This is the third year of the study, which examined how many start-ups emerge from universities such as TUM, what drives their success, and how institutions can better support them. Theresa Treffers observes that many start-ups in Germany think in terms of small markets. There is no reason for this, and more courage is needed, because Germany has produced the largest share of start-ups in the DACH region between 2014 and 2024. TUM is the frontrunner among academic institutions with 70 spin-offs, with 2021 being the peak year.
Focus on Germany's Start-up Landscape
Next year, the study's contributors want to investigate more closely when start-ups receive funding and how long this financial cushion lasts. The financing aspect will be examined more closely in the future in order to better assess how young companies navigate their early growth phases.
Heilbronn as an Emerging Start-up Ecosystem
Heilbronn is still a relatively small star in the start-up cosmos, but things are changing. The local ecosystem is gradually expanding. Heilbronn's geographical location is an advantage here: it is close to established start-up hubs such as Stuttgart and the Rhine-Main region. But local players such as Campus Founders are also promoting the start-up movement. The strong range of training opportunities in Heilbronn encourages start-ups. However, some teams move on later because they need to scale up or find additional skilled workers. But this is precisely where the opportunity lies for the region: talent trained here could be retained more effectively in the future.
In terms of content, the start-ups reflect the topics taught and researched at local universities. Education and research form the foundation, especially practical projects that can be directly translated into concepts. During the incubation phase, Campus Founders or TUM Venture Labs serve as midwives, bringing concepts to market maturity, establishing contacts with industry and investors, and creating access to initial markets.
The Dieter Schwarz Foundation is the backbone of the Heilbronn ecosystem. It ensures that talent, capital, infrastructure, and corporate networks come together. The start-up scene at TUM Heilbronn receives an additional boost from its parent institution in Munich, which contributes its proven formats and experience.
In the coming years, the Entrepreneurial Impact Study will continue to show how the interplay of science, entrepreneurship, and regional engagement can positively shape the start-up scene in Heilbronn.