Initiatives

Impact Factory

The Impact Factory is a programme for start-up founders who not only consider economic sustainability, but also social, human or ecological added value.

This is where start-ups from the green & social economy meet innovators from universities, companies and society to work on solutions for tomorrow, today.

The Impact Factory offers you a strong network of companies, welfare, universities, R&D institutions, friendly innovation laboratories, incubators, accelerators and other relevant players in the start-up world.

NRW start-up founders' grant

The NRW start-up founders' grant gives you the chance to get your innovative business idea off the ground and to join the start-up scene in your region. The North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Economics, Innovation, Digitisation and Energy supports all start-up founders who are about to set up (or who are in the early stages of setting up) a business with a monthly grant of 1,000 Euros for a maximum of one year to get started in the world of entrepreneurs. In addition, you will have the opportunity to exchange ideas in start-up founder networks and be supported by individual coaching.

Data Hub (start-up founders' alliance)

The Data Hub strives to promote data innovations in the B2B sector and in industry. 

The aim is to promote data-driven innovations by bringing deep-tech start-ups together with progressive companies in a three-month programme of cooperation.

Salon de Créateurs

Start-ups that work with designers from the very beginning develop in a more targeted way, more effectively from a strategic standpoint, and ultimately more successfully. That's what Salon des Créateurs wants to support here in the region.

In addition to the presentation of the start-up idea, the pitches also include issues relating to design, for example in relation to brand, product or service concepts, service design and presentation materials.

KUER.NRW start-up founders' competition

The KUER start-up competition is the first industry-specific competition for the future-orientated industries of climate, the environment, energy efficiency and resource conservation (hence the German abbreviation KUER). Specially accredited KUER coaches, mentors, specialists, industry experts and angel investors accompany you through all phases of the KUER foundation - from brainstorming to creating the business plan to setting up the company and launching it on the market, all individually tailored to your needs.

The KUER start-up competition is run by pro Ruhrgebiet e.V. in cooperation with Startbahn Ruhr GmbH on behalf of the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture, Nature and Consumer Protection.

Digital Innovation start-up founders' competition

With the “Start-Up Competition - Digital Innovations”, the BMWi awards ideas for innovative start-ups that are launched with digital technologies.

VISIONEST

The VISIONEST programme is the start-up accelerator programme of the Entrepreneurship Centre Witten (German abbreviation EZW). Here you can get help with turning your idea into reality, business model development and validation, prototype creation, the market test, the start-up foundation and the arrangement of financing. The extensive range of advisory services is supplemented by workshops and lectures on current start-up topics, exclusive network access to mentors and investors, and a dedicated workplace in the VISIONEST co-working space.

Start2grow 2020

Do you have a technological or digital idea for an innovative product or service? If so, then start2grow is exactly what you need. You get help in developing and revising your business plan. You also have the opportunity to take part in interesting events and coaching. At the same time, you will make exciting contacts with business and science. 

High Flyer

High Flyer ("Senkrechtstarter") is an intersectoral, free start-up competition run by Wirtschaftsförderung Bochum GmbH for those interested in founding a company in Bochum and North Rhine-Westphalia.

In the course of several events, you have the opportunity to outline your idea and then create your business plan. 

Beyond Conventions

At Beyond Conventions, large German companies with specific challenges in their business are looking for input from start-ups with innovative and digital solutions to help deal with these challenges. To that end, they set challenges to which the start-ups can apply with their specific idea. The topics of the challenges can be, for example, energy, sales or logistics. In general, however, it is always a matter of process optimisation.

Innovation Call

The Ruhr Innovation Space is a platform developed by BMR that brings creative minds together with companies from various industries. It promotes cooperation and gives new, future-oriented momentum to the Ruhr economic area. The goal is to develop innovative solutions and market-driven new products and applications by bundling competencies.

For the 2019 Innovation Call, creative start-ups, graduates and companies were sought that could offer interesting input on the topics of green tech, resource conservation, energy efficiency and material efficiency. 

Start-up Camp Ruhr

The Start-Up Camp Ruhr helps you to develop an innovative business idea in the energy industry. You work in small teams and test your ideas online or offline directly on the street with the customers of tomorrow.

You don't need a specific business idea in order to participate. The aim of the camp is to use a wide variety of creativity techniques to help you come up with your idea.  

Startport Accelerator

As a subsidiary of the port of Duisburg, startport GmbH has launched an accelerator programme with the focus on logistics and the supply chain. The search is on for start-ups with solutions for the following topics: Supply chain, transport, HUBs/terminals and warehousing.

Future Champions Accelerator

The Future Champions Accelerator is a qualification programme for technology-based and knowledge-based start-ups with a principal focus on mobility, energy, biomedicine, nutrition, production, logistics and social business.

The founding teams should have a connection to the region and the universities and should also be in the early stages of business modelling.

Wattenscheid Technology and Founders' Centre (TGW)

With the Wattenscheid Technology and Founders' Centre (TGW), Bochum Wirtschaftsentwicklung offers an ideal location for founders and innovative, small companies from the field of business-related services. The TGW was established in 1998 in buildings of the former Holland colliery, and has around 4,000 square meters of office space in total. The premises can be rented as self-contained units of various shapes and sizes, or as a single office.

NewWorkLab

The NewWorkLab at the Gelsenkirchen Science Park is where discerning co-workers will find adequate and flexible working conditions. 21 workstations including data flat, the latest technical equipment as well as a meeting room and a lounge with a coffee bar are available for start-ups, freelancers or teams of established companies. They can be booked flexibly on a daily or monthly basis. The science park is an established technology and conference center that offers extensive services. Business development, technology, funding and start-up advice are direct and in-house.

Centre for IT Security (German abbreviation ZITS)

he Centre for IT Security (ZITS) is located in the immediate vicinity of the Ruhr University and Bochum University and is ideal for founders and young IT security companies that want to be part of a strong network of scientific facilities and institutions in the area, such as the Horst Görtz Institute or the European Competence Centre for Security in IT (eurobits) and want to establish collaborations. In addition to modern office space with fiber-optic connections and a specific security concept, the ZITS has a large event area for industry-specific conferences, workshops and larger events.

Triple Z

The Zollverein Future Centre (in German the ZukunftsZentrumZollverein - or Triple Z for short) is Essen's start-up and corporate centre in the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex, Shaft 4/5/11. Since 1996, the Triple Z has provided almost 100 companies with around 500 employees with offices, production areas, warehouses and conference rooms in ten refurbished colliery buildings. All of this is extremely flexible, so as to allow adaptation to the development of the founders and start-ups. The start-up and management consultancy in cooperation with partners, the access to networks and the resident companies' mix of sectors also make Triple Z a dynamic location.

Lothringen Culture Centre (in German Kulturwerk Lothringen or KWL)

With the Lothringen Culture Centre (KWL), Bochum Wirtschaftsentwicklung has set up a centre for founders and young companies in the culture and creative industries on the site of the former Lothringen I / II colliery in Bochum Gerthe. Companies with innovative, creative and cultural services and products, particularly from the fields of the art industry, design, the IT industry, the photographic, film, video and TV industry, the music industry and cultural management will find ideal working conditions there.

Bochum Biomedicine Centre (in German BioMedizinZentrum Bochum or BMZ)

The Economic Development Department runs the Bochum Biomedicine Centre (BMZ) directly on the campus of Ruhr University. The centre is an attractive location for founders and companies in the life sciences and the healthcare industry to develop, produce and launch innovative products and services. The BMZ is part of the  Bochum Health Campus and provides founders with numerous opportunities for collaboration and industry-specific consultation services.

Dortmund Technology Centre

– Start-up in a Think City – In Europe's largest incubator for founders and start-ups, innovators from the fields of ITC, logistics, biomedicine, microstructure technology and industry-related services in production technology will find the ideal conditions for making their business ideas a reality. For instance, with direct links to neighbouring high-tech companies, universities and research institutes, digitisation concepts or results from research into active agents for future drugs are fast-tracked to market readiness.

BioIndustry

BioIndustry e.V. is a networked and integrated service cluster made up of companies, research institutions, training and further education institutions, technology centres, biotechnology service companies and municipal economic development with a focus on the Ruhr area and Westphalia. Internationally, players from our region also attract interest in "The Scientist Supplement - Biotechnology in North Rhine Westphalia".

Impact Hub Ruhr

The Impact Hub Ruhr is part of the global Impact Hub network and is committed to anchoring innovation in society and the economy by way of sustainable concepts.
As a co-working space, event location and consultancy service, the Impact Hub Ruhr team networks freelancers, creative minds, founders, social entrepreneurs, students and companies on the same mission. This is where expertise is shared, inspiration is sought and found, and innovation is born by way of cross-sector partnerships. At the numerous events and workshops that cover the topics of start-ups, new work and innovation methods, everyone finds new input and becomes part of the global and local community.

Energy Efficiency Centre

The Bochum Energy Efficiency Centre (in German EnergieEffizienzZentrum or EEZ) is an incubator for companies and entrepreneurs in the future-orientated field of energy efficiency.

The focus is on the three value-added chains

• Energy-efficient building, living and renovation,

• Energy-efficient and resource-conserving production and

• Electromobility.

IVAM Microtechnology Network

IVAM is the meeting point for people who are enthusiastic about key technologies and the way in which these technologies are shaping our lives and our future. As an international trade association and expert in technology marketing, IVAM brings your start-up together with other representatives of the high-tech industries and actively supports you in marketing your technologies and products, and in securing advantages in the face of international competition.

WORLDFACTORY

The Worldfactory is the new transfer & start-up concept of the Ruhr University in Bochum, which accompanies students along the road to starting a business.

Wirtschaftsjunioren Essen

Wirtschaftsjunioren Essen (Essen Business Juniors) is a network of young entrepreneurs and managers. Embedded in the umbrella association of Wirtschaftsjunioren Germany and Wirtschaftsjunioren NRW, we see ourselves as the voice of the young economy.

Work Inn

Regardless of whether you're a founder, self-employed, an employee or a large-scale entrepreneur, Work Inn offers you co-working and office space to inspire your creativity and productivity. Even more important than an office are the people who work there. At Work Inn you'll meet a diverse mix of specialists, experts, doers and lateral thinkers.

Digital Hub Logistics

Digital Hub Logistics in Dortmund is driving the digitisation of the logistics industry in Germany, and strengthening the mature and dynamic ecosystem of digital logistics in the Ruhr area. In this way, we offer a very exciting environment for companies that are looking to bring high-potential, new digital products to the market. With our Start-in Factory, we are not only aiming at logistics companies but also support companies from other industries when it comes to their digital transformation.

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft company is the leading applied research organisation in Europe. It is home to 74 institutes and research facilities throughout Germany. International collaborations worldwide provide a direct exchange with the most influential scientific and economic areas.

Schacht One

Schacht One is the pioneer for digital innovations in the Haniel Group. We act as a platform to promote and support digital transformation. Our goal is not only to support our customers with their project incubation, but also to transfer our knowledge and share with them our network of potential partners.

HEIMATDESIGN

Heimatdesign is a platform and display for young design in the region. With exhibitions, trade fairs, collaborations, magazines and agencies, the aim is to establish Dortmund and the Ruhr area as a location for creative design ideas. The mix of the design fields of fashion, graphics, object design and photography is an important starting point for this.

GUIDE

GUIDE, the Center for Start-ups and Innopreneurship, is a central point of contact for start-ups at the University of Duisburg-Essen. GUIDE is represented at all three campuses of the UDE. The start-up coaches here offer optimal support in all phases of founding, including comprehensive initial advice, individual coaching, funding advice and qualification programs.

DIGTAL HUB ACCELARTOR

The Digital Hub Accelerator promotes innovative, scalable, digital start-ups and attaches particular importance to promoting cooperation between start-ups and companies from our cooperation partner group that work together in the form of sponsorships. The accelerator was launched by the DWNRW hubs in the Münsterland and Ruhr area.

DORTMUND FEMALE FOUNDERS' CENTRE

For all women considering a career change with the aim of becoming self-employed. Have you had an idea for a start-up for a long time that you'd now like to turn into reality? In the Founders' Centre you'll get a comprehensive package of support for your start-up.

Business Angels Agentur Ruhr e.V.

Business Angels Agentur Ruhr e.V. (BAAR), the network of angel investors in the Ruhr metropolis This is where business angels can find exciting deals, syndication partners and an exchange of experiences. Founded in 1999, BAAR is one of the market leaders in the German business angels network scene and a pioneer in investor readiness offers. BAAR is focussed mainly on the Ruhr area, but is open to projects from all over Germany and neighbouring countries, and promotes the development of a regional business angels ecosystem in collaboration with VC donors and intermediaries.

FEMALE FOUNDERS' AND ENTREPRENEURS MEETING

Every two months, on the second Wednesday of the month, start-ups and entrepreneurs from Bochum, Herne and the surrounding area meet up to exchange experiences. Besides useful information and tips, experts are invited along to talk about current topics and advanced training events are offered.

Entrepreneurship Centre Witten

The Entrepreneurship Centre Witten (German abbreviation EZW) is a nationally known contact point for founders. In the immediate vicinity of the University of Witten Herdecke, we give technology-oriented, innovative founding teams the opportunity to develop and test their business models at a very early stage. Under the terms of the start-up grant, they can use the co-working space in the EZW, receive individual advice on all aspects of their business idea and access to the EZW network.

MAIN THEME

Main Theme enables you to develop your idea together with successful founders, experienced mentors and speakers. Besides informative lectures and exciting workshops, Main Theme also offers attractive prices.

Cube 5

Cube 5 supports those interested in founding a company and start-ups at the Horst Görtz Institute for IT Security at the Ruhr University in Bochum. The founding incubator helps in three phases: From know-how through to technology development to the later company structure. In addition, Cube 5 provides professional help from technology and business experts from its local and national network. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (German abbreviation BMBF).

RUHR INITIATIVE CIRCLE

The Ruhr Initiative Circle is an association of more than 70 leading commercial enterprises and institutions. The goal of the Ruhr Initiative Circle is to promote the development of the Ruhr area and to strengthen its future sustainability and competitiveness. The Ruhr Initiative Circle supports innovative company starters with its founders' initiative. It supports start-up events such as the RuhrSummit or the Ruhr area FuckUp Nights. The “Smart on Start” mentor project opens the doors to the boardrooms of Ruhr industry for start-ups. The Ruhr Founders' Funds (in German "Gründerfonds Ruhr"), set up together with NRW.BANK, provides young entrepreneurs with venture capital of more than 30 million Euros.

FOUNDERS' ALLIANCE

The Ruhr area is the region of opportunity for young entrepreneurs. This is the right place for a new entrepreneurial spirit. Anyone who wants to found a company needs advice, guidance, and last but not least financial support. To this end, the Ruhr Initiative Circle and the initiators of “Happy Future!" (in German "Glückauf Zukunft!) - RAG Foundation, RAG Aktiengesellschaft and Evonik Industries - have come together to set up the Ruhr Founders' Alliance. Under this umbrella, they bring together all the players who want to put forward offers to support start-ups in the Ruhr area.

Centre for für Entrepreneurship & Transfer

The Centre for Entrepreneurship & Transfer (CET) is a central institution of the TU Dortmund and has set itself the goal of promoting entrepreneurial thinking and action in the region. We organise many qualification offerings (workshops, summer schools, lounges, start-up weekends, etc.), support the realisation of a business idea and the exploitation of property rights, promote transfer activities and conduct research in the field of entrepreneurship.

Gründer Support Ruhr e.V.

In the Gründer Support Ruhr e.V. (GSR), 30 experienced retired managers currently act as sponsors for the purpose of providing practical help and support in the founding and strengthening of young companies.
The sponsors come from different sectors of the economy and have in-depth knowledge that can be useful when setting up a company, not least “entrepreneurial life experience”.

Founders Foundation

There is no digital future for Germany without a new generation of motivated founders. In the Founders' Foundation, innovators are brought together in a unique tech ecosystem, start-up knowledge is imparted and young tech companies are helped to grow.