Working for a common cause: bm|t, HTGF and auftakt. begin coöperation
With the beginning of the new year, auftakt. Ilmenau Founders’ Forum and the two investors High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH (Bonn) and bm|t (Erfurt) will begin a coöperative approach. The goal is to strengthen the entrepreneurial climate by actively supporting start-ups and holding joint educational events on topics such as funding options and other important considerations.
Every entrepreneur knows that founding a company simply does not work without good partnerships. auftakt. Ilmenau Founders’ Forum and the investment companies HTGF and bm|t know this, too. “We have been working together for a long time on an informal basis. We are glad that a clear path for future joint activities has now been outlined with our coöperation agreement,” said Dennis Brüntje, CEO of the Ilmenau Founders’ Forum Association, e.V. In the future, the partners want to support events and speakers on the subject of funding for start-ups, serve as jury members at entrepreneurial competitions, carry out joint information sessions via auftakt., establish a networking website, hold consultation days for interested high-tech founders, support team of entrepreneurial management teams, and, of course, invest in promising start-ups.
“For HTGF, it is of great relevance to work closely with the universities, the greatest potential source of high-tech entrepreneurs. auftakt. Ilmenau Founders’ Forum is an ideal partner for us,” said Romy Schnelle, Investment Director at HTGF. “As the investment company of Thuringia, we are the premier partner for capital seekers in the region. For us, the coöperation agreement is a huge win that will enable us to learn about and support start-up projects at an even earlier stage,” stated Karin Rabe, Investment Manager at bm|t.
About High-Tech Gründerfonds
High-Tech Gründerfonds invests in young, high potential high-tech start-ups. The seed financing provided is designed to enable start-ups to take an idea through prototyping to market launch. Typically, High-Tech Gründerfonds invests €500,000 in the seed stage, with the potential for up to a total of €2 million per portfolio company in follow-on financing. High-Tech Gründerfonds has about €576 million under management.
About bm|t
Erfurt-based bm|t (beteiligungsmanagement thüringen GmbH) is a subsidiary of the Thuringia Development Bank and the premier partner for investments in Thuringia. bm|t currently administers six funds with a total volume of around €250 million. bm|t invests in innovative companies from all high-yield sectors and in all stages of a company’s life cycle, from start-up to IPO or MBO.
About Auftakt.
auftakt. Ilmenau Founders’ Forum is a joint initiative of the non-profit organization Ilmenau Founders’ Forum Association, e.V. and the Department of Research Services and Technology Transfer at the Technical University of Ilmenau (TU Ilmenau). auftakt. seeks to strengthen the entrepreneurial climate at TU Ilmenau and to promote the exchange of ideas in the Ilmenau entrepreneurial scene.
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