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

Backed by industrial strength, research excellence, and MWIKE’s strategic leadership, NRW partnered with Startup Genome to transform its ecosystem—culminating in Scale-up.NRW, Europe’s first late-stage scaling program.

Startup value soars in NRW

 

Between GSER 2020 and GSER 2024, North Rhine-Westphalia’s startup ecosystem value surged from $3B to $10B.. This growth was driven by strategic investments, a strong focus on scaleups, and targeted policy support guided by Startup Genome's ecosystem assessments.

Initiatives like Scale-up.NRW have accelerated high-potential startups and attracted greater late-stage funding.

Client: Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia


The Ministry for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy drives North Rhine-Westphalia into the first climate-neutral industrial region and one of the most innovative and competitive business locations in Europe.

2019

Mapping strengths to shape a clear strategy

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.

 

2020

Shaping NRW’s scaleup strategy

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.

 

2021

Launching Europe’s first Scaleup Program

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.

 

2023

Refining scaleup support with new data

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.

2024

Informing policy with clear ecosystem data

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.

What made this project unique was the Ministry’s commitment to actionable change. By bringing policymakers and stakeholders together around a clear, data-backed roadmap, NRW became a model for how governments can lead startup ecosystem transformation.

Stephan Kuester
Managing Director
2025

North-Rhine Westphalia Today:

$10B

Ecosystem value 2020

$256M

Early Stage Funding ($) GSER 2024

People behind the success:

MWIKE, NRW
Dr. Johannes Velling
Dr. Johannes Velling
Head of Department
Katja Morawitz
Katja Morawitz
Referentin Digitale Wirtschaft
Startup Genome
Stephan Kuester
Stephan Kuester
Managing Partner
Pranav Arya
Pranav Arya
Sr. Director, Ecosystem Strategy

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