You already have your business idea but could use some support? Incubators and accelerators in Munich can help you build a sustainable business concept and find network partners, working space, infrastructure and mentors.

Services offered by Munich universities and colleges 

UnternehmerTUM, the center for innovation and startups at the Technical University of Munich identifies and networks talent, technologies, capital and customers. CEO Helmut Schönenberger about the work performed by UnternehmerTUM:

“We offer founders comprehensive service starting with the initial concept up to going public. A team of experienced entrepreneurs, scholars, managers and investors supports startups with developing their products and services. Our […] employees actively participate in establishing companies as well as their market entry and financing — including funds from UnternehmerTUM.” 

The LMU Entrepreneurship Center aims to get students and graduates excited about starting their own companies and supports them in making their startup ideas a reality. Each semester, 15 startups with promising business models are supported by the lab with free offices, coaching and access to a fantastic network.

The Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship (SCE) of Munich University of Applied Sciences provides education and research programs in the field of entrepreneurship while fostering innovation processes and the development of entrepreneurial individuals. The SCE supports startups that are spin-offs from the academic community, accompanying young companies as they progress from developing ideas to delivering market-ready innovations.

The Center for Digital Technology and Management (CDTM) is a joint research and teaching institution of Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU). Its focus is on the education of highly talented students, applied ICT research and promoting entrepreneurship.

For tech and early-stage startups

Techfounders is an accelerator program and an initiative of UnternehmerTUM. The twenty-week program aims to reach tech startups in the automotive, mobility, automation and robotics, electronics, cleantech, technology education and industrial IoT industries. Two classes each year are supported by more than 200 mentors. The startups also receive 25,000 euros for further development of their projects. What makes this offer unique is that the startups do not have to hand over any company shares in exchange for the services.

Plug and Play Munich is an innovation platform, coworking community and an event space. Established in late 2017 in Munich, Plug and Play runs accelerator programs in three different industries: insurtech, health and retailtech.

Xpreneurs offers a three-month, full-time incubator program and concentrates on early-stage startups with a hightech focus that are preparing their market launch. Participants in the UnternehmerTUM program receive intense coaching and mentoring plus access to Makerspace and the incubator’s network. The startup teams can use working space in Munich and Garching.

Special Interest: aerospace, biotechnology, media, information and communication technology

The ESA Business Incubation Centre (BIC) Bavaria startup program operated by AZO Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen provides financial and technical support to young firms whose business model is based on the use of space technologies or space travel infrastructures for products in other lines of business.

For a good 20 years, BioM has been supporting southern Bavaria’s biotechnology startup community as a general-purpose networking agency, covering everything from innovative ideas to business plans or grants, funding or the founding of new businesses. The network has a local, national and international footprint and gives startups the right contacts at the right time.

The Innovation and Start-Up Center for Biotechnology (IZB) is one of the world’s most successful biotech hubs. Located in Planegg-Martinsried, it offers both space and an extensive network to startups with a focus on medical biotechnology. 

The Media Lab Bayern is the right place for anyone wanting to help shape changes to the media landscape. Situated in the east of Munich, the coworking space and ideas incubator for digital journalism offers working space for young talents and a Founders Fellowship to support the launch of media startups.

At Gate, founders and young companies in the fields of IT, health, mechatronics, information and communication technology or hightech will quickly find their new business home without any red tape. Comprehensive service offers, such as a business consultant, provide support for startups.

Wayra, Telefónica’s startup accelerator, actively seeks business ideas in the internet and new technologies context. Funding, specialist mentors, training courses, professional business consulting and access to the Telefónica Group’s own business network are made available to startups. 

Think big — support with going international

If you want to cross the pond or head to Asia with your startup, it’s worth taking a look at the program offered by German Accelerator. The accelerator supports promising German startups with their international expansion. At its innovation hubs in San Francisco, Silicon Valley, New York, Boston, and Singapore, its team of experienced experts and mentors actively supports the selected startups with their local expertise and different workshop and training offers.

Many additional service offers and tips for startups ready to go international are available in our startup consulting overview.

Go social — social entrepreneurship

The Impact Hub Munich is an innovation space for sustainable business that provides a framework and impetus for creative working and social entrepreneurship. Hub founders Joscha Lautner and Johann Schorr elaborated on the hub’s focus: 

“Startups meet up here during their pre and post-founding stages as do established companies, freelance consultants, CSR employees, project team members and non-governmental organizations. The goal that unites them all is to work for a better world. Depending on their individual needs, our members receive targeted support and consulting, not only from our network, but also from our programs.”

Respond is a BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt accelerator program, operated by UnternehmerTUM, which exists to accelerate startups and empower leaders to take their business to the next level.

Further incubators and accelerators in Munich

Are you primarily looking for working space? Then the Munich Technology Center (MTZ) might be just the option for you. The MTZ supports founders and young companies in all tech fields during the initial stages by providing suitable working space and intense coaching. 

Located near the East Station, Werk1 is all about coworking and  provides freelancers, startups and small businesses with excellent networking opportunities, jobs and office space. The incubator program brings its participants together with mentors and offers intense support on your startup path. 


Further incubators and accelerators in Munich are listed on our webpage ‘Community’.