StartMiUp Factory: New impulses for sustainable business start-ups in Hesse!

StartMiUp Factory: New impulses for sustainable business start-ups in Hesse!

On April 25, 2025, StartMiUp Factory GmbH was founded, a platform that specializes in innovative start-ups in the area of ​​sustainable living. On the occasion of this founding, numerous regional entrepreneurs and Digital Minister Kristina Sinemus gathered to celebrate the step towards a more sustainable future. The Hessian state government, which emphasized the importance of start-ups for new business models and job creation, supports this initiative.

Minister Sinemus highlighted funding opportunities available through programs such as the Distr@l program and venture funds. This financial support is crucial for supporting sustainable start-ups that aim for innovative and environmentally friendly business models. Kaweh Mansoori, the Hessian Minister for Economic Affairs, highlighted the innovative approach to research financing that accompanies the founding of the StartMiUp Factory.

The vision of the StartMiUp Factory

The StartMiUp Factory is initiated as a public-private partnership and is supported by the Justus Liebig University of Gießen, the Philipps University of Marburg and the Technical University of Central Hesse. These educational institutes are working together to transform Central Hesse into an international center for sustainable start-ups. The factory focuses on five central topic areas: biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, medtech and digital health, efficient materials and manufacturing, agritech and nutrition, and sustainable infrastructure.

A decentralized accelerator program is intended to support growth-oriented start-ups from home and abroad. The StartMiUp Factory's industrial partners bring expertise, production capacities and market access, while targeted mentoring and coaching enable cross-technology innovations to be promoted. This initiative should not only promote the development of innovative ideas, but also specifically build bridges between universities and companies and between research and the market.

Funding and support

Another important aspect of the StartMiUp Factory is the submission of the project to the EXIST lighthouse competition “Startup Factories”, which should take place by April 30, 2025. Up to 10 million euros from funds from the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection can be applied for for the project, although private funds must be supplemented in the same amount. The jury's decision will be made in late summer 2025.

The establishment of the StartMiUp Factory is not only a significant step in supporting sustainable start-ups in the region, but also aims to make long-lasting contributions to solving global challenges. By connecting with a broad network of regional companies, start-ups gain access to key resources and manufacturing expertise essential for developing environmentally friendly business models.

In addition to the funding programs already mentioned, the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) also supports start-ups with its Green Start-up special program. This program is aimed at environmentally conscious companies that make measurable environmental contributions and offers financial resources and access to expert networks.

The StartMiUp Factory is therefore a lighthouse project in Central Hesse that aims to promote innovative and sustainable developments outside of the large metropolitan regions. Through its comprehensive support mechanisms, it will ideally help to strengthen the competitiveness and market position of start-ups and ultimately also contribute to the implementation of measures against climate change.