Startup Genome and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia Release the NRW Startup Report 2025 - a Data-Driven Analysis of North Rhine-Westphalia's Startup Ecosystem

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / September 11, 2025 / Startup Genome and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia have unveiled the NRW Startup Report 2025, providing an in-depth, data-driven analysis of the state's startup ecosystem. In its third edition, the report captures the progress, momentum, challenges, and opportunities shaping North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW)'s entrepreneurial landscape.

Key Findings:

• NRW recorded 674 new startup formations in 2024, a 26% increase from the previous year, signaling a strong rebound after two years of decline. NRW ranked second in Germany for startup creation in 2024, just behind Berlin.

• Despite a global median decline of 24% in Ecosystem Value across the Top 50 ecosystems, NRW's Ecosystem Value grew by 9% to $12.6 billion USD.

• Venture capital investment in NRW rose by 58% in 2024, with AI emerging as the leading sector.

• In 2024, the number of scaleups in NRW more than doubled compared to the previous year, approaching the record level last set in 2021. Startups participating in the Scale-up. NRW program continued to outperform, scaling 30% faster than comparable German startups and 55% faster than other NRW startups outside the program.

• Startups in NRW created approximately 6,200 new direct jobs in 2024, reaching a record for the region. Since 2020, startups have generated over 26,000 direct and 100,000 indirect jobs in Germany.

• With 52% of all startup funding in NRW flowing to Deep Tech sectors between 2020-2024, the ecosystem is well-positioned to capitalize on global trends. However, NRW startups still have limited international presence, with only 0.7% establishing offices abroad, predominantly in the U.S.

"This year's report underscores NRW's resilience and strategic positioning within the global startup landscape. With rising investment, a record number of scaleups, and progress in Deep Tech, NRW is making tangible strides. Our collaboration with the Ministry enables us to provide this rigorous analysis to help shape policies and initiatives that further elevate the ecosystem." - Stephan Kuester, Managing Partner, Startup Genome

Drawing on extensive data from over 16,000 startups and 10 key entrepreneurial ecosystems in NRW, the 2025 edition benchmarks NRW's performance across critical metrics including Startup Creation, Venture Capital, Startup Exits, Ecosystem Value, and Diversity and Impact.

View the full report here. Explore previous editions and other insightful Startup Genome reports here.

ABOUT STARTUP GENOME
Startup Genome is the world-leading innovation ecosystem development organization, having worked with more than 185 economic and innovation ministries and public/private agencies in over 65 countries. We work to catalyze startup success and ecosystem growth and ensure that all cities and countries capture their fair share of the new economy. Startup Genome strategy clients grew their ecosystem values 59% faster than peers (41% vs. 25%). On average, Startup Genome clients produced $1.4 billion per year more in ecosystem value from an average starting point of $9.2 billion. Our evidence-based ecosystem research, advisory, and scaleup programs are rooted in global experience with the world's largest AI-curated startup dataset and proprietary instruments developed from over a decade of primary research.

Contact Information
Franzis Walther
Head of Operations
franzis@startupgenome.com

SOURCE: Startup Genome