FRESH IDEAS FROM DÜSSELDORF
Growing and scaling up in the state capital: in Düsseldorf, fresh ideas receive professional support from the Economic Development Agency throughout various stages of a company’s development. From the initial steps – including business plans, funding options and integration into networks and events such as Startup Week – right through to the next major step, such as internationalisation, raising larger amounts of capital and strategic support. In the latter case, for example, support is provided by the state programme Scale-up.NRW, implemented by digihub Düsseldorf/Rheinland and the Start2Group (see p. 12). Thanks to digitalisation and artificial intelligence, the opportunities for growth and scaling are now greater and more dynamic than ever before. This is also demonstrated by the three startups we are presenting this time, which could hardly be more different in terms of their focus: the stage is set for Reltix, Fondatec and Pool-Match!
Leon Aléx Bamesreiter (left) and Jan Oliver Horstmann aim to digitalise traditional property management with Reltix.
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT OF TOMORROW
Germany's traditional property management sector is not exactly known for its innovation. A survey conducted by the Düsseldorf-based startup reltix confirms this: 87 per cent of the 150 property owners questioned were dissatisfied with their property management company but did not switch due to a lack of alternatives. Both private property owners and institutional investors complained that they had no access to reliable data and lacked an overview of their respective portfolios. ‘To close this gap, we founded reltix in early 2025. Our goal is to provide a proactive management service that offers owners transparency,’ says Jan Oliver Horstmann. This is achieved through AI support: the reltix software handles routine administrative tasks in the background and continuously creates a digital twin of each property. 'This gives our team constant access to all relevant data, enabling them to act proactively as problems can be identified and resolved before they arise,' explains Leon Aléx Bamesreiter. To develop the AI foundations, reltix received a research grant of €1.3 million from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space. The substantial investment is paying off: within six months, the startup hired 20 new employees and opened a further office in Frankfurt am Main in summer 2026, and the customer referral rate stands at 97 per cent. 'We are planning further locations in the Ruhr region and Hesse by mid-2026, followed by a Germany-wide expansion from the end of 2026. In the long term, we want to redefine the standard for professional property management in Germany, make the property management profession attractive again, and digitise the industry,' says Andreas Jan Oliver Horstmann •
RELTIX GMBH
ERNST-GNOSS-STRASSE 24
40219 DÜSSELDORF
RELTIX.DE
Finn Niehues (left) and Henrik Giesler aim to bring order to complex data landscapes with Fondatec.
DEEP DIVE INTO DATA
AI is seen as a panacea for SMEs, yet it often fails at the grassroots level. Unstructured data, fragmented systems and isolated Excel solutions are holding back digital transformation. This is precisely where the Düsseldorf-based startup Fondatec Consult comes in. Founded by Finn Niehues and Henrik Giesler, the company was established in Düsseldorf in October 2025 with the aim of bringing order to complex data landscapes. From their professional experience, the two founders have repeatedly observed that, while companies want to invest in business intelligence and AI, they lack the necessary foundation to do so. ‘Many see the potential, but cannot utilise it without a clean structure,’ says Finn. ‘This is precisely the gap we are closing – pragmatically and in close alignment with business needs.’
Fondatec targets medium-sized companies across all sectors. The focus is on structured data models, automated processes, and robust reporting. The aim is to enable data-driven decision-making based on up-to-date figures and valid forecasts. ‘We create transparency and reduce complexity in day-to-day operations,’ explains Henrik. ‘This not only ensures efficiency, but also makes companies more manageable overall.’
Customers report a positive response: a noticeable reduction in workload and a better understanding of their own processes. Rather than one-off optimisation, Fondatec focuses on sustainable implementation. 'Our goal is to develop solutions with our customers — solutions that are easy to understand and effective in the long term,' says Finn.
The founders have clear goals for the coming years. Fondatec aims to establish itself as a key player in data-driven transformation for SMEs. To this end, they are deliberately focusing on the Rhineland region. The combination of economic strength and regional proximity provides the ideal conditions for a business model that prioritises making data usable. •
FONDATEC CONSULT GMBH
GOLZHEIMER PLATZ 12
40474 DÜSSELDORF
FONDATEC.DE
Matthias Biehl aims to use the social innovation Pool-Match to bring together people who, in this age of polarisation and bubbles, would otherwise be unlikely to meet.
RANDOM CONNECTIONS AND REAL CONVERSATIONS
Social networks promise connection, yet they often merely reinforce existing patterns. Filter bubbles, curated profiles, and datadriven matching algorithms shape digital interaction. The Düsseldorf- based startup Pool-Match is taking a different approach. The digital platform was launched at the end of 2025. The idea arose from an internal initiative within the corporate environment of the company's founder, Matthias Biehl: ‘We wanted to bring together colleagues from all over the world who would probably never interact with one another otherwise. The response was so positive that I developed the concept further and am now making it available to the general public.’
The principle is incredibly simple: every month, two people are randomly connected. There are no algorithms, no profile matching and no optimisation. 'No scrolling, no liking, no AI – just two people and a topic of conversation,' Matthias explains. What initially appears minimalist has an impact on several levels: as a remedy for loneliness that is easily accessible, as a break from digital echo chambers and as a bridge between different life experiences. The platform is deliberately kept low-cost and ad-free. In the long term, the financial model is intended to become self-sustaining without compromising on accessibility or data protection.
The response so far confirms Matthias's vision: shortly after its launch, Pool-Match already had users across five continents. Furthermore, the project has been accepted into the Social Entrepreneurship Germany network, which is a sign of its social relevance. Matthias is banking on organic growth for the coming years. Düsseldorf remains the deliberate starting point. ‘The city combines internationality with manageable structures. This environment is well suited to an idea that aims to create one thing above all else: genuine encounters,’ says the Düsseldorf native. •
POOL MATCH
MATTHIAS BIEHL
HELLWEG 61
40235 DÜSSELDORF
Text: Tom Corrinth
Pictures: Reltix, Fondatec Consult, privat
