The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) today announced the winners of the EXIST lighthouse competition “Startup Factories” in Berlin – and Futury is among them. With this award, Futury officially becomes one of Germany’s central Startup Factories that, with substantial federal support, will transform the national startup landscape over the coming five years. Futury is backed by a strong alliance of 29 industrial and foundation partners, as well as four universities – Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, Goethe University Frankfurt, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, and TU Darmstadt. The joint sponsorship of the Futury application by Minister-Presidents Boris Rhein and Alexander Schweitzer underscores the strategic importance of cross-state cooperation in the startup ecosystem.
The competition aims to establish cross-university, regionally anchored, and internationally visible startup ecosystems that build sustainable business models and robust connections to existing national and cross-regional value chains. For the winning initiatives, the BMWi will match the private funds raised by industry and philanthropic partners—up to €10 million—doubling their impact. As a result, Futury’s previously raised €10 million will now be matched to a total of up to €20 million.
Futury impressed the jury with its unique approach to building an industry-driven startup ecosystem in the Frankfurt Rhine-Main metro region, integrating science, industry, policy, and investors.
It addresses a longstanding challenge: Germany remains a nation of innovators (ranked 8th out of 132 countries in the 2023 Global Innovation Index, and Europe’s patent leader), but lags behind in translating innovation into scale. Dealroom data shows the UK has over 40 unicorns, while Germany has around 20—behind also Sweden and Israel. Futury aims to harness Germany’s innovation power into economic success.
“We are thrilled about the Startup Factory award. It’s both recognition and a mandate: Together with our partner universities and companies, we want to create a place where scientific research becomes entrepreneurial reality—visible across Europe and deeply rooted,” said Charlie Müller, Founder & Managing Director of Futury.
Müller added: “We congratulate all Startup Factory initiatives on their outstanding concepts—and particularly the other competition winners. We look forward to close future cooperation, because startup support mustn’t stop at regional borders: only together can we sustainably strengthen and globally position Germany’s startup ecosystem.”
Futury aims to further embed entrepreneurship in research and teaching at partner universities, support talent along their startup journey, ease access to customers and capital, and systematically strengthen collaboration among universities, investors, and industry.
“We will make founding a natural career path for researchers and talents,” said Melissa Ott, Managing Director of Futury, “with ideal conditions, key partners, and an ecosystem that supports startups from idea to scale.”
Political and Scientific Statements
Boris Rhein, Minister-President of Hesse, expresses his thanks:
“It’s a great success that the Rhine-Main region is home to one of the winners of this important competition. Futury impressively shows how academic knowledge and economic realization can work hand in hand. Now we need to strengthen and unite the ecosystem in Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, and beyond to build as much impact as possible. We are creating a powerful, cross-state startup hub with international visibility at the heart of the Rhine-Main region. Hesse is proud of its excellent universities and immense strength in research and science.”
Alexander Schweitzer, Minister-President of Rhineland-Palatinate, adds:
“With Futury, a cross-state hub is being created that connects science, industry, investors, and politics. These types of alliances are necessary to turn academic advances into real economic and social value—especially in fields where we already demonstrate international excellence.”
Prof. Dr. Nils Stieglitz, President and CEO of Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, comments:
“Germany needs more entrepreneurial spirit—not just in words, but in action. As a business university, we will play a key role: building networks, teaching entrepreneurial know-how, and turning ideas into business models. A strong entrepreneurial culture and private enterprise are essential for Germany’s future viability.”
Prof. Dr. Enrico Schleiff, President of Goethe University Frankfurt and spokesperson for the Rhine-Main Universities Alliance (RMU), notes:
“The region between Darmstadt, Frankfurt, and Mainz, with its high density of research institutions and science-intensive companies, has the potential to become a leading innovation hub in Europe. The new Factory will, through fast processes, clear funding options, and industry partnerships, open direct access to markets. For Goethe University—and the entire RMU—it is in our DNA to take responsibility for translating scientific excellence into society and the economy.”
Prof. Dr. Georg Krausch, President of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, states:
“For JGU, Futury is an important part of our transfer strategy, with particular synergy expected in developing the life science location of Mainz and the biotech initiative in Rhineland-Palatinate. Working with our strong RMU and regional partners pays off. Futury’s success in the lighthouse competition is clear evidence of successful cross-state cooperation in the Rhine-Main area. We are grateful to the private partners—without their financial involvement this success would not have been possible.”
Prof. Dr. Tanja Brühl, President of TU Darmstadt, emphasizes:
“Powerful support for spin-offs is central to our identity as a technical university. Together with Futury, we will now more effectively unleash the immense startup potential of the Frankfurt Rhine-Main metropolitan region. We are building the bridge between top-tier research and innovation by adding new elements. With Futury, we are transforming the region’s existing appeal into a magnet—with irresistible attraction at regional, national, and international levels. We are creating a launchpad for ideas that become innovation with future-shaping impact. I sincerely thank everyone supporting us in realizing this vision!”
Futury & Startup Factory Mittelhessen “StartMiUp Factory” Join Forces
Alongside Futury, the StartMiUp Factory from Central Hesse also applied for BMWi funding with a strong regional network.
Thomas Nauss, President of Philipps University Marburg, said:
“The challenges of our time require strong alliances that transcend competition. We are therefore pleased that Futury and StartMiUp Factory from Central Hesse will work closely together to strengthen the startup landscape in Hesse and beyond. The joint goal remains to systematically increase spin-offs from science through dedicated programs and networks.”
Charlie Müller adds:
“Only through cooperation can we build sustainable structures with real impact.”
Mara Steinbrenner, CEO of StartMiUp Factory, adds:
“Together we pursue a vision and think the ecosystem holistically. We are building a strong, regionally driven yet international ecosystem for scientific spin-offs.”
Melissa Ott adds:
“We look forward to collaborating with the StartMiUp Factory team. Their scientific excellence—especially in the natural sciences—complemented by our industry-focused approach, is a perfect match. Together, we shape the future of founding.”
From Idea to Scale: How Futury Sparks a New Founding Momentum in Germany
Starting in October 2025, Futury will support students, researchers, and startups in and from the Rhine-Main region along their founding journey through early-stage funding, entrepreneurship training, access to industry and capital, and structured, target-group-specific programs. With IP4shares, universities can connect top-tier research with entrepreneurial ambition and realize practical exploitation opportunities. Investors will gain access to solid, protected innovation projects.
Futury’s approach is industry-driven: collaborating with 130 industrial project partners and over 50 network partners, mentors, and investors. For the first time under the EXIST lighthouse competition, academia is systematically integrated as an equal partner. With four partner universities, an academically rooted innovation space is created that promotes entrepreneurship in research and teaching. Starting Fall 2025, Futury Capital will offer founders new venture capital through Futury Fund III, with a target volume of €40 million.
Focused on five strategic clusters aligned with the region’s scientific and economic strengths—Life Science & Healthcare, Aviation & Space, Banking & Finance, Data & AI, and Deep Tech & Green Tech—Futury gains high-level momentum to expand its impact nationally and globally with the EXIST support.
After nine months of concept development among 15 Startup Factories, a jury including experts like Dr. Tanja Emmerling, Prof. Dr. Helmut Schönenberger, and Franziska Teubert made its selection in June. Over the next five years, Futury leads an industry-based Startup Factory at the vanguard of a new founding dynamic—aimed at significantly increasing the number and quality of knowledge-based, growth-focused spin-offs and startups in Germany.
Empowered by the EXIST lighthouse award, Futury is now purposefully expanding strategic partnerships across industry, science, startups, investors, and mentors, developing tailored formats to nurture the next generation of founders—aiming to launch 1,000 new science-based startups by 2030. It is supported over the next five years by partners from industry and philanthropy, including Bain & Company, Commerzbank, Condor, Consortium, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Börse Group, d-fine, Dussmann, DZ Bank, Entega, Goldbeck, Helaba, InfraServ Hoechst, Maingau, Mainova, Merck, Merz, Metzler, P&G, PWC, SAENTIS Family Office, Schaeffler, Samson, Viega, WISAG, XAI Technologies, Stiftung Giersch, Werte-Stiftung, and Mainzer Wissenschaftsstiftung.
Source: Futury press release dated July 10, 2025
Image source: Futury