Futury receives 20 million euros: A new departure for startups in Germany!

Futury receives 20 million euros: A new departure for startups in Germany!

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) has announced that the Startup Futury has been named the winner of the EXIST lighthouse competition “Startup Factories”. Futury will receive up to 20 million euros in funding over the next five years as the ministry matches private funding of up to 10 million euros. This funding aims to comprehensively transform the German startup landscape and promote future-oriented business ideas.

The initiative is supported by 29 partners from industry and philanthropy as well as four universities: the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, the Goethe University Frankfurt, the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and the TU Darmstadt. This strong partnership ensures that Futury is equipped with the necessary resources to build an effective and sustainable startup ecosystem. They receive political support from the Prime Ministers of Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate, Boris Rhein and Alexander Schweitzer, who underline the importance of cross-state cooperation.

Goals and approaches of Future

The competition aims to establish cross-university, regionally anchored and internationally visible startup ecosystems. Germany ranked 8th out of 132 countries in the Global Innovation Index 2023, but faces the challenge of implementing this innovative strength on a large scale. Futury plans to anchor entrepreneurship in research and teaching at partner universities and support talent along their start-up journey.

From October 2025, Futury will support founders by offering them access to industry and capital and providing structured programs. A central component of this funding is the Futury Fund III, which has a target volume of 40 million euros and is intended to provide venture capital. With the approach of creating an industry-driven startup ecosystem in the Frankfurt-Rhine-Main metropolitan region, Futury is pursuing the ambitious goal of founding a total of 1,000 new startups by 2030, particularly from scientific contexts.

Strategic clusters and regional importance

Futury focuses on five strategic clusters: Lifescience & Healthcare, Aviation & Space, Banking & Finance, Data & AI and Deep Tech & Green Tech. These areas were chosen to make Germany's innovative strength economically successful. The initiative emphasizes the importance of developing sustainable business models and building connections to existing value chains.

With the support of numerous industry partners, including Bain & Company, Commerzbank and Deutsche Bank, Futury aims to strengthen the startup landscape in the Rhine-Main region in the long term. This is particularly relevant in an environment often characterized by the lack of successful startups in Germany, compared to countries like the UK, where over 40 unicorns exist. By promoting entrepreneurship, Futury aims to make a significant contribution to economic and social value creation.

Overall, Futury's recognition as a key startup factory in Germany shows the government and private sector's commitment to promoting innovation and creating a strong foundation for future entrepreneurs. The next few years could be crucial for how the startup ecosystem develops in Germany.

For more information, visit University of Mainz, Frankfurt Main Finance.