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
First Closing of €31M of Gründerfonds Ruhr II
Essen, 07 October 2024 - Gründerfonds Ruhr ("GFR") is kicking off its second fund generation with the first closing of Gründerfonds Ruhr II with an initial fund volume of €31M. The fund is offering financial and strategic support to startups from the Ruhr region and...
Maurice Reinhard joins as Investment Associate
Essen, 01 September 2024 – Maurice Reinhard has joined Gründerfonds Ruhr (Ruhrgründer Management GmbH) as an Investment Associate, adding to the team as it prepares for the launch of the second generation of Gründerfonds Ruhr. Startup expertise from the Ruhr region...
Ann-Christin Kortenbrede joins Gründerfonds Ruhr as Managing Partner
Essen, 01 March 2024 - Ann-Christin Kortenbrede is joining Gründerfonds Ruhr (Ruhrgründer Management GmbH) as the second Managing Partner alongside Jan Gräfe. The two build the new management team of the new fund generation that will be launched in 2024. From the...
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
