TechQuartier

TechQuartier
Name	TechQuartier
Formation	2014
Type	Innovation hub; startup incubator; accelerator
Headquarters	Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, Germany
Region served	Frankfurt Rhine-Main

TechQuartier

TechQuartier is an innovation hub and startup ecosystem center based in Frankfurt am Main, Hesse. It functions as a nexus for entrepreneurship, finance, and technology by convening startups, corporations, investors and academic institutions across the Rhine-Main region. TechQuartier hosts acceleration programs, coworking spaces, and networking events that connect participants with resources drawn from regional and international partners.

Overview

TechQuartier operates as a collaborative platform linking startups, scale-ups, and corporate partners such as Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, DekaBank, DZ Bank, and KfW. It situates itself near financial centers like Frankfurt Stock Exchange and cultural landmarks such as Römer and Städel Museum. The hub engages with academic institutions including Goethe University Frankfurt, Technical University of Darmstadt, University of Mainz, Hochschule Darmstadt, and Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, while also interacting with research organizations like Fraunhofer Society, Max Planck Society, and Leibniz Association. TechQuartier’s network spans industry bodies such as Bitkom, Bundesverband Deutsche Startups, European Investment Fund, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and international accelerators like Startupbootcamp and Plug and Play Tech Center.

History

Founded in 2014 with support from municipal and private stakeholders, TechQuartier emerged during a period of post-crisis fintech growth alongside initiatives like FinTech Bay and LEVEL39. Early collaborations included partnerships with Frankfurt Main Finance, House of Finance, SIX Group, and Eurex. The organization’s timeline intersects with European programs such as Horizon 2020 and initiatives driven by institutions like the European Commission and European Investment Bank. TechQuartier evolved through phases that involved cooperation with accelerators such as Y Combinator (Europe), links to incubators like Seedcamp, and engagement with startup competitions like Startup Weekend and Techstars-affiliated events. Political and urban development contacts included City of Frankfurt am Main, State of Hesse, and regional agencies such as Wirtschaftsförderung Frankfurt.

Organization and Governance

TechQuartier’s governance model includes stakeholders from finance, academia, and industry, reflecting ties to entities like PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and law firms active in startup ecosystems such as Noerr and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. Advisory boards and supervisory panels have included representatives from corporations such as Allianz, Munich Re, Procter & Gamble (Germany), and consulting firms like McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, and Roland Berger. Funding and oversight arrangements have involved public institutions such as European Regional Development Fund alongside private investors including family offices, venture capital firms like Earlybird Venture Capital, Holtzbrinck Ventures, High-Tech Gründerfonds, Speedinvest, Atomico, Accel Partners, and angel networks like Business Angels Netzwerk Deutschland.

Programs and Services

TechQuartier runs acceleration and incubation programs patterned after models used by MassChallenge, Startupbootcamp, Techstars, and Founders Factory. Services include mentorship drawn from startup veterans who participated in ventures like N26, Klarna, Zalando, Delivery Hero, and HelloFresh, as well as legal clinics influenced by firms such as CMS Hasche Sigle and Gleiss Lutz. It provides investment readiness workshops similar to offerings from Seedrs and Crowdcube, and corporate innovation formats applied by Siemens, Deutsche Telekom, BASF, Bayer, and SAP. The hub facilitates access to investor networks including 500 Startups, Index Ventures, Sequoia Capital (European) affiliates, Northzone, Balderton Capital, Creandum, DN Capital, and Lakestar.

Community and Partnerships

Community activities connect entrepreneurs with meetup organizers and events like Digital Hub Initiative, Frankfurt Tech Meetup, Slush, Web Summit, Bits & Pretzels, and Viva Technology. TechQuartier partners with coworking and innovation nodes such as Factory Berlin, WeWork (Europe), Mindspace, ImpactHub, Betahaus, and regional hubs including Main Incubator and HessenHub. International collaborations include ties to ecosystems like Silicon Valley, London Tech City, Station F, La French Tech, Tel Aviv Startup Nation, Singapore accelerators, and Skolkovo (Moscow) initiatives. It engages with sector associations such as German Startups Association, European Startup Network, International Chamber of Commerce, and standards organizations like ISO where relevant.

Impact and Funding

TechQuartier’s impact metrics are comparable to other European hubs backed by entities like European Investment Fund and monitored through datasets from Crunchbase, PitchBook, Dealroom.co, and public reports by KfW Research and Deutsche Bundesbank. Funding sources include corporate sponsorships from Commerz Real and Frankfurter Sparkasse, public grants via European Regional Development Fund, venture contributions from High-Tech Gründerfonds, and philanthropic support similar to models used by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in other sectors. The hub has supported startups that later interact with acquirers and investors such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, Salesforce, Oracle, Cisco Systems, Intel, IBM, and Visa.

Facilities and Locations

TechQuartier’s physical presence is in Frankfurt’s business districts near transport nodes like Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof and Frankfurt Airport, and close to institutions such as European Central Bank and Deutsche Bundesbank. Facilities include coworking spaces, event venues, prototyping labs, and meeting rooms comparable to setups at MakerSpace and fabrication labs aligned with Fab Lab standards. The hub collaborates with local property partners and campus projects such as Frankfurter Tor developments, university incubators at Goethe Innovation Hub, and research parks like Darmstadt Science Park and Frankfurt Airport Center.

Category:Organizations based in Frankfurt am Main