Bavaria Startup and Scaleup Monitor 2026 (Startup-Verband)

Summary

• There are around 4,400 startups in Bavaria, more than in any other German state; Munich and its surroundings account for over 2,400.p.4
• The number of newly founded startups in Bavaria rose from 538 to 785, an increase of 46% versus 29% nationwide.p.4
• In 2025 the Munich region attracted around 2.7 billion euros in startup funding, just ahead of Berlin (2.4 billion euros).p.5
• Over 1.8 billion euros have been invested in DefenseTech since 2023, almost exclusively in Bavaria.p.35
• Only 17% of Bavarian startup founders are women, below the national average of 20%, and just 14% in Munich.p.4
• 55% of Bavarian startups received university support and 71% rate it positively.p.4
• English is the primary working language in only 46% of Munich companies, against 67% in Berlin.p.5

Key insights

1. Bavaria has 4,406 active startups and 33.3 startups per 100,000 inhabitants, the strongest area state per capita.p.8
2. The top 10 of 96 districts and cities host 66% of Bavaria's startups.p.10
3. Bavarian startups earn 79.7% of revenue from B2B customers, versus 74.8% in Germany.p.30
4. 16% of Bavarian startups qualify as DeepTech under the German Startup Monitor definition, against 11% nationwide.p.33
5. Around 3 billion euros, a good third of all venture capital, flowed into the AI sector in 2025.p.32
6. Munich DefenseTech investment reached 1,740 million euros between 2023 and 2025, well ahead of London.p.36
7. Celonis has raised 1,550 million euros in total funding, the most among Bavarian scaleups.p.44
8. Ten of Germany's 34 unicorns are based in Munich, and the national number has risen from 11 since the end of 2020.p.45