Startups turn German Cold War death strip into economic hub
Lure of startup scene also attracts MNCs to the area to link up with digital industry
Berlin
WHEN Oliver Feucht-Zwerger left Berlin in 2011 to work in Switzerland, the area around Ostbahnhof, once a Cold War death strip, was mostly empty lots and parking spaces. The neighbourhood is now bustling with new business.
On a recent day in May, Mr Feucht-Zwerger was among a group of hip-looking professionals walking out of a brand-new office building where online retailer Zalando SE employs about 8,000 people. Nearby, travel search engine Kayak Software Corp and video game developer Yager Development GmbH occupy large loft offices.