CAPITAL CITIES is an interdisciplinary research project funded by the Volkswagen Foundation’s Perspectives on Wealth program that investigates the societal foundations and role of wealth in two leading European startup ecosystems: Paris and Berlin. Adopting a comparative perspective, the project brings together sociologists (TU Berlin) and entrepreneurship scholars (University of Wuppertal) to examine how different actor groups shape the startup activity within these ecosystems.
About the Project
Research Interest
Wealth is simultaneously a resource and an outcome of the startup ecosystem. We aim to understand how different uses of and aspirations for wealth shape the prevailing socio-economic dynamics of startup ecosystems. Four strategic actor groups are at the center of our analysis: investors, startup founders, entrepreneurial support organizations (ESOs), and political enablers. We examine how these groups’ interests, resources, decision-making power, and interdependent relationships relate to wealth and wealth accumulation. Through its interdisciplinary approach, the project advances academic debates across sociology, entrepreneurship, and related fields, while also informing practitioners through reports, policy briefings, and roundtables on startup ecosystem development.
Methodology
We conduct a multi-sited ethnography in the startup ecosystems of Paris and Berlin. During the field phase, we engage directly with key stakeholder groups through qualitative interviews with investors, startup founders, entrepreneurial support organizations, and political enablers, as well as through participant observation at relevant events and ongoing involvement in the field. In addition, we draw on secondary data to contextualize and triangulate our findings. This comparative design allows us to examine how national and local contexts shape the relationship between wealth and ecosystem dynamics.
Strategic Actor Groups
Investors
Startup Founders
Political enablers
Entrepreneurial support organizations
Overview of the Ecosystems
- Berlin and Paris are two of the Top 3 startup ecosystems in Western Europe
- Bringing forward together over 5000 startups
- Both ecosystems had annual growth rates over 20% in 2025
- Receiving support via governmental programs such as BPI France (Alternative WIN?) and (…)
- With an average funding of roughly 16.44M (Berlin) and 18.22M (Paris) in 2024
- Originating successful startups with global impact in Industries like Fintech or Ecommerce & Retail
- Both cities are providing attractive progressive environments for startups with campuses like Station F or the WISTA Technology Parks
Team
Our Partners
We collaborate with a diverse network of academic institutions, startup hubs, media partners, and foundations.
Their support, expertise, and connections play a crucial role in advancing our research.
Academic Partners
The project is funded by the renowned Volkswagen Foundation, a private research funding organization, known for supporting creative and foundational research about processes of societal transformation.
Institutional Partners
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Practice Partners
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