Blick in ein Münchner Gründungszentrum mit sechs jungen Menschen in Arbeitssituationen

Business location

Startups and new business

Munich’s startup scene benefits from a tried-and-true network of successful major corporations, established startups, and an excellent university and research environment full of outstanding minds and institutional supporters.

Success factors

Munich is a hugely appealing location for both talented individuals and investors. Total investment in Munich startups hit a new record high of €4.2 billion in 2021. Current key investment sectors are enterprise software, transport, energy, and robotics.

Photo: bayern design GmbH

Financing rounds also showed that almost one in three startups here is in or already beyond the growth stage. According to the German Startup Monitor 2022, Munich had the highest rate of in-demand startups aiming to go public or sell, at 84.6 percent.

Munich startups have an average of 42 employees and plan to employ 20 more people – more than in any other German city.¹

Some 36 percent of Munich startup employees have an international background.

Munich’s economy is characterized by international market experience, a strong focus on research and innovation and a highly dynamic labor market – all clear benefits for startups looking to grow and expand internationally.
1 _{Deutscher Startup Monitor 2022, PwC.}

“In Munich we have successfully managed to pool our strengths.”

Helmut Schönenberger, Co-founder and CEO of UnternehmerTUM

Infrastructure and networks

The City of Munich, Free State of Bavaria, and the chambers do everything in their power to provide startups with the infrastructure they need.

To start with, the Munich Business Startup Office provides free, expert advice. In addition, the City and Free State invest in specialist networks for entrepreneurs. Meet-ups, conferences, industry meetings and events bring Munich’s startup community together.

Advice from munich business

Here we offer free, expert advice on many aspects of setting up a business:

University support for entrepreneurs

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) is Germany’s best-known university for entrepreneurs. Its affiliated institute UnternehmerTUM, inspired by similar models in California, has helped around 70 startups into existence each year since 2002.
The Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), ranked 2nd in Germany in 2022, provides excellent support to entrepreneurs with its Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center IEC.²
Another key player in this area is the University of Applied Science’s Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship (SCE). Its main focus is on interdisciplinary, practical support.
The Munich Social Entrepreneurship Academy (SEA) provides special support to startups with a social focus.
The University of the Bundeswehr Munich has its own Entrepreneurship and Intrapreneurship Center, Founders@unibw, since 2019.

_{2 _see._{QS World University Rankings 2023}}

Official startup portal

More than 1,300 startups are active on Munich’s official startup portal. More than a quarter are from the IT/technology sector. Startups from the life sciences, mobility, energy and food are also well represented.

Experienced support networks

Entrepreneurs in Munich benefit from a multifaceted support network with services tailored to the needs of students, entrepreneurs, startups, and self-employed persons with a migration background. The networks offer numerous ways to interact, including networking events, workshops and coaching.

Startups and new business

Success factors

Infrastructure and networks

Advice from munich business

Official startup portal

Experienced support networks

Related topics

Success stories from Munich’s startup scene

The Munich Urban Colab

Munich insights with dealroom

Latest Munich startup news