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348 Top startups in Cologne for August 2026

We rank SoSafe Cyber Security Awareness, 1NCE and Rausgegangen in Cologne along with 345 other startups based on an algorithm that scores startups based on total investment, employee count, and quarterly website traffic. Cologne startup ecosystem ranks #127 globally and #4 in Germany.

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Top Unicorn Startups in Cologne for 2026

DeepL is the only unicorn in Cologne raising more than USD 2B. It is the undefined ranked unicorn in Western Europe.
1st
DeepL logo
DeepLSB Score: 845

DeepL is a pioneering deep learning company based in Cologne, Germany, founded in 2009. It harnesses artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance language translation services, including the bilingual dictionary Linguee and the advanced machine translation tool DeepL, providing users with accurate and efficient translation solutions.

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Website
www.deepl.com
Employee range
1,001 – 5,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$400M
National Rank(Germany)
Regional Rank(Western Europe)
Global Rank(Worldwide)

Total amount:1

Best Startups in Cologne for 2026

1st
SoSafe Cyber Security Awareness logo

SoSafe empowers organizations to build a security culture and mitigate risk with its GDPR-compliant awareness programs. Powered by behavioral science and smart algorithms, SoSafe delivers engaging personalized learning experiences and smart attack simulations that turn employees into active assets against online threats. Comprehensive analytics measure ROI and tell organizations where vulnerabilities lie. Programs are easy to deploy and scale, fostering secure behavior in every employee.​

View Full Page
Website
sosafe-awareness.com
Employee range
501 – 1,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$73M
National Rank(Germany)
Regional Rank(Western Europe)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
2nd
1NCE logo
1NCESB Score: 526

1NCE is a provider of an IoT software and connectivity platform for connected products to customers managing various devices across different countries. Its platform enables customers to collect device data and turn it into actionable intelligence and accelerates time-to-market for data collection projects, increasing device lifetime, and allowing efficient management of sensors from initial deployment to the end of the product lifecycle.

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Website
1nce.com
Employee range
251 – 500
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$110M
National Rank(Germany)
Regional Rank(Western Europe)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
3rd
Rausgegangen logo
RausgegangenSB Score: 498

Rausgegangen is a privately held company that is generating the tips to go out in Cologne, every day.

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Website
rausgegangen.de
Employee range
51 – 100
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$1.4M
National Rank(Germany)
Regional Rank(Western Europe)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
4th
bezahl.de logo
bezahl.deSB Score: 494

bezahl.de automates, digitizes, and streamlines the entire receivables process, from invoicing and dunning to financial accounting booking. Bezahl is a financial technology startup.

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Website
www.bezahl.de
Employee range
101 – 250
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$67.4M
National Rank(Germany)
Regional Rank(Western Europe)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
5th
tldv logo
tldvSB Score: 491

tl;dv is a developer of a meeting productivity tool aimed at improving meeting attention. The company's software enables teams to easily catch up on relevant and significant moments to save time and stay informed. It also allows teams to record remote meetings and marks critical points during live meetings. tl;dv was established in April, 2020 by Raphael Allstadt and Carlo Thissen in Köln, Nordrhein-Westfalen.

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Website
www.tldv.io
Employee range
11 – 50
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$4.5M
National Rank(Germany)
Regional Rank(Western Europe)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
6th
jamie logo
jamieSB Score: 486

Talespin is building the spatial computing platform to power talent development and skills mobility for the future of work. Founded in 2015, the company leverages its proprietary platform to offer enterprise customers, partners, and individuals an end-to-end solution for creating, distributing, and measuring the impact of immersive learning content. Talespin is building a future of work where the distance between learning and execution is collapsed, enabling people to explore unique career paths that meet the needs of both businesses and individuals.

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Website
www.meetjamie.ai
Employee range
51 – 100
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$40.6M
National Rank(Germany)
Regional Rank(Western Europe)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
7th
Open-Xchange logo
Open-XchangeSB Score: 467

A borderless internet that is open, safe and free. Ever since Open-Xchange was founded back in 2005 the philosophy driving the company has been clear: develop software and services that give businesses the flexibility and freedom to excel, create an open, safe environment for people to connect and collaborate, build platforms based on the idea that maximizing value to both customers and users is a sustainable long term strategy in fast moving competitive markets. Today, with a proven record in agile software development, Open-Xchange continues to evolve their products and services based on this approach by delivering the only integrated, open-source messaging, collaboration and productivity stack for Telcos, Hosters and Service Providers.

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Website
www.open-xchange.com
Employee range
101 – 250
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$67.9M
National Rank(Germany)
Regional Rank(Western Europe)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
8th
rankingCoach logo
rankingCoachSB Score: 448

rankingCoach is the AI-powered digital marketing automation platform for small businesses and resellers. With over 40 international awards and availability in 38 countries and 14 languages, rankingCoach provides an all-in-one solution for SEO, SEA, local listings, online reputation, and social media — all fully automated by AI in a single, easy-to-use app. rankingCoach is trusted by over 50 global partners, including leading hosting providers, telcos, and SaaS platforms worldwide.

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Website
www.rankingcoach.com
Employee range
51 – 100
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$5.4M
National Rank(Germany)
Regional Rank(Western Europe)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
9th
metru logo
metruSB Score: 433

Seer is a developer of a life sciences and health data platform intended to facilitate early, pre-symptomatic detection of chronic life-threatening diseases. The company's platform captures and translates molecular insights from the proteome with improved accuracy and speed, enabling healthcare professionals to detect cancer and neurological diseases, drive earlier treatment and improve patient outcomes.

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Website
www.metru.de
Employee range
101 – 250
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$169.5M
National Rank(Germany)
Regional Rank(Western Europe)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
10th
Ordio logo
OrdioSB Score: 433

Building the Category Leader for Deskless Workforce Management. All processes digitally optimized by Ordio lead to time savings, cost reduction & effectiveness - in an industries with increasing administrative burden and suffering core business.

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Website
www.ordio.com
Employee range
11 – 50
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$18.1M
National Rank(Germany)
Regional Rank(Western Europe)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
11th
epilot logo
epilotSB Score: 428

The software-as-a-service cloud platform epilot is the digital foundation for scaling sales, service, grid and implementation processes in the energy transition. epilot brings more transparency to solution providers, utilities, grid operators as well as their partners, B2C and B2B customers. The Cologne-based tech company supports more than 100 enterprise customers with modern customer experiences and efficient collaboration management. At the customer interface, inquiries are digitally captured or products and services are sold online with epilot. The management and implementation of incoming inquiries is carried out with the help of a transparent 360° view and an automated workflow management in cooperation with partners. A modern customer portal helps expanding customer potential.

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Website
epilot.cloud
Employee range
101 – 250
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$10.8M
National Rank(Germany)
Regional Rank(Western Europe)
Global Rank(Worldwide)

Total amount:226

Most Funded Startups in Cologne for 2026

The top three most funded startups in Cologne have raised total funding of more than USD 353M. metru has 0.54% more funding than 1NCE.
1st
metru logo
metruSB Score: 433

Seer is a developer of a life sciences and health data platform intended to facilitate early, pre-symptomatic detection of chronic life-threatening diseases. The company's platform captures and translates molecular insights from the proteome with improved accuracy and speed, enabling healthcare professionals to detect cancer and neurological diseases, drive earlier treatment and improve patient outcomes.

View Full Page
Website
www.metru.de
Employee range
101 – 250
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$169.5M
National Rank(Germany)
Regional Rank(Western Europe)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
2nd
1NCE logo
1NCESB Score: 526

1NCE is a provider of an IoT software and connectivity platform for connected products to customers managing various devices across different countries. Its platform enables customers to collect device data and turn it into actionable intelligence and accelerates time-to-market for data collection projects, increasing device lifetime, and allowing efficient management of sensors from initial deployment to the end of the product lifecycle.

View Full Page
Website
1nce.com
Employee range
251 – 500
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$110M
National Rank(Germany)
Regional Rank(Western Europe)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
3rd
SoSafe Cyber Security Awareness logo

SoSafe empowers organizations to build a security culture and mitigate risk with its GDPR-compliant awareness programs. Powered by behavioral science and smart algorithms, SoSafe delivers engaging personalized learning experiences and smart attack simulations that turn employees into active assets against online threats. Comprehensive analytics measure ROI and tell organizations where vulnerabilities lie. Programs are easy to deploy and scale, fostering secure behavior in every employee.​

View Full Page
Website
sosafe-awareness.com
Employee range
501 – 1,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$73M
National Rank(Germany)
Regional Rank(Western Europe)
Global Rank(Worldwide)

Total amount:226

Top Hiring Startups in Cologne by Employee Number

The top three hiring startups in Cologne have an median employee size that is between [5001-10000]
1st
CompuGroup Medical logo
CompuGroup MedicalSB Score: 337

CompuGroup Medical, Inc. provides software and communications solutions that assist doctors, dentists, general practitioners, clinics, rehabilitation centers and care facilities, health insurers, pharmaceutical companies, public bodies, hospitals, pharmacists, associations, networks, and other service providers with workflow, diagnosis, and therapy worldwide. It offers EHR/PM, a solution to meet the needs of physician practices and clinics or community health centers; Alteer Office, an integrated electronic healthcare record-practice management solution.

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Website
www.cgm.com
Employee range
5,001 – 10,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
National Rank(Germany)
Regional Rank(Western Europe)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
3rd
SoSafe Cyber Security Awareness logo

SoSafe empowers organizations to build a security culture and mitigate risk with its GDPR-compliant awareness programs. Powered by behavioral science and smart algorithms, SoSafe delivers engaging personalized learning experiences and smart attack simulations that turn employees into active assets against online threats. Comprehensive analytics measure ROI and tell organizations where vulnerabilities lie. Programs are easy to deploy and scale, fostering secure behavior in every employee.​

View Full Page
Website
sosafe-awareness.com
Employee range
501 – 1,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$73M
National Rank(Germany)
Regional Rank(Western Europe)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
4th
DPAii logo
DPAiiSB Score: 114

DPAii is a web-based platform used for shareholder identification and corporate action transmission. It facilitates secure communication between issuers and intermediaries. The platform supports regulatory compliance in financial markets. DPAii helps streamline processes related to shareholder data and event notifications.

View Full Page
Website
www.dpaii.de
Employee range
501 – 1,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
National Rank(Germany)
Regional Rank(Western Europe)
Global Rank(Worldwide)

Total amount:348

Explore More Top Startups

Explore the Startup Ecosystem of Cologne

National Rank

(Germany)

4th

2

Regional Rank

(Western Europe)

26th

13

Global Rank

(WorldWide)

127th

27

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Top Cities for Startups in Germany - Ranked by StartupBlink

StartupBlink ranks the startup ecosystems of more than 100 countries and 1,000 cities. Download our latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report.
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