Baden-Württemberg, Germany’s leading state for innovation and entrepreneurship, is further expanding its support for start-ups with the addition of five new accelerators to the Start-up BW Accelerators program. These accelerators serve as a crucial pillar of start-up funding in the region, helping to foster the growth and development of young companies.
The existing 13 accelerators under the Start-up BW program have already proven highly successful in supporting start-ups, with a total of around 310 million euros in investments raised since the program’s inception. These start-ups have not only created valuable job opportunities but also contributed to the strength and future success of the state’s economy.
Wirtschaftsministerin Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut expressed her excitement about the expansion, highlighting the importance of supporting start-ups in key sectors such as artificial intelligence and innovative nutrition. She emphasized that the Start-up BW Accelerators provide crucial support for start-ups with innovative technologies and business models right from the start.
The Start-up BW Accelerators offer comprehensive support throughout the entire development process of young ventures, from business model development and validation to achieving financial readiness. Operated by consortia, these accelerators bring together the expertise and experience of multiple partners, allowing start-ups to access the consortium’s network and knowledge in various fields relevant to start-up formation.
It is important to note that the support offered by the accelerators is not limited to specific locations but applies statewide. This ensures that start-ups from all across Baden-Württemberg can benefit from the diverse range of services provided.
The existing accelerators that will continue to receive funding in the 2023-2024 period, along with their consortium leaders, include the following:
- 4C Accelerator (Tübingen) by Medical Innovations Incubator GmbH, supporting start-ups in the field of medical life sciences.
- Creative Energy Quantum Leap (Ulm) by TFU GmbH, focusing on energy, energy conversion and storage, and quantum technology.
- ARISE – Start-up Accelerator for Deep Tech (Breisach) by BadenCampus GmbH, centering around deep tech and sustainability.
- Energie-Accelerator AXEL (Karlsruhe) by fokus.energie e.V., assisting start-ups with technologies and business models for the energy transition.
- Cyber Lab High Potential IT Accelerator (Karlsruhe) by Cyberforum e.V., supporting start-ups in IT, artificial intelligence, IT security, and smart production.
- ESA BIC (Reutlingen, Friedrichshafen) by IHK Reutlingen, offering a program focused on space technology.
- Fintogether (Stuttgart) by Vereinigung Baden-Württembergische Wertpapierbörse e.V., focusing on solutions for the financial industry.
- Life Science Accelerator (Mannheim/Heidelberg) by Technologiepark Heidelberg GmbH, supporting start-ups in the life sciences sector.
- M.Tech Accelerator by bwcon GmbH, catering to start-ups in the manufacturing, engineering, and mobility fields.
- New Sandbox (Stuttgart) by WRS GmbH, a creative tech accelerator at the intersection of media, design, software, and sustainability.
- SMART Green Accelerator (Freiburg) by FWTM GmbH & Co KG, assisting green tech start-ups.
- Stoff im Kopf (Reutlingen) by Süwesttextil – Verband der Südwestdeutschen Textil- und Bekleidungsindustrie e.V., providing support for the textile and fashion industry.
- Up2B (Walldorf/Heidelberg/Mannheim) by Technologiepark Heidelberg GmbH, targeting start-ups with B2B business models in industrial tech.
In addition to these continuing accelerators, five new accelerators will be added in the 2023-2024 funding period:
- AI Accelerator in Heilbronn by Campus Founders, supporting start-ups in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).
- AI xpress Accelerator (Böblingen) by Softwarezentrum Böblingen/Sindelfingen, offering a program for start-ups in the field of artificial intelligence.
- Groundbreakers Accelerator in Stuttgart by WiTech GmbH, focusing on innovations in the construction and building industry.
- Foodbrycke (Stuttgart) by the City of Stuttgart, addressing innovations in the food industry.
- move+ (Friedrichshafen) by ZF Friedrichshafen AG, supporting start-ups in the field of connected, intelligent, and sustainable mobility.
Accelerators, as the term suggests, serve as catalysts for start-up development by providing several months of support to founders. These programs offer a wide range of services that can accelerate market entry and growth, such as mentoring and coaching, access to office and laboratory spaces, connections to customers, partners, networks, industry clusters, and financing. Importantly, all the services provided by the accelerators are free of charge for start-ups.
The expansion of the Start-up BW Accelerators program reflects the commitment of Baden-Württemberg to supporting and nurturing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region. By facilitating the growth of innovative start-ups in various sectors, the state aims to further strengthen its position as a global leader in technological advancements and economic prosperity. For more information about the Start-up BW Accelerators program, please visit the official website.
