BRYCK, Gründerfonds Ruhr, the RAG-Stiftung start €10M fund to back Germany’s early-stage deeptech startups

BRYCK, Gründerfonds Ruhr, and the RAG-Stiftung have launched a €10M fund to support early-stage deeptech startups in Germany.

Essen-based BRYCK, a German innovation and startup hub, and Gründerfonds Ruhr, a venture capital investor, have launched ‘GF BRYCK Ventures Fund’ with €10M in support from the RAG-Stiftung.

The RAG-Stiftung, founded in 2007, is a private foundation that finances the long-term obligations of Germany’s former coal mining operations in the Ruhr, Saar, and Ibbenbüren regions. Since 2019, it has also supported projects in education, science, and culture to promote regional transformation.

The GF BRYCK Ventures Fund aims to address the early-stage financing gap faced by spin-offs and research-based startups. It will back B2B tech and deeptech ventures across Germany, focusing on early-stage companies that have completed a BRYCK programme and are developing technologies with potential industry-wide impact.

The new fund is part of the BRYCK Startup Alliance, a collaboration between the Ruhr universities, the RAG-Stiftung, BRYCK, and the Initiativkreis Ruhr. The alliance seeks to build a leading startup platform in the Ruhr region.

The Ruhr area includes 22 universities and over 240,000 students. With long-term investment from the RAG-Stiftung and strong industry connections through the Initiativkreis Ruhr, the fund links founders with education, research, and business networks to support startup growth.

Bernd Tönjes, Chairman of the RAG-Stiftung, says, “With the financing of the GF BRYCK Ventures Fund, we as the RAG-Stiftung see an opportunity for attractive long-term investments in young, high-potential tech companies.”

“Together with BRYCK and Gründerfonds Ruhr – both of which we helped initiate – we are sending a strong signal in support of deeptech innovation in Germany, while positioning the Ruhr region as a blueprint for industrial transformation.”

What to expect from the new fund?

The GF BRYCK Ventures Fund will support spin-offs emerging from Ruhr University Bochum, TU Dortmund, and the University of Duisburg-Essen. These deeptech startups often work on technologies that require long development periods and significant early investment. Many face challenges in attracting funding at the initial stage.

The fund will invest in 10 to 20 startups each year, with up to €300,000 per company. Gründerfonds Ruhr will manage the fund, led by Ann-Christin Kortenbrede and Jan Gräfe.

Kortenbrede, Managing Partner at Gründerfonds Ruhr, says, “With its top-tier universities and dense research landscape, the Ruhr region is well-positioned to lead Germany’s innovation and transformation. The GF BRYCK Ventures Fund addresses critical funding gaps and empowers high-potential startups with deep ties to the region’s scientific and industrial ecosystems.”

In Germany, deeptech startups make up about 11 per cent of the total startup ecosystem, yet receive only a small share of global investment. The German Startup Association reports that just 2 per cent of global deeptech funding reaches German startups, and only three of the world’s 100 most-funded deeptech firms are based in Germany. The new fund aims to help close this gap by providing early-stage financing to promising ventures.

Tobias Grün, Member of the Executive Team at BRYCK, adds, “Deeptech innovation requires growth capital to truly unfold its potential. With the GF BRYCK Ventures Fund, our international investor network, and a strong combination of science, business, and startup expertise, we offer founders optimal conditions to navigate all phases – from pre-seed to later stage.”

Startups supported by the fund can later access seed financing through Gründerfonds Ruhr II, which holds €31M and is expected to grow to €50M by 2025. For later growth rounds, BRYCK and Gründerfonds Ruhr will connect startups to a broad investor network, ensuring continued financial and strategic support from idea to market entry.

BRYCK: A startup and innovation hub

BRYCK, founded by the RAG-Stiftung in 2022 and based in the Ruhr region, aims to establish a major startup and innovation hub in Europe.

BRYCK has worked with more than 100 startups from 20 countries, helping them access funding, markets, and skilled talent. The organisation focuses on B2B tech startups developing solutions in areas such as the energy transition, industrial decarbonisation, and healthcare.

Through partnerships with industry, investors, experts, and universities, BRYCK builds networks that foster startup growth and collaboration. As part of the BRYCK Startup Alliance, it works with the RAG-Stiftung, the Ruhr University Alliance (Bochum, Dortmund, Duisburg-Essen), and the Initiativkreis Ruhr. This effort contributes to the Federal Government’s “Startup Factories” programme, which aims to strengthen Germany’s innovation ecosystem through regional cooperation and long-term investment.

Brief about Gründerfonds Ruhr

Gründerfonds Ruhr is a venture capital investor that supports tech-driven startups across various industries in the Ruhr region. Led by Jan Gräfe and Ann-Christin Kortenbrede, it provides both financial backing and business guidance to help companies grow.

It works with international corporates and investors to expand its network. Investments are made through two funds: GF BRYCK Ventures GmbH & Co. KG for pre-seed financing and Gründerfonds Ruhr II GmbH & Co. KG for seed-stage investment.