Start-up meets Mittelstand – The perfect match: Munich Network’s Open Innovation Call for FASTTRACK

To drive innovation together and get access to production-related technologies, three family-owned companies Hirschvogel, MAX AICHER and HOERBIGER joined forces and established FASTTRACK, a project-oriented accelerator for high-tech B2B startups. After the very successful startup scouting for the second batch in 2018, Munich Network was again the perfect partner to find and preselect the fitting startups for FASTTRACK Batch #3 last summer, which was supplemented by HAWE Hydraulik as fourth project partner.

In close coordination with the various specialized departments and based on predefined tech-fields, the nonprofit organization for promoting collaborative innovation implemented a worldwide screening process. Michael Strommer, Head of Program, emphasizes here: “Quality over quantity – we attach great importance finding the right startups, not as many as possible. Therefore, we rely on the support by Munich Network. Once again the team has done an excellent job this year.”

20 start-ups from 10 different countries finally got the opportunity to present their products and use cases to the industry partners at the FASTTRACK Pitch Day. The application-based presentations proved to be a great success: Eight selected start-ups are currently working on twelve pilot projects with the partner companies. Collaborations between start-ups and Mittelstand companies offer a win-win situation for both sides. While the young companies contribute new technologies and benefit from the manufacturing expertise of the industry partners, the established companies can test industrial applications and get to know new agile working methods in practice.

You are interested in starting a start-up scouting project with us? Then please contact us: katharina.hickel@munichnetwork.com