Munich Startup: What specific benefits does a startup center like Gate Garching offer startups?
Christian Heckemann: Who as a startup at our startup center Anyone who joins us has excellent prospects, as 98 percent of our startups are successful in the market. More than 300 teams have already founded their own company here, and many of them are now scaleups or international tech players.
A combination of factors lies behind this success. First, there's our unique location on the research campus, as we're located right next to a strong expertise base, namely the Technical University of Munich. Second, founders start with us in flexible offices of between 20 and 100 square meters, which can be adapted as the team grows. Our offerings are complemented by workshop and hall space – a rare advantage in Munich. And right next door, a real game changer awaits: the MakerSpace, where prototypes are created quickly and cost-effectively.
Coaching, community and practical support
Munich Startup: How do you support founders outside of the premises?
Christian Heckemann: With us, founders are not alone. They get coaches who bring business and leadership experience, combined with industry knowledge and the learnings from hundreds of sessions with Gate startups. With the Gate Academy Events We pass on practical tools – from customer acquisition and financing to team building, online or live on-site.
The greatest leverage, however, lies in our vibrant community, where people engage in conversation, share experiences, and network. Our events automatically generate contacts that accelerate growth.
Success stories from the Gate: Planqc, SpAItial AI and more
Munich Startup: Can you share some special success stories from the gate?
Christian Heckemann: A strong example is Planqc. Just a few months after its founding, the Quantum computing startup They raised €4.6 million, sending a clear signal for quantum technologies from Germany. They moved into the Gate in 2022 and are utilizing the network on the research campus. Numerous awards, such as the German Startup Award 2023, EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2024, and the German Founders' Award 2025, demonstrate the level of excellence teams can achieve here.
SpAItial AI is also clearly demonstrating where the journey is headed. The team led by TUM professor and Unicorn founder Matthias Niessner develops AI models that translate the real world into immersive 3D environments. Their choice of the Gate as their location underscores our role as a bridge between research and startups.
Munich Startup: Christian, have you ever had a “goosebumps moment” with your startups?
Christian Heckemann: A special moment was the first visit to the supermarket, where I discovered a product from a Gate startup on the shelf: the edible straw from WisefoodI still remember how the team here refined the first prototypes and overcame setbacks. Years later, their product is a natural part of my everyday life. That was a truly goosebump-inducing moment.
Vision for the future: expansion, new areas and deep-tech focus
Munich Startup: What drives you personally to lead a startup center like Gate?
Christian Heckemann: My path to Gate is closely linked to my own startup experiences. I guided a Munich tech startup from a small team to its IPO and once even led a startup here myself. Today, I'm on the other side—as Managing Director—and pass on the experiences that were crucial for us back then.
I'm inspired to see founders energetically working on their ideas and to witness how, through exchange and networking, collaborations emerge that one would never have achieved alone. Often, it's the small moments that make the difference – like when I feel the energy in the building at lunchtime in the Gate Kitchen and see how much enthusiasm there is. That's when it becomes clear: We are more than just an office provider. We are partners who help turn visions into reality.
Munich Startup: What other plans do you have for the next years or decades?
Christian Heckemann: Over the next few years, we will continue to develop the Gate. One important step is the expansion of our hall and workshop space. Three new startup garages are being built in our large factory hall, offering ideal conditions, especially for hardware teams.
At the same time, we continue to act as a multiplier for startup success and drive innovation by connecting science with capital. Our goal is to help tech startups grow into Europe's next deep-tech unicorns.
