From Berlin back to the Ruhr region - Why data startups like Hortiya are flourishing in the Ruhr area

Hortiya, founded in Berlin in 2020, has now moved back to the Ruhr region, where there are not only its first customers, but above all a supportive ecosystem.

Anyone who looks at climate change quickly understands that the future of agriculture will probably no longer take place in barns or on the field. Vertical farms and greenhouses, for example, are already more efficient in terms of growth and production.

Despite the high degree of innovation, the company continues to tinker and work on adjusting screws, such as irrigation or artificial light, in order to further save resources. In very concrete terms, the startup Hortiya gives plants the ability to control their own environment with the help of sensor data, resulting in unprecedented autonomy and optimization.

A strong ecosystem as a breeding ground for success

Hortiya, founded in Berlin in 2020, has now moved back to the Ruhr region, where it not only has its first customers but, more importantly, a supportive ecosystem.

The two founders, Timo Hoffmann and Marc Weimer-Hablitzel, met in 2019 at the Ruhr Summit, the largest startup fair in the Ruhr region and co-initiated by the Initiativkreis Ruhr. Like many startups, they also started in Berlin, but quickly came back to their roots in the Pott and now work on the Haniel campus in Duisburg-Ruhrort.

The decisive factor for the change of location was the ecosystem that supports startups in as many areas as possible. The support from local giants such as Impact Factory, NRW Bank and the Gründerallianz Ruhr but also the cooperation with research institutions were crucial for initial success. Founder Marc comments, "It's support you don't get like this in Berlin."

From coal to data

For data-driven startups in particular, the Ruhr region offers real added value compared to other startup hubs like Berlin. This is because instead of coal, regional companies are now primarily promoting data, which enables fruitful collaborations.

As Gründerallianz Ruhr, we bring together startups and corporates in the Ruhr region to drive innovative projects with the new raw material of industrial data. We strengthen the ecosystem and shape the culture of the region with entrepreneurial thinking and action.

Be a part of it and write us, as a startup or a company!