Berlin Pushes to Incorporate Startups in 24 Hours with Full Automation
Germany aims to make business registrations faster and more digital. A joint concept from Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Bavaria proposes that administrative reviews be fully automated, with decisions issued within seconds. Implementation is planned during the current federal legislative period.
The states presented the detailed concept at an event with representatives from business, politics, and administration. It builds on the Federal Modernization Agenda, agreed upon by the federal and state governments in December 2025. By the end of 2026, a law is set to be passed enabling startups to be registered within 24 hours. The project "Gründen in 24 Stunden" (Founding in 24 Hours), launched in June 2025 by the IT Planning Council, serves as the foundation.
The approach goes beyond digitizing applications: standardized cases will be decided automatically. The "National Once-Only-Technical-System" will enable digital access to registry data, allowing up to 90% of founding cases to be processed automatically. Only complex cases would still require manual review. However, this requires modernizing federal regulations, many of which were not designed for automated processes.
“Germany needs a new era of startups”
Franziska Giffey, Berlin’s Senator for Economics, Energy, and Business, emphasizes: “Germany faces immense economic challenges. Founders with great ideas shouldn’t be held back by outdated procedures. With a true one-stop shop and automated decisions, we aim to create a fast, nationwide process that meets today’s standards.”
Hubert Aiwanger, Bavarian State Minister for Economics, adds: “Anyone with a good business idea shouldn’t have to spend months filling out forms. With ‘Gründen in 24 Stunden,’ we’re cutting red tape and fostering entrepreneurship.”
Mona Neubaur, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister for Economics, Industry, Climate Protection, and Energy, sees this as a paradigm shift: “Our goal is for every startup—whether in crafts, tech, or sustainable ventures—to be registered within 24 hours using just one application.”
Dr. Benjamin Limbach, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Justice Minister, highlights: “A state that thinks ahead saves businesses time and money. By reducing bureaucracy, we give startups real momentum to turn innovative ideas into economic growth.”
Long-term, the project aims for a fully digital, federally coordinated startup platform. The federal government must now create the legal framework to enable this restart.