Berlin-based startup university CODE secures multi-million euro funding
Berlin, December 8, 2025 – CODE University of Applied Sciences has raised more than 7 million euros in a key financing round with participation from renowned founders and investment funds. The funding will enable the university of applied sciences to continue pursuing its goals of strengthening its position among Germany’s top ten startup universities*, expanding its educational offering, and further promoting entrepreneurship. CODE's strong network is growing with the addition of important new investors. Among them, GF BRYCK Ventures joins as a new capital partner, continuing the previous commitment of the RAG Foundation. Existing shareholders—including IBB Capital , Fadelia , and CODE Trust—have also reinvested in this round.
With this educational investment, the investors reaffirm CODE’s successful trajectory and their confidence in its entrepreneurship-focused learning model. In the eight years since its founding, CODE’s students and alumni have launched more than 230 startups—a number expected to double over the next four years. The new funds will be used primarily to develop new study programs, expand international partnerships, and enhance digital infrastructure, with a particular focus on advanced AI initiatives.
As part of the BerlinInnoGrowth (BIG) program—refinanced through Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) and the German Development Bank KfW’s Future Fund—IBB Capital provides a significant share of the total funding. The program specifically supports innovative, growth-oriented Berlin-based companies whose models generate social, societal, and entrepreneurial impact. With its renewed commitment, IBB Capital is once again sending a strong signal in support of forward-looking entrepreneurship. In this context, Fadelia has also reinvested as a long-term partner and co‑investor.
GF BRYCK Ventures, a venture capital fund focused on investing in very early‑stage startups, joins CODE with a clear vision: its investment aims to empower students to gain hands-on, entrepreneurial education—enabling and inspiring more potential founders. The entry of GF BRYCK Ventures underscores the importance of CODE’s project-based, entrepreneurship-driven university model within the innovation and tech ecosystem.
Statements on the financing round
“This financing round enables us to continue our strong growth and expand our role as an international university for creative tech pioneers,” says Dr. Reimar Müller-Thum, Managing Director and Chancellor of CODE. “We are very pleased that both institutional and private investors are actively supporting our mission.”
Torsten Harr, Managing Director of IBB Capital GmbH, adds: “Our renewed commitment to CODE is a tangible contribution to strengthening Berlin’s startup ecosystem and Germany’s innovation landscape. We invest in institutions and business models that create social impact while fostering innovation and diversity in the long term. CODE University of Applied Sciences trains the tech talents that Berlin-based companies need for their innovative future—that’s why we are proud to continue supporting the university.”
Jan Gräfe, Co-Managing Director of GF BRYCK Ventures, states: “CODE is an exceptional institution that empowers young talents to take responsibility and drive real innovation. We see the ideal conditions here for educating the next generation of founders in Germany. We are excited to accompany this growth and continue the important commitment of the RAG Foundation.”
Support from long-standing shareholders
As part of this growth financing round, CODE University of Applied Sciences has once again received significant support from its circle of shareholders. Several long-standing investors—including Stephan Schambach, Rolf Schrömgens, Florian Heinemann, Petra Becker, Daniel Krauss, Thomas Bachem, Gero Decker, and Karsten Schneider—participated once again. All of them have been among CODE’s key supporters for many years and continue to play a vital role in enabling the university to expand its mission as a hub for creative tech innovators.
*Source: https://startupverband.de/research/deutscher-startup-monitor