Central Hesse on the move: Mara Steinbrenner leads new innovation factory!

Central Hesse on the move: Mara Steinbrenner leads new innovation factory!

On July 1, 2025, Mara Steinbrenner, a new CEO, will be appointed for StartMiUp Factory GmbH. Its goal is to make Central Hesse visible as an international location for sustainable innovations. This is happening at a time when the German startup ecosystem is facing fundamental changes. The University of Marburg reports that the StartMiUp Factory was founded together with 20 partner companies and several universities in Central Hesse, including the Justus Liebig University of Gießen, the Philipps University of Marburg and the Technical University of Central Hesse. This coalition is intended to build a bridge between research, business and a sustainable start-up culture.

Steinbrenner brings valuable experience in building innovation ecosystems and impact-oriented entrepreneurship, including her role in establishing the IMPACT FESTIVAL in Frankfurt am Main. This festival, launched in 2021 and attracting thousands of participants from around the world every year, has established itself as a significant platform for sustainable transformation. The House of Eden Expects the fourth edition of the festival on October 30th and 31st, 2024 to have a new line-up of top speakers and several surprises in store.

Strategic goals and program structure

Steinbrenner's first priority in her new position is to transform the existing StartMiUp Factory concept into functioning structures. This includes building a team, developing programs and attracting additional corporate partners. The Factory will operate in a decentralized accelerator program focused on Sustainable Life. It is also in the final of the “Startup Factories” lighthouse competition and receives funding from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.

With a view to the current German startup ecosystem It becomes clear that economic uncertainties and a tight venture capital market pose challenges for many startups. Despite these difficulties, there is a certain optimism among founders. 79.8% expect their business situation to improve by the end of 2025. In addition, the focus on sustainable business models and profitability remains crucial.

Steinbrenner is supported in this by a Board of Directors consisting of nine representatives from Central Hesse's universities and corporate partners. The close cooperation with these institutions is intended to contribute to the creation of a strong innovation ecosystem, which further strengthens the positioning of Central Hesse as an internationally visible startup location.

Sustainability and social responsibility

The IMPACT FESTIVAL, which Steinbrenner plays a key role in shaping, aims to make technologies and innovations accessible for sustainable transformations. Events like these not only mark progress in the development of ecological solutions, but also the necessary commitment to social responsibility. Steinbrenner has also expressed her concern about the shift to the right in Germany and Europe and calls for active engagement against these tendencies, which underlines the importance of sustainable innovation and social responsibility.

The close integration of research, business and sustainable start-up culture represents a central aspect of Steinbrenner's strategy and highlights the responsibility that the new leadership brings with it. In a dynamic time, the changes initiated by the StartMiUp Factory could have a lasting impact not only on Central Hesse, but on the entire German startup ecosystem.