our successful startup ecosystem in Germany. This vibrant startup culture links members closely to each other and attracts not only investors, but also established companies as well as the business community.

EY Startup has found its task in connecting different parties within the ecosystem for an ideal exchange. We support your startup in all relevant fields such as strategic questions, tax, business development, legal counseling or financial decision making. On this page you will find out about our know-how, events, activities and EY contacts in your region.

Updates

EY Startup Barometer Germany – January 2023

Despite market uncertainties and 43 percent less venture capital investments in 2022, the German startup industry recorded its second strongest full-year result. In addition, the 1000 deal mark was surpassed for the second time in a row.

You can find more information here.

EY Startup

Early stage

Is your business plan gaining traction? We can help you with your financial reporting, the identification of state funds for your sustainability and R&D activities, support your approach reaching out to investors, and many other topics that help you to bring your idea forward. These steps involve also setting up a strategic plan for funding your startup (via private or public channels), as well as the valuation of your business model.

Formats:

Scaleup

Sales are increasing and your company is growing. We are at your side when it comes to financing the innovative development of your products and services through public funding, raising venture capital and putting growth on a sound footing. Our experts will provide you with advice and support to ensure that your growth results in sustainable business success.

Formats:

  • CEO Roundtable
  • Investor Dinner
  • Funding Matinée (selection process)

Grownup

Your Grownup grows and establishes itself as a brand.You already participate succesful in the market? We integrate you into innovation ecosystems and assist you with further financing rounds, up to a partial exit or IPO. On the way to new milestones you have to find the right answers to bigger challenges.

Formats:

  • IPO Readiness Assessment
  • Funding advice

Investors

You are looking for innovative solutions, smart investments and a great startup team? We organize networking and matchmaking events, support investment monitoring & value creation and conduct target screenings for you.

Corporates

To connect your startup to established companies is something very important, we are happy to support you here. We bring startups together with German SMEs and communicate about the establishment of cooperations, the integration of your company as well as trend analyses (EY Startup Barometer). With our help, you could find the perfect partner for your startup to participate in innovative collaborations.

Other institutions

We also provide support on the regional level and direct on your site. Among other things, we help identify suitable funding programs and apply for tenders, as well as regional activities.

Events and Workshops

Launch of the EY study “Crowdfunding” Date follows

Registration via Cambridge University

Ernst & Young GmbH
Christopher Schmitz
Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft
Mergenthalerallee 3–5
65760 Eschborn
Germany

News and Publications

12.01.2023
Despite market uncertainties and 43 percent less venture capital investments in 2022, the German startup industry recorded its second strongest full-year result. In addition, the…
29.07.2022
Despite the market uncertainties, investments in German startups remain at a high level: The total value of investments in German startups decreased by 20% in the first six months…
23.03.2022
2021 was the year of the Unicorns - the number of German startups with a billion-dollar valuation quadrupled from six to 24 within one year. The interest in the German Tech…
14.01.2022
Never before has so much money flowed into German startups as in 2021. The total value of all investments in German startups has more than tripled - an increase of 229% to €17.4…

Further topics

Contacts

Francesco Pisani

Francesco Pisani

Strategy and Transactions | EY Parthenon

Phone: +49 160 939 25657
Francesco.Pisani@parthenon.ey.com

Phone:

Christoph Niemann

Christoph Niemann

Global Compliance & Reporting

Phone: +49 231 55011 24094
Christoph.Niemann@de.ey.com

Markus Fischer

Markus Fischer

TCF-Lead Advisory

Phone: +49 89 14331 23475
Markus.Fischer@de.ey.com

Dr. Thomas Prüver

Dr. Thomas Prüver

Head of EY Startup, TCF-Transaction Diligence

Phone: +49 30 25471 10164
Thomas.Pruever@de.ey.com

Timo Engelhardt

Timo Engelhardt

TCF-Transaction Diligence

Phone: +49 711 9881 12289
Timo.Engelhardt@de.ey.com

Jan Berodt

Jan Berodt

Audit

Phone: +49 40 36132 19541
Jan.Berodt@de.ey.com

Christopher Schmitz

Christopher Schmitz

EYP-Transaction Strategy & Execution

Phone: +49 6196 996 13545
Christopher.Schmitz@de.ey.com

Stefan Mayer-Ehrling

Stefan Mayer-Ehrling

Global Compliance & Reporting

Phone: +49 341 2526 26098
Stefan.Mayer-Ehrling@de.ey.com

Phone:

Mandy Bilz

Mandy Bilz

Financial Accounting Advisory Services

Phone: +49 160 939 14410
Mandy.Bilz@de.ey.com

Jochen Schmitz

Jochen Schmitz

Marketing

Phone: +49 6196 996 24035
Jochen.Schmitz@de.ey.com

Michael Bätz

Michael Bätz

Finance

Phone: +49 361 6589 23247
Michael.Baetz@de.ey.com

Christina Martens

Christina Martens

Marketing

Phone: +49 40 36132 18853
Christina.Martens@de.ey.com

Phone:

Bernhard Muthsam

Bernhard Muthsam

Business Development

Phone: +49 711 9881 14152
Bernhard.Muthsam@de.ey.com

Dr. Ines Fritz

Dr. Ines Fritz

Law

Phone: +49 89 14331 22580
Ines.Fritz@de.ey.com

Varinia Prüfer

Varinia Prüfer

Business Development

Phone: +49 30 25471 21522
Varinia.Pruefer@de.ey.com

Martin Neutzner

Martin Neutzner

Tax & ESOP

Phone: +49 711 9881 17291
Martin.Neutzner@de.ey.com

Phone:

EY Startup Academy 2022: Closing Event

On November 24, it is time to select the winner of the EY Startup Academy 2022! An expert jury will decide which of our 8 finalists has achieved the biggest progress throughout this year’s program – but also our audience gets the opportunity to vote for their favorite startup.

Look forward to exciting pitches, inspiring panels and keynotes and the opportunity to network with startups, investors, companies and other participants of the startup ecosystem.

Register now for our Closing Event and join us at TechQuartier – or follow the event virtually via live streaming.

You can find more information about the EY Startup Academy here.

Closing Event – EY Startup Academy 2021

It’s this time of the year: the winner of the EY Startup Academy 2021 will be selected from our 9 finalists on November 18. Who will win the EY Startup Academy Award 2021: Alpha Brain Technologies BV, ambeRoad, AristanderAI, autogramm.io, evAI Intelligence, HCP Sense, Ignition, MotionsCloud or Summetix?

Our expert panel of judges decides which of the startups has improved the most throughout 6-week programme – but attendees will also get a vote. Register now for our Closing Event and get to know exciting startups, investors, companies and other participants in the startup ecosystem!

EY Startup Academy 2020: Closing Event

After 6 weeks of intensive cooperation, the EY Startup Academy will reach its climax on 12 November at the TechQuartier in Frankfurt.

Join the finale and follow the final pitches of our selected startups live!

In the preceding weeks, the participating startups met with investors, bank representatives and consultants at over 30 events and workshops. At the evening event, the finalists will hold a final presentation in front of an expert jury and the winner will receive the EY Startup Academy Award.

Further information here.

EY Start-up Academy 2020: Kick-off

The fourth edition of the EY Start-up Academy begins on 15 September – for the first time with a virtual kick-off! Together with our strong partners, which include investors, finance and mobility companies as well as other important players from the start-up ecosystem, we are looking for ambitious Tech and FinTech business models with growth potential. The program is aimed at Tech or FinTech start-ups that have completed the Alpha phase, already have a minimum viable product or a proof of concept and are seeking funding within the next 12 months.

The founders nominated for the EY Start-up Academy will present their business ideas to a jury of experts in a pitch contest. You can vote on the finalists for the EY Start-up Academy. Join
the kick-off and experience with us the best pitches!

Further information here.

EY Start-up Academy 2019: Closing Event

After 6 weeks of intensive cooperation, the EY Start-up Academy will reach its climax on 12 November at the TechQuartier in Frankfurt. Investor, Business Angel and Co-founder of 360T, Alfred Schorno, will tell us in our keynote about his experiences on the growth journey from start-up to exit.

Join the finale and follow the final pitches of our selected start-ups live!

In the preceding weeks, the participating start-ups met with investors, bank representatives and consultants at over 30 events and workshops. At the evening event, the finalists will hold a final presentation in front of an expert jury and the winner will receive the EY Start-up Academy Award.

EY Start-up Academy 2019: Kick-off

The third edition of the EY Start-up Academy begins on 17 September. In cooperation with Bundesverband Deutsche Startups, Business Angels FrankfurtRheinMain, Deutsche Börse and TechQuartier Frankfurt, we are looking for ambitious Tech and FinTech business models with growth potential. The program is aimed at Tech or FinTech start-ups that have completed the Alpha phase, already have a minimum viable product or a proof of concept and are seeking funding within the next 12 months.

The founders nominated for the EY Start-up Academy will present their business ideas to a jury of experts in a pitch contest. You can vote on the finalists for the EY Start-up Academy. Join the kick-off and experience with us the best pitches!

Money for nothing

While Venture Capital Funding activity has revealed its first signs of slow-down, the importance of grants and publicly co-financed financial instruments is increasingly relevant for boosting early-stage startup scene and through that, innovation in Europe. The European and national funding landscape provides numerous non-payable as well as repayable financing options to help taking the startup ideas to the market, diversified by industries, types of projects / companies or funding purpose. Not only can finding suitable funding in such variety be a challenge, but also meeting the eligibility thresholds for accessing finance.

Ingo Bunzeck will explain in 7 easy steps how to get from the ‘idea to grant’ while organizing the growth process and establishing the mindsets which nurture development of concepts into viable business models – the secret to securing funding from public instruments. You will have an opportunity to test your business innovation project idea’s suitability for funding. 

Interested? We warmly welcome you!

Please note that the workshop is offered in English.

Start-up Safari Frankfurt am Main

What is the current status of the start-up ecosystem in Frankfurt and how could it develop in the coming years? What can the community expect from the companies and people sustaining it? The aim of this session is to provide some answers to such relevant questions, as well as to serve as thought provoking discussion for the various parties involved in the ecosystem.

EY is pleased to offer you a perspective on how the start-up ecosystem in Frankfurt is changing an provide you with an overview of how it could evolve into a global point of attraction for talents and ideas. After a brief introduction to the EY start-up world, the session will continue with the illustration of the Frankfurt journey as start-up hub and conclude with a panel made of reputable representatives of the Frankfurt ecosystem.

Jochen Schmitz

Launch of the EY study “Crowdfunding”