Kiel
Germany
The city of Kiel sits at the northeastern edge of Germany by the Baltic Sea.
As the capital of the Schleswig-Holstein region, it plays a critical role in Germany’s maritime economy and is steadily building a name for itself in digital innovation, green technologies and applied research. With a population of 250,000 in the city and a wider regional footprint of over 1.2 million residents, the Kiel Region is compact and connected, offering founders access to industrial infrastructure, leading research institutions and cross-border trade with Scandinavia and the Baltic.
An economic powerhouse and region in Northern Germany
The Kiel Region, situated at the mouth of the Kiel Canal just 90 kilometers from Hamburg, is a vital port and maritime logistics hub. Over 30% of all goods traded between the North and Baltic Seas pass through the region, and the Kiel Canal is the busiest artificial waterway in the world, handling over 30,000 ships annually. This geographical advantage reinforces the region’s place as an industrial hub and research base in maritime technologies, shipbuilding and logistics optimization.
Its economy also benefits from strong cross-border engagement. The city is a founding member of the STRING network, an innovation and infrastructure alliance that connects German and Scandinavian regions. Through EU-supported programs, it is directly involved in smart mobility, climate innovation and green-shipping initiatives that aim to decarbonize the transport corridor stretching from Hamburg to Oslo.
A startup scene shaped by applied science
The innovation ecosystem of the Kiel Region is deeply intertwined with its universities and research institutes. The Muthesius University of Fine Arts and Design strengthens its creative economy, while the Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU) and the Kiel University of Applied Sciences (FH Kiel) serve as major engines of research, offering dedicated support for university spinouts, collaborative R&D and access to scientific infrastructure. CAU is part of several EU-funded projects in marine research, climate resilience and digital transformation, and its Kiel Science Factory (Kieler Wissenschaftszentrum) connects researchers directly with local companies.
The ecosystem is also home to the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, one of Europe’s leading marine-science institutions. It regularly partners with startups on innovations in ocean monitoring, robotics and offshore energy systems. Startups in the region often emerge at the intersection of these fields, working on everything from autonomous underwater vehicles to smart port software.
Specialist clusters and emerging verticals
The Kiel Region’s industrial focus areas are organized around active economic and innovation clusters. Key among them is the Maritime Cluster Norddeutschland, a regional network with over 350 members, including shipyards, logistics firms, research institutions and startups. The cluster facilitates joint R&D projects and provides technical guidance for companies working on decarbonizing maritime transport or building sustainable propulsion systems.
The Schleswig-Holstein region has also positioned itself as a leader in green hydrogen. Through the Norddeutsches Reallabor (North German Living Lab), Kiel is participating in the rollout of hydrogen-based technologies, especially for use in industrial shipping and public transport.
Digital health is another growth area, supported by the Life Science Nord cluster and projects linked to Kiel’s UKSH university hospital. Meanwhile, software ventures in AI, security and SaaS are gaining visibility through its startup support ecosystem.
Startup support and infrastructure
Early-stage founders in the region can access a growing number of accelerators, coworking spaces and public support programs, such as starterkitchen (a community and coworking space); the DLC (digital learning campus), and KITZ (the Kiel Innovation and Technology Center). The OpenCampus initiative (opencampus.sh) fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration through events, hackathons and founder-friendly programming; and the affiliated incubator COBL (CoWork, Open, Build, Learn) offers flexible workspaces and is a favorite landing spot for founders transitioning out of academia. The annual Waterkant Festival brings in international entrepreneurs and industry leaders for two days of diverse programming across multiple stages in addition to masterclasses, workshops, and networking.
StartUp SH, Schleswig-Holstein’s state-wide platform for entrepreneurship, offers free consulting, funding guidance and links to angel investors and VC firms. Its website also serves as a knowledge base for founders, helping them navigate everything from incorporation to IP protection.
Access to capital
While the Kiel Region is not a major VC hub, its startups benefit from regional funds and public co-investment schemes. The Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein (IB.SH) provides early-stage equity through the Seed- und Start-up-Fonds Schleswig-Holstein II, which co-invests alongside private capital in innovative young companies. Notable recent investments include startups in marine bio-tech and AI-powered logistics.
Founders also tap into growing angel activity across the region, such as the Baltic Business Angels Schleswig-Holstein network, which regularly hosts matching events. Networks such as the Digital Economy Schleswig-Holstein (DiWiSH) help founders to connect with investors and funding opportunities. For international expansion, programs like Enterprise Europe Network and STRING Innovation provide soft landing support and investor matchmaking.
An ecosystem that reflects its geography
Kiel’s startup community is small but cohesive, shaped by proximity to the sea and to policy. Many ventures are purpose-driven and focused on applied outcomes. Public institutions like the state government and the city’s economic development agency (KiWi) actively participate in shaping innovation agendas, with a special focus on sustainability, education and digital inclusion. And events such as the Waterkant Festival bring together international entrepreneurs, researchers and investors to discuss themes ranging from coastal resilience to the circular economy and mobility innovation. While Kiel may not have the scale of some cities, it offers something different: deep expertise in maritime industries, climate tech and applied science, and strong institutions to back its endeavors.
Facts and Figures
Kiel’s annual ecosystem growth rate between 2024 and 2025 was 14% (StartupBlink)..
The Maritime Cluster Norddeutschland has over 350 members, including 10+ maritime startups headquartered in Kiel.
Kiel University of Applied Sciences operates five applied research institutes that support startup collaboration in digital media, AI and marine tech.
In 2023, INNIO and Stadtwerke Kiel agreed to convert a coastal power plant into the world’s first large-scale engine cogeneration plant. It will run on 100% green hydrogen and be climate neutral by 2035 (INNIO)
Startups
Sylvester Rewilding aims to make rewilding accessible to all by transforming neglected land into thriving ecosystems, building a collective network of rewilding projects and wildlife sanctuaries across Europe. Galicia, its pilot project, is converting a eucalyptus plantation into the region’s first community-driven rewilding site.
Soilmonitor is an autonomous soil sensor that measures nitrate and other nutrients directly at root level throughout the growing season. Installed once a year with no maintenance, it delivers low-cost, high-frequency data to help farmers improve yield and reduce environmental impact.
Scicom Lab is a design studio that specializes in visual communication for science and complex topics. It blends journalism, public outreach and high-end design to create interactive posters, animations, data visualizations and digital exhibits to make research more visible and understandable.
Nascit enables fully automated production by replacing manual joining processes with nanoscale sculpturing. This new surface-treatment method creates tiny barbed structures that allow materials such as metal and plastic to bond permanently, allowing for efficient and lightweight product design and reduced material usage.
Horse-Up is a digital platform for managing equine health records. It streamlines communication between horse owners and professionals, simplifies documentation and supports interdisciplinary care, making treatments more efficient, reducing administrative processes for clinics, insurers and sellers, and enhancing animal welfare.
Flin Solar develops high-performance solar panels specifically designed for sailboats and yachts. It supports energy self-sufficiency at sea by providing reliable, lightweight and space-saving solar modules that fit seamlessly onto vessels and are built to withstand the challenges of saltwater, wind and movement.
This medtech startup is developing software that allows people to test their vision at home using a smartphone, making eye care more accessible and efficient. It combines smartphone-based augmented reality (AR) with scientifically validated psychometric testing methods, enabling precise and reliable visual acuity assessments.
Aquandas produces ultra-small, high-precision components for medical devices and other applications. It works with materials such as titanium and nitinol (a super-elastic metal with shape memory) to create customized, biocompatible parts thinner than a human hair, with intricate miniature geometries unachievable via traditional manufacturing.
Interviews
Programs to know about
Startups in Kiel in the build-up or growth phase
Kiel.Accelerates was launched by Kiel's economic development agency (KiWi) in collaboration with opencampus.sh and KITZ. Over four months, selected startups receive customized mentoring, professional guidance and access to a strong network of regional and national partners.
Early-stage founders, successors, part-time entrepreneurs and economically active nonprofits based in the Kiel Region
The GründungsCup KielRegion is a founders’ competition of the Kiel Region with three categories: the Founders Cup (GründungsCup), the NextGen Digital‑Cup for digital innovation and the NachhaltigkeitsCup for sustainable ventures. Open to founders aged 18 and up, it supports startups, part-time businesses and business successions with a new direction and economically active associations.
Prospective female founders in academia
EXIST Women is a federal support program aimed at empowering female founders in academia. The program offers participants mentoring, training and a financial grant to develop their business ideas and is part of a national effort to remove structural barriers and increase gender diversity in entrepreneurship.
Those interested in innovation, design thinking and problem-solving in real-world contexts
An intensive five-day-long event designed to catalyze innovation and creativity. Participants collaborate in multidisciplinary teams to rapidly prototype solutions to real-world challenges, and then iterate and refine their ideas while receiving guidance and support from mentors and resources.
Funding Opportunities
MBG has been an equity investor in Schleswig-Holstein since 1994. It relies on long-term, reliable partnerships and active collaboration, supporting startups in different stages as well as small- and medium-sized businesses with capital from several established funds.
The IB.SH, the central funding institution of the Schleswig-Holstein state, advises, promotes and finances companies, individuals and public institutions in the region. It is dedicated to growth, progress and quality of life, and has achieved an AAA from Fitch Ratings.
Dedicated to pre-seed startups, especially sustainable tech-oriented or knowledge-intensive ideas, this fund from the Schleswig-Holstein state supports founders with a grant of up to €87,700 (~$98,000), allowing them to concentrate on their ideas full time.
The Baltic Business Angels focuses on young innovative companies and aims to support the start-up community and innovation culture in Schleswig-Holstein. It offers capital and mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs as well as an established network and regular matching events.
Urban Impact Solutions
MySpirulina offers a compact, user-friendly system that lets you grow fresh spirulina at home with minimal effort. Every 10 days, users can harvest their own nutrient-rich microalgae, which has been praised by NASA and the WHO as the food of the future. Packed with vitamins, antioxidants and protein, spirulina supports a healthy diet while helping the environment. In addition, the growing process reduces CO₂ and produces oxygen in your home. MySpirulina promotes local, low-impact food solutions while empowering consumers to engage directly with climate action and nutrition.
formorgen develops circular, climate-positive materials as alternatives to plastic and styrofoam. Using fungal mycelium and agricultural byproducts like hemp, it creates biodegradable composites that are insulating, fire-resistant, sound-absorbing and aesthetically pleasing. The process follows cradle-to-cradle principles and emphasizes energy efficiency, regional sourcing and scalability for industrial use. formorgen supports sustainable packaging and design sectors with solutions that prioritize both environmental impact and performance, helping to create an economy that uses more regenerative materials.
INTUSAN develops simple, non-medical toolkits that provide mental support for patients during hospital stays. Each toolkit combines physical aids, such as anti-stress objects, with a supportive app, offering patients easy-to-use self-help strategies to manage stress and regain emotional balance.The solutions address common emotions such as fear and helplessness, which can hinder recovery. INTUSAN’s goal is to empower patients to actively support their own mental well-being, while also easing the burden on clinical staff. With over 17 million hospital cases annually in Germany alone, its approach meets a clear need confirmed by medical professionals and patients alike.