Innovation Bridge Europe

What Innovation Bridge Europe does

Innovation Bridge Europe (legal entity ginNova GmbH, Berlin) is a collaborative nonprofit network founded in 2020 that curates international connections between startups, investors, founders, government trade bodies and creative-industry professionals. Its core offering is a digital platform combined with on-the-ground facilitation: delegates and organizations are profiled pre-event, super connectors and regional partners run matchmaking, and curated engagements are executed at flagship venues such as SXSW Austin (80+ co-curated events from 25+ countries in 2024), the Upstream Festival in Rotterdam (20,000+ attendees) and other major conferences including TNW, Smart City Expo and Web Summit.

The underlying technology is a lightweight curation and profile platform rather than a software product. It captures registrant data (name, company, organization type, job title), user profile information and form-based responses, then applies the outputs through human super connectors in seven named geographies. There is no public API, SDK or documented AI/ML layer, and analytics is handled via third-party tooling such as Google Analytics. Operational scale is small (11–50 employees) and the legal structure rests on ginNova GmbH with parent oversight from german.innovation.

The business model is nonprofit and partner-supported rather than transactional: revenue is described as professional services and organizational support flowing from founding organizations (german.innovation, ginNova GmbH) and ecosystem sponsors such as Microsoft, with no publicly disclosed pricing. Customer concentration is unmeasurable from public data because named logos (Barcelona Tech City, BTG/TGG, DIT UK, NZ Tech, New Dutch Wave, HUP, Mangrove, Microsoft) function as partners, delegates or sponsors rather than paying customers, and the company has never raised external funding.

Name

Innovation Bridge Europe

Legal name

Innovation Bridge Europe // ginNova GmbH

Website

https://innovationbridge.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Innovation Bridge Europe is a Berlin-based nonprofit network that curates international connections between startups, founders, investors and government trade bodies through a digital matchmaking platform and on-site facilitation at major innovation events such as SXSW and Upstream.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Innovation Networking

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

akta.pro primary industry

Technology & Innovation Expos Organizers (THAHABAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

General & Multi-Industry Trade Show Organizers (THAHABAA)

Keywords

• Innovation networking platform
• Curated matchmaking services
• International trade facilitation
• Startup ecosystem events
• Trade mission curation

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Organizational Support and Membership: Innovation Bridge Europe is a collaborative nonprofit network supported by founding organizations including german.innovation and ginNova GmbH. The organization facilitates connections and collaborations without direct revenue generation, operating through partner support and mission facilitation.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Innovation Bridge Europe curates and facilitates international business connections between innovators, founders, entrepreneurs, creatives, and policymakers through a digital curation platform combined with in-person event facilitation at major global innovation conferences. The organization pre-vets delegates and organizations before events and trade missions, uses a network of regional hubs and super connectors to drive matchmaking, and operates signature programs at SXSW (Austin) and the Upstream Festival (Rotterdam). It is structured as a collaborative nonprofit network administered via ginNova GmbH.

Product overview

Innovation Bridge Europe is a curated collaboration platform that operates as a network of international hubs and entrepreneurs working together to facilitate connections and create lasting new relationships. The core offering consists of a digital platform for participant curation and matchmaking, combined with in-person event facilitation through major partnerships like SXSW and the Upstream Festival. The platform is supported by a global network of regional partners (including Barcelona Tech City, BTG/TGG, DIT UK, German Innovation Network, HUP, Mangrove, New Dutch Wave, and NZ Tech) and a Super Connector program featuring key ecosystem leaders. The company does not offer a standalone software product but rather curates participation in events and trade missions to enable international business connections.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Digital Collaboration Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• Connecting 20,000+ change makers annually at the Upstream festival
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MicrosoftcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMicrosoft supports Innovation Bridge Europe at SXSW, with the Microsoft Team meeting attendees during the festival. This partnership provides visibility and support for Microsoft's involvement in European innovation ecosystems.
• german.innovationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partnergerman.innovation co-founded and administers Innovation Bridge Europe. ginNova GmbH is the administrative entity. German.innovation is an open, collaborative network initiated to enable, strengthen and connect artists, founders, established companies, researchers and policymakers.
• Barcelona Tech CitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner with mission to position Barcelona among the most important tech hubs. A private non-profit organisation representing more than 1000 businesses in the local and global technology ecosystem.
• BTG/TGG (BTG - Business Trust Group)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner building bridges in a digital environment through triple helix model. BTG connects stakeholders, end-user companies and suppliers with government, universities and political organizations. TGG delivers purchasing profit, advice and reporting to members.
• DIT UK (Department for International Trade)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner - UK government department responsible for striking and extending trade agreements between the UK and non EU states, as well as for encouraging foreign investment and export trade.
• German Innovation Network (german.innovation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner and co-founder - open collaborative network to enable, strengthen and connect artists, founders, established companies, researchers and policymakers committed to innovative approaches.
• HUP (Humans Unlocking Potentials)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner helping mid-sized companies establish and expand into the US marketplace. Based in Los Angeles, HUP provides business development support and local expertise.
• MangrovecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner from Montreal, Canada promoting collaboration between innovation ecosystems in Canada and internationally. Supports growth of innovative companies through trade missions and collaborative projects.
• New Dutch WavecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner - International movement to celebrate Dutch creativity and entrepreneurship launched at SXSW 2017. Platform designed to inspire, connect and generate new business for Dutch entrepreneurs and startups.
• NZ Tech (New Zealand Tech Alliance)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner from Auckland - group of independent technology associations working together to ensure a strong voice for technology. NZTech's vision is a prosperous New Zealand underpinned by technology.
• Embassy of Dutch CreativityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner - creative trade mission taking place during Cannes Lions Festival. Ambition to connect Dutch creative industry with global partners, talents, media, and each other.
• David Gobeille-Kaufman (Super Connector)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSuper Connector based in Montreal, founder and president of Mangrove. Believes entrepreneurship is a major driver of socio-economic development and empowers entrepreneurs through various initiatives.
• Graeme Muller (Super Connector)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSuper Connector based in Auckland, CEO of NZTech. Passionate about technology's impact on economy, leading NZTech's membership growth and establishing Tech Alliance representing 20 of New Zealand's largest tech associations.
• Miquel Marti (Super Connector)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSuper Connector based in Barcelona, CEO of Barcelona Tech City. Private non-profit organization mission of positioning Barcelona as relevant international tech hub, representing 1000+ organizations.
• Petra Claessen (Super Connector)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSuper Connector based in Woerden, CEO of BTG/TGG. Experienced in building bridges between people and organisations, passionate about bringing together people, organisations, governmental departments and Universities.
• Sacha van der Most van Spijk (Super Connector)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSuper Connector based in Los Angeles, CEO of HUP. Founded business development concept based on international collaboration between passionate entrepreneurs and business matter experts, focused on sport, tech and sustainability.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ibe_europe
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBe0cmSbwEXSqR15JG2cHTA
• Facebookfacebook.com/InnovationBridgeEU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/innovation-bridge
• Instagraminstagram.com/innovation_bridge_europe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 Innovation Bridge Europe