StartUp SH

What StartUp SH does

StartUp SH is a non-profit registered association (eingetragener Verein) headquartered in Kiel, Germany, that operates as the central networking hub for startup support across the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein. Rather than selling a unified software product, the organization functions as a network coordinator and policy interlocutor, connecting prospective founders (Gründungsinteressierte) with a member base of startup supporters (Gründungsunterstützer:innen) that includes incubators, accelerators, chambers of commerce (IHK), the state development bank (IB.SH), universities such as CAU Kiel, regional economic development agencies, and the GründerCube network. Its portfolio of programs comprises the Überflieger-Wettbewerb statewide startup competition (co-organized with The Bay Areas, Marketing Club Schleswig-Holstein, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs SH and awarding winners a Silicon Valley trip), the annual StartUp SH Summit, a comprehensive events and consultation calendar, a curated Wettbewerbe directory of regional and national competitions, a co-branded podcast series, and a blog covering regional startup ecosystem developments including the Green Startup Monitor.

The association is co-financed by the European Union and the Schleswig-Holstein state government, and services to founders and supporters are provided free of charge. StartUp SH is not a commercial enterprise and has no external investors or equity ownership; rather, it operates as a public-good coordination body with a direct policy advisory function to regional government. Its underlying technology footprint is a WordPress website, supplemented by LinkedIn and Instagram presence and a Spotify-hosted podcast; no proprietary software, AI/ML assets, or app distribution were disclosed.

Its strategic model rests on three pillars: strengthening communication among Gründungsunterstützer:innen via regular exchange formats, amplifying member visibility through statewide press and public relations work, and translating on-the-ground founder and supporter experience into policy input for the Schleswig-Holstein government. The organization documents its ambition to defend its 3rd place ranking in the KfW Gründungsmonitor Länderranking achieved in 2021 and continues to roll out incremental ecosystem initiatives such as the Connecting Impact social entrepreneurship community launched in January 2026.

Name

StartUp SH

Legal name

StartUp SH e.V.

Website

https://startupsh.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

StartUp SH is a non-profit association in Kiel, Germany, that coordinates a statewide network of startup support organizations across Schleswig-Holstein, offering free programs including the Überflieger competition, StartUp SH Summit, events calendar, and podcast, co-financed by the EU and the state government.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Ecosystem & Entrepreneurship Support Services

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)

Keywords

• Startup ecosystem network
• Entrepreneurship support services
• Startup competition program
• Founder networking events
• Regional innovation coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Kiel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

StartUp SH operates a regional startup ecosystem network in Schleswig-Holstein, connecting founders (Gründer:innen) with a member directory of startup support organizations (Gründungsunterstützer:innen). It runs an annual flagship startup competition called Überflieger, maintains an event and competition calendar, produces a podcast and blog, and acts as a policy-facing coordinator of the state's startup landscape.

Product overview

StartUp SH is a non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) that serves as the central networking hub for startup support in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Rather than offering a unified software product, the organization operates a portfolio of programs and services including the StartUp SH Podcast for startup stories and ecosystem coverage, the Überflieger-Wettbewerb competition offering Silicon Valley access, a comprehensive Events & Termine calendar for workshops and networking, a Wettbewerbe directory listing regional and national startup competitions, and a Blog for startup ecosystem news. These offerings work together to connect founders, enhance visibility, and strengthen the startup culture across northern Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Überflieger-Wettbewerb: A statewide startup competition offering winners a trip to Silicon Valley, organized jointly by The Bay Areas, Marketing Club Schleswig-Holstein, and StartUp SH.
• StartUp SH Summit

Products and services

• Überflieger Competition
• Events & Termine Calendar
• Wettbewerbe Directory
• StartUp SH Podcast
• Member Network of Gründungsunterstützer:innen

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• The Bay AreascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the Überflieger competition, which sends startup winners on a trip to Silicon Valley. The Bay Areas provides exclusive annual memberships to finalists and works with StartUp SH on networking events.
• Marketing Club Schleswig-HolsteincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the Überflieger competition. Provides exclusive annual memberships to finalists as part of the competition prizes.
• Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Verkehr, Arbeit, Technologie und Tourismus Schleswig-HolsteincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState ministry that co-organizes the Überflieger competition and provides funding and political support for StartUp SH's mission to strengthen the founding ecosystem in Schleswig-Holstein.
• WTSH Wirtschaftsförderung und Technologietransfer Schleswig-Holstein GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development agency hosting StartUp SH's registered office. Provides consultation days on intellectual property rights and operates startuphub.sh.
• starterkitchen @opencampusmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey member organization providing startup workshops, office hours, Female Founders Stammtisch events, and other founding support activities in Kiel.
• IHK (Industrie- und Handelskammer) Schleswig-HolsteinmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional chamber of commerce providing founding basics seminars, financing consultation days, succession dialogue events, and business plan consultations throughout Schleswig-Holstein.
• IB.SH (Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState development bank providing financing consultation days, funding advice days, and the Gründungsstipendium SH (founding stipendium) program with up to 70,000 EUR support.
• GründerCube LübeckmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization providing startup workshops on topics including business planning, pitching, communication training, and Cube Connect financing events.
• KITZ Kiel (Kieler Technologie- und Innovationszentrum)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology and innovation center hosting networking events, the KITZ-Podcast, and the Business Lounge networking event for the Überflieger competition.
• ZfE (Zentrum für Entrepreneurship) der CAU KielmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntrepreneurship center at Kiel University providing start-up friday workshops on business model canvas, financing planning, market analysis with AI tools, and pitch training.
• Life Science NordminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional life science cluster organizing the Health & Life Science Venture Day bringing together startups and investors in the Hamburg region.
• Borderstep Institute for Innovation and SustainabilityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute whose Green Startup Report 2026 showed Schleswig-Holstein has a strong green founding rate.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH: Berlin's economic development agency with a dedicated startup and innovation division, providing networking, events, and internationalization services for founders. Comparable in providing publicly-backed ecosystem support, but covers a much broader economic-development mandate.
• Startup-Verband: Germany's national startup industry association, representing the broader ecosystem and engaging in federal policy advocacy. Comparable to StartUp SH in mission (strengthening startup culture and advocating to policymakers) but operating at national scope with greater resources and influence.
• MassChallenge: Global non-profit startup accelerator with regional programs, public-private partnerships, and corporate-backed competitions. Comparable in non-profit, mission-driven ecosystem-support model and competition/acceleration programming, but at global scale rather than regional.
• Founders Factory: Global accelerator and venture builder partnering with corporates to scale startups across multiple geographies. Comparable in operating startup-support programs with corporate partnerships, though as a private entity with global reach rather than a publicly-funded regional association.

Regional players

• next media HHI GmbH: Hamburg-based network for the digital and startup industry, operating news, events, and community programs. Comparable to StartUp SH in ecosystem-coordination and content/community building, but anchored in Hamburg rather than Schleswig-Holstein.
• NRW.Global Business GmbH: State-level economic development and foreign-investment agency for North Rhine-Westphalia with programs supporting founders and startups. Comparable as a state-backed ecosystem coordinator, but operates in NRW and has a broader economic-development scope.

Direct peers

• Hamburg Startups: Regional startup community and media platform for Hamburg, providing news, events, and ecosystem connections. Comparable as a city/state-level startup network with content and community functions, though Hamburg's ecosystem is larger and more media-oriented.
• BayStartUP GmbH: Munich-based state-level startup support network for Bavaria. Operates the closest analogous model to StartUp SH — public co-financing, regional coordination of incubators and founders, networking events, and pitch/competition programs — but in Bavaria, Germany's stronger startup ecosystem.
• Startup BW: State initiative for startups in Baden-Württemberg, providing a platform that connects founders, investors, and support organizations across the state. Closely mirrors StartUp SH's role as a state-level coordination and visibility hub for founders.

Emerging players

• starterkitchen / openCampus SH: Kiel-based digital campus initiative providing startup workshops, office hours, and Female Founders Stammtisch events. A smaller-scope, more locally focused startup support program that overlaps with StartUp SH's Kiel-area activities but lacks the statewide coordination mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WirMachenGruendung
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/startupsh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 StartUp SH