Munich Startup: Please introduce yourselves briefly.
Belinda Büchner, start-up consultant at TUM: Embedded in the Department of Entrepreneurship at the Technical University of Munich The TUM Startup Consulting team advises prospective entrepreneurs from the initial idea generation stage to the spin-off phase. The focus is on advising startup teams on market opportunities and customer needs, business models, business plan development, technical and economic feasibility, and the development of an interdisciplinary startup team.
In addition, the team of ten startup consultants supports publicly funded startups in acquiring public funding, as well as project monitoring and controlling during the funding phase. The startup consulting service is the central and permanent contact point for the teams. Depending on their needs and the startup phase, the consultants then provide suitable offers within the TUM ecosystem, primarily in the Startup Center UnternehmerTUM and in the TUM Venture Labs. The expanded team also offers TUM-wide networking events, facilities, and awareness-raising and internationalization programs.
Valuable connections for the future
Munich Startup: What do you focus on when working with startups?
Belinda Büchner: Our consulting approach is strongly needs-oriented and adapts flexibly to the individual challenges of the founding teams. In regular one-on-one meetings, we work with the founders to define concrete next steps to ensure continuous progress. A "team-pull approach" gives startups the freedom to decide for themselves when they need a new consulting unit. This flexibility and close communication create a foundation of trust and enable us to provide each startup with fast, targeted, and individualized support. We place great emphasis on integrating founders into our network. This facilitates access to experienced mentors, specialized experts, and other founders. We also encourage exchange within the community so that founders can learn from each other and build valuable connections for the future.
Munich Startup: To be successful, a startup must…
Belinda Büchner: … solve a real problem and understand the needs of their customer or user group, be able to classify feedback and respond to it accordingly, have passion for the cause, team spirit and perseverance.
Thanks to start-up advice: Effective “Entrepreneurial Journey”
Munich Startup: Why does a good startup need a good ecosystem behind it?
Belinda Büchner: A strong ecosystem not only provides access to knowledge and resources but also creates valuable networking opportunities. Founding teams can progress faster and benefit from simplified access to talent, capital, and collaborations, including with research institutions. The network also facilitates connections to industry partners and subject matter experts. Together with UnternehmerTUM and the topic-specific TUM Venture Labs, we design an effective "entrepreneurial journey" that supports teams in all phases of their development. Through access to modern infrastructure, regularly offered training formats, and networking events, we ensure comprehensive support.
Munich Startup: What is the biggest mistake a startup can make?
Belinda Büchner: Especially in the highly technical environment we operate in, a common mistake is for founding teams to start product development without having validated the market and fully understood customer needs. It's important to attract pilot customers who are willing to work with a founding team at an early stage. These customers test the unfinished product on-site. This prevents startups from falling into the trap of building the perfect product that, unfortunately, no one wants.
“Sustainability and GreenTech will dominate in 2024!”
Munich Startup: The trend of the year is…?
Belinda Büchner: Sustainability and GreenTech will dominate in 2024! Whether renewable energies, the circular economy, or smart city solutions – the focus on environmental friendliness and sustainability in all possible domains is increasingly present and has the potential to sustainably change many areas of the startup scene.
Munich Startup: What characteristics make the Munich startup scene so special?
Belinda Büchner: Munich is fertile ground for new companies. Comprehensive support and targeted funding enable many founding teams to establish themselves and grow here. The Munich startup scene offers a variety of programs and support structures for founding teams in various development phases, all of which intertwine to specifically promote the establishment of new companies.
Proximity to global corporations and medium-sized businesses, international investors, leading universities, and a strong focus on deep tech make Munich an ideal location for technology-driven companies. Furthermore, there is a dynamic innovation climate here that promotes exchange and collaboration between diverse stakeholders. Experienced founders actively engage in the ecosystem, sharing their knowledge and experience to pave the way for the next generation of founders.
Munich Startup: Last but not least: Who do startups approach when they want to talk to you?
Belinda Büchner: We have a Initial consultation form on our website, which prospective founders can fill out. The prerequisite is that at least one team member has a connection to TUM (at least one team member is a student, scientist, alumni, or TUM employee), the project is either technology-based or impact-oriented, and has not yet been spun off.
