with 2.2billion USD invested by VC and PE firms, Berlin pips London as Europe's hottest start up hotspot,

In 2014, for the first time ever, Berlin was Europe's  latest start up hotspot.Berlin start-ups attracted more venture capital funding than  London: VC & PE firms pumped in funds  worth 2.2 billion USD in Berlin compared to 1.5 billion USD in London and is now the top city for venture capital investment in Europe. 

During the first 6 months  of 2015, this trend continued with Berlin attracting funding upto  1.4 billion euros compared to 1.1 billion euros in London. (source )

Newer startups and existing Unicorn's are playing a huge role in ensuring Berlin's latest start up culture  is alive and kicking . The fact that " Berlin is among the radar screen of VC funding and PE firms" has to do with the fact internet companies and start up like  Zalando and Rocket Internet are not only thriving but also has started mentoring start ups to succeed by investing in promising business ideas.

Berlin’s digital economy alone employs about 60,000 people – with one in eight jobs being created in the digital economy since 2008  and approximately 500 new digital technology companies are set up annually.Most startups are located in the former East Berlin across  the central district of Mitte, not too far from the main boulevard "Torstrasse," often referred to as "Silicon Allee."

 The latest  start up that's creating buzz across the world  after Berlin based " Soundcloud "is EyeEm, online community and marketplace for photographers, formed in Berlin. 

Unlike other  European technology market  where startup scenes are normally focused around one growth area like gaming apps in Helsinki, Finland  which is home to Nokia as well.However

 Berlin is more across the board, with a touch of emphasis on e-commerce,cloud based SaaS model, Gaming, Mobile Apps as well as b2b marketplace  

Berlin's emergence as start up hotspot is  largely led by  four companies: Zalando/Rocket Internet Project A and Soundcloud , as well as established delivery services like Delivery Hero, Lieferheld and Pizza.de. Increasingly  Companies are beginning to notice this  trying to make berlin a hub of their digital ecosystem . Here are some examples

• Recently Cisco has chosen to locate its “Internet of Everything” innovation center in Berlin.
• Lufthansa launched its  “Innovation Hub”the Telekom with their T-Labs  in Berlin
• Volkswagen  with the International Creative Lab etc., are based in Berlin to be closer to the start-up and digital technology scene.

Berlin's hottest start ups

Among other notable technology start ups in Berlin  

•  One of the largest startups (> 170 people) and with the most open positions in Berlin is GameDuell -: Check out the latest jobs in Berlin here 

• Includes brands4friends - dawanda - 
• DailyDeal - DigitaleSeiten - eDarling - 
• Groupon (CityDeal) - 
• hiogi - imedo - 
• KaeuferPortal - 
• Madvertise -
•  mirapodo -
•  MisterSpex - moviepilot - 
• MyHammer - 
• MySportBrands - 
• SoundCloud - 
• SponsorPay - 
• studiVZ - 
• Webtrekk - 
• wooga -
•  zalando