Baden-Württemberg – the land of startups

At BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg, we support you as a specialist partner and expert for life science start-ups with a comprehensive range of services: business plan review, advice on funding and financing programmes, pitch training, marketing support to increase your visibility, and cooperation initiation. Together, we will advance your start-up in a targeted manner. Information can be found under Innovation & Start-ups (page only available in German).

The Baden-Württemberg government is constantly striving to offer new and attractive incentives for new companies. In this context, the country has created attractive offers. An overview of the most interesting offers and programs for Life Sciences founders can be found below. An overview of the start-up state of Baden-Württemberg and other supporting organizations can be found on the startup bw website.

• Innovation Vouchers, in particular coupon B for innovative start-up companies in the high-tech area. www.innovationsgutscheine.de
• Young Innovator grants: The Young Innovators funding programme is a successful initiative run by the Baden-Württemberg government, and is similar to the federal EXIST funding programme. It supports start-ups from universities and non-university research institutions in setting up their own business. Information about current calls is available at: www.junge-innovatoren.de
• Current calls for proposals can be found in the database: BIOPRO's funding programme database
• Start-up Accelerators: Six accelerator programmes support early stage startups and future entrepreneurs in various thematic areas. Biotechnology, pharma and medical technologies is adressed by the Life Science-Accelerator Baden-Württemberg. Further accelerators focus e.g. on energy, green economy, sustainability, IT.

BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg GmbH is the central point of contact in Baden-Württemberg for issues relating to the state's healthcare industry activities. BIOPRO proposes a wide range of measures to support company founders in these and related sectors. More information.​​​​​​​

Financing tools for startup projects and young companies

Financial support for start-up projects once public funding has come to an end is an important aspect that company founders working to successfully establish a company need to take into account. Baden-Württemberg has developed a broad range of different tools to help in the successful establishment of startups.

• Seedfonds BW: Invests in young Baden-Württemberg technology companies in the seed phase. Equity capital is provided in cooperation with the High-Tech Gründerfonds. Seedfonds BW
• VC Fonds Baden-Württemberg: Provides equity capital to innovative and expanding companies in the seed, startup and expansion phases. VC Fonds Baden-Württemberg
• MBG Baden-Württemberg: Is a management company of VC Fonds Baden-Württemberg and invests as a parallel investor. MBG BW
• VC-BW – Netzwerk für Beteiligungskapital: Joint initiative of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Finance and Economics and Stuttgart Financial. In cooperation with other venture capital initiatives in Baden-Württemberg, VC-BW organises an annual VC pitch, usually in January, where startup companies can present themselves to potential investors. VC-BW

• LEA Venturepartner Wagniskapitalfonds: invests in technologically solid companies in the early growth phases.

In addition to the afore mentioned funding programmes, there are several regional agencies providing startup funding. Baden-Württemberg also has a vibrant business angel community.