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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 MuttenthalerFrancisco 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.

  1. Inspire

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

      1. BayStartup

      2. Best of Munich

      3. Entrepreneurship Activities Munich

      4. EU Startups Munich

      5. GruenderSzene

      6. Heureka

      7. ISARNETZ

      8. munichFWD

      9. Munich Startup

      10. Munich Startup Buzz 

      11. Munich Startups

      12. Munich Startups & Entrepreneurs 

      13. Netzwertig

      14. Startupdates.de 

      15. Startup Digest Munich

      16. Tech.co Munich

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

    1. 12Min.me

    2. 48forward

    3. CDTM Inspire & Dine

    4. Cool Ideas Society

    5. GDG Munich

    6. Inspiring Female Founders Munich

    7. International Entrepreneurs Night (by UnternehmerTUM) 

    8. Leading Entrepreneurs

    9. MakeSense Munich

    10. Micropreneur Meetup Munich

    11. Munich Geekettes

    12. Munich Internet Startups 

    13. Munich Startups Meetup

    14. Ringvorlesung Gesellschaftliche Innovation

    15. Startup Weekend Munich

    16. Unternehmer live erleben

    17. WEFOUND Munich

    18. Women Who Code Munich

    19. Munich Startup Safari


  1. Educate

    1. 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).

      1. 4HWW, Digital Nomads, Lifestyle Designers Munich

      2. Digital Marketing Institute Munich

      3. Female Entrepreneurs Munich

      4. München: The Legal Guide for Startups Meetup!

      5. München Startup: Idea to IPO

      6. Munich's Startup and Entrepreneur Community

      7. Munich Hidden Boats

      8. Startup Founder 101 Munich

      9. Startup Grind Munich

      10. TechTalents Meetup

      11. Startup Safari Munich


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

      1. Academic Programm for Entrepreneurship (APE)

      2. Anybody Newton Learning Community Munich

      3. Burda Bootcamp

      4. Business Design Bootcamp

      5. Business Prosperity Group Munich

      6. Corporate Entrepreneurship Meetup Munich

      7. Founder Institute

      8. Global Entrepreneurship Summer School

      9. Google Launchpad Munich

      10. Lean Startup Machine Munich

      11. Lean Startup München

      12. Leibniz Supercomputing Centre

      13. LMU Entrepreneurship Seminar

      14. Munich Hardware Startups

      15. Munich Innovation Forum (inno-forum.org)

      16. Munich Tech & Media Startups Meetup

      17. NetCom Learning

      18. NobleProg

      19. Refugees on Rails München

      20. Social Entrepreneurship Akademie

      21. Startupbootcamp Smart Transportation & Energy Munich

      22. Strascheg Center for Entrepeneurship

      23. TechFounders’ EcoMotion Bootcamp

  1. Validate

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

      1. CoFoundersLab

      2. Entrepreneurship MasterMind Group

      3. FashTech Munich

      4. FinTech Meetup München

      5. Founder2be

      6. FounderDating

      7. Hiking Entrepreneurs Munich

      8. Lean Co-Founder Matchup

      9. München FinTech and InsureTech Meetup

      10. Munich Startup Jobs

      11. StartupBlink München

      12. Stylight Tech

      13. Tech Founders Munich Networking Group

      14. The Entrepreneurial Group

      15. UnternehmerTUM - Team-Building


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

      1. 7Hack

      2. Agile Munich

      3. App@night

      4. Automatica Makeathon

      5. Automotive Hackdays

      6. Burda Hackday

      7. Campus Hackathon

      8. Digital Journalism Hackathon

      9. Digital Product School

      10. Dotcomsecurity Hackathon München

      11. Hack 4 Refugees

      12. Hacks/Hackers München

      13. IHK Oktoberhackfest

      14. IoT Lab München

      15. Magento eCommerce Meetup München

      16. Make Munich

      17. MGM Hackathon

      18. Münchner Scrumtisch

      19. Project [x] 

      20. Puls Hackday

      21. Robotic & AI Meetup Munich

      22. Social Hackathon #2

      23. TECHFEST Munich 

      24. THINK.MAKE.START. 

      25. WearableDataHack

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.

  1. Start

    1. Establish: Law firms & banks for startups  

      1. Beiten-Burkhardt

      2. Comdirect Bank

      3. Commerzbank

      4. Deutsche Bank

      5. Deutsche Handelsbank

      6. Deutsche Kreditbank

      7. Fidor Bank

      8. Gleiss Lutz

      9. GRP Rainer Lawyers

      10. HypoVereinsbank

      11. Jones Day (in particular Life Sciences, Big Data & AI, Robotics)

      12. King & Wood Mallesons

      13. Michalski - Hütterman & Partner

      14. M Law Group

      15. Noerr

      16. Osborne Clarke

      17. Pöllath + Partners

      18. Sparda-Bank

      19. TaylorWessing


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

    1. Allynet Coworking

    2. Combinat56

    3. Design Offices

    4. Ecos Office Center

    5. Idea Kitchen

    6. Impact Hub Munich

    7. Media Lab Bayern

    8. Satellite Office

    9. The Founders Hub

    10. WERK1 Coworking

    11. WeWork Munich


  1. Develop

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

      1. Alexia Huber & Partner

      2. Amadeus Fire Recruiting Services

      3. COBE

      4. Denise Rose

      5. Dr. Roemer & Partner

      6. Euro London Appointments

      7. Futurice

      8. Hays

      9. MING Labs

      10. NEXT Munich

      11. Rödl & Partner

      12. Scheuering & Partner

      13. SH+C Accountants

      14. Symentis

      15. Top ITServices

      16. Webbite Media

      17. WZT

      18. zeros+ones 


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

      1. BioM Biotech Cluster Development

      2. ESA Business Incubation Centre

      3. Innovation Punks

      4. LMU Entrepreneurship Center

      5. Media Lab Bayern

      6. Nutrion

      7. Startup Next Munich

      8. Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship Incubator

      9. Xpreneurs


  1. Launch

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

      1. Allianz X GmbH

      2. Bavaria Israel Partnership Accelerator

      3. Climate-KIC Accelerator

      4. European Virtual Accelerator

      5. German Accelerator

      6. Innovation Accelerator

      7. Media-Saturn SPACELAB Tech Accelerator

      8. MundiLab

      9. ProSiebenSat.1 Accelerator

      10. SCE/ HM Inkubator

      11. Siemens Technology Accelerator

      12. Starburst Accelerator

      13. TechFounders

      14. UnternehmerTUM

      15. Wayra Deutschland

      16. Xpreneurs

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

      1. CASHWALK

      2. Entrepreneurs Night München

      3. Founders Fight Club Munich

      4. Innovations-Café

      5. Instant Startup Munich

      6. Leading Entrepreneurs

      7. Media Lab Bayern – Demo-Day Batch #1

      8. Media Saturn SPACELAB DEMO DAY #1st Batch

      9. Munich Network - DigitalEve

      10. Startup Night at Burda Bootcamp

      11. THINK.MAKE.START. - Demo Day

      12. TUM Demo Day Wintersemester

      13. Wayra Munich International Demo Day


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.

  1. Recognition 

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

      1. Bits & Pretzels - The Founders Festival

      2. b-to-v Investors Meeting Munich

      3. CASHWALK

      4. European Investment Conference

      5. German American Business Association

      6. Investment Forum München

      7. Munich Network Venture Experts

      8. Munich Summit

      9. Next Generation Networking Event Munich

      10. Spätschicht Networking Event

      11. TechTalk Munich

      12. VALUEx Munich


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

    1. Abendzeitung

    2. Bild

    3. Der Tagesspiegel

    4. Die Welt

    5. Handelsblatt

    6. Münchner Merkur

    7. Munich Now

    8. Süddeutsche Zeitung

    9. The Local

    10. The Munich Eye

    11. Zeit


  1. Funding

    1. Angels / Micro-VCs: Seed-stage investors 

      1. Alexander Bruehl

      2. Anatol Korel

      3. Benedict Rodenstock

      4. Chris Hitchen

      5. Christophe Defforey

      6. Felix Haas

      7. Florian Huber

      8. Franz-Joseph Strauss

      9. Harald Mueller

      10. Holger Hengstler

      11. Jarg Temme

      12. Jens Pippig

      13. Josias Montag

      14. Kurt & Friends Ventures GmbH

      15. Markus Feigelbinder

      16. Nico Richter

      17. Olaf Jacobi

      18. Oliver Tamimi

      19. Peter-Christoph Haider

      20. Rupert Schäfer

      21. Sebastian Kuss

      22. Sebastian von Johnston

      23. Shahram Rezasade

      24. Stefan Tirtey

      25. Sven Schielke

      26. Thomas Bernik

      27. Thomas Wilke

      28. Tom Schulz, AQAL Group 

      29. Toniic


    1. Venture Capitalists: Series A and beyond

      1. ANANDA Social Venture Fund

      2. BambooVentures

      3. Cipio Partners

      4. Earlybird

      5. Fraunhofer Ventures

      6. Global Founders Capital

      7. Holtzbrinck Ventures

      8. Mobile Ventures

      9. Munich Venture Partners

      10. Paragon Partners

      11. Seventure Partners

      12. Siemens Venture Capital

      13. Sixt Ventures

      14. Target Partners

      15. The Carlyle Group

      16. TUM VC

      17. TVM Capital

      18. Ventech

      19. Wellington Partners Venture Capital

      20. XAnge


  1. Growth

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

      1. Alliance Business Centers

      2. Allianz

      3. BMW Startup Garage

      4. Colliers International

      5. CR & Cie

      6. Ecos Office Center

      7. Euro London Appointments

      8. Frazer Jones

      9. Gess Group

      10. Instant Offices

      11. Munich RE

      12. Munich Workstyle

      13. Page Personnel

      14. Pöttinger GmbH & Co. Verwaltungs KG

      15. PSD Group

      16. Randstad

      17. Regus

      18. Schmidt Immobilienhandel

      19. Search Office Space


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

      1. Bain & Company

      2. Boston Consulting Group

      3. Business Consulting Munich

      4. German Accelerator

      5. H&Z Business Consulting

      6. IDEO Consulting Firm

      7. KPMG

      8. KPS Consulting

      9. L.E.K.

      10. McKinsey & Company

      11. PwC

      12. Roland Berger

      13. TNG Technology Consulting



4. SUCCESS STORIES

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

  1. 10stamps

  2. Amaze

  3. Amiando

  4. Boku

  5. Caremondo

  6. Catchys

  7. Clipperz

  8. crossvertise

  9. eGym

  10. Entelios (now: EnerNOC)

  11. Fair Observer

  12. Finanzchef24

  13. Flixbus

  14. Freeletics

  15. Gini

  16. Givve

  17. Gravitational

  18. Holidu

  19. KONUX

  20. Lendstar

  21. Payworks

  22. Personio GmbH

  23. ProGlove

  24. Rent-a-Guide

  25. Riskmethod

  26. Stylight

  27. tacterion

  28. Tado

  29. ThinxNet


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)

  1. Arne Eilers

  2. Alberto Pricoli

  3. Andreas Maslo

  4. Angélique Werner

  5. Annette Doms

  6. Bettina Miserre

  7. Birgit Bauer

  8. Claudia Schaller

  9. Collin Croome

  10. Ellen Hermens

  11. Felicitas Rittner

  12. Florian Schumacher

  13. Francisco Tavira

  14. Georg Singer

  15. Günther Palfinger

  16. Jan C. Küster

  17. Jan Kennedy

  18. Jens Köster

  19. Johann Romefort

  20. John Chapman

  21. Jutta Merschen

  22. Kostas Papageorgiou

  23. Mads Bukholt

  24. Magdalena Muttenthaler

  25. Maïeule de Carné

  26. Marcus Morba

  27. Martin Tantow

  28. Matt Dippl

  29. Matthias Marschall

  30. Maximilian Loessl

  31. Nathan Evans

  32. Nils Hitze

  33. Oliver Müller-Marc

  34. Reinhold Rapp

  35. Roswitha A. van der Markt

  36. Thomas Ganslmeier

  37. Yann Girard


2. GOVERNMENT

Public organizations that facilitate local economic development

  1. American Chamber of Commerce in Germany

  2. Bavarian Industry Association

  3. Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Munich and Upper Bavaria

  4. Department of Labor and Economic Development

  5. Federation of German Industries

  6. GründerRegio M

  7. Invest in Bavaria

  8. Munich Technology Centre MTZ

  9. United Nations World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator



3. TALENT

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

  1. Local Universities (universities with prominent technical or business programs)

    1. EU Business School Munich

    2. International School of Management

    3. Katholische Stiftungsfachhochschule München

    4. LMU Munich

    5. Macromedia University of Applied Sciences

    6. Munich Business School

    7. Munich University of Applied Sciences

    8. Technische Universität München

    9. Universität der Bundeswehr München


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

    1. Adobe

    2. Amazon

    3. Apple

    4. Autodesk

    5. BMW Group

    6. Cisco

    7. Facebook

    8. Google

    9. HP

    10. IBM

    11. Intel

    12. Microsoft

    13. Nokia Networks

    14. Oracle

    15. SAP

    16. Siemens

    17. Telefónica

    18. Texas Instruments

    19. Yahoo!


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!

 

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