The Berlin Startup Unit

In 2015, the State of Berlin founded the Berlin Startup Unit together with partners from the startup economy. The Berlin Startup Unit is the official association of the State of Berlin to improve the political framework for startups in the capital. The Startup Unit is divided into

• a core group with representatives of State-driven Berlin institutions and organizations related to startups and
• an advisory board with representatives of the private interest groups of the start-up scene
• and thematic working groups made up of the members of the core group and the advisory board 

The Startup Unit has the following overall goals:

1. Institutionalized exchange between the start-up scene and the Berlin administration
2. Identification and formulation of startup-relevant needs for action for Berlin politics
3. Determination of needs and initiation of initiatives for the startup scene

From the founding of the Unit to the present day, the Unit's activities have changed significantly. Initially characterized by content-related work to evaluate the location, this process was set in motion by establishing various initiatives. Subsequently, this work resulted in specific recommendations for action for politics with the publication of the Berlin Startup Agenda. This attests that the topic of “startups” has reached politics and the decision-making level. Various of the measures recommended in the Berlin Startup Agenda have been implemented or are being planned. The topics that are currently being addressed in the Startup Unit include:

• Strengthen the sustainability and future viability of the economy
• Expand talent development
• Network startups with medium-sized companies and also with universities
• Enable startups to contribute to digital and modern administration
• Promote diversity and female entrepreneurship
• Internationalization
• The de:hubs as places for cooperation with startups

The Startup Unit is granted advisory support by