Empowering founders and innovation.
Empowering founders and innovation.
Seed stage capital and entrepreneurial support
Gründerfonds Ruhr is a venture capital fund based in Essen, which invests in early stage startups that drive innovation and change. Our foundation was laid in 2017 with the launch of our first fund. Since then, Gründerfonds Ruhr has been an investor partner for startups, providing financial capital to ambitious founding teams from various industries. In October 2024, we closed our second fund, Gründerfonds Ruhr II, with an initial fund volume of €31M to back the next generation of founders from the Ruhr region and beyond.
We invest in seed stage B2B startups that have the potential to become market leaders in their market segment. We are active across Germany with a focus on the Ruhr region and we are not only providing financial capital, but also our entrepreneurial expertise and access to the industry through a leading network of international corporations.
Meet the team
We are a team of experienced investment professionals, passionate about empowering founders to drive the disruptive innovations of tomorrow. With years of experience and a deep understanding of the local startup ecosystem, we provide hands-on support and guidance where needed.
From early stage funding to network access and strategic advice, we aim to become your trusted partner and help you succeed on your entrepreneurial journey.
Our portfolio
Our portfolio represents a diverse range of innovative startups across multiple sectors, reflecting the dynamic growth of key markets in the Ruhr region and beyond.
Since the launch of Gründerfonds Ruhr in 2017, we have successfully invested in startups across industries including Life Sciences, MedTech, Cybersecurity and EdTech, supporting exceptional founders and the disruptive innovations of tomorrow.
News
2NA FISH secures additional pre-seed funding, led by GF BRYCK Ventures, with follow-on investment from Twip, to accelerate its spatial RNA biomarker detection platform
Munich/Essen, Jan. 13, 2026 - 2NA FISH GmbH, a Munich-based biotech developing a next-generation spatial RNA detection platform for oncology decision support, has secured additional pre-seed funding led by GF BRYCK Ventures, with follow-on investment from existing...
Berlin startup university CODE receives millions in funding
Berlin, 8 December 2025 – CODE University of Applied Sciences has received more than €5 million in key financing from renowned founders and funds. This will enable the university to continue pursuing its goals of consolidating its place in the top 10 German startup...
Amadeus Fire Group acquires e-learning platform Masterplan – Strategic investment in the digital B2B education market
The Amadeus Fire Group (ISIN: DE0005093108, Prime Standard, SDAX), one of Germany's leading providers of personnel services and professional training, is acquiring 100 percent of the shares in Masterplan com GmbH. The Berlin-based tech company operates on a...
Pitch your startup.
Shape the future.
Ready to scale your idea into success? Submit your pitch deck and get in touch with us. We're seeking startups with a disruptive vision that have the power to shape the future.
Our partners
