February 2024

Hey there,

Our ecosystem is the foundation for our work – and a strong European ecosystem is the foundation for today's goals: energy resilience, sustainability, security.

At the Munich Security Conference in mid-February, one topic therefore couldn’t be overlooked: CleanTech, together with calls for more funding and support from the public sector. A clear message emerged: We can strengthen our energy security in the future with innovations and start-ups. Find out more.

This is precisely the future strengths we need to build on - as confirmed by the visit of the German Federal Minister of Economics Dr. Robert Habeck , to the Munich Urban Colab. It is about nothing less than preserving prosperity in Germany - through a strong start-up scene. With the "Start-up Factories Lighthouse Competition.", in which our Managing Director Prof. Dr. Helmut Schoenenberger was involved, the German government is pursuing precisely this goal: promoting innovative entrepreneurship - more on this below.

Enjoy your read,

Your UnternehmerTUM team

Topics

Munich is a Beacon of Innovation

"Germany has world-class research. But too few real products and companies emerge from this research," Verena Pausder, Chairwoman of the German Start-up Association, told the Handelsblatt. This is why the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology is now launching the "Start-up Factories Lighthouse Competition." Munich, and in particular the Technical University (TUM), is to serve as a blueprint for universities all over Germany, so that more academics become founders. Read more in the Handelsblatt article.

Private Car Sharing Put to the Test: #Hausflotte

With around 43.3 million private vehicles, the density of cars in Germany has reached a record high. On average, they sit idle for 23 hours per day – taking up valuable public space.

For more than a year, the Digital Hub Mobility and its partners have been investigating the challenges of private car sharing and testing possible solutions. They identified three types of specific hurdles: organizational, psychological and regulatory. Find out here exactly what this means and how the project is progressing.

Innovation on Fire

An agile sprint to product launch in just one year thanks to an interdisciplinary team. Together with UnternehmerTUM Business Creators, SiO2 Ventures has launched its innovative product "FireWell." The additive reduces particulate dust in wood-burning stoves by up to 90%. The dedicated app ensures optimal heating throughout the entire burning period.

"FireWell" protects the environment and human health and allows wood-burning stoves to continue to operate in the face of future legislation. Read more about forward-thinking corporate innovation here.

Embarking on a Value(s)-Based Future

The Enkelfähigkeit® - Academy accompanies (family) businesses on their way to a value-oriented future. Starting this year, we have been supporting its community with the following questions: How do you foster innovation in companies and how do you make them fit for the future?

We share our know-how in workshops that we offer together with the Enkelfähigkeit® - Academy. Read more here about these workshops.

Meet the Decision-Makers in VC Business

Lakestar is one of the leading European venture capital firms investing in technology companies. At our Fireside Chat on April 11, you can meet the Lakestar team and ask them questions. Three founders will also have the opportunity to make a pitch and get direct feedback.

Register here for this event organized by Manage and More and the TUM Entrepreneurial Masterclass.

The event will be followed by a Founders Dinner. This is an invitation for you to openly discuss ideas, experiences and challenges with other founders and experienced personalities from the scene. Register here by March 15.

Media Highlights

📰 "Through the financing desert"

The German industry needs a complete overhaul. While there’s no shortage of ideas, there’s a bottleneck in start-up financing.

📰 "Bureaucracy reduction package, but still more work"

Currently, employment contracts cannot be signed digitally. A new law aims to change that – but contracts still have to be printed out.

📰 "How UnternehmerTUM's 'Women Start-up' promotes diversity"

UnternehmerTUM’s ‘Women Start-up’ initiative inspires and empowers women in the fields of entrepreneurship and technology.

📰 "Can Bavaria - finally - become the 'California of Europe'?” 

The Bavarian Ministry of the Interior wants to make the region better known for its up-and-coming technology scene.