Zukunft.Coburg.Digital

What Zukunft.Coburg.Digital does

Zukunft.Coburg.Digital (ZCD) is a municipally-backed digital startup center founded in April 2017 by Stadt Coburg and Landkreis Coburg in Upper Franconia, Germany. It operates two physical sites — Alte Kühlhalle in Coburg (Schlachthofstraße 1, opened 2022) and Digitale Manufaktur in Rödental (Coburger Straße 7, opened 2020-2021) — and runs an associated support association, ZCD e.V., with more than 60 member companies. Its core offerings are physical workspace (co-working desks, private offices, meeting rooms, event venues) and an event-and-education program aimed at founders, early-stage startups, regional companies, and decision-makers seeking digital transformation support.

ZCD's product portfolio is centered on incubation infrastructure rather than proprietary software: co-working/office rental, meeting and event spaces, startup consulting (Gründungsberatung), flagship events (Pitch & Beer startup pitch competition, TOTAL DIGITAL two-day digital conference, CODEBURG Hackathon), and certified education programs including the IHK-certified AI Innovation Manager course (€2,900 per participant, 50 learning units) and an AI Solution Architect program. Roughly 10 staff coordinate these activities, supported by a regional network of mentors, advisory board members from Hochschule Coburg, IHK zu Coburg, Wirtschaftsförderung Coburg, and major regional employers including HUK-COBURG, KAESER KOMPRESSOREN, LASCO, ELEO, and sūc//dacor.

The business model blends recurring rental income from workspace, recurring membership fees from ZCD e.V. association members, and professional-services fees from training programs (processed through IHK Coburg). ZCD is privately held as a GmbH with no venture capital or external institutional investment; operating funding is supplemented by public sources including Gründeland Bayern and the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs. International activity is limited to the 2023 Bavaria Israel Partnership Accelerator (BIPA) partnership, which connects regional startups to the Israeli innovation ecosystem.

Name

Zukunft.Coburg.Digital

Legal name

ZUKUNFT.COBURG.DIGITAL GMBH

Website

https://zcd.digital

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Zukunft.Coburg.Digital is a municipally-backed digital startup center in Coburg, Germany, operating two co-working and event sites with an IHK-certified AI training program, serving startups, founders, and regional companies through workspace, events, and association membership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Incubation and Co-working Services

NAICS

Computer Training (611420), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Learning Content Development (eLearning, Labs, Simulations) (BPAEANAD), Workplace Accessibility, Adoption & Change Management (Digital Adoption, training, comms) (BPAEAIAN)

Keywords

• Startup incubation services
• Co-working space rental
• Corporate digital training
• Startup community network
• Regional innovation hub

Headquarters

HQ city

Coburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Co-Working Space Rental: Rental of co-working desks, private offices, meeting rooms, and event spaces at two locations (Alte Kühlhalle Coburg and Digitale Manufaktur Rödental). Revenue from startups and companies renting flexible workspace.
2. Association Membership Fees: Member contributions from over 60 companies in the ZCD e.V. association. Membership provides access to network, digital transformation support, and image benefits as a digitally forward-looking company.
3. Educational Programs: AI Innovation Manager (IHK) certification course at 2,900 EUR per participant, 3-month online-live seminar with 50 learning units. Also offers one-day courses in digital transformation. Revenue from participant fees processed through IHK Coburg.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Zukunft.Coburg.Digital operates a digital startup center (Digitales Gründerzentrum) providing co-working space, private offices, meeting rooms, and event venues at two locations in Coburg and Rödental. It runs startup consulting (Gründungsberatung), signature events (Pitch & Beer, CODEBURG Hackathon, TOTAL DIGITAL), and IHK-certified AI training programs (AI Innovation Manager, AI Solution Architect). A separate ZCD e.V. association network connects 60+ regional companies to support digital transformation in the Coburg Upper Franconia region.

Product overview

Zukunft.Coburg.Digital operates as a digital startup center (Digitales Gründerzentrum) offering a portfolio of incubation and co-working services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include Co-Working spaces and Office Rentals at two locations (Alte Kühlhalle, Coburg and Digitale Manufaktur, Rödental), Meeting Rooms and Event Locations for business gatherings, and Gründungsberatung (startup consulting) for founders. The event programs include Pitch & Beer (annual startup competition), Codeburg Hackathon (coding event), and TOTAL DIGITAL (digital days). Educational offerings feature AI Innovation Manager (IHK-certified training) and AI Solution Architect programs. The Memberportal provides digital access to the startup ecosystem. All services support the mission of fostering digital innovation in the Coburg region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Co-Working Space Flexible shared workspace for startups and entrepreneurs at both locations (Alte Kühlhalle in Coburg and Digitale Manufaktur in Rödental), offering co-working desks in a community environment.
• Office Rental (Büro Mieten) Dedicated private office spaces for startups and companies at both the Alte Kühlhalle and Digitale Manufaktur locations, with flexible rental terms.
• Meeting Rooms (Meeting Räume) Meeting and conference rooms available for rent at both locations for business meetings and small events.
• Event-Location (MEAT) Event venues for conferences, workshops, and corporate events, including the MEAT location for larger gatherings at the Digitale Manufaktur.
• Startup Consulting (Gründungsberatung) Advisory services for founders and prospective founders, including business plan development, funding guidance, and startup mentorship, delivered by the ZCD team.
• Pitch & Beer Annual startup pitch competition event in Upper Franconia where startups present ideas to a jury and audience in a relaxed afterwork atmosphere.
• CODEBURG Hackathon Hackathon event bringing together developers, designers, and innovators to develop solutions for real business challenges from regional companies, including challenges from KAESER KOMPRESSOREN, Future Systems, HUK-COBURG, and ELEO.
• TOTAL DIGITAL (Coburger Digitaltage) Annual Coburg Digital Days event featuring innovation tours, panel discussions, workshops, and networking for the regional digital community.
• AI Innovation Manager (IHK) Certification Course IHK-certified 3-month online-live seminar with 50 learning units and 2 in-person workshops, teaching strategic AI implementation in enterprises for executives, managers, and innovation leaders.
• AI Solution Architect Training Program Professional training program for AI architecture and solution design, targeted at professionals building AI solutions.
• ZCD e.V. Association Membership Recurring membership in the Zukunft.Coburg.Digital e.V. association for companies seeking access to the regional network of 60+ member companies, digital transformation support, and image benefits as a digitally forward-looking partner.
• Member Portal (members.zcd.digital) Online portal for members to access resources, manage accounts, and connect with the ZCD startup ecosystem.

Named customers11 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

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Bavaria Israel Partnership Accelerator (BIPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023International partnership connecting startups and companies to Israeli innovation ecosystem. ZCD is a partner enabling regional startups and companies to participate in the accelerator program.
• Stadt CoburgflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2017Co-founding partner of Zukunft.Coburg.Digital GmbH in April 2017. Stadt Coburg (city government) established the digital startup center as a contact point for founders in the region.
• Landkreis CoburgflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2017Co-founding partner of Zukunft.Coburg.Digital GmbH in April 2017. Landkreis Coburg (district) established the digital startup center alongside the city.
• Hochschule CoburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Applied Sciences Coburg - part of ZCD e.V. association and ZCD Advisory Board (Beirat). Prof. Dr. Stefan Gast serves as President on the advisory board. Contributes academic perspective and student talent.
• IHK zu CoburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of Industry and Commerce Coburg - part of ZCD e.V. association with Friedrich Herdan serving as Ehrenpräsident (honorary president) and chair of LASCO Umformtechnik GmbH. Supports educational programs.
• Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft der Stadt Coburg mbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development corporation of Stadt Coburg - part of ZCD e.V. association with Eric Rösner serving as 2. Vorstand and Prokurist. Stephan Horn serves on advisory board.
• süc//dacor GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional technology company - Uwe Meyer serves as 1. Vorstand of ZCD e.V. and CEO of süc//dacor. Major sponsor of Pitch & Beer prizes.
• IHK zu Coburg (as customer)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAs pilot customer and partner, IHK zu Coburg uses KNOWYOURCHAT platform and contributes to its practical development and regional validation.
• LASCO Umformtechnik GmbHcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAs pilot customer and partner, LASCO uses KNOWYOURCHAT platform and supports regional startup ecosystem development.
• ELEO GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional company - CEO Katrin Weinkauf serves on Pitch & Beer 2025 jury. Contributes to TOTAL DIGITAL innovation tours. Elephant Lounge participant.
• HUK-COBURGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor regional insurance company - part of ZCD e.V. association. Contributes to TOTAL DIGITAL innovation tours and Hackathon challenges.
• KAESER KOMPRESSORENminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional industrial company - provided challenge for CODEBURG Hackathon 2025 (Mobile AI Assistant).
• Future SystemsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional technology company - partner company with logo displayed. Provided challenge for CODEBURG Hackathon 2025 (Industrial Insight Hub).
• Wöhner GmbH & Co. KGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional electro-technical company - Philipp Steinberger (formerly CEO) served as former advisory board chair. Contributed to TOTAL DIGITAL innovation tours.
• BestSensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional company - partner company with logo displayed. Lars Meisenbach (BestSens) was former Vorstandsvorsitzender of ZCD e.V.
• FraunhoferminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of ZCD e.V. association - represents research institution perspective in the network.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Gründerland Bayern: Bavarian state program that publicly funds ZCD. Comparable as part of the regional support infrastructure, though operating as a state funding/coordination program rather than an operator.
• Bundesverband Deutsche Startups e.V. Germany's main startup industry association. Comparable as a membership-organization backbone for the startup ecosystem, though operating at national policy level rather than regional incubator level.

Direct peers

• SpinLab - The HHL Accelerator: Leipzig-based accelerator and innovation hub offering workspace, mentorship, and corporate-startup matching. Comparable regional incubator with similar event-driven community model.
• Factory Berlin: Berlin-based startup hub combining co-working, event programming, and corporate-startup collaboration. Most comparable peer given similar model of running physical spaces plus community events plus corporate partnerships.
• Co.up coworking spaces: Multi-city German co-working operator offering flexible offices and meeting rooms. Comparable peer for the co-working rental line of business across multiple locations.
• Betahaus Berlin: Long-running Berlin co-working and event space operator with community programming. Comparable peer for co-working rental and event-driven customer acquisition in the German market.
• Startplatz Köln: One of Germany's largest startup incubators offering co-working, acceleration, and education programs in Cologne. Closely comparable to ZCD's incubator-plus-education model at regional scale.

Broad incumbents

• Hubraum (Deutsche Telekom): Telco-backed incubator running programs and co-working plus startup-corporate collaboration. Comparable as a tech-focused incubator with corporate sponsor integration, though backed by a much larger parent.

Regional players

• Werkstatt Hamburg / Werkstatt eG: Hamburg-based co-working and creator space operator. Comparable co-working + community model, but serves a different region and focuses more on creative/tech makers.
• Munich Startup: Bavarian startup ecosystem platform supporting founders with events, networking, and resources. Comparable regional ecosystem-builder, but based in Munich rather than Upper Franconia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@zukunftcoburgdigital/shorts
• Facebookfacebook.com/ZukunftCoburgDigital
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zukunftcoburgdigital
• Instagraminstagram.com/zukunftcoburgdigital/?hl=de
• TikToktiktok.com/@zukunftcoburgdigital

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Zukunft.Coburg.Digital