Introduction to Startup Supporters in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Startup Supporters in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (in alphabetical order)

Below is an overview of the most important startup supporters you can contact with your questions or where you can receive support.

A

• ATI Küste GmbH, Rostock
  • Consulting for innovative, technology-oriented industrial and craft enterprises, as well as startups, on new technologies and products, their markets, strategies and management, financing, marketing, and quality
• ATI Westmecklenburg – Agency for Technology Transfer and Innovation Promotion, Schwerin GmbH
  • Support with information and consulting on the initial steps before and after founding, conducting feasibility and market studies, and preparing funding applications

B

• Baltic Incubate - Business Angel Network MV (BAIN)
  • Provides mentoring, financing, and valuable contacts for founding teams in MV
• beyond peers
  • A business network for women in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, offering mutual support through expertise, knowledge, and contacts
• Federal Employment Agency
  • Support for starting self-employment and advice on integration subsidies for employees
  • Offices
    - Neubrandenburg
    - Rostock
    - Schwerin
    - Stralsund
• Nationwide Agency for Female Founders, Regional Office Rostock (Kontor VII)
  • Competence and service center for female entrepreneurship across all industries and stages of business creation, consolidation, and succession
• Guarantee Bank MV
  • Provides guarantees for founders and other companies, offering their banks security for the required credit in the form of a default guarantee

D

• DeveLUP, Ludwigslust
  • Offers infrastructure, various training, and consulting services, and a strong network of business experts for founders
• Digital Innovation Centers in MV
  • Supports founders with digital ideas as important drivers in the region
    Locations:
    - Feldberg (werkraum Feldberg - Coworking)
    - Greifswald (Witeno)
    - Lietzow (ProjektBay-Coworking)
    - Neubrandenburg
    - Rostock
    - Schwerin
    - Stralsund (Makerport Stralsund)
    - Wismar

E

• ESB Invest Vorpommern GmbH
  • Early-stage investor providing feedback and support before the founding phase
• Müritz Business Incubation Center
  • Supports founders, freelancers, self-employed, and businesses in realizing their projects

F

• Development and Promotion Agency Vorpommern-Greifswald mbH
  • Consulting and support for all questions regarding business creation and settlement in the region
• Research Association Mecklenburg-Vorpommern e.V., Rostock
  • Supports technology-oriented startups with consulting, funding procurement, business model development, and networking
• Women in Business, Rostock
  • Advises founders on steps to self-employment, developing business ideas into viable business plans, applying for public funding, and business management

G

• GENIUS Venture Capital GmbH
  • Supports technology-oriented SMEs in MV with equity financing and helps founders develop their business concepts and early-stage financing
• GründerMV.de
  • Provides direct, fast, up-to-date, and comprehensive support for founders in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern through online information and services
• Founders’ Wharf e.V., Greifswald
  • A community and network for all aspiring founders. Supports long-term entrepreneurial success for startups and projects in MV
• GSA Society for Structural and Labor Market Development mbH
  • Handles applications for various funding instruments, especially for business creation and consulting services for commercial enterprises and founders

H

• Chambers of Crafts (HWK)
  • Advises craft businesses and founders, helping solve their business problems
    Locations:
    - East Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Head Office in Neubrandenburg and in Rostock
    - Schwerin
• Universities and Colleges in MV
  • Advises and supports students on various topics related to business creation
  • Institutions:
    - University of Applied Sciences for SMEs (Rostock and Schwerin campuses)
    - Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences
    - Stralsund University of Applied Sciences
    - Wismar University of Applied Sciences
    - University of Greifswald, University of Rostock

I

• Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK)
  • Helps with starting a business, consolidation, financing, crisis situations, and succession processes
    Locations:
    - IHK Neubrandenburg for eastern Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (with branch office in Greifswald)
    - IHK zu Rostock
    - IHK zu Schwerin
• Invest in MV
  • Partner for businesses expanding to or founding in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
• Investor Portal of the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
  • A central platform of the state that provides companies and investors with information on locations, industries, funding opportunities, and economic conditions.
• ITC Innovation and Trend Center, Bentwisch
  • Offers various support options such as consulting, networking, and affordable production and office spaces

K

• KfW
  • supports business start-ups, corporate development, and succession through funding programs.
    Often, the first point of contact is the house bank or savings bank, since many KfW loans are processed through these financial institutions.

L

• State Development Institute Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
  • Supports investments and job creation, offers funding programs for trade fair participation, and business succession. Promotes cross-border cooperation with Brandenburg and Poland
• LeinenLos
  • Guides founders from business idea to startup, offers courses for founders

M

• MaxBlock Ventures
  • Invests in pre-seed and seed startups, helps startups find the right investment partner
• Medium-Sized Equity Investment Company M-V mbH
  • Provides economic equity capital through participations, e.g., via the new program MBMV innoGROWTH

N

• Succession Center MV
  • Assists in finding successors and supports the entire takeover process

R

• RIGZ Rostock Innovation and Startup Center
  • Provides young innovative companies with flexible and affordable space and infrastructure for business creation and development
• ROKA 1825 GmbH, Rostock
  • A subsidiary of Ostsee-Sparkasse, specializing in equity financing solutions

S

• Savings Banks in MV
  • Support with financial resources and comprehensive consulting in all phases of business creation
    Locations:
    - Mecklenburg-Northwest
    - Mecklenburg-Schwerin
    - Mecklenburg-Strelitz
    - Müritz
    - Neubrandenburg-Demmin
    - Ostsee-Sparkasse
    - Uecker-Randow
• SPiNOFF – Excellence MV
  • Supports scientists and graduates in MV in commercializing their research results, especially focusing on creating startups from scientific operations.
• Stapellauf NordOst
  • Comprehensive support for spinoffs from universities and research institutions in MV.

T

• TBI – Technology Consulting Institute GmbH
  • Manages various funding programs in MV, evaluates funding projects for businesses, scientific institutions, and founders
    Offices
    - Head office Schwerin
    - Office Neubrandenburg
    - Office Rostock.
• TechnoStartup MV
  • Network of technology and startup centers in MV offering tailored training programs, consulting, infrastructure, and a statewide network for exchange and cooperation
• Technology and Business Center Schwerin/Wismar
  • Local partners advise founders on project applications, concepts, legal, and tax issues.
• Technology Center Warnemünde e.V.
  • Promotes and supports technology-oriented startups and innovative businesses

U

• Business Workshop Germany
  • nationwide IHK platform that offers valuable help for start-ups through the combination of digital tools and personal advice from regional IHK experts from MV

V

• Association of German Women Entrepreneurs, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Chapter
  • Organizes economic events for networking, education, and exchange among businesswomen of various sectors and sizes
• Utilization Network M-V, University of Rostock
  • Supports scientific institutions in the state through all phases of the patenting and utilization process

W

• Continuing Education Database MV
  • Searches for regional education providers, vocational training offers, and funding opportunities, including education vouchers and business succession
• Economic Development Agencies of Cities and Districts
  • Interface between cities/districts, funding providers, network partners, and regional businesses, supporting project realization, job creation, and retention
    Locations:
    - Greifswald
    - Rostock District
    - Vorpommern-Rügen District
    - Vorpommern-Greifswald District
    - Mecklenburg Lake District
    - Neubrandenburg
    - Northwest Mecklenburg
    - Rostock
    - Schwerin
    - Stralsund
    - Southwest Mecklenburg
    - Wismar.
• WITENO, Greifswald
  • Bridges science and business, supporting company founders, young businesses, and established SMEs through infrastructure rental and comprehensive service and consulting packages
    Locations:
    - BioTechnikum Greifswald
    - DIZ Greifswald
    - Technology Center Vorpommern
    - Center for Life Science and Plasma Technology (Z4)

Z

• ZMV+ (Future Centre Mecklenburg-Vorpommern)
  • provides free support to SMEs in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to help them prepare for the future and overcome the challenges of today and tomorrow
    offers training courses, awareness-raising and guidance sessions, and in-depth business consultancy

Note

This list may not include all startup supporters in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, although we have made every effort to be comprehensive. If you know of additional supporters in our state, we would appreciate it if you inform us!