Startups and Entrepreneurship
Part of the DWIH New York mission is the support of startups and the work in the field of entrepreneurship.
This page will give an overview about our resources, partners, events, and opportunities in the field.
New York is one of the most dynamic startup ecosystems in the world and offers German startups the opportunity to internationalize their business. US venture capital firms specializing in the startup scene are still looking for good business ideas.
Against this background, an entry into the US market opens up good opportunities right now. During the trip to New York, the startups will learn what is important when entering the US market and how the startup and venture capital scene in the US works.
To specifically meet the needs of the fast-growing and dynamic scene of university startups and spin-offs, the German Center for Research and Innovation (DWIH) and the German American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (GACC) in NY offer to bring interested founders to one of the most vibrant startup hotspots.
For three or four consecutive days, GACC New York and DWIH NY offer participation in customized workshops information on the following topics:
- US Economic Update
- Cultural Differences and the way of doing business in the US
- Legal Requirements: Setting up your U.S. Entity, Visa Regulations, Employment & Product Liability Law
- Pitching & Story Telling in the US
- Sales Strategies
- How to engage with US Investors and Building your Investor Funnel
- Visits to incubators, meetings with angel investors and mentors
Testimonials
“My experience with the GACC’s STEP program was great. As a sport-tech founder from Germany, moving our company to the US was always a big goal but also felt like a huge project. However, the program’s hands-on experts provided me with the guidance I needed to navigate these first steps and a few months after the program we have a running US entity to run our US operations. The program was a great navigator, allowing me to be efficient and providing trusted sources of information for this first step towards my company’s US market entry. I highly recommend it to any founder looking to make the move to the US market.”
– Jaan Brunken, Wingfield (2022 cohorte)
“We strongly believe in the startup mentality and philosophy of the U.S. We wanted to learn from the best and to be open to new ideas, welcoming inspiration, especially from experts in different fields. The STEP USA program is the perfect format to get authentic knowledge from the source, tailored to our needs as a young German startup, as well as building up a network.”
– Perosol (2021 cohorte)
“We saw the great and unique chance to grow together with peers through an experienced group of speakers and startup experts, providing customized information and insights for a future step into the U.S. market. […] The overall program was valuable, and each session was thoughtfully chosen by the organizers, especially the exercises and the Q&A sessions amongst peers provided valuable insights during the 4-day course.”
– Spindiag (2021 cohorte)
2024 fall edition
The program will take place November 4 – 6, 2024 and the registration is closed.
More details about the application process will be published on our social media channels & newsletter. The guest registration for the Pitch Night on November 6 is not open yet.
2024 spring edition
The program took place February 12 – 14, 2024. Check out the event page for some photos and more information.
- ACKISION – researches, manufactures and sells highly specialized measurement electronics including matching software and accessories
- Allogenetics – creation of an immunological invisibility of the donor organ instead of inducing immunological blindness in the organ recipient
- Orbis – bring live-streaming platforms and their respected live-streamers together in one ecosystem to maximize the viewership experience
- Phont – combining AI and innovative design to take inclusion and immersion in the media industry to a new level
- Qannual – provides a user-friendly platform for analyzing U.S. annual reports, utilizing Natural Language Processing (NLP) technologies
- RobComp – technology, which fulfills complex requirements in lightweight construction
- The Röben Company – Solvent for your resin 3D print
- Singleton Change – app that helps your company successfully overcome any challenge
- VYTAL Global GmbH – reusable food and beverage container system
2023 edition
The program took place December 4 – 6, 2023, more information on the dedicated event page.
- experial – customer research scalable using AI, automation, and no-code solutions
- HAPTIK – software for logistics partners
- myotwin – enhancing methods of pre-clinical cardiac research
- Novo AI – transforming production industry with AI
- PAULINA’s FRIENDS – creative fashion agency
2022 edition
The program (event page – only in German) took place in New York in September 2022 with
- DocVox GbR – smart business assistant
- eco:fibr GmbH i. G – sustainable paper and packaging products made from pineapple leaf waste
- GEMESYS Technologies – chip that works like the human brain
- Interview with co-founder Dennis Michaelis in the newspaper Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (WAZ) (May 2023, in German)
- Article about GEMESYS winning “Gründungspreis+”, a founders’ award, by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (March 2023, in German)
- WSC Demo Day – GEMESYS chosen among Top 5 best startups of hundreds of companies (March 2023)
- Video recording of presentation at Falling Walls Venture, starting at 2:10:00 h (November 2023)
- Hepacura UG – diagnosis and therapy for fatty liver patients via digital health app
- Liqtra GmbH – fast 3D printing solutions
- Lithium Designers GmbH – construction solutions
- Article on winning the “Hessischer Gründerpreis 2022” (Founders’ Award by the German state Hessen)
- Article about their experience at the STEP USA University Program
- MOXI GmbH – platform for booking and coordinating non-emergency medical transports
- My Buddy App – treatment for depression via peer support and physical activity
- shaconda – platform for renting everyday objects
- take it. GmbH – automated vending machines to replace expensive warehouses for grocery delivery services
- Tetralytix GmbH – software solutions for production engineering
- Wingfield GmbH – transforming any tennis court into a “Smart Court”
- DWIH Interview with co-founder Jaan Brunken (April 2023)
- LinkedIn-Post about U.S. German Startup Night in New York – Wingfield as winner of Best Pitch Award (April 2023)
- Winner of the Newcomer of the Year Award at the German American Business Night (November 2022)
2021 edition
The program took place virtually in November 2021, see event page.
Participating companies:
- apartmen – AI home stylist
- Boston Buckwheat – food based on roasted buckwheat
- Klangio – transcribing songs to sheet music notation
- Labmaite – lab automation using AI
- neuro11 – mental strength training for elite athletes
- opto biolabs – illumination devices for optogenetic research
- perosol – printed solar cells
- Phaseform – refractive adaptive optics components
- Reasonance – enabling machine learning and data intensive applications
- Sensawtious – battery free sensors for the Smart Home
- Spindiag GmbH – sustainable platform for infection control
Other past events
- From Berlin to NYC – Startup Pitch Battle
- August 2024 – Pitch Contest
- Biointelligence Delegation Trip BWI to Boston
- January 2024 – Delegation Visit (SME, research etc. from Germany)
- Berlin vs. NYC Startup Battle
- May 2023 – Pitch contest
- Lunch Briefing with WORLDFACTORY International
- May 2023 – Delegation visit
- Startup Expert Breakfast Berlin – New York
- March 2023 – Delegation visit from Berlin
- Pathways to Funding in the US and Germany
- January 2022 – Roundtable discussion
- Video recording (Youtube link)
- Resource Guide (PDF file)
- Future of Green Market Economy
- October 2021 – Panel Discussion
- Video recording (Youtube link)
Selected awards and success stories
- “Science Startup” winners of Falling Walls Venture for GEMESYS
- Stage Two Awards for GEMESYS (€400K Investment Award, €30K Best Pitch Award, Skilling Award)
- ruhrSUMMIT award by ruhrHUB for GEMESYS
- “Gründungspreis+” by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action for GEMESYS
- “Hessischer Gründerpreis 2022” by the German state Hessen for Lithium Designers GmbH
- “Newcomer of the Year Award” at the German American Business Night for Wingfield
- Feature in documentary “KI im Sport – Risiko oder Chance” on German national television (ZDF Sportstudio) for Wingfield
- Article in the German newspaper Handelsblatt about Vytal, talking e.g. mentioning their successful 6.2 million € funding round
Press
- Article in German newspaper “Welt” about the startup scene in the US, featuring a STEP USA Pitch Night (April 2023, in German)
- Event page about said Pitch Night (March 2023)