Startup Migrants

Startup Migrants is a Berlin-based community and support network for internationally-born startup founders and entrepreneurs building businesses in Germany. The organisation recognises that migrant entrepreneurs bring exceptional creativity, resilience, and global perspective to the German startup ecosystem — and works to remove the structural barriers that often prevent migrant founders from thriving on equal terms.

The community connects internationally-born founders with mentors, investors, co-founders, and corporate partners through regular networking events, pitch sessions, workshops, and peer learning programmes. A particular focus is given to the specific challenges migrant founders face: visa status uncertainty, reduced access to local investor networks, language barriers in fundraising, and credential recognition issues.

Startup Migrants also advocates at the policy level for a more welcoming German startup environment for international founders — including improvements to the Startup Visa (Freiberufler/Selbstständiger) pathway and greater support for internationally-educated founders seeking to establish GmbH structures in Germany.

For internationally-born entrepreneurs in Germany who feel isolated from the mainstream startup ecosystem, Startup Migrants provides both a community and the concrete support structures needed to build a successful business in a new country.