NRW: Tripling Ecosystem Value by building Europe’s first Scaleup Program

Startup Genome’s initial ecosystem assessment provided NRW with its first comprehensive map of ecosystem strengths and gaps—spotlighting sectors like Deep Tech and Sustainability as key opportunities for global growth. 

It revealed urgent needs for more venture funding and talent attraction strategies, while simultaneously raising NRW’s international profile and setting the stage for focused policy interventions. This marked a pivotal shift: from fragmented efforts to a clear, shared roadmap for building a globally competitive ecosystem.

With momentum building, Startup Genome and MWIKE collaborated to diagnose the next frontier for NRW’s ecosystem: helping its top startups scale. 

Together, we co-developed the vision and framework for a late-stage support program that could systematically tackle growth barriers—from fundraising to internationalization—setting NRW apart from other European regions. This design phase laid the intellectual and strategic groundwork for a high-impact, founder-centric initiative.

Under Startup Genome’s guidance, The State of North Rhine-Westphalia launched the first late-stage scaling program in continental Europe, Scale-up.NRW, an initiative that helps entrepreneurs overcome challenges in scaling and attract international VC investment. 

By providing tailored mentorship, global market access, and investor connections, the program has strengthened NRW’s startup ecosystem, enabling high-growth companies to scale more effectively and compete on an international level.

To build on the program’s momentum, MWIKE engaged Startup Genome, Dealroom, and The Next Web in a deeper analysis of the ecosystem’s evolving needs. This partnership produced new data on where high-growth startups were emerging and how existing support systems could evolve. 

The insights enabled more targeted investment and helped ecosystem builders identify gaps—especially around talent, late-stage funding, and international scaling—ensuring that NRW remains future-fit and founder-first.

Startup Genome delivered a transparent and comprehensive overview of key developments in NRW to support future policymaking. 

Incorporating peer benchmarking, sub-sector analysis, and data on funding and exits, the report offers critical insights for future growth. These data-driven findings will inform targeted policies that foster innovation, attract investment, and enhance the overall competitiveness of NRW’s startup ecosystem.