GUIDE: How to start a startup in Freiburg

In the student city Freiburg, a startup ecosystem slowly begins to grow. Similar to Karlsruhe, the hometown of First Momentum Ventures, the regional university plays an above-average role for the economy and its upcoming startups. Why? First and foremost, it is, together with the hospital, the largest employer in the city. Around 25,000 students are enrolled at the Albrecht-Ludwigs-University, one of the oldest and most renowned universities in Germany. Having partnerships with other top universities, research institutions, and businesses around the world, offers a cosmopolitan atmosphere to the medieval city. Additionally, the largest European solar research institute, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, also has its home in Freiburg. This sets the tone for a green city. The city in the southwest of Germany stands for over-average sustainability and advanced environmental practices — which has an impact on the main research topics — namely renewable energies, biotechnology, and sustainability.

Typical founders and startup employees in Freiburg are students or returnees from metropolises like Berlin, who want to escape the busy, stressful city life. Unfortunately, Freiburg does not have a cluster of IT and technology companies and is not located in the heart of a large economic agglomeration, but besides that the city of Freiburg has a lot to offer regarding living standards: Not only is the city situated in the heart of Baden’s largest wine-growing region and serves as the primary tourist entry point to the scenic beauty of the Black Forest, it is also the sunniest and warmest city in Germany. The uplifting sun plus wine plus the inspiring surrounding equals a benefiting life-balance and fosters wellbeing and creativity. Is that the foundation for startup success?

While many key elements are still missing or are just evolving, the foundation is set. Therefore, the following guide: “How to start a startup in Freiburg” presents resources and starting points, allowing you to capitalize on the existing network and infrastructure or even establishing new ones. Regardless of your own current expertise or experience, the guide lists relevant organizations which enable students to start their own startup:

ON-CAMPUS ORGANIZATIONS

• Foundersclub — The Foundersclub is the main student organization for entrepreneurship at the Albert-Ludwigs-University. You should absolutely stop by at one of their weekly meetings every Wednesday, where you can get in touch with fellow startup enthusiasts.
• The founder office of the Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg — The founder office of the University of Freiburg is not only available to students, but also to doctoral candidates and employees of the university. In seminars and workshops, you can acquire the necessary knowledge for self-employment (e.g. how to write a business plan or even leadership skills). Furthermore, the startup office offers individual, free advice. Their consultants analyze your business idea and evaluate the potential of it. The goal is to further develop the idea of a product or marketable service, to search for markets and a suitable business model. For ten years, the founding office of the university has been pushing the topic of startups in Freiburg specifically outside the university. However, in 2018 this funding expired, and the future of the founder office is unresolved.
• Seminars on Entrepreneurship at the Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg — If you are a student at the Albert-Ludwigs-University, you can participate in BOK courses, that shows possible ways into professional self-employment. Bachelor students can earn ECTS credits and the uniENTREPRENEUR certificate.

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

• BioTechPark and Technology Foundation BioMed Freiburg — The BioTechPark Freiburg supports startups in the field of “Life Science”, i.e. the spectrum of life sciences, but also in microsystems technology. In particular, young and established biotech companies are offered space, laboratories, and a startup laboratory. The funding period is seven years. With its biennial prize, the Technology Foundation BioMed Freiburg honors to the economic performance of small and medium-sized companies in the economic region of Freiburg since 1992.
• Grünhof and Lokhalle — The Grünhof in Freiburg offers not only space for co-working, but also workshops. A visit gets you a taste of entrepreneurship while meeting creative people and developing new ideas. Maybe this leads to founding a startup yourself. They mainly aim at social entrepreneurs. The Smart Green Accelerator powered by Grünhof is one of the leading Startup Accelerators for the Green Economy in Germany. With innovative funding programs, it accelerates startups in the fields of energy, environmental technology, retail and green digital and innovates companies on the rerouting and implementation of targeted startup cooperation. They support startups in various stages of development and provide know-how, financing, and networks to match the startup phase.

SUPRA-REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

• Technologie Park Offenburg and the Black Forest Accelerator, Lahr — The Technologie Park Offenburg has facilitated startups since 1987. They provide offices with an attractive price-performance ratio, as well as contact with regional companies and universities and networking opportunities with other founders & startups. The purpose of the foundation is to support startups and young companies from the region. The Black Forest Accelerator is their four to six months startup funding program for business ideas, supporting participating teams through seed capital, co-working spaces and a mentoring program.
• IHK Südlicher Oberrhein und IHK Hochrhein-Bodensee — The industry and chambers of commerce Southern Upper Rhine and Upper Rhine-Bodensee offer a versatile program: In addition to free lectures, fee-based workshops are given that enable you to start a business. In addition, they organize the annual “Founders’ Days”, which present all topics concerning entrepreneurship in a relaxed atmosphere.
• Zeit.Areal, Lahr — At Zeit.Areal in Lahr networking among creative people is fostered. The historic buildings were formerly used as a barracks and later as a cigarette factory, the current renovation has created an innovative campus.
• Bwcon — Baden-Württemberg Connected — Bwcon is an economic initiative to promote the innovation and high-tech location in Baden-Württemberg. The head office is in Stuttgart and one of its regional offices is in Freiburg. Companies and research institutions with a focus on IT and healthcare create a network and platform for the exchange of experience, knowledge, and ideas. Company founders can get in touch with these experienced entrepreneurs and executives via seminars and events. Besides that special advice for aspiring entrepreneurs regarding writing a business plan, tackling financing issues offered as well as mentoring and qualification. Bwcon’s “High-tech Award CyberOne”, which is awarded under the auspices of the Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg, promotes companies that excel with particularly innovative business concepts.
• Innocel Lörrach — The Innocel Innovation Center Lörrach supports highly-specialized entrepreneurs tackling the fields of information technology, telecommunications, life sciences, medical technology, and the pharmaceutical industry. Innocel gives the opportunity to build a network and win new customers, while advice on topics such as public relations and sales and potentially premises are given. Furthermore, it is a great possibility to get in touch with other entrepreneurs.
• Hochschule Offenburg — The “Start-Up Support” Center at the Hochschule Offenburg helps students to decide whether it makes sense to set up a business. If they decide to do the office guides them through all phases of starting a business and informs about funding programs run by the federal government and the state of Baden-Württemberg. Here, contacts are made with other experts outside the university, too. In addition to this consultation, different seminars for students are listed.
• Hochschule Furtwangen — At the Innovation and Start-up Center Tuttlingen, the focus is on the coaching of startup projects, in particular innovative, technology-oriented or knowledge-based projects. Many students are active in the field of industrial engineering and computer science.

EVENTS

Since the events may vary over time, this guide only points out a few of them. Recommendation: The office for economic development in the region of Freiburg offers an event calendar on their website, that is worth a look!

• Freiburger Gründertage — In general, the “Freiburger Gründertage” are held once a year. At the founders’ days in Freiburg, startup companies or young companies receive valuable tips on their startup projects.
• Start-up BW Elevator Pitch — A perfect opportunity to pitch your startup: The event is an attractive platform to present your business plan to a jury and an audience of regional institutions, financiers, business partners, and potential customers. Each entrepreneur receives 3 minutes to make the audience curious about their idea.
• startUp.connect Night — An evening event for entrepreneurs, founders and those who want to be one. Like-minded peers can exchange ideas in a relaxed atmosphere — exciting lectures included.

VENTURE CAPITAL

The middle-class Freiburg is not a city in which to talk about money, even though there is the investor network Business Angel and Black Forest Business Angels e.V. and municipal funds e.g. Grünhof subsidizes young startups in Freiburg with up to €1.000 per month.

But if you are looking for pre-seed funding, you should most definitely check out our fund First Momentum Ventures. Originally founded by students for fellow students, we know the hurdles of being a student entrepreneur. Our mission is to help your startup to gain its first momentum by backing you with a first investment as well as world-class mentoring, a strong community, and the required know-how. Speaking of community, we are well represented within Freiburg, so just get in touch! Our ambassador Philipp George often joins local startup events, so just ask him everything you want to know about our fund when meeting him there. Additionally, our associate Adina Weiler is currently doing her Master’s degree in Economics at the university and is always up for a coffee meeting.

CONCLUSION

The startup ecosystem of Freiburg is far from perfect, but it offers the first foundation to start a company of your own. Especially as a young entrepreneur or student this is the best time in your life to be brave and try out something new, something unfamiliar and daunting. Whether you’re looking to simply learn about a new topic or dedicate a few years to build that next unicorn, just remember to have fun on this journey! Allow yourself to try, to fail and to try it again. But you will be surrounded by the best support team you could ever wish for: Peers as passionate and brilliant as you are.

So, are you up for the challenge?

Note: Did we miss some important touchpoints for student founders in Freiburg? Let us know! We are always happy to learn more about your regional startup ecosystem.

As a pre-seed investor, we help your startup to gain its first momentum by backing you with a first investment as well as world-class mentoring, a strong community, and the required know-how. Read more at firstmomentum.vc, stay up-to-date with our newsletter or get in touch through Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn