farm - Gründung & Innovation

What farm - Gründung & Innovation does

farm – Gründung & Innovation is a startup incubator and innovation center operating under the umbrella brand farm and the legal entity Technologiezentrum Konstanz e.V. (also referred to as farm e.V.), a non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) under German law. The organization traces its roots to 1985, when it was founded as Technologiezentrum Konstanz on the initiative of Minister-President Lothar Späth; it relocated from the Paradies district to its current facility at Bücklestraße 3 in Konstanz and was rebranded to farm – Gründung & Innovation after 35 years of operation. The brand is owned by the City of Konstanz, with Mayor Uli Burchardt serving as chairman of the board and Universität Konstanz Rector Prof. Dr. Katharina Holzinger as deputy chair, signaling a quasi-governmental positioning rather than a venture-backed entity.

The core product portfolio centers on physical infrastructure and structured founder support. farm rents over 70 office, workshop, and storage units across three floors at subsidized rates, totaling 2,500 rentable square meters out of a 4,300 sqm facility, with a reported 80% occupancy rate and no deposit requirement for tenants under five years of age. Adjacent offerings include the innolab bodensee makerspace (opened 2023) for prototyping, the Semina farm.Stipendium (launched 2025 in partnership with Crescere Stiftung Bodensee, deploying 24,000 EUR in grant funding for young founders), and a four-phase founder journey (Inspirieren, Säen, Reifen, Ernten) covering inspiration, business model design, formalization, and post-founding innovation. Event programming — Gründungswoche, IMPULSE workshops, Female Business Days, Founders Finance Day, Open farm House, and youth programs such as Start-up BW Young Talents — drives top-of-funnel engagement, while the Gründernetzwerk, a network of approximately 20 regional partner organizations, provides the integrated service layer.

The revenue model is essentially twofold: recurring monthly rental income from subsidized office and workshop space (the dominant commercial stream) and event/workshop programming (largely free or low-cost, contributing reputation rather than material cash). GTM is event-driven and community-led: farm attracts founders through Gründungswoche (13 events, 500+ participants in 2025), workshops, school outreach, and direct walk-in inquiries at the Bücklestraße facility, with Managing Director Christina Groll (+49 7531/900-2011, [email protected]) as the central contact. Customer segments span early-stage startups (<5 years old), innovation-oriented SMEs, and regional school students; the organization has 5 employees and does not generate software, API, or AI/ML products.

Name

farm - Gründung & Innovation

Legal name

Technologiezentrum Konstanz e.V.

Website

https://konstanz.farm

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

farm – Gründung & Innovation is a non-profit startup incubator in Konstanz, Germany, operated by Technologiezentrum Konstanz e.V. and owned by the City of Konstanz. It rents over 70 subsidized offices, runs the innolab bodensee makerspace, and serves early-stage founders and students through events, consulting, and the Semina farm.Stipendium grant program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Konstanz

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Office and Space Rental: farm generates revenue through renting out office spaces, workshop areas, and storage facilities to startups and young companies. They offer subsidized rental spaces funded by the city of Konstanz, with over 70 offices available across three floors. No deposit is required for tenants.
2. Event Hosting: Revenue is generated through hosting events, workshops, and training programs for the startup community. Events like Founders Finance Day and various workshops are offered, with some events free and others possibly fee-based.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

farm is a city-owned startup incubator and innovation center providing subsidized office, workshop, and storage rentals to companies under five years old, alongside a four-phase founding program (Inspirieren, Säen, Reifen, Ernten), business consulting, networking events, and access to the innolab bodensee makerspace. Revenue is generated primarily through monthly recurring rental subscriptions, event hosting, and grants/scholarships for young founders.

Product overview

farm - Gründung & Innovation is a startup incubator and innovation center operated by Technologiezentrum Konstanz e.V. (farm e.V.) in Konstanz, Germany. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of physical and service-based products centered on startup support. Core offerings include subsidized office and workshop rental spaces (Büros, Werkstatträume, Lagerflächen, Besprechungsräume) across over 70 units on three floors; a structured four-phase founding program (Inspirieren, Säen, Reifen, Ernten) guiding entrepreneurs from idea to established business; regular events including IMPULSE workshops, Female Business Days, Gründungswoche, and Founders Finance Day; the innolab bodensee makerspace for prototyping; the Semina farm.Stipendium scholarship program (24,000 EUR); and the Gründungsnetzwerk network of ~20 regional support organizations. farm does not offer software products, APIs, or digital platforms — its offerings are delivered through physical spaces, in-person consulting, workshops, and events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Büro- und Mieträume (Office and Workshop Rental) Subsidized rental offices, workshop spaces, storage areas, and meeting rooms across three floors (over 70 units, 2,500 sqm of rentable space) for startups and young companies under five years old in Konstanz.
• Gründungsphasen (Founding Phases Program) Four-phase structured program guiding entrepreneurs from networking and inspiration (Inspirieren) through idea and business-model development (Säen), formalities and funding (Reifen), to post-founding innovation support (Ernten).
• Veranstaltungen und Events (Events and Workshops) Recurring events and workshops for the Konstanz startup community, including IMPULSE workshops, Female Business Days, the annual Gründungswoche (Founding Week), Founders Finance Day, and Open farm House networking evenings.
• innolab bodensee (Makerspace) Prototyping makerspace with tools and facilities for interdisciplinary product development and product optimization, serving startups and SMEs in the Konstanz innovation ecosystem.
• Semina farm.Stipendium (Scholarship) Scholarship program created with the Crescere Stiftung Bodensee providing 24,000 EUR in funding to young founders in technology, creative, or social sectors, with consideration for those facing structural disadvantages.
• Gründungsnetzwerk (Founding Network) Network of approximately 20 regional organizations (including IHK Hochrhein-Bodensee, Handwerkskammer Konstanz, Kilometer1, UFG e.V., Steinbeis Transferzentrum) providing coordinated founding support services across the Konstanz region.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% occupancy rate for office spaces
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Female Founders ContestminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 April 2026farm is hosting the Baden-Württemberg semifinal of the Female Founders Contest in 2026. Organized by Julia Zimmermann and Guido Sondern in cooperation with farm and UFG e.V.
• Stadt Konstanz (City of Konstanz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe city of Konstanz is the owner and main sponsor of farm. It provides subsidies for rental spaces, making them more affordable for startups. Oberbürgermeister Uli Burchardt serves as the board chairman of farm e.V.
• Start-up BWcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerState-funded startup initiative from Baden-Württemberg that organizes youth entrepreneurship workshops (Start-up BW Young Talents) in collaboration with farm. Sandra Grimm, Timothy Bolle, and Lara Nauert are team members involved.
• Gründungsnetzwerk (Founding Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe founding network consists of nearly 20 organizations from the Konstanz startup ecosystem, including IHK Hochrhein-Bodensee, Handwerkskammer Konstanz, Kilometer1, UFG e.V., Steinbeis Transferzentrum, and others. They jointly organize the annual Gründungswoche.
• innolab bodenseecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA makerspace opened in 2023 as part of the farm ecosystem. It provides prototyping facilities, tools, and space for interdisciplinary product development. Operated by Klaus König.
• Kilometer1coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGründungsberatung (founding consulting) partner that provides business advice and counseling to startups in the farm ecosystem. Part of the Gründungsnetzwerk.
• UFG e.V. (Unternehmer:innen für Gründer:innen)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNetwork of entrepreneurs supporting founders, part of the Konstanz founding network. Cooperates with farm on events and startup support programs.
• IHK Hochrhein-BodenseecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of Industry and Commerce providing founding consulting and support through Felix Keller. Part of the Konstanz Gründungsnetzwerk.
• Handwerkskammer KonstanzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of Crafts providing founding support through Dennis Schäuble. Part of the Gründungsnetzwerk farm.
• BPW Konstanz-Bodensee e.V.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness and Professional Women network that cooperates with farm on Female Business Days events.
• Steinbeis TransferzentrumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology transfer organization contributing to the farm network and participating in jury activities for startup competitions.
• IST Innovationsinstitut KonstanzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation institute that participates in farm events and juries for startup competitions.
• Wirtschaftsjunioren Hegau-BodenseeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYoung business professionals network that co-organized the Open farm House panel discussion on succession planning.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Station F: Paris-based mega-incubator hosting thousands of startups in a single facility with on-site programs, events, and corporate partners. Comparable as a physical incubator campus with phased founder programming, but operating at vastly greater scale and with a private/commercial model rather than municipal subsidies.
• Mindspace: Pan-European coworking/incubator brand operating premium flexible offices with curated events. Comparable to farm on flexible workspace and event programming, but as a private commercial operator rather than a subsidized municipal incubator.
• Plug and Play Tech Center: Global startup accelerator and innovation platform operating multi-vertical programs, events, and corporate partnerships. Comparable on accelerator programming and event-driven community building, though Plug and Play is a private platform rather than a municipal-subsidized physical space.

Direct peers

• UnternehmerTUM: Munich-based innovation and entrepreneurship center offering incubation, workshops, events, and maker/innovation facilities anchored to TU Munich. Highly comparable structure to farm's mix of subsidized space, phased founder programs, prototyping facilities (MakerSpace), and a partner network.
• Betahaus Berlin: Berlin coworking and event space offering flexible offices, workshops, and a founder community. Closely mirrors farm's combination of multi-floor office rental, programming, and community events, though without the strong municipal sponsorship layer.
• Factory Berlin: Berlin-based startup campus combining coworking, event programming, and a partner ecosystem for founders. Directly comparable to farm as a multi-floor campus hosting offices, workshops, and a community of early-stage companies, though serving a much larger metropolitan market.
• Impact Hub Germany: Global incubator and coworking network with a German footprint, offering membership-based workspace, founder programs, and impact-oriented community events. Comparable to farm on the coworking-plus-events-plus-incubation model, with a stronger impact/social focus and broader geographic reach.

Emerging players

• Kreativwirtschaft / Gründerzentrum Bergisches Land: Network of regional German founder and innovation centers offering subsidized space, events, and consulting. Comparable to farm as a German regional incubator of similar scale and structure, though typically without an integrated makerspace component.

Regional players

• Hamburg Innovation: Regional innovation and technology transfer hub serving the Hamburg metropolitan area with incubator services, prototyping, and partner networks. Directly comparable as a city/region-backed German innovation center, but serving a different geographic market.
• KIT Gründerkubus / Karlsruhe Innovation Hub: University-linked startup hub in Karlsruhe providing subsidized office space, workshops, and consulting to KIT-affiliated founders. Closely comparable in mission and structure to farm's university-adjacent incubator model, but anchored to a different regional ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/farm-gruendung
• Instagraminstagram.com/konstanz.farm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 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 farm - Gründung & Innovation