The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) today announced the winners of the EXIST lighthouse competition Startup Factories in Berlin – and Futury is one of them. This means that Futury is now officially one the key startup factories in Germany that will transform the startup landscape over the next five years, with considerable support from the federal government. Futury is backed by a strong alliance of 29 partners from companies and foundations as well as four universities – Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, Goethe University Frankfurt, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and Technical University of Darmstadt. By jointly endorsing Futury’s application, minister-presidents Boris Rhein and Alexander Schweitzer are setting clear sign for the strategic importance of cross-border collaboration between federal states for the startup ecosystem.

The competition aims to establish startup ecosystems spanning across universities, with strong links to the region and international visibility, that create sustainable business models and strong links to existing national and transregional value chains. For the winners of the competition, the BMWE will double the private funds of up to 10 million euros already obtained by them from businesses and philanthropists. For Futury, this means that the 10 million euros already obtained will be increased to up to 20 million euros. 

Futury convinced the jury with its unique approach of establishing an industry-driven startup ecosystem in the Frankfurt Rhine-Main Metropolitan Region – in close cooperation with science, the industry, politics and investors. 

With this approach, Futury is the answer to a problem that has been pointed out for years. Germany is still a country of innovation: Internationally, Germany ranks 8th of 132 countries in the Global Innovation Index 2023 and is the European champion when it comes to patents. However, a comparison on a European level already clearly shows our weakness: According to data and analysis platform DEALROOM, the United Kingdom has more than 40 unicorns, while Germany only has around 20 startups that were valued at least 1 billion US dollars prior to their initial public offering. Sweden and Israel, too, a ranked higher than Germany. Futury offers the prospect of turning Germany’s innovative power into economic success. 

„We are extremely delighted about being awarded the title of Startup Factory. This is both an honor and a mandate: Together with our partner universities and companies, we want to create a place where research is turned into entrepreneurial reality – visible across Europe and sustainably anchored in the region,” says Charlie Müller, Founder & Managing Director of Futury. 

Müller continues: „Congratulations to all Startup Factory initiatives on their great concepts – and in particular to the other winners in the competition. We look forward to close cooperation in the future, because startup support must not end at regional borders: We can only strengthen the German startup ecosystem in the long term and make it visible on an international level if we work together.”

The aim is to create a stronger basis for entrepreneurship in research and teaching at the partner universities. At the same time, talents will be supported along their founding journey, access to clients and capital will be facilitated and cooperation between universities, investors and industry will be strengthened systematically.

„We will make founding a business a natural career option for researchers and talents”, explains Melissa Ott, Managing Director of Futury, “under the best conditions possible, with relevant partners and an ecosystem that supports and promotes startups from idea to scaling”.

Statements from politics and science:

Boris Rhein, Minister-President of Hesse, thanks Futury and its partners: “It is a great success that, with Futury, the Rhine-Main region has one of the winners of this important competition. Futury impressively demonstrates how academic knowledge and economic implementation can go hand in hand. Now, the ecosystem in Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and beyond must be further strengthened and brought even closer together in order to develop as much firepower as possible. This will result in a strong, cross-border startup hub with international appeal in the heart of the Rhine-Main region. Hesse is proud of its excellent universities and the enormous strength in research and science.”

Alexander Schweitzer, Minister-President of Rhineland-Palatinate: „Futury helps to establish a cross-border hub connecting science, industry, investors and politics. This is exactly the type of alliance we need to turn academic progress into real added value to the economy and society – also and in particular in the areas in which we are already excellent on an international level today.”

Prof. Dr. Nils Stieglitz, President and Managing Director of Frankfurt School of Finance & Management: “Germany needs more entrepreneurial spirit – not only in words, but in actions. As a business and economics university, we will assume a key role: We will establish networks, impart entrepreneurial know-how and the competencies to turn ideas into sustainable business models. A strong startup spirit and private entrepreneurship are the decisive factors for Germany’s future viability.”

Prof. Dr. Enrico Schleiff, President of Goethe University Frankfurt and spokesperson of the Rhine-Main Universities (RMU) alliance: “The region between Darmstadt, Frankfurt and Mainz, with its extraordinary wealth of science institutions and research-driven companies, has the potential of becoming a leading innovation hub in Europe. The new Factory will open up direct access to markets through fast processes, clear funding opportunities and good contacts to industry partners. Both for Goethe University, which was founded by society for society, and for the entire RMU, it is part of our DNA to assume responsibility for implementing scientific excellence in society and the economy.”

Prof. Dr. Georg Krausch, President of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz: „For JGU, Futury is an important component in the implementation of its transfer strategy. We expect particular synergies with regard to the development of Mainz as a life science location and with regard to the biotechnology initiative RLP. From the perspective of JGU, we benefit from having strong partners in the Rhine-Main Universities alliance and from the entire Rhine-Main region. The success of Futury, our Startup Factory in the lighthouse competition, is clear proof for the successful cross-border cooperation in the Rhine-Main region. We are grateful to our private partners without whom this success would not possible.”

Prof. Dr. Tanja Brühl, President of TU Darmstadt: “Powerful support for spin-offs is a decisive part of our identity as Technical University. In a strong alliance with Futury, we will now release the enormous startup power of the Frankfurt Rhine-Main Metropolitan Region even more effectively. We continue to develop the bridge between top-level research and innovative power consistently by adding new elements to it. Together with Futury, we will transform the appeal the region already has today into a magnet with an irresistible pull – regionally, nationally and internationally. We will create a springboard for ideas that will turn into innovations with an impact that will shape the future. I would like to thank everyone who supports us in turning our vision into reality!”

Futury and Startup Factory Mittelhessen „StartMiUp Factory“ join forces

In addition to Futury, the StartMiUp Factory also applied for funding from the BMWE with a strong network in Middle Hesse.

Thomas Nauss, President of Marburg University: “The challenges of our time require strong alliances that go beyond competition. This is why we are delighted that Futury and StartMiUp Factory from Middle Hesse will cooperate closely in the future to jointly strengthen the startup landscape in Hesse and beyond. It remains our joint objective to systematically increase the number of spin-offs from science through dedicated programs and networks.”

Charlie Müller, Founder & Managing Director of Futury, too, is convinced that “cooperation is the only way to create sustainable structures that have a real impact”. 

The planned cooperation includes, among other things, mutual access to networks of industry partners and investors, joint programs and events, as well as the exchange between the startups and universities in Hesse. 

Mara Steinbrenner, CEO of StartMiUp Factory: “Jointly, we will pursue a vision and a holistic approach towards the ecosystem. We will work on a strong ecosystem for scientific spin-offs that is both regionally driven and international.”

Melissa Ott, Managing Director of Futury, adds: “We look forward to the cooperation with the team of StartMiUp Factory. Their scientific excellence, in particular in the natural sciences, the specific business network and our industry-oriented approach complement each other perfectly. Together, we will shape the startup future.”

From idea to scaling: How Futury is sparking a new startup momentum in Germany

When funding starts in October 2025, Futury will support students, researchers and startups along their startup journey in and from the Rhine-Main region through early startup funding, entrepreneurship know-how, access to industry and capital and through setting up structured, target-group specific programs. For example, IP4shares now enables universities to connect excellent research with entrepreneurial drive and to realize practical opportunities of utilization. Investors have access to strong, protected innovation projects.

Futury’s approach is industry-driven, cooperating with 130 project partners from the industry, more than 50 network partners, mentors and investors. In the context of the EXIST lighthouse competition, science is systematically integrated as an equal partner into Futury’s work for the first time. With the four partner universities, an innovation space rooted in academia is created where entrepreneurship is part of and promoted in research and teaching. From fall 2025 onwards, Futury Capital will provide founders with additional venture capital through the new Futury Fund III, with a target volume of 40 million euros. 

Futury focuses on five strategic clusters that are based on the economic and scientific strengths of the Rhine-Main region: 

Lifescience & Healthcare, Aviation & Space, Banking & Finance as well as the technology clusters Data & KI and Deep Tech & Green Tech.

Through the funding in the EXIST lighthouse competition, Futury now receives support from the highest level in order to extend its impact both nationally and internationally. The selection was preceded by a concept phase of nine months, in which 15 Startup Factories developed their concepts. The jury – which included experts such as Dr. Tanja Emmerling, Prof. Dr. Helmut Schönenberger, Franziska Teubert and other renowned persons from business, science and politics – made their decision in June.

With this award, Futury will be at the forefront of a new startup dynamic as the industry-driven Startup Factory – with the goal of sustainably strengthening Germany from the Rhine-Main region as a leading hub for science-based startups. The aim of the alliance of universities, investors and established companies is to significantly increase the number and quality of innovative, knowledge-based and growth-oriented spin-offs and/or startups through the activities of the Startup Factories. Emboldened by the success in the EXIST lighthouse competition, Futury is now expanding its strategic partnerships with industry partners, science, startups, investors and mentors and, together with them, develops target-specific formats to support the next generation of founders. The goal: 1,000 new startups by 2030, with a focus on scientific spin-offs. The following partners from industry and philanthropy will support Futury over the next five years: Bain & Company, Commerzbank, Condor, Consortium, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Börse Group, d-fine, Dussmann, DZ Bank, Entega, Goldbeck, Helaba, InfraServ Hoechst, Maingau, Mainova, Merck, Merz, Metzler, P&G, PWC, SAENTIS Family Office, Schaeffler, Samson, Viega, WISAG, XAI technologies, Stiftung Giersch, Werte-Stiftung and Mainzer Wissenschaftsstiftung.

About Futury

Futury is Europe’s leading industry-driven startup ecosystem with its seat in Frankfurt am Main. In close cooperation with universities, companies, investors and politics, Futury supports entrepreneurial thinking, sustainable startups and the structured transfer of scientific excellence into the market. The aim is to establish a dynamic and innovation ecosystem with a strong professional network. Futury is one of 10 Startup Factories in Germany that will be receive funding of up to 10 million euros from the federal government. Futury is thus at the forefront of a new startup dynamic in Germany with the goal of sustainably strengthening Germany from the Rhine-Main region as a leading hub for science-based startups.