Christian Miele, Katharina Beck and other voices from the startup scene about Reiche’s new startup strategy. From cautiously positive to “too late and weak in terms of craftsmanship”.
The federal government is now investing directly in defense startups. This emerged from a new paper by Economics Minister Katherina Reiche, CDU, which the Gründerszene was able to see in advance. The long list contains many things that have been known for a long time, for example that it will become easier to lay off high earners. What is interesting is that there is no direct mention of “foundation in 24 hours”. This was one of the coalition’s favorite projects. Now the easy target has disappeared under the carpet. The details of the strategy can be read here.
We asked for reactions in the scene.
Christoph Stresing
Managing Director at the Federal Association of German Startups eV
“Startups and scaleups are recognized as important drivers of innovation and progress for our business location. We welcome that.
The focus of the strategy on scaling innovative companies is also correct. Because only if we create real growth prospects for ourselves will we be able to sustain the added value here in the long term. Improving financing conditions plays an important role here. The fact that the strategy in this context bridges the gap between retirement provision and venture capital is an important step. We also rate the inclusion of the conditions for employee share ownership and a more flexible protection against dismissal as positive.
With a total of eight focus topics, the strategy provides further important starting points to make Germany more attractive for startups and scaleups. In the end, what is most important is rapid and consistent implementation of the plans. In this respect, it would have been desirable to adopt the strategy earlier in the legislative period. The real work is just beginning now. We need determination and clear prioritization in government action for the future topic of startups and scaleups. As a startup association, we will also monitor the implementation very closely and, if necessary, push for more speed and greater ambition.”
Catherine Beck
Green Party member of the Bundestag, startup politician
“Finally there, but far too late and far too weak in terms of craftsmanship. We presented the first and comprehensive startup strategy under Habeck within six months, despite the Russian war of aggression. The federal government took almost three times as long and is presenting a weak document, although it could have easily and naturally built on the good preparatory work of its own ministry with its own signature.
The will was obviously missing and the delayed result is correspondingly disappointing: without clear goals and binding dates, this is not a strategy, but an uncreative, non-binding list of measures. This so-called strategy, which is really weak in terms of craftsmanship, also has glaring gaps in its content.
When it comes to the all-important question of capital, the document remains far too vague and far too unambitious: initial approaches to private pension provision can be seen, but how the extensive institutional capital from pension funds, insurance companies and pension funds should finally be brought into the VC market remains completely unanswered.
On the industry side, individual things are picked out; a strategy for startups and scaleups, if it focuses on sectors, should present a diversified future agenda. But the minister is almost only concerned with defense – a dangerous cluster risk. Giving artificial intelligence less weight than defense in a startup strategy is a key strategic mistake. Social entrepreneurship is completely missing, green tech doesn’t go beyond marginal notes – glaring gaps, especially in times when the state is making cuts in the social sector and climate transformation is far from being financed.
A startup and scaleup strategy is an investment strategy in our entire future. The focus on defense tech is not surprising and this sector also belongs in a holistic strategy. Anyone who says defense must also say AI, social entrepreneurship and green tech very clearly – otherwise it is not a future strategy, but a list.
Over 3,000 start-ups in the first half of the year show: Our founders are ready, the potential at the location is huge. The strategy should fuel this potential, but unfortunately it is neither a strategy nor a liberation move after a long period of inaction. Our location deserves more professionalism, creative enthusiasm and ambition.”
Christian Miele
Investor at Headline, himself a CDU member
“It’s good that the startup and scaleup strategy is finally coming. It was long overdue. In terms of content, the strategy makes important points. Despite many test orders, the strategy provides good starting points for improving the conditions for scaling and growth.
Starting tomorrow it has to be about ambitious implementation. All departments are required here. We don’t need any concerns, but rather a focus on our competitiveness. For things to get better, things have to change. The strategy is a building block for this.”
Tina Dreimann
Investor and founder of Betterventures
“The strategy makes the right diagnosis: Germany doesn’t have a capital problem, but rather an allocation problem. The next step is to direct the capital more intelligently. In the USA, around half of the VC investors were themselves founders, in Europe eight percent. It is precisely this entrepreneurial capital that we should activate.
We need breadth: A startup nation emerges from many bold investments across industries and phases, not from a handful of mega bets. Doubling WIN commitments, opening up pension provision and reforming employee participation are the right levers for this.
Now speed counts. 152 measures are a strong start. Growth only comes from implementation.”
Philip Herrmann
BRYCK Startup Alliance, a start-up network also supported by the federal government
“The strategy alone will not be enough. Ultimately, it is a matter of consistently implementing these many measures. This will only be possible if we in Germany overcome fragmentation, set clear responsibilities, budgets and goals and the federal government prioritizes the issue as a whole. Then we could make it back to the Champions League.”