Why Startups Succeed at the Garching Science Campus

Munich is undoubtedly a strong location for startups. In this article, you will find out why the Garching science campus near Munich is an underdog that is often underestimated, even though it offers you and your startup unique opportunities – especially as a technology and science-oriented startup. This is what founding at the Garching science campus looks like.

TOP LOCATION IN THE NORTH OF MUNICH

Where do I found and scale my startup? There is no doubt that Munich is an excellent location for startups. But let’s be honest: when choosing the perfect location for your startup, have you ever thought about Garching near Munich?

Garching may feel a little out of the way – I didn’t expect to come across such a dynamic environment on my first trip on the subway along the fields. But in this “prairie,” a location with unique potential for startups is unfolding.

Why is the Garching science campus an underdog that is still too often underestimated as a location for your startup? Find out in this article.

FOUNDING AT THE GARCHING SCIENCE CAMPUS

One of the largest research and science locations in Germany awaits you in Garching near Munich. As the largest location of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Garching has a lot to offer, especially for startups in the tech and science sector. Let’s get an initial overview:

ADVANTAGE OF DIRECT PROXIMITY TO TUM

On the one hand, the Technical University of Munich (TUM) is an ideal starting point for your startup journey. This is because TUM has steadily improved in international rankings such as the Times Higher Education Ranking and has risen from 53rd to 26th place since 2015. It even occupies a top position within the EU. In addition, at 4.8%, TUM has the highest proportion of founders in Germany and thus makes a significant contribution to the development of entrepreneurial talent.

On the other hand, this academic excellence and the network offer you as a founder access to expertise, mentoring and other support services. With a startup office on the science campus in the immediate vicinity of TUM, you have a variety of recruiting opportunities for talent, especially in the STEM fields (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology). And you can become part of the UnternehmerTUM network.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP: SUPPORT WITH IDEAS AND IMPLEMENTATION

UnternehmerTUM has been recognized by the Financial Times and leads the ranking of “Europe’s Leading Startup Hubs.”

This recognition underlines the international importance of the center at the science campus and the high quality of its programs. As a founder, you will be accompanied through various growth phases – from the idea to implementation and beyond.

Here you will find an overview of a few programs in which the startups at the gate have participated and are participating:

• XPRENEURS Incubator: Tech startups before market entry
• XPLORE: Students, researchers, founders, startup teams
• Tech-Founders: Early-stage startups that have a working prototype and already have their first customers
• Manage & More: Courses for students from all Munich universities on their way to becoming a leader or starting their own startup

Typically, the startups first go through the TUM and UnternehmerTUM programs and then grow into the next support offer of the science campus in Garching.

This is the moment when the gate Garching proves its value as a startup center. This transition enables seamless further development, so that you as a founder can always find the right support for your current company phase.

THE GATE GARCHING: SUPPORT FOR GROWTH

The gate was founded in 2002 with the vision that one day it would be home to Germany’s most successful tech startups, which would strengthen our business location. With success: today, the startup center is an essential part of the Garching startup ecosystem and has already helped over 350 startups to grow. Startups such as Orbem, planqc, Energyminer, Motius and CELUS are among the biggest success stories.

As a tech startup at the gate, you move into discounted startup offices directly on the science campus. This means you live in direct proximity to TUM and UnternehmerTUM, receive support through coaching and workshops and are part of a strong community. Since 2024, robotics startups have also benefited from the Autonomous Systems Hub, a Robo.innovate initiative supported by the TUM Venture Lab Robotics/AI and the TUM Venture Lab Aerospace, which moved into the gate at the end of July 2024.

ROBOTICS STARTUP SEWTS: SUCCESS STORY AT THE SCIENCE CAMPUS

The story of the gate startup sewts shows what networking at the science campus can look like. After the founders of sewts met at the Technical University of Munich in 2012, they were accompanied from the idea to the startup as part of XPLORE.

“We joined XPLORE in 2018. At the time, we were still in our Master’s degree and had a great idea, but didn’t yet know how to implement it. The program helped us to structure the idea better and move forward in the right direction. And it helped us make the shift from university to entrepreneurial thinking.” – Tim Doerks, CTO and co-founder of sewts

The team then moved into the gate, and we supported them in their growth.

“Through the gate, we have access to personal founder coaching and events where you can get a good overview of topics such as financing, IP or hiring. The environment and proximity to other startups mean there are good opportunities to network with other founders. The option to expand offices flexibly is helpful because, of course, you don’t know exactly how fast you will grow at the beginning.” – Tim Doerks, CTO and co-founder of sewts.

In 2023, sewts announced news about the successfully completed Series A financing round of 7 million euros. The success story of sewts shows what a strong team can achieve with the right support at the science campus. In this way, sewts was able to develop from an innovative idea into a growing company with around 20 employees. The team successfully launched its first product on the market at the end of 2022.

And sewts is not the only startup success story at the Garching science campus.

QUANTUM COMPUTING STARTUP PLANQC

Planqc is another example of how the science campus in Garching supports and empowers startups.

According to Dr. Alexander Glätzle, the planqc team received significant support from the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics and the Max Planck Society, which is based directly on the science campus:

“Your research institution may be more startup-friendly than you think. If your research institute is not known for supporting startups, you shouldn’t let this discourage you. By clearly stating your vision, you can secure valuable support and turn research-oriented institutions into catalysts for your deep-tech spinoff. Our experience with the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics and the Max Planck Society has shown just that.”

After all, the story began at the gate in 2022.

“The gate was our very first office and the place where our journey really began”, says Alexander. “These relationships and the support we received were crucial to our early growth.”

Today, Alexander Glätzle, Sebastian Blatt, and Johannes Zeiher are at the forefront of quantum computing innovation with planqc. They are pioneers in the development of industry-relevant quantum computers. Alexander is also among the Capital Top 40 under 40 and winner of the German Startup Award 2023.

In addition, an office in the incubator has now been transformed into a dedicated office in Garching near Munich, which was even opened by Bavarian Minister President Dr. Markus Söder with a keynote speech.

MAKERSPACE AT THE SCIENCE CAMPUS

In addition to the services offered by TUM, UnternehmerTUM, and the gate, the Garching science campus offers many other valuable resources. Facilities such as the MakerSpace offer you access to modern workshops and laboratories that can be important for the development and prototyping of your products. This allows you to virtually “push” your prototype from the MakerSpace into the gate.

Our gate startup Flyby has been working on its prototype in the MakerSpace. These are delivery boxes on scooters with cloud-enabled IoT devices with integrated microcomputers, sensors, digital billboards, and customized software. You can see the result in the picture of our CEO Christian Heckemann on the Flyby scooter:

SIEMENS AND SAP

Major companies such as Siemens and SAP are based on campus. This means they offer you potential collaborations and access to valuable expertise and networks.

In April 2024, Siemens opened its largest research site in the world on campus. As a result, collaboration with the Technical University of Munich, international research institutions, and leading companies is to be strengthened.

In addition, the SAP Research Center was opened at the TUM Campus Garching in June 2024. The aim of the partnership is to advance technological development in the age of digitalization.

This combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial support, and high-quality infrastructure makes the Garching science campus an ideal location for startups at all stages of development.

FOUNDING AT THE GARCHING SCIENCE CAMPUS – YOUR STARTING POINT FOR SUCCESS

If you are a tech startup looking for a location that offers you all the important resources for founding and scaling your startup, the Garching Science campus is the ideal choice. Its proximity to TUM, UnternehmerTUM, and the gate offers you a unique network and comprehensive support.

This makes the science campus an underdog that could give your startup a decisive competitive advantage.

Interested in founding at the Garching Science campus? Take the opportunity and get in touch with us to find out how we can help you grow with startup offices, coaching, workshops, and community. Just send us an e-mail to welcome@gategarching.com.