Stay at the forefront and innovate
your business with our programs

6+

years of experience

150+

pilot projects fostered

Duotone event UDD 4 © Bert Willer

Tackle the challenges of tomorrow. Today.

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Pilot Project Accelerator

20-week accelerator program

Access the cutting-edge technologies in your industry field before your competitors and test solution fit in a low-risk environment via pilot projects
Learn about our POC projects with start-ups
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Innovation Challenges

Fast solutions for specific needs

We will find the best innovators worldwide in the desired technology field and support you conducting your own innovation projects
How to start your own innovation challenge with us
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Intrapreneurship Program

Innovate from within

Our dedicated services support you to leverage the potential inside your company and promote innovation through your own employees
Start to take full advantage of your team's potential

Key Corporate Partner Benefits

  • Early view on developments in the start-up ecosystem and to innovative technology

  • Access to the most promising tech start-ups in your innovation fields

  • Fast-tracked co-development and testing of specific innovative solutions

  • Branding & Public Relations

Access novel technologies in your industry field

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Our Corporate Partners

Profiles of some of our corporate partners

Datev
DATEV is a software developer and IT service provider for tax consultants, auditors, and attorneys, as well as their clients. In addition to our members, our clients include companies, municipalities and institutions. The cooperative’s range of products and services encompasses the fields of accounting, personnel management, business consulting, taxes, enterprise resource planning (ERP), IT services, IT security, and training and consultancy.
More about DATEV
Festo
Festo SE & Co. KG is a worldwide leader in automation and a world market leader in technical training and development. Regarding automation, Festo offers products, systems and services surrounding pneumatic and electrical control and drive technology – whether in the factory or process automation sector. Festo Didactic equips technical training institutes and offers training and consultancy to processing industrial companies.
More about Festo
Hp Techventures
As HP’s corporate venture arm, HP Tech Ventures is helping to foster an ecosystem of innovation and reinvention that will define tomorrow’s world and experiences, through strategic partnerships and investments in disruptive technology areas. HP Tech Ventures offers more than 75 years of experience in innovation and technology, backed by more than 18,000 global patents, to entrepreneurs around the globe.
More about HP Tech Ventures
Knorr bremse
Knorr-Bremse is the global market leader for braking systems and a leading supplier of other safety-critical rail and commercial vehicle subsystems. Knorr-Bremse delivers braking, entrance, control and auxiliary power supply systems, HVAC and driver assistance systems for rail vehicles, as well as braking, steering, powertrain and transmission control solutions, and driver assistance systems for commercial vehicles.
More about Knorr-Bremse
Lanxess
LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company based in Cologne, Germany, with currently about 14,900 employees in 33 countries. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of chemical intermediates, additives, specialty chemicals and plastics. LANXESS is listed in the leading sustainability indices Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI World and Europe) and FTSE4Good.
More about LANXESS
Miele
Miele & Cie. KG is the world’s leading supplier of premium home appliances for kitchen, laundry and floor care. In addition, Miele Professional offers laundry care, cleaning, disinfection and sterilization solutions for commercial and medical applications. All product offerings are complemented by services – from customer service and cooperation to a wide range of innovation fields.
More about Miele
Wieland
Wieland is one of the world's leading suppliers of semi-finished copper and copper alloy products. With a global network of production sites, service, and trading companies, the company offers a broad product, technology, and service portfolio. From prototype to series production, Wieland develops solutions for automotive, electronics, refrigeration, air conditioning, and other industries.
More about Wieland

More Program Partners & Supporters

ADAC Logo png
Adidas
ALDI Nord Logo
Aldi Sud 2017 logo
BMW GROUP
Bosch logotype
CLAAS
Hypovereinsbank 1
The Linde Group Logo
Munchener Ruck logo
Siemens logo
Wacker Chemie
ADAC Logo png
Adidas
ALDI Nord Logo
Aldi Sud 2017 logo
BMW GROUP
Bosch logotype
CLAAS
Hypovereinsbank 1
The Linde Group Logo
Munchener Ruck logo
Siemens logo
Wacker Chemie

TechFounders also supports SAP.iO programs

Patrick Kuck
Miele Stefan Breit
7 AP9964 a 1
Festo Dr Eberhard Veit
Sawe Martin
Quote image Andreas Torka

Patrick Kück, CLAAS Senior Vice President Strategy & Corporate Development

At CLAAS, we believe that working with start-ups is the key to expand our position as a technology leader in the agricultural machinery industry. Agriculture is undergoing a fundamental shift towards a more digitalized and sustainable direction. This requires new ideas and innovative approaches, for example for the operation and monitoring of agricultural machinery, which is becoming increasingly more complex and intelligent.

Dr. Stefan Breit, Executive Director Technology for the Miele Group

At Miele, we combine groundbreaking innovation with classical values such as quality and performance. TechFounders helps us to find creative startups to accompany us on our way. To all start-ups out there: Let us join forces to shape the future and grow together – to our mutual benefit!

Frank Weber, CFO and Executive Board Spokesman of Knorr-Bremse

As a technology and innovation leader, we want to open up new horizons for ourselves and our customers. That’s why we are excited to collaborate with TechFounders and innovative start-ups on sustainable, digital solutions for the mobility of the future.

Dr. Eberhard Veit, Advisor of the management of FESTO AG

Innovation, inspiration and enthusiasm – this is what Festo is known for, as a technology leader and constantly learning and developing company. This is why we work together with TechFounders, to invest in the future and to create space for start-ups to develop innovative ideas and business models.

Dr. Martin Saewe, Programme Director EMobility & Circular Economy at LANXESS

We are partnering with TechFounders in order to explore opportunities in new technologies and applications. The interaction and engagement with innovative technology start-ups will help us realize our ambitions in establishing new circular business models.

Andreas Torka, VP of RD&I | Sustainability at Wieland

We are excited to be working with TechFounders to discover and support innovative start-ups and founders tackling crucial issues facing the copper and, more broadly, metals industries.

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