Startup capital: 31 percent of all financing deals went to Berlin in 2025. Now a new ecosystem for defense startups is to be created.
A startup is founded in Berlin every 14 hours. This is shown by the 2025 balance sheet figures of the economic development agency Berlin Partner, the Senator for Economic Affairs Franziska Giffey and Berlin Partner Managing Director Dr. Stefan Franzke presented at a press conference on Monday morning.
In 2025, the metropolis was ahead in terms of both the number of financing rounds and the capital raised: With 218 financing rounds, Berlin is well ahead of Munich (124) and Hamburg (50). This means that 31 percent of all German deals were in the capital.
Berlin startups also received around 2.7 billion euros in venture capital – an increase of 23 percent compared to the previous year, according to the presentation of the balance sheet. In total, there were 619 new start-ups in Berlin last year – an increase of 24 percent compared to 2024 – and thus first place compared to the other federal states.
Ecosystem for defense startups in planning
Berlin Partner has now been commissioned by the Senate to build a defense tech ecosystem in order to network research, business and politics for security innovations and to promote settlements and company start-ups from this economic sector. The aim is to work together with other federal states, such as Brandenburg.
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It was decided to set up a Berlin DefTech ecosystem in December 2025. In addition, a staff position is to be set up in the Senate Chancellery. She will be the central contact for the federal government and the European Union and coordinate the interdepartmental coordination processes.
Why a DefTech ecosystem in Berlin?
According to Giffey and Berlin Partner, the capital is suitable for such an ecosystem for several reasons. With local official decision-making structures such as the Federal Ministry of Defense or the Bundeswehr’s Cyber Innovation Hub, proximity to politics, research, companies and a growing startup scene, the capital offers the best conditions for this. Defense Technology therefore offers further growth potential for Berlin as a business location.
“By expanding defense technology, we are creating a new field of innovation at the interface between security and business,” says Giffey. “The numerous dual-use innovations from areas such as AI, cybersecurity, robotics and photonics not only strengthen our resilience, but also create high-quality jobs and new growth prospects for Berlin.”
Over 400 companies are already in the dual use sector in the capital region
and develop products and software for civil and military purposes. Probably the best known: The combat drone startup Stark Defense.