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Dr. Gernot Schmitt-Gaedke / Rechtsanwalt

T. +49 69 240 07 32-0
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Freischem & Partner
Thomas Buchenau / Patentanwalt

T. +49 221 270577 0
tb@freischem.eu
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Krieger Mes & Graf v. der Groeben
Jens Künzel / Rechtsanwalt

T. +49 211 4403370
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Flick Glocke Schaumburg
Dr. Markus Keuthen / Rechtsanwalt, Steuerberater

T. +49 211/6 18 22-243
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WW+KN
Dr. René Neubert / Rechtsanwalt, Steuerberater

T. +49 (0)941 58 613 0
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FRH Rechtsanwälte
Tobias Ditgen / Rechtsanwalt

T. +49 211 3018060
duesseldorf@frh-recht.de
http://www.frh-recht.de

GründerFinanz
Holger Hegemann / Independent insurance broker

T. +49 221 79008077
hegemann@gruenderfinanz.de
https://www.gruenderfinanz.de

genesis is a Hessian support programme for green energy startups, run from Kassel for the whole state. Teams working on solutions for the energy transition receive individual coaching in the accelerator, a one-to-one pairing with experienced mentors and, through formats such as genesis meets industry, direct access to companies in the energy sector.

Based in Darmstadt, hessian.AI , the Hessian Center for Artificial Intelligence, brings together AI research from universities and universities of applied sciences across Hesse. Under the name AI Startup Rising the centre consolidates its startup programmes and supports teams from the first idea through validation to scaling, with a scholarship, an incubator and access to AI compute through its AI service centre.

Founders Foundation in Bielefeld trains B2B founders and is building a startup ecosystem in East Westphalia-Lippe, a region shaped by mid-sized industry. Its programmes cover the path from idea to product-market fit: the Startup School for those starting out alongside a day job, the EdTech Academy for education technology, the LAB for validation, and a full-time accelerator that ends with a demo day in front of investors.

HIGH-TECH.NRW is the state-wide venture accelerator for hardware-based high-tech and deep-tech ventures in North Rhine-Westphalia, from new materials through quantum and microsystems technology to medical technology. Teams turn their technology into a viable business model and connect with industry, investors and policymakers, with no fee and no equity.

DIGITALHUB.DE, based in Bonn, is the go-to place for startups working on solutions for digitalisation, cyber security and digital health. The hub supports teams in its own accelerator programmes from pre-seed to growth stage, can also invest itself, and offers coworking and a full programme of events at its two locations in Bonn.

Startup Village Jülich is the place to go for sustainable ventures in the Rhenish mining area. Alongside coworking, its own office modules and technology transfer, it runs the ZEBRA programmes, which are open to startups from across North Rhine-Westphalia: an incubator, an accelerator and masterclasses on investment and marketing. The focus is on green tech and impact.

The WORLDFACTORY is the go-to place for entrepreneurship and technology transfer at Ruhr University Bochum. Rather than running batches, it gives every team a personal contact as their startup coach, along with advice on funding and patents, specialist incubators for chemistry, materials, and IT security and 6G, the IDEA.Lab for early ideas, the RUB Makerspace for prototypes and FACE@RUB as a dedicated centre for female founders.

With locations in Cologne's Mediapark and Düsseldorf's Medienhafen, STARTPLATZ is a startup incubator and accelerator. For the early stage there is the Open Incubator and the Gründungsstipendium NRW scholarship; for teams with first customers the KI Accelerator NRW, focused on applying AI within their own business model. Coworking, training and pitch formats round out the offering.

REACH is the start-up centre of the University of Münster and Münster University of Applied Sciences, supporting aspiring founders from the first idea through to spin-off. The path runs from the Validation Lab into the incubator, with coaching, workshops and mentoring.

digitalHUB Aachen brings startups and IT companies together with mid-sized businesses and industry as users and potential customers. Its area of activity is the Aachen Area, covering the Aachen city region and the districts of Düren, Euskirchen and Heinsberg. Founder teams can choose between three programmes: the aixLAB incubator for the early stage, focused on digital technology and 3D printing, the digitalACCELERATOR for incorporated teams working towards scaling and investment, and the aixBOOST accelerator for high-growth teams in smart city, smart industry and smart enterprise. Coworking and events at the digitalCHURCH come on top.

The DLR_Startup Factory is the company building programme of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and supports spin-offs based on DLR technologies. It guides deep-tech ventures from research through validation and incorporation to funding, at DLR sites across Germany.