Green Startup Report 2026

The Green Startup Report 2026, published by the Borderstep Institute for Innovation and Sustainability, analyzes the current development of the green startup landscape in Germany and continues the scientific observation of the scene that has been carried out continuously since 2013. The long-term perspective enables a reliable classification of structural trends, technological developments, and changes in startup dynamics. The green startup community has continued to grow and now comprises 4,668 companies (founded between 2016 and 2025). Green startups make a key contribution to Germany's technological innovation capacity and climate protection performance as a business location. They are characterized by a high patent rate, above-average research intensity, and significant CO2 reduction potential. On average, their solutions reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 70 percent compared to standard technologies on the market. At the same time, the report shows a decline in start-up momentum for the first time in years. Despite stable and growing green tech markets, shifts in political and public attention as well as regulatory uncertainties, particularly in capital-intensive sectors, are slowing further growth. The Green Startup Report 2026 thus provides a key data basis for the strategic development of German start-up, innovation, and climate policy.