Backing for migrant founders in Hamburg

The Migrant Founders Monitor 2025, a spin-off of the German Startup Monitor, has sketched migrant founders and the associated backlogs. Immigrant founders tend to be highly ambitious and their success hinges on several factors. Around 91 per cent tend be have a university degree, 56 per cent of which are in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects. They also show above-average levels of resilience (57 per cent), vision (54 per cent) and willingness to take risks (44 per cent). Criteria such as standard of living, security and stability are rated positively (80 per cent), as is social openness (55 per cent). Hamburg scored 59 per cent while 8 per cent criticized the level of taxes and fees in the country. Many saw  room for improvement in terms of integration into existing networks and obtaining capital.

The 2 hearts, Europe's largest community for multicultural people in technology, helps  founders and young professionals to set up a company, fundraising, job hunting and careers. The non-profit network has had a branch in Hamburg since 2023. In an interview with Startup City, Chief Operating Officer Elnura Ashimova describes successful international founders and the support offered by 2hearts. The community discussed all the latest hurdles during the recent Hamburg Innovation Summit 2025 in this video.

Hamburg is a great place for international entrepreneurs. In the video, Melanie Leonhard , Senator for Economics, explains the importance of international founders and what makes them special. But getting started can be complex. The biggest hurdles are bureaucracy,  the German legal and administrative system as well as language barriers. These range from residence permits and choosing the right legal form to the recognition of qualifications abroad and registering a business. As a foreigner, obtaining funding can also be difficult. In this context, a  solid financial plan is important for both investors and official authorisations.  Building a network from scratch can also be challenging.

Hamburg is committed to international founders, offering them personal advice, practical tips, and access to a strong local network.  Startup City Hamburg provides guidance for qualified professionals with an international background from developing a business idea to setting up a company. Incidentally, Startup City Hamburg will be offering insights into migrant founders  until late 2025.
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