Startups Saxony
Explore Saxony's Startup Ecosystem
Welcome to Startups Saxony where we collect data about the startup ecosystem in Saxony. If you want to add your company or organization to the directory and map or like to fix existing information, please fill out our submissions forms Startups, Investors, or Infrastructure.
Startup Infrastructure in Saxony
Basislager Coworking
Basislager Coworking is a coworking space in Leipzig catering to founders, startups, and freelancers. Spanning five floors, it provides a professional environment for a young community of founders to work on innovative business ideas. Basislager offers modern, open, and flexible office infrastructure, including meeting rooms and event spaces. It also features a strong network of partnerships for regional and global support. The facility provides office space, workplaces, and infrastructure for founders' teams and self-employed individuals. Additionally, Basislager has opened a popup store in Höfen am Brühl to showcase startup products, sustainable regional design, and prototypes from crowdfunding campaigns.
Chair of Entrepreneurship and Innovation - TU Dresden
The Chair of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at TU Dresden specializes in research and teaching in business administration for young businesses, technology, and innovation management. Under Prof. Dr. Michael Schefczyk, it focuses on the innovation capabilities of small and medium-sized businesses. It collaborates on projects exploring entrepreneurship education, strategic risk management in early-stage funds, and several key research areas including venture capital, technology acceptance, stakeholder integration in new product development, and psychology & entrepreneurship.
Dock3 Lausitz
Dock³ Lausitz, located at the Industriepark Schwarze Pumpe, is a competence center for startups and businesses. It offers fully equipped offices, meeting rooms, coworking spaces, and flexible manufacturing spaces in a separate hall. The center provides an environment for developing new ideas, innovative business fields, and future-oriented products and technologies. Additional features include a network of supporters from industry, research, economic development, and business consulting, making it an ideal place for startups and established businesses.
Dresden | exists
Specific to the Dresden area, Dresden | exists supports start-up initiatives and entrepreneurs.
Founderella
Founderella is an online platform based in Germany that focuses on supporting startups and entrepreneurs. It offers a range of services including news, resources, and networking opportunities specifically designed for the startup ecosystem. The platform aims to connect founders with investors, mentors, and other entrepreneurs, facilitating the sharing of knowledge, experiences, and best practices. Founderella's commitment to fostering a vibrant startup community makes it a valuable resource for anyone involved in or interested in the startup world.
Future Mobility Incubator
The Future Mobility Incubator, part of Volkswagen's Gläserne Manufaktur in Dresden, fosters innovative mobility-focused startups. The program supports entrepreneurs globally to develop their mobility concepts to market readiness. It offers financial support, up to 15,000 euros per startup, and enables startups to develop their ideas directly at the Gläserne Manufaktur. The incubator targets mobility, industry & logistics 4.0, and sustainability sectors.
FutureSax
FutureSax is a project by the Saxon State Ministry for Economy, Labor and Transportation, aimed at founders, companies, scientists and investors. The project aims to promote start-up and growth activities in Saxony, provide impetus for innovations and bring together representatives from politics, science, research and economy. Additionally, it assists investors in finding new investment projects in Saxony.
Futurepreneur
Futurepreneur e.V. is an initiative focused on developing entrepreneurial mindsets and skills among young people, primarily students. It encourages viewing the world with open eyes, seizing opportunities, and tackling challenges. Since 2012, Futurepreneur has motivated and activated students through inspirational projects and holiday programs to develop and implement sustainable business ideas. In 2021, they expanded their offerings with the Futurepreneur Advisory and the Futurepreneur Academy. The initiative includes competitions like 'Zukunftsunternehmer' for students to develop business ideas aligned with the SDGs and 'Sommerunternehmer,' where youth develop and test business ideas with a start capital and professional coaching. They also train Futurepreneur Coaches for effective project implementation.
GIZEF - Zentrum für Innovation und Unternehmertum
Founded in 1991, GIZEF in Freiberg, Saxony, is dedicated to fostering sustainable business success in Mittelsachsen. It supports startups, especially in sectors like raw material exploration, processing, recycling, environmental technology, and renewable energy. Services include business management consultation, cost-effective rental spaces, administrative and event services, and networking with regional decision-makers.
German Startups Association - Region Saxony
Startups are the driving force of our future economy. Visionary founders have the courage to implement their great ideas. We support these entrepreneurs by representing their interests in the world of politics and business, as well as in the wider public. We organize debates on the key issues facing the courageous players within the startup ecosystem and make sure these topics get put on the political agenda. Our network enables dialog on an equal footing between startups, established companies and the political world. We transfer knowledge and experience from one generation of founders to the next and bring the startup culture inside SMEs and large corporations. We want to make Germany and Europe a place that welcomes startups, rewards those who are willing to take risks and provides the best conditions for today’s innovative pioneers to succeed. We are guided by the vision of an open, equal and progress-oriented society.
Gründerakademie
Gründerakademie is an organization that provides support for start-up initiatives in Zittau/Görlitz. The company offers resources and expertise aimed at promoting entrepreneurship. The assistance they provide is integral in fostering and supporting new and innovative businesses.
Gründergarage Chemnitz
Gründergarage Chemnitz is a regional startup initiative in Chemnitz, focused on developing and expanding its startup lab in the city center. It supports young entrepreneurs in developing and implementing business ideas through events, workshops, and the 'Campus Entrepreneurs' education program. The initiative emphasizes social entrepreneurship, cultural dialogues, and creative impulses, offering personal development in social entrepreneurship, coaching, consulting, and networking. It's a hub for social and cultural startup ideas, aiming to convert the maker spirit of Chemnitz into entrepreneurial energy. The focus is on the cultural and creative economy sector, integrating the increasingly diverse society into the startup landscape.
Gründergarten Dresden
Gründergarten Dresden is an initiative aimed at awakening and nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit among students in Dresden. It is a student-founded organization that seeks to strengthen the startup culture by creating a functional network among key players in business, academia, and government. The initiative supports students in developing entrepreneurial skills through various activities, including founder's regulars' tables, workshops, and founder tours. It is supported by institutions like the Technische Universität Dresden and collaborates with partners such as the Bundesverband Deutsche Startups e.V. and Gründermagnet.
Gründerzeit Zwickau
Gründerzeit Zwickau is a key initiative in the Saxonian startup ecosystem, focused on fostering entrepreneurship in the Zwickau region. Supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, it serves as a central hub for innovative business ideas, aiming to shape the future startup ecosystem. The initiative offers a comprehensive platform with information on starting a business in Zwickau, including social media links, an interactive founders' map, and regional entrepreneurial stories. It emphasizes sensitizing young talents to entrepreneurship, expanding networks, and creating experimental areas to strengthen market orientation for local founders.
HHL DIGITAL SPACE
HHL DIGITAL SPACE is a tech incubator based at HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management. It focuses on supporting entrepreneurs with digital ideas, particularly early-stage tech startups. The incubator provides a 12-week structured program to help founders develop their minimum viable product (MVP) and validate their problem-solution fit. It also offers an EXIST scholarship for financial support, co-founder matching services, coaching, a co-working space, and access to a network of founders, researchers, and investors.
HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management
HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, established in 1898 and re-established in 1992, is one of the world's oldest business schools. Based in Saxony, Germany, it's a private institution offering postgraduate programs, and is internationally accredited by AACSB.
HHL Venture Capital Club
The HHL Venture Capital Club, founded by the student body of the HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, is a platform for mutual exchange in the fields of entrepreneurship and venture capital. The club focuses on educating, connecting, and inspiring the next generation of venture capitalists through learning opportunities, networking events, and consultancy for aspiring entrepreneurs. It's part of the Saxony startup ecosystem and is actively involved in bridging theory and practice in venture capital.
HTSB - HighTech Startbahn
HighTech Startbahn (HTSB) is an organization focused on supporting high-tech companies, particularly in the early stages of their development. Their mission includes assisting these companies in business development and expansion, guiding them through the venture journey, and connecting them with critical resources such as customers, talent, and capital. HTSB offers a range of services to start-ups and scale-ups, supporting nearly 10% of the approximately 500 young deep-tech companies they encounter annually.
HTVD - HIGHTECH VENTURE DAYS
HighTech Venture Days (HTVD) is an exclusive matching program that focuses on connecting international startups with investors, particularly in the industrial high-tech sector. This event HTVD, organized annually, selects 40 European startups to meet and match with 180 international venture capitalists (VCs), corporate venture capitalists (CVCs), and family offices.
HTW Dresden
The Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft (HTW) Dresden, or Dresden University of Applied Sciences, is a prominent educational institution in Saxony, Germany. It offers a wide range of study programs in fields like engineering, economics, design, and architecture. The university is known for its applied research and strong collaboration with industry partners, providing students with practical and industry-relevant education.
Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz
The Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz (HSZG) is a university of applied sciences located in the tri-border region of Germany, offering a range of study programs in fields like business, technology, health, and lifelong learning. It features faculties in electrotechnology and informatics, management and cultural sciences, machinery, natural and environmental sciences, social sciences, and economics and industrial engineering. HSZG also has a strong focus on research, with key areas including energy and environment, economic and societal transformation processes, and materials, structure, and surfaces. Additionally, the university offers a career service, including a startup academy, talent promotion, and mentoring programs.
Impact Hub Dresden
Impact Hub Dresden is a coworking space providing a vibrant community environment, diverse events, professional coaching, and unique meeting rooms and event spaces. It serves as a locally-rooted space in Dresden for an innovative community working entrepreneurially and with future orientation. It's part of a global network, offering a place for people to come together and work in various directions.
Impact Hub Leipzig
Impact Hub Leipzig is an ecosystem focusing on social entrepreneurship and innovation, aiming to positively transform society. It offers a collaborative and creative environment, acting as a community, co-working space, and hub for impact-oriented initiatives. Located in Leipzig, it fosters sustainability and transformation in business models and organizations, providing events, programs, workshops, networking, and support for sustainable and social impact.
LaunchHub42
LaunchHub42 is a startup incubator focused on structurally promoting startups in the field of future communication systems. It aims to foster interactions between founding and expert professionals with existing and upcoming startups. The incubator is based on existing structures for accelerating business foundations and is expanding its offerings to the research environment of future communication systems like 6G. A key element of the project is building strategic partnerships and actively exchanging information within the ecosystem for future communication systems. LaunchHub42, coordinated by the Technische Universität Dresden, has a funding volume of 2 million euros, entirely sponsored by BMBF, and runs from November 2023 to October 2027.
Neugeister e.V.
Neugeister e.V. is a regional network in Oberlausitz, Saxony, focused on supporting entrepreneurs. They aim to build a regional network that highlights the advantages of the Oberlausitz region, encouraging entrepreneurship and business succession. Neugeister e.V. connects emerging founders and young entrepreneurs with experienced business owners to facilitate knowledge exchange and networking. This approach seeks to stimulate synergies, cooperation, and regional economic growth by creating a productive entrepreneurial climate.
Q-Hub
Q-Hub, located in Chemnitz, specializes in solving complex problems and enabling digital innovation. As a partner for digital business models, they focus on designing customer-centered strategies and software products. Q-Hub stands out for its ability to embrace new technologies, which helps businesses grow and differentiate from competitors. Their approach includes rapid prototyping and a unique 'Ideensprint' process, where they develop digital solutions within five days, aligning with client needs and market feedback.
Robot Valley Saxony
Robot Valley Saxony is an organization located in the heart of Europe, specifically in Saxony, which serves as a hub connecting industry knowledge, top-tier research, and entrepreneurs in the field of robotics. Its primary goal is to stimulate innovation and economic growth within the robotics sector both locally and globally.
S9 Company Builder
Dresden-based Company builder, a cross-over of Smart Systems Hub and Hightech Startbahn.
SMILE
SMILE (Self-Management Initiative Leipzig) is a founding initiative at the University of Leipzig, showcasing the potential of Leipzig's startup scene. It offers a diverse range of services for developing ideas and founding businesses, including ideation, foundational modules, the 'Leipziger Gründungsnacht', an International Startup Office, and management tools for freelancers. SMILE provides prototyping support, funding for prototype development, and implementation of research and development projects. Additionally, it offers founding coaching, a co-founder platform, and acceleration services like finding production spaces and building finance structures.
SPRIND
A HOME FOR PEOPLE WITH RADICAL NEW IDEAS The Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation SPRIND is creating spaces for innovators, where they can take risks and think radically different.
Saxeed
Saxeed, specific to the Chemnitz area, provides comprehensive start-up support to entrepreneurs and innovators.
Silicon Saxony - Start-up & Growth
Silicon Saxony's 'Start-up & Growth' working group serves as a platform for tech startups, offering support, feedback on pitch decks, and a comprehensive understanding of the funding landscape. Led by Stefan Urlberger, it aims to strengthen the startup scene in Saxony and Germany, facilitating synergies between new and established companies. The group provides access to a network of business angels and companies, close contact with key ecosystem players, and operational support.
Smart Infrastructure Hub Leipzig
The Smart Infrastructure Hub Leipzig fosters innovation in energy, eHealth, and smart city sectors. Recognized by the German government, it includes a network of SMEs, corporates, startups, and research institutes. It hosts various initiatives, including SpinLab � The HHL Accelerator, and plans to establish a dedicated startup and technology center in Leipzig to incubate innovators in various related fields.
Smart Systems Hub
A dynamic center in Dresden focused on developing and integrating Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. It offers innovation, empowerment, and community services, and is part of the Digital Hub Initiative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. The Hub recently expanded its IoT lab, emphasizing on industrial applications, 5G networking, and the implementation of digital business models.
Smart Textiles Hub
at the smart textiles hub, we take pride in offering you a comprehensive development process that spans from the initial spark of an idea to full-scale production. together with our sister company, born gmbh, we represent an all-encompassing competence center in the dynamic world of smart & technical textiles.
Smile
Smile focuses on start-up support around Leipzig, providing resources and guidance to emerging businesses.
Social Impact Lab Leipzig
Social Impact Lab Leipzig supports young founders and social startups in their start-up and founding phase with various services including mentoring, coaching, workshops, and networking opportunities. This support is offered both online and offline. The lab focuses on startups working on innovative ideas and young creatives on their way to self-employment. It hosts programs like 'Kulturhanse' and 'StartHope@Home' to foster a new founding culture in East Germany and assist people returning to their home countries with business development, respectively.
SpinLab – The HHL Accelerator
SpinLab, founded in 2015, is one of the leading startup accelerators in Europe, based in Leipzig. It supports the growth of entrepreneurial and innovative teams looking to scale their business. SpinLab has been recognized as one of the top 3 accelerators in Germany and top 20 in Europe, offering a strong network of partners, 24/7 co-working access, and 100% free participation.
Startbahn 13
Startbahn 13 is the startup consultancy of HTWK Leipzig, offering a range of free services to students, alumni, researchers, and staff of HTWK Leipzig. These services include individual coaching, workshops relevant to founding a business, assistance in applying for funding, and networking events. Startbahn 13 provides tailored coaching in its facilities at the HTWK Leipzig research center, featuring offices, meeting rooms, and a large creative space. Additionally, workshops equipped with various machines and tools for prototyping are available to support the development of business ideas.
TUD|excite - TU Dresden
TUD|excite, the Center of Excellence for Innovation, Transfer, and Entrepreneurship at TU Dresden, centralizes activities related to innovation. It manages patents, intellectual property rights, supports research-based innovation projects, forms strategic partnerships with companies, supports start-ups, and provides training and education related to transfer. The center, led by Prof. Dr. Andreas Pinkwart, is organized into six units, guided by a strategic focus on enabling innovation for a sustainable future and aiming to be a leading establishment for science-driven innovation and entrepreneurship in Europe.
Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg
The oldest mining science university in the world, focusing on geo, material, energy, and environmental sciences. Known for its unique and inimitable profile in exploration, alternative energy technologies, materials development, and recycling.
Technische Universität Chemnitz
Founded in 1836, TU Chemnitz is a prominent university in Saxony, focusing on materials and intelligent systems, resource-efficient production, and the interaction between humans and technology. It serves around 9,300 students from over 90 countries.
Technische Universität Dresden
One of Germany's largest technical universities, offering a wide range of study programmes in engineering, natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, economics, law, and more. Known for its dynamic and comprehensive academic environment.
Technologie Centrum Chemnitz (TCC)
The Technologie Centrum Chemnitz (TCC) has been providing a foundation for young companies since 1990. It offers an inspiring environment for startups, with flexible office spaces, workshop, laboratory, storage, and production areas. Located near the TU Chemnitz campus, TCC provides startups with adaptable rental contracts, startup-specific consulting, networking with mentors and experts, shared use of meeting and seminar rooms, and proximity to potential customers and partners. TCC offers over 14,000 square meters of commercial space across three sites, catering to different target groups.
Technologie- und Gründerzentrum Bautzen
The Technologie- und Gründerzentrum Bautzen (TGZ Bautzen), founded in 1995, is a dynamic innovation center in Bautzen, Saxony. It supports startups and companies throughout their growth stages, offering office and production spaces with modern infrastructure. TGZ Bautzen focuses on strengthening regional businesses through technology transfer projects, fostering entrepreneurship, and coordinating regional business networks. It also plays a crucial role in promoting cross-border cooperation and enhancing the competitive edge of local companies.
Teleskop Effekt
Gemeinsam mit und für Banken, Mittelständler und Gründer gestalten wir diesen Wandel proaktiv und pragmatisch. Wir machen die Akteure zukunftsfit. Wir leisten so einen Beitrag, dass die Region und Deutschland attraktive, innovative und prosperierende Zukunftsstandorte bleiben.
Universität Leipzig
Founded in 1409, Universität Leipzig is renowned for its extensive range of subjects and notable alumni. It offers more than 150 study programmes across 14 faculties and is home to around 30,000 students, including 3,500 from abroad.
Yeti Dresden
YETI (Youngsters, Education, Technology and Innovation) in Dresden is an educational initiative focused on empowering young people to become entrepreneurial role models. The program involves networking, training, and resources to influence society positively. Scholarship holders in the program are mentored by the startup community and dresden|exists, a startup service for universities and scientific institutions in Dresden. The curriculum spans three semesters, requiring a commitment of 10-15 hours per week over 18 months. Activities include input and workshop meetings, primarily conducted in English, fostering project collaboration and networking.
neonworx
neonworx in Dresden is a vibrant coworking space that fosters a creative and collaborative environment for freelancers, self-employed individuals, and companies in the creative, cultural, and technology sectors. Established as a registered association in 2013, neonworx is located in the Kraftwerk Mitte area and the Co-Campus near Neustädter Bahnhof. It offers a range of facilities including office and production spaces, event and meeting rooms, and a supportive community for networking and collaboration.
significant.pictures
significant.pictures is an end-to-end film agency for research institutes, ministries, and companies with focus on science, high-tech, capital, and society. Our offerings cover the whole development process of audiovisual content, including creation, animation, production, post production, and distribution. Besides our core operations, we are working on new technologies at our in-house media lab to generate innovative long-term assets for our clients.