StartUP.InnoLab – Westphalian Ruhr area
The Wilo-Foundation has close ties with the Dortmund area as a region of science and, therefore, is supporting the “StartUP.InnoLab – Westphalian Ruhr area” incubator programme in the period 2019-2020. The collaborative project, which supports start-ups and innovative ideas, is targeted at students, staff members and graduates of research institutions and at young small and medium-sized technology- and science-based companies and people who are interested in starting a business, all from the Ruhr area.
Every year, up to 12 selected teams receive support under the programme. The programme consists of various modules, e.g. pairing up of mentors and teams, networking meetings, an innovation academy and hands-on support on aspects of business financing. At the end of each funding cycle, the teams present themselves to external investors and associated partners during a pitch event, the “investors’ forum”. The most promising start-ups, selected by a jury of experts, receive a monetary prize provided by the Wilo-Foundation.
Our funding partners:
Since 2018, “StartUP.InnoLab – Westphalian Ruhr area” has been supporting young entrepreneurs during the initial period after they have started a business. The project is being coordinated, alongside Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences and support from the Centre for Research Management, by the Centre for Entrepreneurship & Transfer of TU Dortmund, which works closely with colleagues from Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences, the local business promotion office and the Dortmund Technology Centre. Further stakeholders, such as the regional technology centres (Tech5plus), the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Dortmund, NRW.Bank or the high-tech start-up fund, are supporting the innovation lab with their advisory and financing portfolio. In the period 2018 to 2020, the incubator programme receives funding from the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
