Start-ups in Berlin – Hype or spearhead of a German Silicon Valley?

Editorial by Alexander von Falkenberg, Managing director High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH

For some years now, Berlin has been enjoying an impressive boom. In the wake of Germany’s Federal Government, associations, law firms, and established companies have been relocating to the city. Legions of skilled workers and construction companies have been erecting modern office buildings and apartments, and old buildings have been lovingly renovated. A pent-up energy caused by the lack of alternatives is being discharged into creative entrepreneurial power.

Start-ups are elevating the Republic’s former ugly duckling Berlin into Europe’s rising star. Start-ups are settling everywhere in the city to grasp all opportunities offered by technological upheavals – and to show the establishment. The first start-up billionaire companies evolved, and more will follow. TV and radio are of course full of companies offering consumer products – B2C: Zalando, Lieferheld, and 6 Wunderkinder. Yet, Berlin is more. Schering and the Charité are becoming the centre of highly promising medical and biotech companies, and also Betahaus and AtomLeap are now home to companies offering tangible products. The art of German engineering cast in hardware.

Adlershof in southeast Berlin is perhaps the sole, yet outstanding nucleus of the Berlin technology and start-up boom. For more than 20 years now, Adlershof has been focusing on science, high tech, living, and growth. So, if input is the greatest driver of output, there is something big developing here. Despite the volatile economy and the ups and downs on the stock market, the new Berlin speedboat entrepreneurs will also master choppy waters. The upward trend of the last ten years and perhaps the present boom as well will continue. The scientific and entrepreneurial diversity from Adlershof is already breeding out outstanding achievements. And much can be expected still from this location. After all, Warren Buffet too is not sitting on Wall Street either, but is in Omaha, Nebraska.