Munich Startup: Please briefly introduce yourself and Founders@unibw!
Founders@unibw: We are the Entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship program of the Bundeswehr University Munich (UniBw M), called 'Founders@unibw'. Through individual and diverse offerings, we support the transformation of research results and business ideas into innovative start-up projects and startups.
Our team of academic staff and Founders in Residence aims to identify, inspire, and train innovative ideas in a way that is tailored to the needs of their target groups. We provide the necessary resources for this. In addition to consulting, we also offer a startup incubator primarily aimed at researchers and an intrapreneurship incubator specifically for students. This allows us to jointly evaluate and optimize the potential of their ideas. You can also use our decentralized maker space, the so-called Labnet, where you can build prototypes. Our experts are available to prospective startups on a variety of topics related to innovation, agile coaching, digital marketing, and statistical services – all free of charge.
Incubator, Lab and Consulting
Munich Startup: How long have you been around?
Founders@unibw: Our program was launched in 2019 and has been supported since 2020 by ExistPotentials and the Federal Ministry of Defence's economic stimulus package to establish an innovation center. Since October 2020, a diverse and competent team has been available to advance and support your entrepreneurship or intrapreneurship project.
Munich Startup: What do you focus on when working with startups?
Founders@unibw: We see our focus in B2G(overnment) business models as well as topics that also fit our research fields at the university, for example the area of ‘New Space' In this context, we are currently building the first European 'New Space' accelerator together with the French CNES, the DLR, and the ESA. We also want to precisely understand the needs of our "customers," i.e., those interested in starting a business and those already in business, and create needs-based offerings. In doing so, we also rely on collaboration with other universities and incubators, as well as established startups.
Founders@unibw is also planning a 'New Space' accelerator
Munich Startup: “To be successful, a startup must…”
Founders@unibw: … always keep the customers and users in focus, be diligent and be able to overcome apparent setbacks.
Munich Startup: Why does a good startup need you behind it?
Founders@unibw: Unlike other higher education institutions, UniBw M is a federal university, which gives us excellent access to the Bundeswehr and other federal agencies. Since the government is an important client for startups, we teach startups how to approach this client competently and correctly. In addition, we have Labnet with excellently equipped laboratories, a mobility test site, experts in various fields, a co-working space, and much more, which can also help established startups.
Munich Startup: What are the biggest mistakes a startup can make?
Founders@unibw: Losing focus on the customer or user. Lack of diversity in the team. And giving up too quickly.
Munich Startup: The trend of the year is…!
Founders@unibw: 'New Space', Edu-Tech and certainly many more pandemic-related innovations.
Universities in Munich are world class
Munich Startup: What characteristics make the Munich startup scene so special?
Founders@unibw: On the one hand, here in Munich we have World-class universities, which have already brought a variety of successful technologies into the economy in the form of startups. On the other hand, the industrial environment is particularly attractive for B2B and B2G startups.
Munich Startup: Last but not least: Who do startups approach when they want to talk to you?
Founders@unibw: Feel free to contact our startup coaches, Annie and Matthias, to arrange an initial consultation. However, you will find all team members here – we look forward to hearing from you.
