Local VCs in Berlin — A Network Analysis

Too Long; Didn't Read

Over the last years, Berlin has been on the path of becoming Europe’s most active startup-hub. According to the <a href="http://startup-ecosystem.compass.co/ser2015/" target="_blank">Global Startup Ecosystem Ranking</a>, which rates cities’ <a href="https://hackernoon.com/tagged/startup" target="_blank">startup</a> attractiveness, Berlin moved up from place #15 in 2012 to #9 in 2015. <a href="http://start-up-initiative.ey.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/EY_Start-up_Barometer_2016.pdf" target="_blank">EY</a> places Berlin even in front of London, as Berlin surpassed London in startup funding figures both in 2014 and 2015. With flagship companies like SoundCloud and the various Rocket Internet ventures, Berlin has been standing in international focus for years. Berlin-based Wunderlist was acquired by Microsoft in 2015, food service Delivery Hero is valued at $3.1 billion. In 2016, Berlin’s online bank fintech NUMBER26 raised $40 million from various (half of them being non-German) Investors, including Battery Ventures and Peter Thiel’s Valar Ventures. However, while these exits, billion dollar valuations and large late stage funding rounds are good news, they’re still quite rare.