Thriving Munich Startups Create Plentiful Opportunities, Yet Women's Participation Stays Limited
Munich's startup scene is flourishing, with a total value of €164 billion as of last year, marking a significant increase from €32 billion ten years ago [1][2][3][5]. This growth is driven by several key sectors, including software, medicine and healthcare, industry, climate tech and green energy, and human resources.
Software startups, particularly those focusing on SaaS platforms and digital solutions, dominate the landscape, followed closely by the medicine and industry sectors [1][5]. Notable players in these sectors include Munich-based healthtech startups expanding via innovative medical applications, diagnostics, and digital health, as well as startups working on chip technology, industrial automation, and Industry 4.0 solutions [1][5].
The city's startups are also making strides in climate tech and green energy, contributing to sustainability and clean tech job growth, and are among German leaders in this field [2][3][5]. In the human resources sector, startups innovating HR technologies have seen significant increases in founding activity, making Munich a key hub [1][5].
These sectors offer the main avenues for startup-driven job creation in Munich, reflecting broader German and Bavarian trends in technology, healthcare, sustainability, and industrial innovation [1][2][3][5]. In fact, over 118,000 people worldwide are currently employed by startups in Munich, with around 16,000 people working in the deeptech sector, accounting for 36 percent of all startup jobs [4].
However, gender dynamics in Munich's startup ecosystem remain a concern. Last year, the proportion of female founders decreased, with only 18.8 percent of founders in Germany being female [6]. Moreover, the proportion of investments in purely female-founded startups was only one percent, down from two percent the previous year [6].
Despite this, startups with at least one woman on the founding team create more jobs per euro invested than all-male teams [6]. Notable female-led startups in Munich include yoummday and Mynaric.
In terms of funding, Munich startups raised €2.3 billion last year, with another €970 million added in the first half of 2025 [1]. Artificial intelligence plays a major role, with around 12,000 people working in this field [4].
The number of positions in Munich has increased by 15 percent compared to 2023, with most jobs being created in the health, finance, AI, and deeptech sectors [1]. However, it's important to note that only five to fifteen percent of female investors sign checks for startups, according to a study by the European Women in VC network [6].
As Munich's startup ecosystem continues to grow, efforts to address gender imbalance and increase female representation are crucial for ensuring a diverse and vibrant tech landscape.
References: [1] "Munich Startups Raise €2.3B in 2024, €970M in H1 2025". Munich Startup News. [2] "Munich Leads in Climate Tech Innovations". GreenTech Media. [3] "Munich's Green Energy Startups". Sustainable Energy. [4] "Deeptech Jobs in Munich". Munich Employment Data. [5] "Key Sectors in Munich's Startup Ecosystem". Munich Innovation Report. [6] "Women in German Startups". Women in VC Report.
- Software startups, medicine, industry, climate tech, green energy, and human resources sectors are significant contributors to Munich's flourishing startup scene, with a combined total value of €164 billion as of last year.
- Notable female-led startups in Munich include yoummday and Mynaric, demonstrating that startups with at least one woman on the founding team create more jobs per euro invested than all-male teams.
- Despite efforts to increase female representation in Munich's startup ecosystem, only 18.8% of founders in Germany were female last year, and the proportion of investments in purely female-founded startups decreased to one percent from two percent the previous year.
- The health, finance, AI, and deeptech sectors have seen the most job growth in Munich, with an increase of 15 percent compared to 2023, and around 12,000 people working in Munich in the artificial intelligence field alone.
- To ensure a diverse and vibrant tech landscape, efforts to address gender imbalance and increase female representation are crucial as Munich's startup ecosystem continues to grow, as highlighted in the "Women in German Startups" report by the European Women in VC network.
