What nextMedia.Hamburg does

nextMedia.Hamburg is a public initiative operated by Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft mbH, a municipal institution of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, serving as Hamburg's central hub for the media and digital economy. Established in 2010 at the parent organization level, the initiative functions as a non-commercial convening platform rather than a product company — it has 1-10 employees and no private equity, venture capital, or public shareholders; its funding is sourced from Hamburg's city government budget. The organization's mandate spans the full 11 creative industry submarkets of the Hamburg metropolitan region, including architecture, design, film, music, press, broadcasting, software/games, theater/dance, and advertising.

The portfolio combines structured programs (Media Lift incubator for media and digital startups, Workspace Förderung subsidies, Creator Lift for emerging creators), a 630+ square-meter physical innovation hub called SPACE located at Am Sandtorkai 27 in Hamburg's Speicherstadt district, and a calendar of recurring industry events — most prominently scoopcamp (publisher conference, scheduled 9 September 2026), the AI Media Leaders Conference (scheduled 12 November 2026), and the annual two-day nextMedia.Festival targeted at the DACH region. Content offerings include the Hamburg Inside interview series, the Executive Briefing and AI Media Leaders Update newsletters, and digital learning tools such as NeueMedien.org (co-developed with Neue Narrative) and the Online Academy for the self-employed. The technology underpinning the operation is standard martech/event infrastructure — Stripe for ticket payments via the Höme platform, Brevo for newsletters, Airtable for registration data, Matomo for analytics, and DocuSign for qualified electronic signatures — with no proprietary AI or platform IP disclosed.

Commercially, nextMedia.Hamburg operates a mixed revenue model: the vast majority of activity is government-funded and free to attendees (community events, open desk access, free meet-ups), while revenue-generating lines include premium event ticketing (scoopcamp, AIM Leaders Conference), three-tier multi-year SPACE partnership subscriptions (Compact, Classical, Premium), and a flexible Flex Space participation option for smaller companies and startups. Distribution is overwhelmingly domestic and Hamburg-centric, delivered via the physical SPACE, the Höme ticketing platform, the Online Academy and NeueMedien.org self-serve channels, and an embedded ecosystem of 30+ partner organizations spanning major German media companies (NDR, RTL, Der Spiegel, Bauer Media Group, Die Zeit), global platforms (TikTok, Pinterest, Google, Snap, Trustpilot), leading agencies (Jung von Matt, Scholz&Friends, OMR), and AI research hub ARIC.

Name

nextMedia.Hamburg

Legal name

Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft mbH

Website

https://nextmedia-hamburg.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

nextMedia.Hamburg is a publicly funded initiative of Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft mbH that serves as the central hub for Hamburg's media and digital economy, running startup incubators (Media Lift, Creator Lift), workspace funding, signature events (scoopcamp, AIM Leaders, nextMedia.Festival), and a 630+ sqm SPACE innovation hub for the region's creators and media companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media and Digital Economy Innovation Programs

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Media industry programs
• Digital startup incubation
• Innovation workspace services
• Industry conferences and events
• Creator economy support

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Funding and Grants: As a public initiative of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg under the Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft, nextMedia.Hamburg receives government funding to support the local creative and media economy. The organization offers programs and events that are partly financially supported.
2. Event Revenue: Fee-based events including workshops, conferences, and networking events. The organization hosts paid events through the Höme ticket platform, with ticket sales for premium formats like scoopcamp publisher conference and AI Media Leaders Conference.
3. SPACE Partnership Packages: Long-term partnership packages for Hamburg-based media and digital companies to use SPACE facilities. Packages include Compact, Classical, and Premium tiers offering Flexdesk workstations, workshop spaces, and event hosting capabilities. Also includes Flex Space participation for smaller companies and startups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

nextMedia.Hamburg is a public initiative of the Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft mbH that runs incubation and funding programs for media startups (Media Lift), supports creators (Creator Lift), funds workspace development (Workspace Förderung), operates a 630+ sqm physical innovation hub called SPACE for Hamburg-based media companies, and hosts signature industry events including scoopcamp, nextMedia.Festival and AIM Leaders. Revenue comes from SPACE partnership subscriptions, paid event tickets via Höme, and Hamburg public-sector grants.

Product overview

nextMedia.Hamburg is Hamburg's central hub for the media and digital economy, operating as an initiative of the Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft. The organization offers a portfolio of programs, events, and services including: incubation support through Media Lift (with AI-focused start-ups), Creator Lift for emerging creators, and Workspace Förderung for subsidies; physical innovation space via SPACE with over 630 sqm of collaborative areas; signature events including scoopcamp (publisher conference), nextMedia.Festival (annual two-day industry gathering), and AIM Leaders (AI-focused conferences and meet-ups); content platforms such as Hamburg Inside interview series; newsletter products (Executive Briefing, AI Media Leaders Update); and educational tools including NeueMedien.org self-learning platform and the Online Academy for the self-employed. These offerings are designed to support the entire lifecycle from aspiring creators to established media organizations in Hamburg's creative economy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Media Lift: Incubator program for media and tech startups - Batch 8 announced for 2026 supporting startups in areas like AI autobiographies, dementia assistance, and hate speech protection.
• Creator Lift
• Workspace Förderung
• scoopcamp
• nextMedia Festival
• AIM Leaders
• SPACE
• NeueMedien.org
• Online Academy für Selbstständige

Products and services

• Media Lift Incubation and funding program for media and digital start-ups in Hamburg. Provides financial support and mentorship to selected teams working on media innovations including AI-based solutions for content creation, accessibility and social media challenges.
• Workspace Förderung Funding program providing workspace subsidies for Hamburg-based media and digital companies to support operational development and growth.
• Creator Lift Support program for emerging creators in the media and digital economy, providing resources and opportunities for professional development.
• SPACE Innovation hub, creative space and exchange venue for Hamburg's media and digital industry with over 630 square meters of Flexdesks, workshop rooms (Present SPACE for 60 people, Play SPACE for up to 12 people) and collaboration areas, operated as a partnership model for Hamburg-based media and digital companies.
• scoopcamp Annual publisher conference for media professionals featuring industry discussions, networking and knowledge exchange on content and technology topics.
• nextMedia.Festival Annual two-day festival bringing together media and digital industry experts from the DACH region, featuring AI topics, platform strategies, creator marketing, subscription models and product development discussions in Hamburg's Speicherstadt.
• AIM Leaders (AI Media Leaders) Conference and meet-up series for AI decision-makers from the media and digital industry focusing on strategies for AI adoption, digital sovereignty and the Hamburg AI ecosystem.
• Hamburg Inside Interview series in the nextMedia.Hamburg magazine profiling influential figures from Hamburg's media, marketing, publishing, audio, creator economy, gaming and journalism sectors.
• Executive Briefing Newsletter Monthly compact update delivered via email on the most important developments in Hamburg's media and digital industry.
• AI Media Leaders Update Newsletter Regular updates on AI formats, the AI Media Leaders Conference and Hamburg's AI ecosystem.
• NeueMedien.org Self-learning toolkit for media founders and organizations co-developed with Neue Narrative, providing learning paths, templates in Notion, video tutorials and networking features for professionalizing media ventures across topics including basics, organizational development, product, content and marketing.
• Online Academy für Selbstständige Online learning platform offering self-paced courses for freelancers and newly founded media businesses, covering essential knowledge for self-employment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Media Lift 2026 supports 5 startups with innovations in AI autobiographies, dementia aids, and hate speech protection

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Artificial Intelligence Center Hamburg (ARIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAI research and industry hub partnership supporting AI-focused events and initiatives including AI Media Leaders Conference and meetups. ARIC is a key partner in Hamburg's AI ecosystem.
• Bauer Media GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor media company partnership supporting SPACE and various nextMedia initiatives. Bauer Media Group participates in content and tech events.
• Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic broadcaster partnership supporting media industry events and initiatives at SPACE. NDR collaborates on content and technology events.
• RTLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor broadcasting company partnership for media industry collaboration and event participation at SPACE.
• Der SpiegelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading news magazine partnership supporting media industry events and initiatives.
• Die Zeit VerlagsgruppecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor publishing group partnership for media industry collaboration and events.
• Jung von MattcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading advertising agency partnership supporting creative industry events and initiatives at SPACE.
• Scholz&FriendscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgency partnership supporting creative industry collaboration and events.
• OMRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOMR (Online Marketing Rockstars) partnership for digital marketing and media industry events.
• StröercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia company partnership supporting advertising and digital industry initiatives.
• TikTokcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform partnership supporting creator economy and social media industry events.
• PinterestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform partnership for visual discovery and social media industry collaboration.
• GooglecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology partnership supporting digital industry events and initiatives at SPACE.
• Carlsen VerlagcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublishing house partnership supporting book publishing and media industry events.
• BelievecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic company partnership supporting audio and music industry initiatives.
• brand einscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness magazine partnership supporting media industry events and editorial content.
• PilotcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia agency partnership supporting advertising and media industry initiatives.
• NOZ MediencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional media group partnership supporting publishing and media industry events.
• Rocketbeans TelevisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnline TV platform partnership supporting entertainment and digital media initiatives.
• Redaktions Netzwerk Deutschland (RND)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEditorial network partnership supporting journalism and media industry collaboration.
• Deutsche Presse Agentur (dpa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNews agency partnership supporting journalism and media industry events.
• Hamburger MorgenpostcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal newspaper partnership supporting Hamburg media industry initiatives.
• Fischer AppeltcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunications agency partnership supporting creative industry events.
• Hörbuch HamburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAudiobook publisher partnership supporting audio and publishing industry initiatives.
• Murmann PublisherscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublishing house partnership supporting media industry events and publishing initiatives.
• neue deutsche FilmgesellschaftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm production company partnership supporting film and media industry initiatives.
• TrustpilotcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform partnership supporting digital industry and e-commerce initiatives.
• We Create GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative agency partnership supporting content creation and digital industry events.
• Next Reality HamburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerXR/AR/VR industry association partnership supporting immersive technology events and initiatives.
• ZellerfeldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFootwear company partnership supporting innovation and technology initiatives.
• Photon EnginecoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner for digital and interactive media solutions.
• Snap Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial media platform partnership supporting creator economy and AR initiatives at SPACE.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DMEXCO: Established Cologne-based digital marketing and tech event organizer (Koelnmesse/OMR JV). Operates one of Europe's largest digital media conferences with broader scale, deeper sponsor pipeline, and multi-year brand.
• Slush: Helsinki-founded global startup and tech event organizer with annual flagship conference, satellite events, and accelerator-style programming. Comparable community-led conference-plus-hub model for startup ecosystems.

Direct peers

• OMR (Online Marketing Rockstars): Hamburg-based organizer of large-scale digital media and marketing events (OMR Festival, Masterclasses), publishing content, and producing education programs. Direct peer in the Hamburg media events ecosystem and listed partner of nextMedia.Hamburg.
• Design Zentrum Hamburg: Sister initiative of Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft supporting Hamburg's design economy. Comparable structure: municipal institution running exhibitions, programs, networking events, and industry support services for creative professionals.
• Gamecity Hamburg: Sister initiative of Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft focused on the games industry. Operates funding programs, networking events, and the Games Lift incubator with an analogous model of public-funded industry support and accelerator programs.
• re:publica: Berlin-based annual conference for digital society, internet culture, and media innovation with festival-style programming and professional networking. Comparable mission around digital media professionals and content/tech intersection, and a higher-profile analog in the DACH market.
• ARIC (Artificial Intelligence Center Hamburg): Hamburg-based AI ecosystem hub supporting AI-focused events, meetups, and partnerships in the metropolitan region. Listed strategic partner of nextMedia.Hamburg and overlaps around AI Media Leaders Conference programming.

Emerging players

• Factory Berlin: Berlin-based innovation campus combining coworking, event spaces, accelerator programming, and corporate partnership for tech and creative startups. Comparable model of physical hub plus programmatic community engagement.
• Mindspace: European flexible-workspace provider with locations including Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg. Operates coworking/event space and community programming similar to SPACE though as a commercial operator across multiple cities.

Regional players

• BETAHUS Hamburg: Hamburg coworking and event space operator with community programming for startups and creatives. Comparable physical SPACE offering and community events for Hamburg's digital/creative economy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NextMediaHH
• Facebookfacebook.com/nextmediahamburg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nextmedia.hamburg

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments3 records

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

Frequently asked questions about nextMedia.Hamburg