Above the rooftops of Manhattan: German GreenTech start-up Keywood discovers America

On a hot Monday morning at the end of August, a group of GreenTech start-ups from Germany gathered in a conference room above the rooftops of Manhattan, just a stone’s throw from Wall Street. The venue: the office of the Chamber of Foreign Trade, New York. The mission of this illustrious group: to explore the US market—and help save the world.

Keywood’s journey to New York began months earlier. In May, they had won the opportunity to participate in the renowned STEP program at MVPreneurDay in Rostock, organized by the Center of Digital Innovation, Rostock. A crucial moment that laid the foundation for this trip.

The muggy heat in the city, with its omnipresent hum of air conditioning, was already a reminder of the urgency of their vision. Some of the start-ups already had market-ready products—a substantial advantage in the dynamic US market. Others were still in the early stages, but all were united by the desire to deliver solutions to global climate problems.

A week full of meetings and networking events awaited them, diving deep into New York’s potential: from government initiatives to private incubators to exciting conversations with decision-makers and investors. The message that resonated everywhere was clear: the need to act has been recognized. The US, and New York in particular, is ready to do its part in the fight against climate change. California may be a pioneer, but here, in the concrete jungle of New York, the will to change is profound.

The highlight: a pitch night organized by VentureOut and the Chamber of Foreign Trade, where the start-ups presented their visions to representatives of the local GreenTech ecosystem. “Awesome folks to talk to,” one of the participants said enthusiastically.

For Keywood, this trip is a turning point. Previously, they didn’t have the US market on their radar—that has now changed fundamentally.
“America, we’ll be back.”