experimenta

What experimenta does

experimenta gGmbH is a Heilbronn-based non-profit science center operating Germany's largest dedicated facility of its kind, spanning 25,000 square meters including the main exhibition building (e1), the Science Dome (a world-unique combination of planetarium and theater with fulldome projection, 3D sound, and laser technology), an All-Sky observatory housing one of only three such fiberglass domes globally, the KI-Pavillon (AI Pavilion, designed by Sauerbruch Hutton), the Hagenbucher Speicher hosting the Forum, and ten named laboratory facilities. The platform delivers 275+ interactive stations across four themed worlds (StoffWechsel, KopfSachen, WeltBlick, ForscherLand), over 70 lab courses aligned with the Baden-Württemberg curriculum, the Experimentaltheater for ages 3–10, a Maker Space for ages 14+, the Mobile MS experimenta touring ship, and the Digitaler Rucksack (Digital Backpack) wristband system. The technology stack combines physical exhibit infrastructure (dome projection, laser, 3D audio, telescopes), visitor-facing generative AI and computer-vision applications inside the AI exhibitions, and a post-visit digital layer via the wristband's connected visitor account.

The business operates on a hybrid direct-to-consumer revenue model: one-time admission tickets to exhibitions and Science Dome shows, fee-based lab courses and workshops for schools/kindergartens/families, subscription-style pedagogical memberships for educators, group booking revenue, and licensing of traveling exhibitions (e.g., Natur.Schau.Spiele.). Customer segments span schools and kindergartens, general public/families, teenagers engaged in MINT programs, and educators — the entity is officially recognized by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Education as an extracurricular learning and research center. The organization is primarily funded and sustainably backed by the Dieter Schwarz Stiftung, complemented by corporate premium partners and co-development relationships with University of Ulm (Talentsuche talent search), IPAI (Heilbronn AI Innovation Park), natec (Jugend forscht state competition), Theater Heilbronn, Norrköping Visualization Center C (WISDOME dome productions), and exhibition-lending partners including the American Museum of Natural History, Heureka (Finland), and Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie Paris. Marketing spans an own website, social channels (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube), email newsletter, the 'Fragwürdig' podcast, PR, and on-site events. Active programs include special exhibitions, the Robert Mayer Lecture, SkyNight astronomy events, experiCamp vacations, and the experiClub for teens.

Name

experimenta

Legal name

experimenta gGmbH

Website

https://experimenta.science

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

experimenta is Germany's largest non-profit science center in Heilbronn, operating a 25,000 m² facility with 275+ interactive exhibits, a world-unique Science Dome, an observatory, and an AI Pavilion. It serves families, schools, kindergartens, and educators via tickets, lab courses, memberships, and mobile ship tours.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Center / Educational Experiences

NAICS

Museums (71211), Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA), Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC), Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI)

Keywords

• Science center experiences
• Interactive science exhibits
• STEM education programs
• Planetarium theater shows
• Hands-on laboratory courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Heilbronn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: Entry tickets to the science center granting access to exhibitions, interactive stations, and basic programming. Ticket prices vary by visitor category.
2. Lab Courses and Workshops: Additional fee-based laboratory courses, workshops, and specialized educational programs for schools, kindergartens, and families covering physics, chemistry, biology, technology, and cooking.
3. Science Dome Shows: Separate ticket tier for 3D films, planetarium shows, experimental live shows, and evening music programs in the Science Dome.
4. Membership Programs: Pedagogical memberships for educators providing ongoing access and benefits for repeat educational visits.
5. Exhibition Lending: Rental of traveling exhibitions such as 'Natur.Schau.Spiele.' to other institutions for licensing fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

experimenta operates Germany's largest science center in Heilbronn, delivering hands-on science education and entertainment through interactive exhibitions, a Science Dome (planetarium-theater), an observatory, an AI Pavilion, lab courses, a Maker Space, and educational programs for schools and families. Visitors access the experience through paid admission tickets, separate Science Dome show tickets, group bookings, and pedagogical memberships.

Product overview

experimenta is Germany’s largest Science Center, offering a unified platform of interconnected educational experiences across physical locations. The core offerings include the permanent Exhibition with over 275 interactive stations across four themed worlds (StoffWechsel, KopfSachen, WeltBlick, ForscherLand), the Science Dome (planetarium-theater hybrid with 3D films and live shows), the Observatory (All-Sky dome with advanced telescopes), the Experimental Theater for young children, and the KI-Pavillon (AI-focused interactive exhibition). Supporting these are the Maker Space (creative workshops), over 70 Laborkurse across multiple scientific disciplines, and the Touren system for guided discovery. The Digitaler Rucksack provides a digital layer connecting physical experiences via ticket wristbands. The MS experimenta extends reach through mobile ship tours across Germany. Special exhibitions rotate periodically, currently featuring KI, was geht? (AI education through September 2026). The facility spans 25,000 square meters in Heilbronn and serves visitors from ages 3 to 103.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Science Center: The main science center featuring exhibitions across four themed worlds: StoffWechsel, KopfSachen, WeltBlick, and ForscherLand
• Science Dome
• Sternwarte (Observatory)
• Experimentaltheater
• KI-Pavillon
• MS experimenta
• Jugendforschungszentrum
• Maker Space
• Robert Mayer Lecture
• experiCamp
• experiClub Teens
• Fragwürdig – der Podcast mit Antworten
• Sonderausstellungen

Products and services

• Ausstellung (Permanent Exhibition) Main permanent exhibition with 275+ interactive stations across four themed worlds covering materials, senses/cognition, science/technology, and a children's adventure area. Designed for visitors of all ages from 3 to 103.
• Science Dome World-unique combination of planetarium and theater featuring a giant dome screen with fulldome projection, modern laser technology, and 3D sound system. Offers 3D films, experimental live shows, and immersive dome experiences including music shows and DomeVision evening programs.
• Sternwarte (Observatory) Astronomical observation facility featuring a 6.5-meter diameter fiberglass All-Sky dome (one of only three worldwide) that opens to reveal the entire sky. Equipped with lens telescope, mirror telescope, custom solar telescope, and rooftop terrace telescopes for observing sunspots, solar flares, and space weather.
• KI-Pavillon (AI Pavilion) Permanent interactive exhibition dedicated to artificial intelligence. Features hands-on workstations for AI art generation, drawing recognition testing, AI poetry/lyric creation, sound art installation, and the award-winning AI light installation 'Echo'. Designed by Sauerbruch Hutton in sustainable wood construction.
• Laborkurse (Laboratory Courses) More than 70 fee-based laboratory courses covering physics, chemistry, biology, technology, and computer science, including dedicated labs: Robert-Mayer-Labor (physics), Wilhelm-Maybach-Labor (technology), Marie Curie-Labor, Louis Brügge­mann-Labor (chemistry), Elisabeth-Kalko-Labor (biology), Konrad-Zuse-Labor (computer science), Experimentierküche (cooking), and Archimedes-Labor (ages 3-6).
• Maker Space Creative workshop space for people aged 14+ featuring five workshops for programming, plotting, soldering, sawing, sewing, and filming. Equipped with machines and materials for hands-on creative and STEM projects.
• Experimentaltheater Science theater for children aged 3-10 combining science phenomena with theatrical performance. Located on the fifth floor, offers live performances including Armstrong, Edison, ExperimentAH!, König Schall, Lumina, and Pinsels Nacht.
• MS experimenta (Mobile Science Ship)

Quantifiable outcome

• 275+ interactive hands-on stations across permanent exhibition
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Premium PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsors providing premium partnership support for the science center with logo placement and marketing benefits.
• TransferZentrum für Neurowissenschaft und Lernen, Universität UlmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partner for the Talentsuche (talent search) program. 24 talent stations across three exhibition levels help visitors discover strengths and relate them to career paths.
• Norrköping Visualization Center C (WISDOME Project)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on WISDOME project for Science Dome productions including 'Die Chemie des Lebens' and 'VAST - Eine kosmische Reise durch Raum und Zeit'.
• Theater HeilbronnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 'Wo die Götter kauern wie Hunde' - winner of Science & Theatre competition premiered in Science Dome, directed by Janis Knorr.
• Innovationspark Künstliche Intelligenz (IPAI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAI Pavilion exhibition dedicated to Heilbronn's IPAI innovation park. Experiementa serves as visitor center (IPAI Living Room) and features IPAI ecosystem in media installation.
• Landesverband für naturwissenschaftlich-technische Jugendbildung Baden-Württemberg (natec)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-patinstitution with experimenta for the state competition 'Jugend forscht' in Baden-Württemberg, supporting young science talents.
• Sauerbruch Hutton ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural firm that designed both the main experimenta building and the AI Pavilion, creating a cohesive architectural identity for the science center.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Phaeno: Phaeno is a hands-on science center in Wolfsburg, Germany, with similar scale, visitor model, and STEM-education positioning. It is the closest direct domestic competitor to experimenta in Germany.
• Deutsches Museum: Deutsches Museum in Munich is Germany's largest science and technology museum, with deep collections, laboratories, and educational programming. It is the most established direct comparator in the German market.
• NEMO Science Museum: NEMO in Amsterdam is a flagship European hands-on science center with a similar interactive exhibit model, rooftop terrace, and school/family visitor mix. Closely aligned in mission and operating model.
• Swiss Science Center Technorama: Technorama in Winterthur is a major Swiss hands-on science center with hundreds of interactive experiments. Strong comparable in scale, interactivity, and school programming in the DACH region.
• Heureka: Heureka is the Finnish Science Centre in Helsinki, focused on hands-on science for families and schools. It is an existing exhibition-lending partner of experimenta, indicating direct content and audience overlap.

Broad incumbents

• Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie: Cité des Sciences in Paris is Europe's largest science museum and an exhibition-lending partner of experimenta. Comparable scope (planetarium, exhibitions, labs, kids' areas) but at significantly larger scale.
• Exploratorium: The Exploratorium in San Francisco is a globally recognized hands-on science museum with a similar interactive, inquiry-based model and strong educator/teacher programs. Operates at broader scale with international reputational reach.
• Museum of Science, Boston: The Museum of Science in Boston is one of the largest US science museums with permanent exhibits, dome theater, and extensive school programming. Comparable in mission and multi-revenue-stream operating model.

Regional players

• Science Centre Singapore: Science Centre Singapore operates a large interactive science center with strong school programs and special exhibitions in the Asian market. Comparable operating model but in a different geography.
• Ontario Science Centre: The Ontario Science Centre in Toronto is a major Canadian interactive science museum with school and family programming. Comparable operating model but serves a North American audience distinct from experimenta's DACH focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/experimentaheilbronn
• Facebookfacebook.com/experimenta.science
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/experimenta-ggmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/experimenta.science
• TikToktiktok.com/@experimenta.science
• Xx.com/experimentadsc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about experimenta