ThEx Zukunftswirtschaft

What ThEx Zukunftswirtschaft does

ThEx Zukunftswirtschaft is a publicly funded consulting and networking project operating within the ThEx Verbund consortium, the central contact point for founders, SMEs, and succession seekers in the German state of Thuringia. It delivers free sustainability advisory services, mentoring, and networking to Thuringian micro and small businesses, founders, and young companies up to five years post-founding. All services are provided at no cost to end users; funding flows from the Free State of Thuringia via the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the Thuringian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Rural Affairs (TMWLLR). The project is one of nine sub-projects in the Verbund, which also encompasses ThEx Enterprise, ThEx innovativ, ThEx FRAUENSACHE., ThEx Young Entrepreneurs, ThEx Gründungszentren, THAK, ThEx Nachfolge, and ThEx Wirtschaft 4.0, with institutional partners including Thüringer Aufbaubank, STIFT, IHK Erfurt, multiple HWK chambers, RKW Thüringen, and Digitalagentur Thüringen.

The service portfolio consists of six interconnected offerings: the Nachhaltigkeits-Check (a diagnostic tool identifying sustainability opportunities), WissensQualifizierung workshops developing sustainable business concepts, a theme-open Mentoring program connecting founders with experienced entrepreneurs, Nachhaltige Wissensvideos, Austausch und Vernetzung networking events held at company sites and trade associations, and Wissen und Lösungen content resources. The Erfurt-based team comprises six named professionals covering project leadership (Kerstin Altgassen), sustainability expertise on ecology and economics (Peggy Lehmann), networking and mentoring (Anita Weber), event coordination (Nadin Cyriax), and content management (Julia Koch), with Bianca Kus in a further team role. Outreach is conducted through the thex.de/zukunftswirtschaft website, the ThExCast podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn/YouTube channels, and in-person events. The program reports that since July 1, 2022, the broader ThEx Enterprise initiative has supported approximately 4,000 people, with more than one-third having started their own business.

The business model is non-commercial and grant-funded rather than equity-backed. No venture capital, private equity, or public listing applies; ownership and operational responsibility sit with the Verbund consortium and public-sector funders. There is no proprietary technology platform, API, or SDK — the underlying "technology" is service delivery via workshops, individual consultations, and content publishing. The organization has been extended through December 31, 2027, indicating sustained government commitment and providing multi-year operational runway, but growth is structurally constrained to the Thuringian region and to the scope of the public mandate.

Name

ThEx Zukunftswirtschaft

Legal name

ThEx - Thüringer Zentrum für Existenzgründungen und Unternehmertum

Website

https://thex.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ThEx Zukunftswirtschaft is a publicly funded consulting and networking project within the ThEx Verbund, providing free sustainability advisory, mentoring, and networking services to Thuringian founders, young companies, and micro/small businesses across all industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Sector Business Consulting and Sustainability Support

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

SME & Entrepreneurship Development (Trade-Linked) (BPADAMAE)

Keywords

• Sustainability consulting
• Startup mentoring
• Entrepreneurship support
• Business networking
• Thuringian SME services

Headquarters

HQ city

Erfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ThEx Zukunftswirtschaft is a publicly funded consulting and networking project that supports Thuringian founders, young companies (up to five years after founding), and established SMEs in pursuing sustainable business practices. It delivers free services including sustainability diagnostics, interactive workshops, theme-open mentoring, educational videos, networking events, and knowledge resources, all aimed at advancing economic, social, and ecological sustainability.

Product overview

ThEx Zukunftswirtschaft is a consulting and networking project that strengthens entrepreneurship through a theme-open mentoring program and raises awareness among companies about the opportunities of sustainable economic practices. The offering consists of six interconnected services: the Nachhaltigkeits-Check provides diagnostic assessments for identifying sustainability opportunities; WissensQualifizierung offers interactive workshops for developing sustainable business concepts; Mentoring connects founders with experienced entrepreneurs for knowledge transfer; Nachhaltige Wissensvideos delivers educational video content; Austausch und Vernetzung facilitates networking events; and Wissen und Lösungen provides articles and interviews. Together these services address economic, social, and ecological sustainability for Thuringian micro and small enterprises.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ThEx Enterprise: Comprehensive support for founders and startups, from concept to implementation
• ThEx innovativ
• ThEx FRAUENSACHE.
• ThEx Young Entrepreneurs
• ThEx Gründungszentren
• THAK (Thüringer Agentur für die Kreativwirtschaft)
• ThEx Nachfolge
• ThEx Wirtschaft 4.0
• ThEx Zukunftswirtschaft

Products and services

• Nachhaltigkeits-Check A diagnostic consulting tool that helps businesses of all sizes identify opportunities for sustainable practices, providing orientation and support options for implementing ecological, social, and economic sustainability measures. Free of charge to Thuringian businesses.
• WissensQualifizierung: Von der Idee zum Nachhaltigkeitskonzept An interactive workshop delivered in small groups with professional guidance, helping participants develop sustainable business concepts tailored to their specific company needs. Free of charge.
• Mentoring – Gründung für die Zukunft stärken A theme-open mentoring program connecting founders and young companies (up to five years after founding) with experienced entrepreneurs for knowledge transfer, network building, and experience exchange. Free of charge.
• Austausch und Vernetzung Networking events providing perspective shifts and topic-focused exchanges at companies or trade associations across Thuringia to foster profitable partnerships among founders and SMEs. Free of charge.

Quantifiable outcome

• Since July 1, 2022, approximately 4,000 people have been supported by ThEx Enterprise, with more than one-third having started their own business.
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Thüringer Aufbaubank (TAB):

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRHvEe59MvFREL387vin5vQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/thexthueringen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thex-zukunftswirtschaft
• Instagraminstagram.com/thexthueringen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 ThEx Zukunftswirtschaft