#StartupsToWatch
In the past few months, some young and older Cologne startups have again been able to raise sums in the millions. These include exciting and busy companies such as eternal.ag, foodforecast and United Manufacturing Hub.
The Rhine metropolis of Cologne is one of the most exciting startup locations in Germany. In the past few months, the Cologne startup scene has once again made a number of headlines with innovative ideas and high-growth companies. Here are some promising startups that have recently caught our attention.
5 Cologne startups from which we expect big things
eternal.ag
The robotics startup eternal.ag, founded in 2025 by Renji John and Sherry Kunjachan, relies on autonomous harvesting robots for greenhouses. “We remove the biggest risk in greenhouse operations: uncertainty of labor. Our autonomous robots handle hard, repetitive crop work, around the clock,” is what the concept says. Simon Capital, Oyster Bay Venture Capital, EquityPitcher Ventures and Backbone Ventures recently invested 8 million euros in the company. More about eternal.ag
food forecast
foodforecast, founded in 2018 by Justus Lauten as werksta.tt, uses artificial intelligence to reduce food waste. The Dutch impact investor SHIFT Invest, European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF), Future Food Fund and Aeronaut Invest recently invested 8 million euros in the company. The fresh capital will flow particularly into “international expansion”. More about food forecast
United Manufacturing Hub
United Manufacturing Hub (UMH), founded in Aachen in 2021 by Christian Proch, Alexander Krüger and Jeremy Theocharis, wants to help companies digitally network their machines. The Danish early-stage investor Kompas VC, the Berlin financier seed + speed Ventures, the London investor Sustainable Future Ventures (SFV Capital), Archimedes New Ventures and business angels such as Jan Oberhauser and Jeff Hammerbacher recently invested 5 million euros in the company. More about UMH
Cellbox
Cellbox, founded in 2017 by Kathrin Adlkofer, takes care of “warm chain logistics technology”. This is about a “regulated environment for the transport of living cells, organoids, tissues and other novel biological materials”. The business angel network Companisto and existing investors such as NRW.BANK recently invested 3.5 million euros in the company. More about Cellbox
harmony
Harmonie, founded in 2025 by Lucas Jonas, Paul Ziche, José Neri and Jonathan Schulte, positions itself as an “Energy-as-a-Service provider for German medium-sized businesses”. The team wants to help commercial and industrial customers “automatically purchase electricity when it is available in a cost-effective and renewable manner.” Vireo Ventures, SIVentures, Saxovent, Angel Invest, Heimatboost and DNA Ventures recently invested 2.2 million euros in the young company. More about harmony
Get started in Cologne – #Koelnbusiness
In our focus on Cologne, we highlight the dynamic startup ecosystem of the Rhine metropolis. What are the conditions for founders, what investments flow into innovative ideas and which startups provide new impetus? Around 800 startups have already chosen Cologne as their location – supported by a lively start-up scene, a strong investor landscape and numerous coworking spaces, trade fairs and networking events. As a central contact point for the startup and innovation scene, the Cologne Business Economic Development Agency strengthens the framework conditions for founders, connects them with investors and offers targeted support. This section is supported by KölnBusiness. #Koelnbusiness on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
