Harburg district: startup stronghold with the most business angels!

Harburg district: startup stronghold with the most business angels!

The current figures clearly show that the Harburg district in Lower Saxony is enjoying a strong trend in business start-ups. According to that Seevetal current The region has an impressive founding rate of 11.8 startups per 100,000 inhabitants since 2019. This makes the district one of the top locations for founders in the state and can claim many successes.

What makes Harburg so attractive for startups? On the one hand, the support from a total of 60 business angels is a crucial factor. These investors not only bring capital, but also valuable experience and networks that can be invaluable for young companies. The district has the highest density of business angels in the country and shows that an effective ecosystem for founders thrives here. District Administrator Rainer Rempe emphasizes that the positive results reflect the work of economic development and the favorable location factors.

Startup Monitor Lower Saxony 2025

In this year's Startup Monitor Lower Saxony 154 new startups were recorded in 2024 alone, representing a growth rate of 11.6 percent over the last two years. What is particularly exciting is that two thirds of these start-ups took place outside of large cities, i.e. in rural regions such as Harburg. This shows that innovative ideas are not only found in large metropolises.

The total number of startups founded in Lower Saxony since 2019 is 845, of which a good 30 startups are spread across the Harburg district. This makes it clear that the region plays a central role as a nucleus for innovative companies. It is also worth mentioning that the proportion of female founders in Lower Saxony is 20 percent, which is above the national average of 17 percent - another sign of the dynamic development of the startup ecosystem.

Challenges and potential

But what about financial support for startups in Lower Saxony? Only 50 percent of startups have received government funding, while the proportion of companies with VC financing is only 8.8 percent. Experts clearly see room for improvement here in order to further promote growth. Better access to medium-term financing options could help increase the dynamic of growth even further.

Overall, it shows that the Harburg district is not only a hotspot for starting up companies, but also has the potential to further advance the startup scene in Lower Saxony. In order to further support the creation of new ideas and the growth of young companies, a strong network is crucial. This makes it all the more important to promote connections between the founders and create synergies.

The prospect is promising: With the constant commitment of economic development and support from business angels, the Harburg district could play an even more central role in the Lower Saxony startup ecosystem in the coming years. The course has been set and it remains exciting to see which innovative concepts and ideas will emerge from the region.