DGO: Digitale Gründerinitiative Oberpfalz

What DGO: Digitale Gründerinitiative Oberpfalz does

DGO (Digitale Gründerinitiative Oberpfalz) is a publicly funded startup ecosystem initiative operating across the Oberpfalz region of Bavaria, Germany. It is managed by TechBase Regensburg GmbH, a wholly owned municipal company (GmbH, HRB 8306) of the City of Regensburg, with a lean core team of approximately five employees led by Geschäftsführer Alexander Rupprecht and Toni Lautenschläger, and project-managed day-to-day by Tanja Braun. DGO does not sell commercial products or services; instead, it delivers a portfolio of free programs targeting digital and technology-oriented founders, including the biannual Tiger der TechBase pitch event (~150–200 attendees per edition), the 48-hour StartUP Factory prototyping workshop, the online Pitch & Match company-startup matching format, the Spätschicht networking format, the Investorenabend investor-matching evening, the DGO Mentoring program, the Zebra Award (UN-SDG-aligned, launched 2025), and subsidized workspace at TechBase Regensburg, e-House Weiden, and Amberg.

The initiative's underlying technology is administrative rather than proprietary: its digital footprint runs on a TYPO3 CMS website with Google Analytics and Google Maps, supported by a Newsletter2Go-distributed newsletter ('startupgeflüster'), a LinkedIn company page, and an Instagram presence (@dgo_community). DGO's substantive value lies in its institutional architecture — not in a software product — combining municipal ownership, Bavarian state funding (Bayerisches Wirtschaftsministerium, Gründerland Bayern), EU project funding (DInO Digital Innovation Ostbayern, EDIH DInA), and a dense local partnership network spanning BayStartUP (coaching), Bayern Kapital (investor matching), BioPark Regensburg (life sciences), IHK Regensburg, and three regional universities (OTH Regensburg, OTH Amberg-Weiden, Universität Regensburg).

Revenue comes entirely from public sources: Bavarian government grants, EU-funded project allocations, and the municipal budget of the City of Regensburg through TechBase Regensburg GmbH. No commercial pricing applies — all events are free to attend, coaching is delivered at no participant cost via BayStartUP, and workspace is subsidized. The customer base is heterogeneous: technology-oriented early-stage startups (primary), innovative SMEs and corporates seeking startup partnerships, students and aspiring entrepreneurs, and municipalities pursuing digital transformation — with corporate sponsors (e.g., Infineon, REWAG, AVL, Continental, Sparkasse Regensburg) providing event co-financing rather than transaction revenue. The model is best characterized as a publicly funded regional innovation intermediary, with the Regensburg area anchoring 104 active startups and ranking 2nd in Bavaria for startup density per capita (50.9 per 100,000 inhabitants, per Bayern Startup & Scaleup Monitor 2026).

Name

DGO: Digitale Gründerinitiative Oberpfalz

Legal name

TechBase Regensburg GmbH

Website

https://digitale-oberpfalz.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DGO is a publicly funded startup ecosystem initiative under the City of Regensburg's TechBase Regensburg GmbH, delivering free pitch events, coaching, investor matchmaking, and subsidized workspace to technology founders across Bavaria's Oberpfalz region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Incubation Services

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Bootcamps & Accelerated Reskilling (Full-time/Part-time) (BPAEANAE)

Keywords

• Startup ecosystem development
• Business incubation services
• Entrepreneurship support programs
• Innovation matchmaking services
• Digital founder initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Regensburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Funding & Grants: DGO is a publicly funded initiative managed by TechBase Regensburg GmbH (a municipal company of the city of Regensburg). Its activities are funded by Bavarian government grants, EU-funded projects (e.g., DInO Digital Innovation Ostbayern), and municipal budget allocations. No commercial revenue model is disclosed. Services to startups are provided free of charge.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

DGO operates a portfolio of publicly funded startup support programs for digital founders in the Oberpfalz region of Bavaria, including pitch competitions (Tiger der TechBase), 48-hour prototyping workshops (StartUP Factory), B2B matchmaking between startups and established companies (Pitch & Match), investor matching events (Investorenabend), networking evenings (Spätschicht), mentoring (DGO Mentoring), and subsidized office workspace across three locations. All programs are delivered free of charge to founders and ecosystem participants.

Product overview

DGO (Digitale Gründerinitiative Oberpfalz) is a comprehensive startup support initiative managed by TechBase Regensburg GmbH, not a single unified product but rather a portfolio of interconnected programs and services. The core offerings include Tiger der TechBase (a semi-annual pitch competition), Pitch & Match (online company-startup matching), StartUP Factory (48-hour prototyping workshops), Spätschicht (networking events), Investorenabend (investor matching), Zebra Award (sustainability award), DGO Mentoring, subsidized Workspace facilities, and the startupgeflüster newsletter. These programs work together to support the complete startup lifecycle from ideation through funding, providing founders with networking, education, mentorship, and workspace resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tiger der TechBase: A bi-annual pitch night event in Regensburg where startups present their business ideas to a jury and audience, organized by DGO/TechBase Regensburg.
• Pitch & Match
• StartUP Factory
• Spätschicht
• Investorenabend
• Zebra Award
• DGO Mentoring

Products and services

• Tiger der TechBase Semi-annual pitch night event where early-stage startups present their technology-oriented business ideas to a jury of industry professionals (e.g., from Infineon, AVL, REWAG) and an audience of 150–200 founders, investors, and ecosystem participants for feedback and visibility.
• Pitch & Match Online matching event that connects established SMEs and corporations with startups around defined digital challenges (AI, Big Data, IoT, sustainability); companies submit challenges and startups apply to solve them, with 1:1 matchmaking meetings facilitated through the platform.
• StartUP Factory 48-hour intensive workshop in which interdisciplinary teams develop product concepts and prototypes under mentor guidance; the top-placing teams (e.g., SitCare, LunaFit, SafeBox in 2025) win half a year of free office space at BioPark Jump or TechBase Regensburg.
• Investorenabend Regional matching evening that connects private investors and business angels with pre-qualified, capital-seeking startups; held at IHK Regensburg or TechBase with DGO acting as broker/intermediary between founders and investors.
• DGO Mentoring Mentoring program providing founders and early-stage startups in the Oberpfalz with experience, knowledge, and contacts from experienced entrepreneurs to develop their technology-oriented business ideas in digitalization.
• Workspace (Subsidized Office Space) Subsidized below-market office and co-working space offered to qualifying startups at three locations across the Oberpfalz: TechBase Regensburg (Franz-Mayer-Str. 1, 93053 Regensburg), e-House Weiden, and Amberg.

Quantifiable outcome

• Regensburg ranks #2 in Bavaria for startups per capita (50.9 per 100,000 inhabitants), with 104 active startups in the city and surrounding area (Bayern Startup & Scaleup Monitor 2026)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AIR Artificial Intelligence RegensburgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026AIR (Artificial Intelligence Regensburg) co-organized the JOBTECH 2026 job fair and the 'Vergabe Verstehen' public procurement workshop with DGO, TechBase, and DInO. AIR represents the AI research and industry application network of Regensburg and extends DGO's reach into the enterprise AI adoption space.
• Cluster Mobility & LogisticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026The Cluster Mobility & Logistics (managed by TechBase Regensburg) co-organizes JOBTECH and the transport logistic Gemeinschaftsstand. It extends DGO's reach into logistics, mobility, and supply chain companies in the Oberpfalz region and organizes cross-company innovation events.
• Die Techniker (health insurance)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 November 2025Die Techniker was a sponsor of the StartUP Factory 2025, contributing to the event's prize pool and operational costs. Sponsorship provides brand visibility among the startup community.
• Krones AGminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 November 2025Krones AG was a sponsor of StartUP Factory 2025. Krones is a major packaging and food processing technology company based near Regensburg, with active innovation programs. Sponsorship connects Krones with the startup talent pipeline.
• Netto Marken-DiscountminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 November 2025Netto was a sponsor of StartUP Factory 2025. As a major retail company in the region, Netto connects with tech startups and gains visibility in the innovation ecosystem.
• p29.groupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 November 2025p29.group was a sponsor of StartUP Factory 2025. As a regional consulting/IT services firm, p29.group connects with the startup community through event sponsorship.
• HANS Brainfood GmbHminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 November 2025HANS Brainfood GmbH was a sponsor of StartUP Factory 2025. As a local food/health startup or regional company, its sponsorship connects it with the broader ecosystem.
• VECTOR Informatik GmbHminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 September 2025VECTOR Informatik hosted the Spätschicht Festival Edition (September 2025) at its Regensburg premises. As a software company, VECTOR gains visibility and engagement with the local startup and tech community through hosting DGO's after-work networking event.
• OTH Amberg-WeidenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 July 2025OTH Amberg-Weiden participates in the 5-Euro-Business Wettbewerb (which DGO/TechBase supports) and has been a location for the StartUP Factory format (implemented there in 2019). It is a key university partner in the northern Oberpfalz region.
• REWAG (Regensburger Energie- und Wasserversorgung AG & Co KG)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 July 2025REWAG is a regional energy and water utility and sponsor of the Tiger der TechBase Sommer 2025. As a corporate sponsor, REWAG provides financial support and gains visibility and access to the startup ecosystem. REWAG's communication lead Martin Gottschalk served as a jury member.
• AVL Software and Functions GmbHminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 July 2025AVL is a sponsor of Tiger der TechBase Sommer 2025. Dr. Georg Schwab (AVL's Managing Director) serves on the jury. AVL is a major automotive tech company in Regensburg and provides technical expertise and industry credibility to the jury panel.
• Infineon Technologies AGminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 July 2025Infineon is a sponsor of Tiger der TechBase Sommer 2025 and supplies jury members (Markus Brunnbauer, Betriebsleitung & Leiter Test Technologie und Innovation). As the world's leading semiconductor company in Regensburg, Infineon provides high-tech industry credibility to DGO events.
• BayStartUP GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2024BayStartUP is DGO's primary coaching and startup support partner. DGO cooperates with BayStartUP to provide coaching to startups in its programs. BayStartUP also co-organizes the Investorenabend and the B2B DemoDay. BayStartUP runs the Bavarian Business Plan Competitions (Nordbayern, Südbayern) and connects DGO with the broader Bavarian startup ecosystem.
• IHK Regensburg für Oberpfalz / KelheimcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 October 2024The IHK (Chamber of Industry and Commerce) Regensburg is a co-organizer of the Investorenabend and B2B DemoDay, and a supporter of the Tiger der TechBase. As a regional economic body, the IHK provides legitimacy, network access, and marketing reach for DGO events. It also provides venue support (e.g., Investorenabend at IHK premises).
• Stadt Regensburg (Amt für Wirtschaft und Wissenschaft)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2024The City of Regensburg, through its Department of Economics and Science, is a co-organizer of the Investorenabend and supports DGO as part of its municipal startup and innovation policy. TechBase Regensburg GmbH is a wholly owned company of the city of Regensburg, creating a direct institutional link.
• R-Tech GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2024R-Tech GmbH (a subsidiary of the Regensburg business development agency) is a co-organizer of the Investorenabend and the Bayerischer Innovationskongress. It represents the tech-oriented arm of Regensburg's economic development ecosystem and was historically linked to DGO's predecessor structure.
• BioPark Regensburg GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBioPark Regensburg is a co-organizer of multiple DGO events including the Investorenabend and StartUP Factory. As the biotech/health startup incubator of Regensburg, BioPark extends DGO's reach into life sciences and co-hosts programs. BioPark Jump offers free office space as a prize for StartUP Factory winners.
• OTH Regensburg (Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOTH Regensburg is a key university partner for DGO. It provides venue space for Tiger der TechBase events (summer editions held at OTH), contributes jury members (Dr. Carina Braun, Vizepräsidentin), and supports the StartUP Factory. OTH's Digital Entrepreneurship master's program is a pipeline for startup talent.
• Bayern Innovativ GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBayern Innovativ is a key innovation policy partner of DGO. It co-organized the 8th Bayerischer Innovationskongress (2019) and connects DGO with the broader Bavarian innovation network. It serves as a bridge between DGO and industry-wide innovation programs.
• Sparkasse RegensburgminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSparkasse Regensburg supported the Tiger der TechBase Winter 2026 as a co-sponsor alongside IHK Regensburg. As a regional savings bank, it connects DGO with the regional business community and provides financial support for ecosystem events.
• DInO (Digital Innovation Ostbayern)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDInO is an EU-funded project (Digital Innovation Ostbayern) co-managed by TechBase Regensburg and TH Deggendorf. DGO is a core implementing partner for the kommunaler digital_dialog series and B2B DemoDay under the DInO project umbrella. DInO funding enables DGO to run digital transformation events at no cost to participants.
• TH Deggendorf (Technische Hochschule Deggendorf)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTH Deggendorf is the lead institution for the DInO (Digital Innovation Ostbayern) EU project. It partners with DGO through the DInO consortium to deliver cross-regional digital innovation events including the kommunaler digital_dialog series.
• Digitales Zentrum SchwabenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Pitch & Match 2026 event organized together with TechBase Regensburg. Extends DGO's reach beyond Oberpfalz into Schwaben (Swabia) region of Bavaria.
• Gründerzentrum Digitalisierung Niederbayern (GZDN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGZDN is a co-organizer of Pitch & Match 2026 within the EDIH DInA project framework. It connects DGO with the Niederbayern (Lower Bavaria) startup ecosystem, extending geographic reach.
• Kreativbehörde RegensburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Kreativbehörde Regensburg co-organized the Kreativ Kick 2026 workshop event with DGO and TechBase. It contributes creative methodology expertise (LEGO Serious Play, storytelling, design thinking) to DGO's entrepreneur training programs.
• Gründerland BayerncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGründerland Bayern is a Bavarian government initiative for startup promotion. DGO is listed as a partner organization under the Gründerland Bayern umbrella, benefiting from its branding, co-marketing, and access to state-wide resources.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Hubraum (Deutsche Telekom): Hubraum is Deutsche Telekom's corporate innovation and startup accelerator. While DGO is a regional publicly-funded initiative, Hubraum is a corporate-sponsored innovation hub with comparable programs (mentoring, co-innovation, corporate-startup matchmaking) but operates at a national/international scale and is anchored by a single large corporate sponsor.
• IHK Regensburg für Oberpfalz / Kelheim: IHK Regensburg is the regional Chamber of Industry and Commerce and a co-organizer of DGO's Investorenabend and B2B DemoDay. While not a startup-specific organization, it provides startup ecosystem infrastructure, network access, and event venues for the Oberpfalz region, functioning as a broader institutional incumbent in the same territory.

Direct peers

• Digitales Zentrum Schwaben: Digitales Zentrum Schwaben is a regional digitalization hub in the Swabia region of Bavaria and a co-organizer of Pitch & Match. Like DGO, it is a publicly-funded initiative supporting digital startup creation and SME digitalization at a regional level, with comparable programming.
• Munich Startup: Munich Startup is the central platform and ecosystem connector for Munich's startup scene, providing news, events, job boards, and founder resources. While Munich is a much larger urban hub than the Oberpfalz, Munich Startup performs the same ecosystem-aggregator function for Bavarian founders that DGO performs for the Oberpfalz.
• BioPark Regensburg GmbH: BioPark Regensburg is a biotech/life-sciences focused incubator co-located with DGO at TechBase Regensburg and co-organizer of StartUP Factory and Investorenabend. It represents the vertical-specialized (life sciences) counterpart of DGO's horizontal digital startup programming within the same physical and institutional ecosystem.
• Gründerland Bayern: Gründerland Bayern is the Bavarian state government's startup promotion initiative, of which DGO is a listed partner organization. Both share the same statewide ecosystem-building mandate, target Bavarian founders, and operate under the Bayerisches Wirtschaftsministerium policy umbrella.
• TechQuartier (Frankfurt): TechQuartier is a publicly-supported innovation hub in Frankfurt that runs startup programming, ecosystem events, and corporate-startup matchmaking. It offers the same multi-format regional innovation hub model as DGO, with comparable mixes of events, mentorship, and corporate engagement.
• Gründerzentrum Digitalisierung Niederbayern (GZDN): GZDN is a regional digitalization startup center in Lower Bavaria and co-organizer of DGO's Pitch & Match format. It operates the same model — publicly-funded regional digital startup support — in a directly adjacent Bavarian region, with substantially overlapping programming and target founders.
• BayStartUP GmbH: BayStartUP is the Bavarian-wide startup coaching and business plan competition network, and DGO's primary coaching partner. Both organizations support Bavarian startups through early-stage education, coaching, and investor matchmaking, with overlapping target segments and formats (Bavarian Business Plan Competitions, Investorenabend).

Regional players

• Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie: Berlin Partner is the business development agency for the Berlin-Brandenburg region, performing a similar publicly-funded ecosystem-building role for Berlin's startup and innovation economy. While DGO focuses on the much smaller Oberpfalz region, both organizations operate as publicly-funded regional startup and innovation promoters with comparable stakeholder models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/digitale-oberpfalz
• Instagraminstagram.com/dgo_community

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 DGO: Digitale Gründerinitiative Oberpfalz