Test external innovation – co-financed by federal and state governments
In publicly co-financed venture programs, companies test external innovation in a structured way. Federal and state governments cover the majority of the cost, while companies contribute a share. ekipa is the project sponsor and runs the program operationally. We call this Public-Enabled Venturing.
The value of Public-Enabled Venturing for companies
Public-Enabled Venturing combines public co-financing, a ready-made program framework, and operational guidance from ekipa.
Reduced innovation risk for venturing projects
Public co-financing covers 60 to 80 percent of program costs, depending on the program. Companies test new innovation topics with a manageable contribution through pilots, proofs of concept, and minimum viable products — without having to build their own budgets or venturing structures.
Accelerated validation of external innovation
Public-Enabled Venturing lets organizations test external innovation inside an existing structured framework. Companies get access to concrete startup contacts, qualified solution providers, and first pilot projects without long lead times — and validate significantly earlier than in self-built venturing initiatives.
End-to-end guidance with a clear outcome
ekipa serves as the official project sponsor to federal and state authorities. Companies don't have to file an application and can focus on the actual innovation initiative, while we steer the entire process from challenge definition to proof of concept and deliver a robust outcome within a clearly defined program timeline.
How ekipa delivers Public-Enabled Venturing in practice
Structuring of innovation initiatives
Together with companies we define relevant innovation fields, sharpen target visions, and set search areas and decision criteria. The result is a clear innovation brief that lets scouting begin with a clear focus.
Identification and qualification of suitable innovators
We scout and qualify matching startups, research partners, and technology solutions from the ekipa ecosystem and beyond. The result is a pre-qualified shortlist of concrete solution providers that companies can take into the pilot phase.
Operational steering of pilot and PoC projects
We take operational responsibility for designing and steering the collaboration between organizations and innovators, and we accompany pilots and proofs of concept in real application contexts. The result is validated pilot projects that show whether and how a solution works in practice.
Turning results into a robust business case
We structure validation results, provide clarity on impact and feasibility, and prepare them as a solid business case. This lets companies decide with confidence whether to integrate, scale, or strategically pursue a solution.
ekipa's publicly co-financed venture programs
The following programs are concrete implementation formats of Public-Enabled Venturing in which companies work with startups and other innovators on real innovation projects and pilots.
Hessen Innovation Summit
A format that systematically connects venture clienting and venture capital and enables targeted matches between startups, corporates, and investors based on validated applications.
Venture Client Incubator
A venture clienting program for corporates, SMEs, and the Mittelstand who want to test external solutions in a structured way and make well-founded pilot decisions. Open to companies across Germany; the startup pool is European.
Social Innovation Gateway
A program for impact venture clienting that creates a low-risk environment to validate economic viability and societal impact at the same time.
Innovationsbeschleuniger BW
A program that empowers companies from Baden-Württemberg to try startup partnerships as a pragmatic approach — with a low resource footprint, clear rules of engagement, and a results-driven implementation approach.
Map your Public-Enabled Venturing opportunity in 30 minutes.
- Assessment of where startup collaboration creates the most leverage in your organization
- Concrete recommendation on which publicly co-financed program fits you — and what your own contribution would be
- Transparent look at our methodology, references, and 200+ successful innovation projects
