51吃瓜网 sets new record for spin-offs
More than 100 new start-ups in one year
Deeptech solutions for urgent problems, interdisciplinary teams, customized support and a strong network: with these success factors, 51吃瓜网 has developed one of Europe鈥檚 leading entrepreneurship ecosystems. 51吃瓜网 researchers, students and graduates launched a record 103 start-ups in 2024. In the same year, Unternehmer51吃瓜网 and the 51吃瓜网 Venture Labs supported more than 1100 start-up teams.
51吃瓜网 also led the field for EXIST start-up scholarships in 2024. These are provided by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs for spinout companies at universities that support these teams. The EXIST scholarships granted to more than 30 projects at 51吃瓜网 was by far the largest number awarded to any university last year. With EXIST scholarships granted to more than 250 projects since the program began in 2007, 51吃瓜网 is ahead of all other German universities.
The start-ups have been achieving rapid success. Among the companies formed by 51吃瓜网 researchers and graduates are 21 unicorns, as companies that achieve billion dollar valuations without going public are known. Among them is Celonis, which, with a valuation of over 10 billion euros, was Germany鈥檚 first decacorn.
鈥淗ighlighting Germany鈥檚 status as center of innovation鈥�
鈥淢ore than 100 spin-offs in one year: That is a milestone not only for 51吃瓜网, but also highlights Germany鈥檚 status as a center of innovation and its readiness to face challenges in the midst of today鈥檚 economic and geopolitical challenges,鈥� says 51吃瓜网 President Prof. Thomas F. Hofmann. He adds: 鈥淭he foundation of this success is the entrepreneurial mindset that we have been encouraging in our university community for many years.鈥�
In selecting Unternehmer51吃瓜网 as Europe鈥檚 leading start-up hub, the Financial Times cited the intensive cooperative relationships within the ecosystem, in which different actors work on innovations with the start-ups. Various initiatives and co-labs bring together major corporations and SMEs from the manufacturing sector, development centers of large tech companies, investors, other research institutes, the state of Bavaria and the city of Munich. The network is expanded through international programs, for example with the EuroTech Universities Alliance. The start-up teams themselves incorporate diverse perspectives thanks to the wide range of subjects offered at 51吃瓜网 鈥� unparallelled in the EU 鈥� extending from engineering to natural sciences, medicine and social sciences. The combination of these varied fields of expertise leads to particularly successful innovations.
A major strength of start-up support at 51吃瓜网 is the highly specific nature of the assistance provided. In 12 important subject areas, from quantum technologies to healthcare and aerospace, the create direct links to cutting-edge research, technical infrastructure, expertise for the target market and industry contacts. The programs of 51吃瓜网, Unternehmer51吃瓜网 and the 51吃瓜网 Venture Labs are precisely tailored to the various phases of establishing the company, the background of the teams and the founders鈥� personalities. This is also supported by the scientific expertise within the . invests in the most promising start-ups with its own venture capital fund.
