Boost for the Startup Scene in the Rhine-Main Region: Four Universities and Futury Launch the Future Factory
• The Future Factory has set itself the ambitious goal of establishing 1,000 new startups by 2030.
• Structured startup programs provide founders with direct access to funding, industry, and coaching from top experts.
• Participation in the “Startup Factories” flagship competition by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) opens up additional funding opportunities and strengthens national competitiveness.
Frankfurt, March 24, 2025 – The Rhine-Main startup ecosystem is gaining momentum: Four leading universities – Goethe University Frankfurt, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Technical University of Darmstadt, and Frankfurt School of Finance & Management – together with Futury, are launching the Future Factory, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at fostering academic entrepreneurship in the region. This initiative strengthens the link between academic research, education, and entrepreneurial practice, ensuring that promising innovations are successfully translated into market-ready business ventures.
At the heart of Futury – The Future Factory is a strong commitment to entrepreneurship. By promoting an entrepreneurial mindset at universities, the initiative aims to support students and researchers on their journey to becoming entrepreneurs, transforming innovative business models into viable companies. With structured programs covering every stage – from company formation and product development to market entry and financing – Futury provides startups with access to leading industry networks, capital, and expert coaching.
Universities as Drivers of Innovation
As part of this commitment, Frankfurt School, previously the sole owner of Futury GmbH, has transferred 45% of its shares to the three Rhine-Main Universities (RMU). Goethe University Frankfurt, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, and TU Darmstadt now each hold a 15% stake in Futury, solidifying their dedication to bridging academia and business, and bringing startup initiatives further into focus.
By joining forces with Futury, these institutions are expanding their support for research-driven startups and reinforcing the Rhine-Main region as Germany’s leading startup and innovation hub. With a shared vision of 1,000 new startups by 2030, they are laying the foundation for long-term success.
Fast-Tracking Startups from Idea to Market
Futury supports young talent and startups in transforming their ideas into market-ready solutions. A key focus is on university-based and science-driven ideas and their transition into successful spin-offs. Through structured programs – from training and knowledge transfer to pilot projects – industry expertise and expert coaching are integrated into startup ideas from day one.
“Our goal is to develop startups faster, more efficiently, and more sustainably. By creating a structured and industry-connected startup program, we are fostering a new generation of entrepreneurs,” says Charlie Müller, Futury Managing Director and Co-Founder.
A key pillar of Future Factory’s success is its strong network. More than 100 leading industry partners – including Bain & Company, Deutsche Bank, and Procter & Gamble – have collaborated with Futury since its founding in 2015, supporting entrepreneurs in developing and implementing their business ideas. These partners offer expertise and also provide direct access to markets, industry expertise, and strategic mentorship – critical factors in building scalable, sustainable business models. With an extensive industry network spanning multiple sectors, the Future Factory ensures innovation thrives across diverse fields.
The Development of Futury – Based on a Proven Track Record of Success
Futury has already demonstrated the impact of structured startup support. Since 2015, it has helped 120 startups successfully bring their ideas to market, demonstrating the potential of targeted founder support.
Some of the successful startups include Formo, a FoodTech startup revolutionizing the food industry with precision fermentation to create animal-free dairy products; Recyda, a company developing digital tools to assess packaging recyclability, supporting businesses in transitioning to more sustainable materials; and Circolution, a digital reusable system for the grocery retail sector, which successfully entered the market with Futury’s support.
Futury Capital has raised €80 million in investment capital since 2018, backing startups such as Energy Robotics, which specializes in autonomous inspection solutions using robotics; Wingcopter, a pioneer in drone-based medical supply delivery; and Magnotherm, a heat storage startup spun out of TU Darmstadt. These startups serve as examples to the innovative power that can be unlocked through targeted support and reliable partnerships.
“These success stories prove that strong collaboration between academia, industry, and the startup ecosystem leads to the development of sustainable, high-impact businesses,” says Futury Managing Director Melissa Ott. “With the combined expertise of our university partners and Futury, we are now scaling this innovation ecosystem to significantly increase the number of technology-driven spin-offs.”
National Recognition: Future Factory Competes in BMWK’s “Startup Factories” Competition
To further increase national visibility and secure additional funding, Futury and its partner universities are competing in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)’s “Startup Factories” competition.
This high-profile competition supports innovation hubs across Germany, offering funding opportunities and national exposure. The combined expertise and resources of the partners make the Future Factory a strong contender with a compelling concept and long-term impact for the entire region. The final application submission is set for April 30, 2025.
Statements from the universities’ presidents
Prof. Dr. Tanja Brühl, President TU Darmstadt:
“As a technical university, supporting spin-offs is part of our DNA. With our HIGHEST innovation and startup center, we have developed best-in-class startup management strategies, such as our ‘IP for Shares’ model. Through our involvement in Futury GmbH, we become part of an even larger, high-performance innovation ecosystem. We look forward to further strengthening the bridge between top-level research and innovation. Our shared goal: 1,000 new startups by 2030, making the Rhine-Main region Germany’s leading startup and innovation hub.”
Prof. Dr. Georg Krausch, President Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz:
“Innovative startups don’t emerge in isolation – they need a strong network of academia, industry, and society. That’s exactly where the Future Factory comes in: it unites universities, companies, and founders on one platform to bring future technologies to market faster.”
Prof. Dr. Enrico Schleiff, President Goethe University Frankfurt:
“As a university founded by society for society, Goethe University sees transforming research into real-world solutions as part of its DNA. Together with our RMU partners, we are bridging science and business. The Rhine-Main region, with its high density of research institutions and innovative companies, has the potential to become a leading innovation hub in Europe. With the Future Factory’s fast-track processes, structured financing, and extensive industry partnerships, we are opening direct access to markets for new startups.”
Prof. Dr. Nils Stieglitz, President of Frankfurt School of Finance & Management:
“To remain competitive, the region needs a new entrepreneurial spirit. Successful startups require scientific expertise, research, and technology – but most of all, young talent who want to make a difference, who are willing to take risks, and who understand how startups work. Futury will inspire, support, and empower the next generation of founders.”
About Futury – The Future Factory
Futury is an innovation platform that connects companies and startups to tackle transformative challenges and promote sustainable innovation. Futury supports talents and startups throughout their entire lifecycle: from idea development to scaling. Futury’s unique ecosystem rapidly translates business ideas and research findings into practice. Futury is backed by the Rhine-Main Universities (Goethe University Frankfurt, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, TU Darmstadt) and Frankfurt School of Finance & Management. Transfer centers such as HIGHEST, Unibator, Startup Center Mainz, and Frankfurt School’s Entrepreneurship Centre are fully integrated to efficiently support startups.
By combining academic expertise, industrial partnerships, and investor networks, Futury fast-tracks innovation and enables rapid access to knowledge, capital, and pilot projects. As a gravitational center for innovation, Futury connects science, business, and entrepreneurs, creating solutions for a competitive future.
Wissenschaftlicher Ansprechpartner:
Press Contact
Fink & Fuchs AG
Friederike Kalweit
Tel.: +49 (0)611 74131 35
Mail: futury@finkfuchs.de
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