LAGARDE1

What LAGARDE1 does

LAGARDE1 – Zentrum für Digitalisierung und Gründung is a publicly funded digital startup center (Digitales Gründerzentrum) in Bamberg, Germany, operated by IGZ Bamberg GmbH under co-ownership of Stadt Bamberg and Landkreis Bamberg and with funding from the Free State of Bavaria (Bayrisches Staatsministerium) and the Gründerland Bayern initiative. Its core offering is a physical coworking and incubation infrastructure at Nathan-R.-Preston-Straße 1, 96052 Bamberg, comprising flexible coworking workspace (Day, 7-Day, and 30-Day tickets preferentially allocated to pre-founders and digital-sector founders), rentable meeting and event spaces (Meetingroom, Event Space, Project Space, Creative Lodge), startup advisory services (Gründungsberatung), and curated access to networks and funding pathways. Operations are run on standardized coworking tooling — the Cobot online booking platform (upstream-agile GmbH) for ticketing and access control via smartphone app, rapidmail for newsletters, PayPal for payment processing, Matomo for analytics, and Microsoft Teams for virtual events — meaning LAGARDE1 is fundamentally a physical service business rather than a software company.

Revenue is generated primarily through subsidized coworking ticket sales, one-time room and event-space rentals, and corporate sponsorship from Premium Partner Plus supporters (Brose, Bosch, Sparkasse Bamberg, Medatixx), augmented by ongoing public funding and partner contributions. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: LAGARDE1 acquires and activates members through its own programming (Startup Stage, KI-Meetup Bamberg, KI-Stammtisch, Coworking Fridays, Digitaltag, DEEP DIVE series) and through an unusually dense regional partner ecosystem covering Universität Bamberg, IT-Cluster Oberfranken, KI-Allianz Oberfranken, Bamberg Startups e.V., multiple IHK and HWK chambers, Digital.Fabrik GmbH, KMU-KI-Erfahrungszentrum, Digital Health Bamberg, Startup Teens Bayerntour, Social Impact Award Germany, and several adult and STEM education providers.

LAGARDE1 serves founders and pre-founders as its primary segment, with secondary segments of university students and researchers, regional SMEs and Mittelstand companies seeking digital and AI transformation, freelancers and self-employed professionals, and the broader Bamberg and Upper Franconia (Oberfranken) geography. Its strategic positioning rests on a municipal and state mandate as the central node of the Upper Franconian digital startup ecosystem rather than as a venture-scalable product business.

Name

LAGARDE1

Legal name

IGZ Bamberg GmbH

Website

https://lagarde1.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

LAGARDE1 is a publicly funded digital startup center (Digitales Gründerzentrum) in Bamberg, Germany, operated by IGZ Bamberg GmbH with Bavarian state and municipal backing. It provides subsidized coworking, event spaces, startup advisory, and ecosystem programming for digital founders, students, and regional SMEs in Upper Franconia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bamberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Coworking Space Rental: LAGARDE1 generates revenue through the rental of flexible coworking workspace. It offers three ticket tiers: Day Ticket (valid Mon–Fri 09:00–24:00 on weekdays), 7-Day Ticket (valid for one full calendar week), and 30-Day Ticket (valid for 30 calendar days, auto-expiring). Workspace includes desk area, seating, power, and W-LAN access. Priority access is given to pre-founders and founders in the digital sector, consistent with the publicly funded mission of the Digitales Gründerzentrum.
2. Meeting and Event Space Rental: LAGARDE1 rents out seminar rooms, conference rooms, and event spaces including Meetingroom, Event Space, Project Space, and Creative Lodge to coworking members at discounted rates and to external clients. Rooms can be booked for client meetings, events, and conferences via the Cobot booking system.
3. Additional Services (Lockers, Printing): Free locker use for coworking members (as a voluntary service, subject to availability). Printing is currently a free add-on service, though LAGARDE1 reserves the right to introduce a paid booking system for both lockers and printers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

LAGARDE1 operates a publicly funded Digitales Gründerzentrum (digital startup center) in Bamberg, Germany, providing flexible coworking workspace, offices, meeting rooms, and event venues on day, weekly, and 30-day ticket plans. Beyond physical workspace, it offers startup advisory (Gründungsberatung), access to funding and regional networks (Netzwerke & Förderung), and a community programming calendar including pitch competitions, KI meetups, and Coworking Fridays. Revenue is supplemented by premium corporate partners (Brose, Bosch, Sparkasse Bamberg, Medatixx) and public funding from the Free State of Bavaria, Stadt Bamberg, and Landkreis Bamberg.

Product overview

LAGARDE1 is a Digitales Gründerzentrum (digital startup center) operated by IGZ Bamberg GmbH, offering a physical coworking and incubation ecosystem in Bamberg, Germany. The core offering consists of flexible coworking spaces and offices (Offices & Coworking) available via day, weekly, or monthly tickets, supplemented by rentable seminar and conference rooms (Meetingroom, Event Space, Project Space, Creative Lodge). Beyond physical workspace, LAGARDE1 provides startup consulting services (Gründungsberatung) and access to networks and funding opportunities (Netzwerke & Förderung). The center also hosts branded community events including the LAGARDE1 STARTUP STAGE pitch competition, KI-Meetup Bamberg, and monthly Coworking Friday gatherings. The offering operates as a physical service business rather than a software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Offices & Coworking Spaces

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

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

• BroseflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium Partner Plus of LAGARDE1. Brose, a major automotive supplier and technology company, is one of the flagship corporate supporters of the digital Gründerzentrum, appearing prominently in the partner logo section of the LAGARDE1 website.
• BoschflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium Partner Plus of LAGARDE1. Robert Bosch GmbH, a global technology and services company, is listed as a flagship corporate supporter of the digital Gründerzentrum, appearing in the partner logo section.
• MedatixxflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium Partner Plus of LAGARDE1. Medatixx, a software provider for medical practices, appears as a flagship corporate supporter in the partner logo section of the LAGARDE1 website.
• Universität Bamberg (Uni Bamberg)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Bamberg is a key educational partner. Collaborates with LAGARDE1 on programs including Digital Entrepreneurship (teaching project with Wirtschaftsinformatik and BWL chairs), BIG – Büro für Innovation und Gründung (Office for Innovation and Founding), and the Social Impact Award challenge. Multiple departments and professors engage with LAGARDE1 for student startup programs.
• IT-Cluster Oberfranken e.V.flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIT-Cluster Oberfranken is a core regional technology and innovation partner. Co-organizes the KI-Meetup Bamberg, KI-Allianz Oberfranken, Upper Franconia Innovation Summit (UFIS), DEEP DIVE event series, and multiple other innovation programs with LAGARDE1.
• Bamberg Startups e.V.flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBamberg Startups e.V. is a flagship regional startup organization and key co-development partner. Collaborates on Bamberg Startup Night, Startup-Community meetups (including Bamberg & Coburg Meetup at the Beach), KI-Meetup Bamberg, and other startup ecosystem events hosted at LAGARDE1.
• Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (TH Mittelhessen)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTH Mittelhessen, specifically Prof. Dr. Manuela Weller from SP Mittelstand & Entrepreneurship, partnered with LAGARDE1 and Hanns Seidel Stiftung for the 'Let's start up' seminar event.
• Digital.Fabrik GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital.Fabrik GmbH co-developed the Digital Entrepreneurship teaching project with Uni Bamberg, supported by BIG and LAGARDE1. Represents a structured university-startup-center collaboration for student entrepreneurship education.
• KMU-KI-ErfahrungszentrumflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerKMU-KI-Erfahrungszentrum (SME AI Experience Center) is a key co-development partner for AI-related programming. Co-organizes the KI-Stammtisch Bamberg and KI-Meetup Bamberg series, and the Online-KI-SpeedDating events with LAGARDE1 and regional stakeholders.
• KI-Allianz OberfrankenflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerKI-Allianz Oberfranken is a flagship regional AI coalition co-founded/participated in by LAGARDE1. Members include IT-Cluster Oberfranken, IHK für Oberfranken Bayreuth, IHK zu Coburg, and HWK für Oberfranken. Joint mission is to advance Künstliche Intelligenz in Upper Franconia and foster exchange between business, science, and society.
• IHK für Oberfranken BayreuthflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of Commerce and Industry for Upper Franconia Bayreuth is a key regional partner. Participates in KI-Allianz Oberfranken and co-organizes Upper Franconia Innovation Summit (UFIS), IT-Trends events, and other innovation programming with LAGARDE1.
• IHK zu CoburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of Commerce and Industry Coburg is a regional partner, participating in KI-Allianz Oberfranken and co-organizing cross-regional events such as the Bamberg & Coburg startup meetups.
• HWK für Oberfranken (Chamber of Crafts Upper Franconia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of Crafts for Upper Franconia is a regional partner, participating in KI-Allianz Oberfranken and co-organizing events including Online-KI-SpeedDating focused on trades and crafts businesses.
• BF/M-BayreuthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBF/M-Bayreuth (Business Development Center Middle Franconia/Bayreuth) co-organizes the DEEP DIVE event series with LAGARDE1 and other upper Franconian startup centers.
• Zukunft.Coburg.DigitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZukunft.Coburg.Digital is a Coburg-based digital initiative and partner organization. Co-organizes the Bamberg & Coburg Startup-Community meetups (Meetup at the Beach) and the Upper Franconia Innovation Summit with LAGARDE1.
• Digital Health BambergcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital Health Bamberg is a regional health innovation network organizing the DigiDi – Digital Health Bamberg Stammtisch. Hosts events at LAGARDE1 and collaborates on digital health ecosystem development in Bamberg.
• Social Impact Award GermanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial Impact Award is a pan-German entrepreneurship program for social impact. Partners with LAGARDE1, Büro für Innovation und Gründung Uni Bamberg, and Sparkasse Bamberg to host the Impact Pitch Challenge in Bamberg, awarding €1,000 to the most promising social impact startup idea.
• Startup Teens e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStartup Teens e.V. runs entrepreneurship programs for young people aged 14–23 across Bavaria. Partners with LAGARDE1 for the Bayerntour Ideenworkshop in Bamberg, helping young people develop business ideas with the chance to win prize money.
• EINSTEIN1 Digitales GründerzentrumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEINSTEIN1 Digitales Gründerzentrum (Digital Startup Center) in Hof is a fellow upper Franconian startup center. Collaborates on DEEP DIVE online event series, sharing regional startup expertise and best practices across the startup center network.
• Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum HandwerkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMittelstand-Digital Zentrum Handwerk is a federal SME digital transformation support center. Co-organizes the Online-KI-SpeedDating events (Bavarian Edition), Toolbox Low-Code/No-Code workshop, and other digital skills events with LAGARDE1 targeting trades and crafts businesses.
• IGZ Bamberg GmbHflagshipOthersIGZ Bamberg GmbH is the parent company and operator of LAGARDE1. IGZ Bamberg GmbH is registered at Kronacher Str. 41, 96052 Bamberg, with two locations (IGZ Bamberg at Kronacher Str. and LAGARDE1 at Nathan-R.-Preston-Str.) pursuing the shared mission of building a sustainable startup ecosystem in the Bamberg economic region.
• Hanns Seidel StiftungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHanns Seidel Stiftung is a political foundation that partnered with LAGARDE1 and TH Mittelhessen for the 'Let's start up' seminar 'Der Weg von der Idee bis zum Start,' a full-day entrepreneurship workshop open to future founders, self-employed, and entrepreneurs.
• Games BavariaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGames Bavaria is a regional game development network. Co-sponsors food and beverages at the Indie Outpost Bamberg gaming developer meetup hosted at LAGARDE1.
• BayernLab ForchheimminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBayernLab Forchheim is a Bavarian digital innovation lab. Collaborated with LAGARDE1 on Code Week Bayern events including the MINT-Lab interactive expo featuring AI, robotics, VR, and 3D printing.
• MINT-Zentrum HirschaidminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMINT-Zentrum Hirschaid is a STEM education center. Co-organized multiple Code Week Bayern events at LAGARDE1 including RoboGripper (Arduino robot workshop), Robo World (Thymio robotics), and Der Computer von innen (computer hardware).
• NEO BambergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEO Bamberg is a Bamberg-based maker and digital education organization. Co-organized Code Week Bayern events at LAGARDE1 including blinkende Schlüsselanhänger löten (soldering workshop) and Magic Music with Makey Makey.
• Forschungsgruppe Elementarinformatik (FELI), Uni BambergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFELI (Research Group on Elementary Computer Science) at University of Bamberg co-organized Code Week Bayern events at LAGARDE1 including Robo World and Der Computer von innen, introducing children to informatics and robotics concepts.
• MINTmobil, Uni BambergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMINTmobil at University of Bamberg is a mobile STEM education initiative. Co-organized Code Week Bayern events at LAGARDE1 including Robo World and Der Computer von innen, bringing hands-on technology education to children.
• Innovative Sozialarbeit e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovative Sozialarbeit e.V. is a Bamberg-based social innovation organization. Co-organized the 'Mach halt! Sozialer Hackathon' event with LAGARDE1, bringing together civic-minded citizens to develop projects addressing democratic and societal challenges.
• Bamberg ToastmastersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBamberg Toastmasters organized a Public Speaking Demo Meeting for founders at LAGARDE1 (held in English), helping founders develop pitch, presentation, and communication skills in a supportive community environment.
• Wirtschaftsjunioren Bamberg (WJ Bamberg)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWirtschaftsjunioren Bamberg (Bamberg Junior Chamber / Young Professionals) organized the WJ Bamberg Insights – HackNight cybersecurity event at LAGARDE1, featuring ethical hacker Marco Di Filippo of whitelisthackers GmbH.
• vhs Bamberg StadtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVHS Bamberg Stadt (Bamberg City Adult Education Center) co-organizes the annual Digitaltag event at LAGARDE1, opening the digital Gründerzentrum to the public and providing guided tours of the facility.
• vhs Bamberg-LandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVHS Bamberg-Land (Bamberg Rural District Adult Education Center) is listed as a co-organizer of the Digitaltag 2026 event at LAGARDE1 alongside vhs Bamberg Stadt.
• Techniker KrankenkasseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechniker Krankenkasse (German health insurance provider) partnered with LAGARDE1 for the Business Health Day events, offering wellness programming including Meal Prep and Bodyscan sessions at the center.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Factory Berlin: Large, multi-site innovation campus and coworking operator in Berlin serving startups, corporates and ecosystem partners. Broader and more mature in scale than LAGARDE1 but operates the same combination of coworking, events and corporate partnership programming.
• Mindspace GmbH: European flexible-workspace operator with multiple locations across Germany and beyond. Comparable on the coworking-rental and event-space business model, though it serves a corporate, premium segment and is private-equity backed rather than publicly funded.

Direct peers

• Werk1 (Werk1 Ventures GmbH): Digital startup center and coworking ecosystem in Munich. Comparable as a publicly supported digital Gründungszentrum offering coworking, event programming and startup support services in Bavaria, but at significantly larger urban scale.
• Sankt Oberholz: Berlin coworking, café and event venue brand catering to founders and digital professionals. Closely comparable community-led, event-driven coworking concept, though it operates as a private commercial brand rather than a publicly funded center.
• EINSTEIN1 Digitales Gründerzentrum: Fellow Bavarian publicly funded Digitales Gründerzentrum located in Hof, Upper Franconia. Directly comparable as a regional digital startup center with coworking, events and KI programming; collaborates with LAGARDE1 on DEEP DIVE online events and shares the same funding and operating model.
• Hafven Coworking & Innovation Space: Publicly supported coworking and innovation hub in Hannover offering flexible workspace, event programming and a startup community. Comparable business model combining subsidized coworking with corporate and event-driven programming in a regional German city.
• betahaus Berlin: Berlin-based coworking and event space with a strong startup community programming focus. Comparable offering of day/weekly/monthly tickets, event venues and founder community events, but in a much larger urban market.

Others

• IGZ Bamberg (parent location at Kronacher Straße): Parent/affiliated innovation center operated by the same GmbH (IGZ Bamberg GmbH) that operates LAGARDE1. Functions as a sister facility under the same legal entity and shared mission of building the Bamberg startup ecosystem.
• Startup Teens e.V. German nonprofit running entrepreneurship programs for young people (14-23). LAGARDE1 is a regional Bayerntour host partner; comparable as a pipeline-generation ecosystem organization supporting the same founder target segment.
• Social Impact Award (Germany): Pan-German social-entrepreneurship program that partners with LAGARDE1 to host the Bamberg Impact Pitch Challenge. Adjacent ecosystem player rather than a competitor; relevant as a programming/funnel partner for impact-oriented founders.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lagarde1

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 LAGARDE1