Gründerfonds Ruhr

Gründerfonds Ruhr is a venture capital fund based in Essen, Germany, established in 2017. The fund focuses on investing in early-stage startups that drive innovation and change, particularly in the Ruhr region and neighboring areas. It provides both financial capital and entrepreneurial support to ambitious founding teams across various industries.

The fund's investment strategy targets seed-stage B2B startups with the potential to become market leaders in their respective segments. Gründerfonds Ruhr is active across Germany, with a primary focus on the Ruhr region, and offers not only financial capital but also entrepreneurial expertise and access to a network of international corporations.

Since its inception, Gründerfonds Ruhr has successfully invested in startups across industries including Life Sciences, MedTech, Cybersecurity, and EdTech, supporting exceptional founders and disruptive innovations. In October 2024, the fund closed its second fund, Gründerfonds Ruhr II, with an initial volume of €31 million to back the next generation of founders from the Ruhr region and beyond.