Germany’s startup sector is producing a growing number of companies valued at over €1 billion ($1.14 billion), partly driven by the artificial intelligence boom, according to an annual study.
The research by the German Startup Monitor shows that about €8 billion in venture capital has flowed into startups by the end of September 2026, surpassing the approximately €7.5 billion invested throughout the whole of the previous year.
By the end of September, 10 new startups have achieved a company valuation of at least €1 billion – so-called “unicorns” – according to the report, which has been published yearly since 2013.
The data analysis and survey of more than 1,800 growth companies is to be presented in Berlin on Monday by the German Startup Association.
With a total of 39 unicorns, Germany has reached a record level, the report said.
These include major names such as online broker Trade Republic, smartphone bank N26 and software firm Personio. New additions this year include software company Osapiens, Neura Robotics and defence firm Stark Defense.
“Germany is founding [new companies] again – broadly and on a strong technological basis,” said Verena Pausder, chairwoman of the association.
For the purposes of the study, startups are defined as companies that are less than 10 years old, offer innovative products or business models, and have strong ambitions for growth.