SpinLab Programs

HELPING STARTUPS IS OUR PASSION

This is SpinLab

We support entrepreneurial teams in growing and creating innovative businesses. Our mission is to foster entrepreneurship and innovation in the center of Germany and beyond by providing hands-on guidance to startups and spin-offs. Entrepreneurial teams remain independent – we won’t do your job for you – but we can help you to achieve incredible results through our tailored program.

Our focus areas

We welcome, and encourage, all startups that are developing concepts in the fields of eHealth, energy, and smart city to apply for our program. We will also accept technology concepts that can support companies that are already established in our areas of concentration.

The infrastructure of the City of Leipzig, paired with our official status as one of the twelve technology hubs for the Digital Hub Initiative, allows us to offer special incentives to startups that are developing concepts in these three fields.

We are looking for startups in the pre-seed or expansion phase. You are already an established startup? Learn how more mature startups benefit from the SpinLab program too.

PILOT PROJECT POTENTIAL

One of the things that really sets our startup accelerator apart from our competition, is how vast and diverse our partner network is. We specialize in mitigating successful partner + startup pilot project cooperations. Below are our key partners from our focus areas, that you could potentially land a pilot project with.

EHEALTH

AOK Plus is the health insurance provider of choice for over 3 million people in Saxony and Thuringia. As our strategic partner for health AOK Plus is heavily invested in enabling sustainable innovations in health. Together with our alumni Keleya the first digital prenatal class in Germany that is served via the app was launched.

Red Cross Saxony is the regional chapter of the International Red Cross and offer a wide array of products and services related to healthcare, social care and education to the public. With their knowledge and reach they supported our alumni DOCYET to get exposure and first users for their medical chatbot when the COVID19 Pandemic hit Germany.

The Leipzig Heart Institute (LHI) is a worldwide renowned research institute in the field of cardiovascular diseases. The joint venture between the Leipzig Heart Center and Helios Healthcare offers startups access to medical and scientific expertise. Our alumni Mindance and LHI joined forces to prove the effectiveness of their digital mindfulness training offering.

Smart City

Leipziger Gruppe operates many of Leipzig's core functions and is interested in expanding technologies in all areas of smart city. They also operate the largest tram network in Germany, using our startup alumni network, the Leipziger Gruppe is able to optimize the routing of their ticket inspectors and Stadtwerke Leipzig to their service technicians.

ENERGY

The EnviaM Group is a leading regional energy service provider in Germany. With our Startup Alumni FlyNex, 20 kilometers of power lines and power towers belonging to EnviaM are now automatically inspected by aerial drones. Check out the case study on our blog.

EEX is part of a global exchange group, customer-orientated, innovative and driven by the ambition to build liquidity in energy and commodity markets. With their specialized know-how in energy markets and cooperation with our alumni StromDao, we conducted studies on the effectiveness of the Blockchain Smart Contract technology in the energy market.

LEAG supplies energy for millions of households, industry and public life - reliable in all weather conditions, flexible and affordable. With our alumni DieEnergiekoppler, they implemented their flexibility tool to diagnose and control decentralized energy generators in order to stabilize energy supply. Read the full case study here.

Core Competencies Of Our Program

Pilot projects with established corporations are just one of the many things we can help you with. Below is an in-depth overview of the other key parts of our program

Coaching & Mentoring

We connect you with great hands-on coaches and mentors with experience in your industry and in technology in general. Our mentors are well-known experts who support you strategically during the program and help you to solve concrete technical or managerial problems.

Next to coaching and mentoring, we offer a wide range of workshops during the program. Workshops (including pitch training) are typically scheduled to occupy 5 days of each month of the program on-site. We combine this with our hybrid learning and training program to give startups not based in Leipzig greater flexibility with their commitments, and their time physically at the SpinLab to benefit from our program in-person.

Our Program At a glance

The below guidelines will give you an idea of what you can expect to accomplish each month as a startup accepted into our program. (Subject to change)

MONTH 1 - Introductions
The first month of the SpinLab is all about getting to know who you need to know to get your startup growing fast, and getting your startup's critical fundamental structures in order.

Events:

Mentoring Day & Community Party: This is an event where we invite our entire mentor, partner, and business partner community to the SpinLab to see our new startups pitch. Afterwards we throw a big party and networking event so you can get to know the entire community.

Partner Intros & Tech Deals: In month one you'll be introduced to many of our official partners that we work with that can help you scale, and/or offer substantially discounted products or services for your startup.

Essential Takeaways:
- How to stay out of legal trouble
- How to stay out of tax trouble
- How to pitch your startup
MONTH 2 - All about the story
In month two we're going to focus on building your startup's story. Emphasis will be placed on defining the company's overall strategy, and expanding your team.

Essential Takeaways:
- How do define my company's mission, vision, and strategy
- How to build your leadership and founder personality skills
- How to manage your internal processes
- How to recruit your first employees
MONTH 3 - Show me the money
In month three, we'll be focusing on how your startup can start generating revenue and secure investments.

Essential Takeaways:
- How to finance your startup
- How to get Venture Capital
- How to build a convincing financing plan
- How to acquire public grants
MONTH 4 - Showtime
The key focus of month four will be getting ready to attend our HHL SpinLab Investors Day. This is our version of a Demo Day, where you'll pitch in front of interested investors and our partner network. After the event, program focus will be primarily geared towards getting your startup ready for a successful market entry.

Events:

HHL SpinLab Investors Day: This is an exclusive, invite only, event we host for each class. The attendees will feature some of Europe's most prominent investment firms, and many high ranking representatives from companies in our partner network. This is an all day event that is focused on getting your startup into the spotlight.

Essential Takeaways:
- Communication and how to establish your marketing foundations
- Public Relations and what it means for your startup
- How to find your startup's product market fit
MONTH 5 - I believe I can fly
Following the major event in month four, month five focuses on getting your startup equipped to scale. We'll be looking at integrating key technologies needed, and also negotiation skills to help you close any deals you may have in the pipeline.

Essential Takeaways:
- Building a relevant techstack for your startup
- How to build up your startup's sales
- Furthering skills with investor negotiations
MONTH 6 - Getting ready for the real world
As the program draws to its close in the final month, we'll be focusing on getting you ready to grow in and out of Leipzig.

Essential Takeaways:
- Finding office space
- Setting up a subsidiary in Leipzig
- Preparing for internationalization

Finance & Venture Capital

Guaranteed funding upon being accepted into our program

Each team accepted into our program will get an award of 6000 Euros (without giving us equity) directly from SpinLab. This will help cover your living or traveling costs in Leipzig.

Additional equity-free money accepted by startups may qualify for

The acceleration grant can reach up to 50k euros.

Furthermore, startups in our program, who are not yet based in Leipzig, that choose to expand operations to Leipzig, or relocate here entirely, will receive an additional 4000 Euros.

Startups in our program are also eligible to compete for five different awards:

The Best Investors Day Pitch valued at 2000 Euros
The Most Sustainable Idea for Leipzig valued at 5000 Euros
Best Value for Leipzig valued at 3000 Euros
Community Award valued at 5000 Euros
Fastest User Growth valued at 5000 Euros

It is possible that a single startup can win all four awards, in such a scenario, one startup would receive an extra 20,000€ in free funding!

These awards are made possible via our cooperation with the City of Leipzig.

spinlab alumni founders from idatase celebrating new accomplishments

Co-Working Space

We offer a 750-square-meter co-working office with separate meeting rooms, a kitchen, and a huge recreation area. Additionally, for startups that finish our programs, we offer a 900-square-meter coworking facility where our alumni startups can rent working space, and get up and running immediately following the program.

Not in a dull office building as you would imagine, but in the creative environment of the famous SPINNEREI next to many inspiring people. After the program, you can get offices close to the SpinLab.

Additionally, our startups are an official part of the Digital Hub Initiative and one of the benefits is having free access for one or two days to various co-working spaces across the twelve official hubs in Germany.

a sample of what the coworking space in the spinlab looks like

What else we can offer your startup

Technology Deals

Our partners offer free access to many required technologies such as software and cloud solutions as well as many services.

Many offers can be used even after our 6-month program. The following list contains some of our most popular startup deals:

1Password offers the SpinLab community 50% off 1Password Teams for your first year plan.

Amazon Web Services offers SpinLab startups up to 100,000 USD in AWS credits.

Fischer druck & medien offers discounted print packages to our startups.

Foundersuite offers 6 months free usage to our startups.

Lecturio offers 6 months free usage to our startups.

Pipedrive CRM offers 9 months free usage to our startups.

Sage One offers a 1€ per month plan, for the first six months, to our startups.

HubSpot offers our startups up to 90% off their products for the first year of service.

and many more!
Internationalization

Some of our internationally experienced mentors provide a variety of workshops and contacts for our startups. Furthermore, we offer an exchange program with various international accelerator programs.

SpinLumni have the option to participate in partner programs in Santa Ana, CA, USA, Tel Aviv, Israel, or Valapariso, Chile for up to one month.

Financial assistance to participate may even be available in certain situations.
Recruiting Help

We advertise and collect applications from experts in IT development, business development, marketing and sales including interns and full-time positions, and because of our diverse community, we are often able to offer positions in both German and English.

Through our job portal, we actively share high-potential candidates within our network and by that we successfully linked many candidates and our startups in the past. Our career network is one of the fastest growing ones in the city of Leipzig, and most prominent.
HHL Certificate

SpinLab offers a unique six-month experience for startups. Setting itself apart from other accelerators, they focus on every single detail that could take the startup one step further. With a top-class network of partners and investors, they create valuable opportunities for its startups. From day one, the SpinLab program and the team made us feel that we are at the right place for our vision and goals at Breathment.

Elcin Yalvac

Co-Founder Breathment

SpinLab is an extremely supportive and experienced community for startups – it offers 360 degree of what you need to push your business forward from an early stage onwards. We expanded our network in many directions. And until today we get important hints and infos for our expansion. The SpinLab team is a great long-term partner for its startups!

Isabell Claus

Co-founder Thinkers.ai

As part of the SpinLab ecosystem, Actemium is redefining the boundaries of electrical, automation and IT engineering. Our partnership reflects our commitment to shaping the industry of tomorrow through pioneering technologies and creative solutions. Together, we realise projects that not only make our customers more competitive and expand their technological capabilities, but also have a positive environmental impact.

Gerald Taraba

Managing Director Actemium / VINCI Energies Deutschland

We believe in founders, and it is our goal to help you succeed

SpinLab Programs

HELPING STARTUPS IS OUR PASSION

This is SpinLab

Our focus areas

PILOT PROJECT POTENTIAL

EHEALTH

Smart City

ENERGY

Core Competencies Of Our Program

Pilot projects with established corporations are just one of the many things we can help you with. Below is an in-depth overview of the other key parts of our program

Coaching & Mentoring

Our Program At a glance

MONTH 1 - Introductions

MONTH 2 - All about the story

MONTH 3 - Show me the money

MONTH 4 - Showtime

MONTH 5 - I believe I can fly

MONTH 6 - Getting ready for the real world

Finance & Venture Capital

Co-Working Space

What else we can offer your startup

Technology Deals

Internationalization

Recruiting Help

HHL Certificate

Elcin Yalvac

Co-Founder Breathment

Isabell Claus

Co-founder Thinkers.ai

Gerald Taraba

Managing Director Actemium / VINCI Energies Deutschland

We believe in founders, and it is our goal to help you succeed

CONTACT

OUR ECOSYSTEM

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