Venture Client Incubator

Germany's first publicly funded Venture Clienting program.

The Venture Client Incubator brings corporates and Mittelstand companies together with startups whose solutions match your innovation fields. We scout, curate, and support pilot projects, and secure the transition into implementation. You keep the results, the IP, and the speed.

See how it works →
Funded by
Hessian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy, Transport, Housing and Rural Areas
Venture clienting — startups, corporates, and innovation fields across industry, healthcare, energy, and AI
Trust

Corporates and Mittelstand companies trust ekipa as their venture clienting partner.

Two editions

What two editions delivered.

Demo Day of the Venture Client Incubator — presenting to corporate partners
21

realized collaborations from 10 corporate partners — an average of two pilot projects per partner, with more in the pipeline.

18

challenges run in parallel — multiple innovation fields per company, curated and structured into a single scouting process.

34

finalists selected from 229 applications — each team with a validated use case and curated matching to partners' innovation fields.

What is the Venture Client Incubator?

From innovation field
to pilot project.

Other innovation programs bring inspiration. Other consultancies bring concepts. The Venture Client Incubator brings pilot projects with startups whose solutions match your innovation fields. Publicly co-financed, deliverable in 9 months.

Innovation programs bring inspiration.

Impulses, trends, and visibility — but rarely anything that actually lands in day-to-day operations.

Consultancies bring concepts.

Strategies and slide decks — but no partner who builds the implementation together with you.

The Venture Client Incubator brings pilot projects.

With startups whose solutions match your innovation fields and stay viable all the way to contract.

Publicly co-financed9 months

You bring the innovation fields.
We deliver the results.

How does the program work?

9 months. Five phases.
One pilot project.

The Venture Client Incubator isn't an event — it's a structured process from innovation field to contract. Every phase delivers clear results for you as a corporate partner.

01
Phase 01 · Setup

Setup

Together, we identify your innovation fields and turn them into challenges that drive a concrete, systematic scouting process for matching startups.

Results
Innovation fieldsChallenge briefsScouting setup
DurationMonths 1–2
OutcomeDefined challenges
02
Phase 02 · Qualification

Qualification

Startups apply to your challenges. You select finalists from a pre-qualified pool, curated to match your innovation fields.

Results
Applicant poolPre-qualificationFinalist selection
DurationMonths 2–4
OutcomeCurated finalists
03
Phase 03 · Boost Phase

Boost Phase

Joint work on the pilot project. ekipa provides hands-on support through workshops and sparring sessions until you have a solid proof of concept.

Results
Pilot project planWorkshops & sparring sessionsProof of concept
DurationMonths 4–8
OutcomeSolid proof of concept
04
Phase 04 · Demo Day

Demo Day

Present results and define next steps in front of decision-makers from your company and the network.

Results
Results presentationDecision-maker sessionNext steps
DurationMonth 8
OutcomeClear next steps
05
Phase 05 · Decision Phase

Decision Phase

Develop proposals, support contract negotiations, and move from a validated pilot into a productive collaboration.

Results
Proposal developmentContract negotiationTransition
DurationMonths 8–9
OutcomeProductive collaboration
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Book a 15-minute intro call — we'll answer them in the context of your innovation fields.

Participation works through individual partnership models. The contribution depends on the scope you want and the number of innovation fields involved. Most of the program costs are covered by public co-financing. Reach out to us directly for a concrete offer.
No. The program is publicly co-financed by the state of Hesse, but it's open to companies across Germany. Startups come from a nationwide and international scouting process. A connection to Hesse is not a requirement for participating as a corporate partner.
The program is open to any industry. Past partners have come from pharma, energy, social welfare, mechanical engineering, aerospace, and financial services. What matters isn't the industry, but concrete innovation fields where startups can make a difference. Both corporates and Mittelstand companies take part.
There are no fixed application deadlines. You get started with an intro call, where we'll clarify together whether the program fits your innovation plans and when the next start date makes sense. Book a slot directly through the calendar below.
Each corporate partner defines 2–3 innovation fields as challenges. For each challenge, 10–20 startups apply, from which 3–4 finalists are selected. During the boost phase, you work directly with these teams on pilot projects. On average, each corporate partner ends up with two realized collaborations.
Classic accelerators support startups. We support companies in getting into pilot projects with startups. The focus isn't on inspiration or visibility, but on staying on a path to a contract. On top of that, the program is publicly co-financed, which makes budget planning significantly easier for you.
Contact

Let's talk about your innovation fields.

Fifteen minutes are enough to find out whether the Venture Client Incubator fits your company and what participation could look like.

Léa DaizSenior Innovation Consultant · ekipa · lea.daiz@ekipa.de · LinkedIn
Léa Daiz, ekipa
Léa DaizSenior Innovation Consultant · ekipaUsually replies the same day