Munich Startup Resources: 375+ Tools for Munich Entrepreneurs

Startup ecosystems can be fragmented, competitive, and hidden to newcomers, which is detrimental for local startups and community growth. The Startup Ecosystem Canvas seeks to provide local entrepreneurs with a clear list of resources for every stage of their startup journey, and outline a basic framework for communities to map their ecosystem.

With applications for the Munich Founder Institute coming to a close, we are excited to release the Munich Startup Ecosystem Canvas, which is currently in v4 below! It was developed by the Munich Founder Institute and local leaders Claudia Schaller, Nathan Evans, and Magdalena Muttenthaler, Francisco Tavira, and Jutta Merschen.

More input is needed, so please leave your comments on this collaborative Google document, and it will be considered for the next update.

If you are looking to build a startup in Munich, then apply to the Munich Founder Institute today!

A text version is included below, for searchability:

Startup Stages

There is no one right way to build a technology company, but for the sake of simplicity we have outlined a basic, common, sequential framework.

1. IDEA-STAGE

This is where new entrepreneurs get inspired, learn best practices, develop skills, validate ideas, and begin to build their team and product.

Inspire

Startup Media: Centralized local information, listings, and news. (i.e. startup blogs/ publications/ lists/ FB groups/ newsletters)

Inspirational Events: Open, inclusive, beginner startup events (i.e. Startup Weekend, idea fairs, and inspirational meetups)

Educate

Best Practices: Beginner knowledge-sharing events. (i.e. beginner events that serve to educate more than inspire, like 1 Million Cups, Startup Grind, Startup Founder 101, etc).

Training & Feedback: Skill & Idea development. (Ex. bootcamps and comprehensive training programs, like Founder Institute, General Assembly, Lean Startup Machine, code camps, etc)

Validate

Team Formation: Resources for teaming up. (i.e. events or other resources that facilitate early-stage recruitment and cofounder matching)

Build First Product: Hackathons & resources to build. (i.e. hackathons and other builder-focused events and resources)

2. LAUNCH-STAGE

In this stage, entrepreneurs establish and formalize the company, develop the product, get feedback from customers, and prepare for the next step.

Start

Establish: Law firms & banks for startups

Beiten-Burkhardt
Comdirect Bank
Commerzbank
Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Handelsbank
Deutsche Kreditbank
Fidor Bank
Gleiss Lutz
GRP Rainer Lawyers
HypoVereinsbank
Jones Day (in particular Life Sciences, Big Data & AI, Robotics)
King & Wood Mallesons
Michalski - Hütterman & Partner
M Law Group
Noerr
Osborne Clarke
Pöllath + Partners
Sparda-Bank
TaylorWessing

Workspace: Co-working and flexible workspaces (note: “official” office space goes in 3.1.a. Infrastructure)

Develop

Formalize: Accounting, development and HR for early-stage startups.

Prepare for Seed: Incubators and advanced mentorship. (i.e. advanced knowledge sharing, later stage events and resources for startup TEAMS)

Launch

Seed Accelerators: Seed funding mentor programs (Techstars-style programs that provide funding)

Pitch & Demo: Show local startups for investment (i.e. demo days for companies seeking seed investment)

3. GROWTH-STAGE

Here, a startup proves their utility, receives recognition, and scales up. This usually requires funding, angels, VCs, and ways to connect them to startups.

Recognition

Investor Networking: Connect professional investors with founders. (i.e. events or groups that facilitate connections with professional investors vs. angels)

Major Media: Mainstream local business press. (i.e. major local or regional publications that frequently champion local businesses)

Funding

Angels / Micro-VCs: Seed-stage investors

Venture Capitalists: Series A and beyond

Growth

Infrastructure: Office space, HR, local business insurance. (i.e. office space/ HR/ insurance providers for capital-rich companies to grow and scale)

Expansion: Growth accelerators/consultants. (i.e. programs and business consultants for capital-rich companies to grow and scale)

4. SUCCESS STORIES

Successful homegrown companies that have raised significant institutional funding, employ a large workforce, or have achieved liquidity.

Supporters

To facilitate the steps, every ecosystem needs strong supporters.

1. EVANGELISTS

Successful local founders who lead the ecosystem & frequently mentor newbies. (i.e. Local leaders who have taken a leadership position, speak at a lot of startup events, mentor all the programs, etc)

2. GOVERNMENT

Public organizations that facilitate local economic development

3. TALENT

Major local business or tech universities and employers that attract and retain local talent.

Local Universities (universities with prominent technical or business programs)

Local Employers (Major technical employers, like Microsoft or Google or large local companies, with large local offices)

Learn more about the Startup Ecosystem Canvas here, and leave us your thoughts on the Munich Canvas on this collaborative Google document, or on Twitter using the hashtag #ecosystemcanvas.

If you are looking to build a startup in Munich, then apply to the Munich Founder Institute today!

Dec 02, 2019 | Munich

Munich Startup Resources: 375+ Tools for Munich Entrepreneurs