InnoWerft
InnoWerft is a Walldorf-based early-stage investor and startup accelerator — a joint initiative of SAP SE, the City of Walldorf, and the State of Baden-Württemberg — that provides pre-seed convertible loans and acceleration programs to B2B high-tech startups.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersWalldorf, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What InnoWerft does
InnoWerft (legal entity: innoWerft Walldorf GmbH) is an early-stage investor and startup accelerator headquartered in Walldorf, Germany. It was established in 2019 as a joint initiative of SAP SE, the City of Walldorf, and the State of Baden-Württemberg (represented by FZI — Forschungszentrum Informatik / Karlsruhe Research Centre for Information Technology). The organization provides pre-seed funding, acceleration programming, and curated network access to B2B high-tech startups operating in industry tech, enterprise software, B2B platforms, and green tech. It holds accredited "Startup BW Pre-Seed Betreuungspartner" status, allowing it to co-invest alongside L-Bank's €50k-€200k startup loan facility and to issue convertible loans of up to €50,000 to portfolio companies.
The firm's product surface is organized around acceleration programs and investor services rather than proprietary software. Core programs include the Up2B Accelerator (jointly operated with next Mannheim and Technologiepark Heidelberg), the AI Accelerator (launched 2024 with CampusFounders and IPAI — Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence), Open Pitch (free pitch-feedback events with the potential for investment), and a Deal Alert investor newsletter. Program services are free of charge for participating startups. InnoWerft's revenue model is investment returns — realized and unrealized equity gains on portfolio companies — supplemented indirectly through its public-private ownership structure; revenue is not publicly disclosed. Since 2019 the firm has supported 50+ portfolio companies across verticals including healthcare AI, document/process automation, industrial quality, agri-tech, sustainable food, and mobility/logistics, drawing on a curated network of 22+ venture capital firms (including 42cap, b2venture, High-Tech Gründerfonds, Earlybird, Visionaries Club, Vsquared Ventures, and Yabeo) and 100+ potential corporate customers.
InnoWerft firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- InnoWerft
- Legal name
- innoWerft Walldorf GmbH
- Website
- https://innowerft.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- InnoWerft is a Walldorf-based early-stage investor and startup accelerator — a joint initiative of SAP SE, the City of Walldorf, and the State of Baden-Württemberg — that provides pre-seed convertible loans and acceleration programs to B2B high-tech startups.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
InnoWerft industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Accelerator and Early-Stage Venture Capital
- akta.pro primary industry
- Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B) (FSANAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
Keywords
Where InnoWerft is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Walldorf
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
InnoWerft business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Investment Returns: As an investor and co-investor, InnoWerft generates returns through equity stakes in portfolio companies. They provide convertible loans of up to €50k and participate in Startup BW Pre-Seed funding rounds (€50k-€200k). Their success is tied to portfolio company growth and exits.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time | Early-stage investment and support |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Startup BW Pre-Seed (€50k-€200k) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
InnoWerft product offering
Product offeringCore offering
InnoWerft is an early-stage investor and startup accelerator that provides convertible loans of up to €50,000 and serves as an accredited partner for the Startup BW Pre-Seed funding program (€50k-€200k loans). It operates free acceleration programs including the AI Accelerator (with IPAI and Campus Founders) and the Up2B Accelerator, and supports B2B high-tech startups with fundraising, sales, and business development through its network of 22+ venture capital firms and 100+ potential corporate customers.
Product overview
InnoWerft is an Early-Stage Investor and Startup Accelerator based in Walldorf, Germany, operating as a joint initiative of SAP SE, the City of Walldorf, and the State of Baden-Württemberg. The organization offers a multi-product portfolio consisting of acceleration programs and investment services, alongside a diverse portfolio of 24+ portfolio startups. The core service offerings include: Venture Funding (convertible loans up to €50,000), the Startup BW Pre-Seed program (accredited partner for €50,000-200,000 loans via L-Bank), the Up2B Accelerator (jointly with next Mannheim and Technologiepark Heidelberg), the AI Accelerator (in partnership with IPAI and Campus Founders), Open Pitch (free pitch feedback and investment opportunity), and Deal Alert (investor newsletter). The portfolio startups span multiple verticals including Healthcare AI (Integria.AI, Kiso Health, Onuava), Document/Process AI (myScribe, scitlab/DocCape, adric, BetterLife API), Industrial/Quality AI (FAIBRICS, Varmo, Auditect), Agriculture AI (Heliopas.ai, SenseING), Sustainability/Food Tech (AIPERIA, Lemontaps, BRC Solar, PV2+), and Mobility/Logistics (chargeIQ, QRaGo, Volcanicblue), among others. This accelerator-plus-portfolio model provides startups with funding, mentorship, and network access while the portfolio companies develop specialized B2B AI-powered solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Up2B Accelerator: Joint accelerator program with next Mannheim and Technologiepark Heidelberg offering free acceleration programs for startups
- AI Accelerator
Products and services
- Open Pitch Free pitch feedback and investment opportunity for B2B startups in industry tech, enterprise software, B2B platforms, or green tech. Startups pitch and may receive investment from InnoWerft.
- AI Start 4-week acceleration program for founding-interested or recently founded startups focusing on development and validation of AI-based business models, including mentoring on value proposition, prototype development and business models. Delivered jointly with Campus Founders and IPAI.
- AI Scale 1-2 day track-based program for AI startups focusing on growth promotion through mentoring in team culture, sales optimization and investor networking. Delivered jointly with Campus Founders and IPAI.
- Venture Funding (Convertible Loan) Early-stage investment offering convertible loans of up to €50,000 for B2B high-tech startups, with unconditional support in fundraising, sales, and other challenges.
- Startup BW Pre-Seed Program (Accredited Partner) Accredited partner service facilitating access to the Startup BW Pre-Seed funding program with loans ranging from €50,000 to €200,000 (80% from L-Bank, 20% co-investment from InnoWerft). Free application and support.
- Up2B Accelerator Joint accelerator program delivered with next Mannheim and Technologiepark Heidelberg, providing intensive acceleration programs free of charge for B2B high-tech startups.
- Deal Alert (Investor Newsletter) Investor newsletter providing exclusive insights into portfolio company developments, strategies, goals and market information for investors interested in B2B high-tech startups.
Quantifiable outcome
- Multiple portfolio startups have completed seed rounds
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use InnoWerft
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
InnoWerft technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability11 records
InnoWerft partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- City of WalldorfcoreOne of three shareholders of InnoWerft (joint initiative with SAP SE and FZI). Provides regional support and local ecosystem connections.
- FZI (Karlsruhe Research Centre for Information Technology)coreFZI represents the state of Baden-Württemberg as one of the three shareholders of InnoWerft, providing research and technology connections.
- Campus FounderscoreCo-organizer of the AI Accelerator program together with IPAI and innoWerft. Provides mentorship and coaching for AI startups through AI Start (4 weeks) and AI Scale programs.
- IPAI (Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence)coreCo-organizer of the AI Accelerator program with Campus Founders and innoWerft. Focuses on supporting AI startups through tailored programs and workshops.
- Up2B Accelerator (next Mannheim, Technologiepark Heidelberg, innoWerft)coreUp2B is a joint accelerator initiative combining next Mannheim, Technologiepark Heidelberg, and innoWerft. Provides intensive accelerator programs free of charge for startups.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
InnoWerft competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Techstars: Global accelerator network with German operations. While much larger and broader, Techstars operates in the same accelerator-plus-seed-investment category with comparable mentorship, network, and follow-on capital models.
- Startupbootcamp: Global accelerator network with European presence, offering accelerator programs for early-stage startups. Comparable in accelerator service model, though larger in scale and more vertically specialized than InnoWerft's broad B2B focus.
- SAP.iO: SAP's own internal venture and accelerator arm, directly connected to InnoWerft via shared SAP sponsorship. Comparable in B2B enterprise focus and SAP ecosystem access, though SAP.iO is structured as a global CVC rather than a regional accelerator.
Direct peers
- Campus Founders: Heilbronn-based startup accelerator co-running the AI Accelerator program with InnoWerft and IPAI. Directly comparable in accelerator model, German regional focus, and stage of portfolio companies.
- next Mannheim: Mannheim-based startup hub and co-organizer of the Up2B accelerator with InnoWerft and Technologiepark Heidelberg. Directly comparable as a regional German accelerator targeting B2B and tech startups at pre-seed stage.
- 42cap: Munich-based early-stage VC focused on B2B SaaS and tech-enabled services in the German-speaking market. Part of InnoWerft's investor network, sharing similar ticket sizes and stage focus.
- b2venture (formerly btov Partners): St. Gallen/Berlin-based early-stage VC investing in tech startups. Part of InnoWerft's VC network and shares the German-speaking market focus on B2B and deep-tech startups.
- APX (formerly Axel Springer Plug and Play): Berlin-based early-stage investor and accelerator backing digital startups at pre-seed and seed stage. Comparable in stage, ticket size, and accelerator-plus-investment model serving the German market.
- High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF): Germany's leading early-stage venture capital investor backed by public and corporate partners (federal government, KfW, major corporates). InnoWerft shares HTGF's public-private model, B2B/tech focus, and pre-seed/seed ticket sizes, and HTGF is explicitly part of InnoWerft's investor network.
- Earlybird Venture Capital: Berlin-based early-stage VC with active co-investment in InnoWerft's portfolio (e.g., joint €1.2M round into AIPERIA). Comparable as a European early-stage investor with deep B2B software and tech focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
InnoWerft social profiles
Digital presenceInnoWerft financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
InnoWerft leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
InnoWerft funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
InnoWerft M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments7 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about InnoWerft
What does InnoWerft do?
InnoWerft is an early-stage investor and startup accelerator that provides convertible loans of up to €50,000 and serves as an accredited partner for the Startup BW Pre-Seed funding program (€50k-€200k loans). It operates free acceleration programs including the AI Accelerator (with IPAI and Campus Founders) and the Up2B Accelerator, and supports B2B high-tech startups with fundraising, sales, and business development through its network of 22+ venture capital firms and 100+ potential corporate customers.
Is InnoWerft a public or private company?
InnoWerft is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was InnoWerft founded?
InnoWerft was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is InnoWerft based?
InnoWerft is headquartered in Walldorf, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does InnoWerft make money?
One revenue line is on record: investment Returns.
Who are InnoWerft's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Techstars, Startupbootcamp and SAP.iO. Direct peers are Campus Founders, next Mannheim, 42cap, b2venture (formerly btov Partners), APX (formerly Axel Springer Plug and Play), High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and Earlybird Venture Capital.
Does InnoWerft have an API?
No public API is recorded for InnoWerft.
What industry is InnoWerft in?
InnoWerft's product category is Startup Accelerator and Early-Stage Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAB, Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B), with a secondary code of FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated).