Bi-Monthly May 2025
Closing the Scale-up Gap: Berlin's New Academy for FinTech Champions
Why Scale-ups Matter for the German Economy
In today's competitive global landscape, scale-ups have become the true engines of economic growth in Germany. While representing only 4% of companies in the ecosystem, these high-growth ventures generate an impressive 80% of all startup-related jobs. In Berlin alone, scale-ups have created over 38,000 jobs – more than one-third of all employment in the startup ecosystem.
Beyond job creation, scale-ups deliver value in two critical ways:
• Founder Factories: Successful scale-ups like N26 spawn more than 33 new companies, creating a virtuous cycle of entrepreneurship and talent development.
• Innovation Partnerships: Scale-ups generate €1M+ in net benefits per collaboration with established firms, serving as innovation catalysts for traditional industries.
The Scale-up Challenge: Why Most FinTechs Fail to Scale
Despite their tremendous potential, most FinTechs struggle to grow beyond early stages. The key challenges include:
• Compliance Hurdles: Complex regulations and high fees for non-compliance
• Growth Capital Access: Heavy reliance on foreign investment for scaling
• Market Expansion Barriers: Few German companies scale to become European champions
• Organizational Development: Difficult transition from founder mindset to management excellence
These challenges create a significant "Scale-up Gap" in Germany's FinTech landscape. International comparisons highlight the urgency: Germany produces only 0.3 unicorns per million inhabitants, lagging behind France (0.45), the United States (1.8), and Israel (5.6).
Learning from International Best Practices
The HoFT Scale-up Academy draws inspiration from successful international programs that have demonstrated measurable economic impact:
• UK's Tech Nation: Over the past decade, Tech Nation helped 1,250 growth companies secure £28 billion in capital and contribute £600 million to the UK's GDP. Participating scale-ups achieved 14-25% higher employment growth compared to non-participants.
• France's Next40/120: Through targeted government support via Bpifrance, France has significantly outpaced Germany in unicorn creation, demonstrating how structured scale-up support translates to economic advantage.
Introducing the HoFT Scale-up Academy
To address these challenges, HoFT.Berlin has launched Germany's first specialized Scale-up Academy tailored specifically for growth-stage FinTechs. The program started last month and targets FinTechs with international growth potential, particularly in WealthTech and InvestTech – sectors focused on democratizing access to wealth creation and financial wellbeing.
Program Structure: Four Specialized Tracks
The Academy runs from April to September 2025 and offers four specialized tracks. Participants can join one or more tracks, depending on their needs and strategic priorities. Each track is designed as a deep dive into a core growth area for scaling FinTechs:
1. Regulation & Compliance:
• Direct engagement with BaFin through workshops and 1:1 sessions
• Mastering regulatory frameworks (KWG, MaRisk, DORA, BAIT)
• Strategic approaches to licensing and compliance governance
2. Fundraising & Investment:
• VC insider knowledge and deal structuring expertise
• Investor pitch optimization and individual coaching
• Direct access to VCs and investment community
3. Organization & Leadership:
• Building scalable team structures
• Leadership development for growth phases
• Strategic goal-setting and execution frameworks
4. Internationalization:
• Dedicated program week in Paris
• Go-to-market strategies for European expansion
• Partnership development with French ecosystem
To ensure personalized support and maximum impact, participation is limited to just five scale-ups per track. Fundraising & Investment will be the next track to launch, officially kicking off on May 28. The kick-off event is open to the public, and registrations are now open here: https://lu.ma/ohr2fz8s
The Vision: Joining Forces for German Scale-up Success
The Scale-up Academy represents more than just a program – it's a strategic initiative to upgrade Germany's policy and support structures for nurturing unicorn growth and developing international category leaders.
Supported by the State of Berlin, Investitionsbank Berlin, and private partners, the Academy brings together the entire ecosystem: scale-ups, investors, regulators, advisors, and experienced founders.
By addressing the specific challenges that prevent German FinTechs from scaling, the Academy aims to close the Scale-up Gap and position Berlin as Europe's leading hub for financial and growth technology.
Interested in joining one of the upcoming tracks or becoming a partner? Tracks 2, 3, and 4 of the HoFT Scale-up Academy are now open for applications. Visit https://hub.hoft.berlin/scale-up-academy to find out more.