With Ahead calls Fraunhofer Venture a new program for the establishment of high-tech startups.
In the future, Ahead will combine all spin-off initiatives of the Fraunhofer Society into one effective process, from initial concept development to market entry.
"The DNA of our Ahead program is the precise tailoring to the individual challenges of each founding team and the combination of cutting-edge technology with true entrepreneurial spirit. In the medium term, we aim to achieve a leading position among international company-building programs,"
explained Thorsten Lambertus, Chief Acceleration Officer of Ahead.
What exactly is behind Ahead?
Ahead is a company-building program for startup teams specifically tailored to cutting-edge technology. Its goal is to develop new business models based on Fraunhofer technologies and bring them to market maturity. With this new program, Fraunhofer Venture aims to consolidate its high-tech startup activities into one program and, for the first time, systematically open itself to entrepreneurs and experts outside of Fraunhofer research. Fraunhofer Venture thus offers founders and researchers a new form of technology, business model, and team development from a single source.
Taking technology transfer to a new level
At the end of February, 30 startup teams developed business concepts in the first Ahead bootcamp, covering topics such as artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0, digital medicine, energy storage systems, and new materials. A jury will now decide which successful bootcamp graduates will be accepted into the program.
"The Ahead program was developed to establish new, agile, high-performance high-tech companies in the technology fields of the future. Ahead combines all spin-off initiatives of the Fraunhofer Society into one effective process, from initial concept development to market entry. We are therefore convinced that Ahead can take the technology transfer of Fraunhofer research into business practice to a new level,"
explains Thomas Doppelberger, head of Fraunhofer Venture.
From idea development to market readiness
Entrepreneurs, scientists, and experts work together for up to 24 months in special high-impact teams, where the different perspectives and professional orientations are orchestrated by professional coaches and accompanied from idea development to market readiness. The tailor-made start-up process is supported by the Fraunhofer Technology Transfer Fund flanked.
