10 million euros for young companies - GF BRYCK Ventures Fund

BRYCK, Gründerfonds Ruhr and RAG-Stiftung launch a €10 million fund for tech start-ups in Germany.

Essen, April 09, 2025 - BRYCK, Gründerfonds Ruhr and the RAG-Stiftung have jointly launched the "GF BRYCK Ventures Fund". The fund provides 10 million euros to support young tech start-ups in the early stages. The fund is financed by the RAG-Stiftung.

The money is aimed at companies that have successfully completed a BRYCK program. Start-ups from the B2B technology and deep tech sectors in particular are supported. The aim is to bring new technologies to the market and change entire industries in the long term.

Support for research-intensive spin-offs

One focus of the fund is on spin-offs from the universities in Bochum, Dortmund and Duisburg-Essen. These so-called deep-tech start-ups often have long development times and require a lot of capital. So far, such companies have received little support in Germany.

Deep-tech innovations need capital in order to develop.

Tobias Grün, BRYCK

According to the Startup Association, only two percent of global deep tech funding currently flows to Germany. The new fund is intended to help close this gap. Together with an international network of investors and access to science, the fund offers the necessary support.

Investment chain for long-term success

The start-ups initially receive up to 300,000 euros. Later, they can receive further capital via the Gründerfonds Ruhr II. This fund was launched in 2024 and is set to grow to 50 million euros by the end of 2025.

With its universities and research centers, the Ruhr region offers excellent conditions for innovation.

Ann-Christin Kortenbrede, Managing Partner at Gründerfonds Ruhr

Additional investors from the BRYCK and Gründerfonds Ruhr network are also available for later financing rounds. The aim is to secure continuous financing from the early phase through to growth.

Ruhr area as a model region for industrial innovation

The new fund is part of the BRYCK Startup Alliance. This initiative is supported by the three Ruhr universities, the RAG-Stiftung, BRYCK and the Initiativkreis Ruhr.

The aim is to position the Ruhr region as a model region for industrial innovation in Germany. With 22 universities and 240,000 students, the region is one of the largest science locations in Europe. At the same time, nowhere else in Germany is the density of industry higher. With the long-term support of the RAG-Stiftung and strong local partners, the aim is to create an attractive environment for start-ups.

Background on BRYCK, Gründerfonds Ruhr and the RAG-Stiftung

BRYCK is a start-up and innovation center in the Ruhr region initiated by the RAG-Stiftung, which has been providing targeted support for B2B tech start-ups since 2022. With programmes for over 100 start-ups from 20 countries, BRYCK promotes innovation in areas such as the energy transition, decarbonization and healthcare. As a private venture capital investor, Gründerfonds Ruhr invests in young technology companies and provides both capital and entrepreneurial expertise. Founded in 2007, the RAG-Stiftung today finances the so-called perpetual obligations of the coal mining industry and supports numerous educational, scientific and cultural projects in the former mining regions.