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Ten reasons Berlin's start-up scene rocks
December 2nd 2019
By The Local .de
1) The job market - A new start-up is founded every 20 minutes in Berlin and the industry is set to produce 100,000 new jobs by 2020. If you're looking to get a tech job, Berlin could be your way in.
2) Lower costs, lower risks - It's no secret that Berlin is cheaper than many of its European counterparts. Office overheads and the price of living are cheaper, which gives those entrepreneurs with less money the chance to create. With more financial wiggle room comes a “give-it-a-go” atmosphere which means space to hatch exciting, riskier ideas.
3) Gathering government support - The Berlin senate is sitting up and respecting its tech-world. With little traditional industry the city depends a lot on tourism and culture. But as more companies set up here and others become internationally established, the government is recognizing the potential the online world has to create jobs and revenue. Mayor Klaus Wowereit has said the council was eyeing the iconic Tempelhof airport buildings as a huge start-up hub.
4) Plentiful staff - For company owners it's great for finding staff. Entrepreneur Floris Dekker said the city attracts a lot of young, talented people which is great for building up an international team. “Berlin is a fun city to live in. If your team has a lot of great things going on outside of work, it will reflect in what you're building together,” he said.
5) Not just a hipster party town - “No one in their right mind would believe that Berlin is the next Silicon Valley, or the only European startup hub that matters - but no one should dismiss it as just a hipster party town. We turn out innovative, productive businesses with global impact (SoundCloud, 6Wunderkinder, ResearchGate), and we’re only going to see more success like this - but we still have a long way to go,” said James Glazebrook from popular Berlin blog Überlin.
6) Get another language - Lots of companies offer employees German lessons, which means if you're willing to put the work in you can learn a new and useful language. Whether or not you chose you take up the offer and then and practise talking is another question entirely...
7) The social scene - There is a real sense of community between Berlin start-ups. With regular meet-ups and events, it's not hard to get your name out and find people you click with. While this work and play mixing scene isn't for everyone, it definitely takes the edge off relocating, which can be scary enough to put people off even making the move in the first place.
8) Outside of work - Berlin is, putting it simply, a nice place to live. More relaxed than other capitals, loads of open space and the option to bike to and from work everyday, living a healthy lifestyle is pretty easy. Sitting in the office all day suddenly doesn't seem so bad when summers are long and hot enough to go for a swim in a lake after work, or barbecue at a nearby grillplatz. Let's just not mention the winters, okay?
9) Worldly wisdom - Go into a start-up office in Berlin and you'll hear a slew of different accents immediately. People relocate to the city from all over the world and working in a start-up means navigating new cultures and traditions and learning loads of great stuff about countries other than your own.
10) Great working environment - Something we hear thrown around a lot is that “no one in Berlin has a real job.” But this couldn't be further from the truth as bagging a position will mean hard work, long hours and commitment. And well, if there's table football and a fridge full of beer, why not?There's nothing wrong with having a nice working environment.