Grunderschmiede Remscheid E.v.

What Grunderschmiede Remscheid E.v. does

Gründerschmiede Remscheid e.V. is a German non-profit association founded in 2016 and headquartered in Remscheid, North Rhine-Westphalia, operating the Gründerquartier (Founder Quarter) out of a former tool factory. The organization provides a bundled service stack for early-stage founders, SMEs, and established companies in the Bergisches Städtedreieck region (Remscheid, Wuppertal, Solingen): flexible coworking desks starting at 99 EUR/month, single and team offices, meeting and event rooms, business address rental, and a maker space (Tüftlerwerkstatt) equipped with 3D printing, video/podcasting, and woodworking/metalworking facilities. It also delivers free and subsidized startup consulting (Gründerberatung) with access to a network of over 250 consulting offerings, and runs community programming including the Gründerstammtisch founder meetup, the Schmiede Pitch competition, and the annual Bergischer KI Summit.

The underlying technology is primarily physical infrastructure rather than software. The Gründerquartier combines workspace, fabrication tools, and content production facilities under one roof, supplemented by a publicly accessible Innovationswand (Playwall) method installation in the courtyard that surfaces entrepreneurship frameworks (Design Thinking, Business Model Canvas) for visitors and students. Distribution is overwhelmingly regional and direct: onsite bookings augmented by the institutional referral pipeline through the co-located NRW Startercenter Remscheid, which routes aspiring founders into the organization's consulting and workspace services.

The business model is a hybrid of subscription-based facility rentals (coworking, offices, meeting rooms, business address), usage-based fees for the maker space and 3D-printed merchandise, and public grant funding from the EU, the BMWi, the NRW Ministry of Economics, and Engagement Global. Free or subsidized consulting is treated as a member-acquisition funnel rather than a revenue line. The organization is governed by a Vorstand of three board members (Simon Haase, Gero Hübenthal, Dr. Peter Dültgen) under the leadership of Geschäftsführerin Nicole Haas, with a small operating team of 1-10 employees.

Name

Grunderschmiede Remscheid E.v.

Legal name

Gründerschmiede Remscheid e.V.

Website

https://gruenderschmiede.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Gründerschmiede Remscheid e.V. is a non-profit startup incubator and coworking provider in Remscheid, Germany, offering workspaces, free consulting, maker space access, and regional AI programming to early-stage founders, SMEs, and established companies in the Bergisches Städtedreieck.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Remscheid

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: Flexible coworking desk rentals from 99 EUR/month, with premium desk options including key access. Revenue is recurring and subscription-based, driven by the number of active desk bookings.
2. Office Space Rental: Rental of single and team offices equipped with desk, chair, and storage. Provides a more permanent workspace solution compared to coworking desks.
3. Business Address Rental: Provision of the organization's address (Hindenburgstraße 6a-10a) as a registered business address for clients, including mail handling during reception hours.
4. Meeting & Event Room Rental: Rental of meeting rooms, training rooms, party rooms, and event spaces. Also includes a Schmiede Pitch event competition venue.
5. Gründerberatung (Startup Consulting): Free and subsidized startup and business succession consulting services. The organization has access to a network of over 250 consulting offerings. Revenue may flow indirectly through NRW Startercenter funding and public grants.
6. 3D Printed Products: Sale of 3D printed merchandise, such as the Remscheider Löwe mascot priced at 15 EUR, produced in the on-site Tüftlerwerkstatt maker space.
7. Maker Space / Tüftlerwerkstatt Access: Access fees for using the maker space facilities including 3D printing studio, video/podcast studio, and woodworking/metalworking workshop.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Gründerschmiede Remscheid e.V. is a non-profit startup incubator operating the Gründerquartier facility in an old tool factory in Remscheid, Germany. It provides flexible coworking desks, private offices, meeting and event rooms, business address rental, and a maker space (Tüftlerwerkstatt) equipped with 3D printing, video/podcast studio, and woodworking/metalworking workshops. The organization also delivers free and subsidized startup and business succession consulting, and runs regional networking programs including the Bergisches KI Netzwerk.

Product overview

Gründerschmiede Remscheid e.V. is a nonprofit startup incubator and coworking space provider operating from an old tool factory in Remscheid, Germany. The core offering consists of the Gründerquartier (Founder Quarter), which provides flexible coworking spaces, private offices, meeting rooms, and virtual office services for startups and entrepreneurs. The organization complements its physical workspace offerings with Gründerberatung (startup consulting) services including business planning, company formation, and succession planning. Additional facilities include the Tüftlerwerkstatt & Maker Space featuring a 3D printing studio, woodworking/metalworking workshop, and video/podcast studio. The organization also runs community programs including the Bergisches KI-Netzwerk (regional AI network) with regular summits and lunch events, the Schmiede Pitch startup competition, and access to the NRW Gründerstipendium funding program. This is a service-based business incubator, not a software product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bergisches KI Netzwerk: A regional AI network initiative co-initiated by Gründerschmiede, Bergische IHK, and Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Zukunftskultur to support companies in the Bergisches region with AI adoption.

Products and services

• Gründerquartier (Founder Quarter) Physical startup incubator and coworking facility located in a former tool factory in central Remscheid, providing flexible workspaces, offices, meeting rooms, and event venues for startups, freelancers, and small businesses.
• Gründerberatung (Startup Consulting) Business consulting service for founders covering business idea development, company formation, business plan creation, and business succession planning, with access to a network of over 250 consulting offerings.
• Coworking Space Flexible coworking workspaces starting at 99 EUR per month, equipped with desk, chair, storage, WiFi/LAN, printer, and complimentary tea/coffee. Open weekdays 9:00-22:00.
• Büroräume (Office Spaces) Single and team offices in various sizes, equipped with desks, chairs, and storage containers, with key access included for startups and businesses needing a permanent workspace.
• Meeting & Training Rooms Flexible meeting rooms and training spaces available for booking, including event and party rooms, for business meetings, presentations, workshops, and team events.
• Geschäftsadresse mieten (Business Address Rental) Virtual office service allowing businesses to use the Gründerquartier address (Hindenburgstraße 6a-10a, Remscheid) for commercial registrations, trade registers, and business correspondence, including mail handling during reception hours.
• Tüftlerwerkstatt & Maker Space Urban workshop and maker space providing access to a fully equipped 3D printing studio, woodworking and metalworking workshop, and video/podcast studio for founders, makers, and the community.
• Gründerstammtisch & Networking Events Regular networking events, founder meetups (Gründerstammtisch), workshops, and the Schmiede Pitch startup competition for the regional startup community.
• Bergisches KI-Netzwerk Regional AI network initiative featuring the annual Bergischer KI Summit and monthly KI Lunch events, supporting companies in the Bergisches region with AI adoption.
• 3D Printed Merchandise Sale of 3D-printed products produced in the on-site Tüftlerwerkstatt maker space, such as the Remscheider Löwe mascot priced at 15 EUR, available at the Gründerquartier or by email order.

Quantifiable outcome

• Access to over 250 consulting offerings through the organization's network
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bergische IHKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2026Bergische IHK (Chamber of Industry and Commerce Bergisches Land) co-organizes the Bergisches KI Netzwerk and Bergischer KI Summit alongside the Gründerschmiede. IHK representative Claudia Novak co-welcomed the 3rd Bergischer KI Summit on April 16, 2026. The partnership positions both organizations as regional innovation drivers.
• Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum ZukunftskulturcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2026Co-initiator of the Bergisches KI Netzwerk and co-organizer of the Bergischer KI Summit. Representative Beate Deska presented at the 2026 KI Summit on AI labeling requirements and offered free digitization and AI support services at the accompanying exhibition.
• solingen.business (Gründer- und Technologiezentrum Solingen)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2026Partner and host venue for the 3rd Bergischer KI Summit which took place at the Gründer- und Technologiezentrum Solingen (GuT).
• Bergische Universität WuppertalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2026Academic partner of the Bergisches KI Netzwerk and exhibitor at the KI Summit. Dr. Hassan Tercan from the university presented on transferring AI projects from research into business applications.
• Technische Akademie Wuppertal (TAW)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2026Exhibitor at the 3rd Bergischer KI Summit, presenting continuing education offerings that help companies prepare employees for digital transformation.
• Cybermodellregion Bergisches LandminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2026Exhibitor at the KI Summit, demonstrating the intersection of AI and cybersecurity topics in the region.
• Ausschuss Digitale Wirtschaft Bergisches Land (IHK)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2026Exhibited at the KI Summit showcasing how regional companies can network around digital economy topics.
• KI-Scouts / BZI RemscheidminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2026Presented practical support offerings for SMEs looking to adopt AI at the KI Summit exhibition.
• coworkit (Solingen)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2022Co-organizer of the 1st Bergische Start-Up Woche (June 2022). coworkit hosted the Solingen day of the event and provided co-working perspectives across the Bergisches Städtedreieck.
• W-tec (Wuppertal)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2022Technology and startup center in Wuppertal, co-organizer of the 1st Bergische Start-Up Woche. Hosted the opening day of the event.
• Startup-Center der BUW (Bergische Universität Wuppertal)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2022University startup center in Wuppertal, co-organizer of the 1st Bergische Start-Up Woche, providing academic entrepreneurship support.
• Startercenter NRW (Bergisches Städtedreieck)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2022NRW state-supported startup centers network across the Bergisches Städtedreieck. The Gründerschmiede hosts its own Startercenter location within the Gründerquartier, providing institutional referral of founders.
• Wirtschaftsförderung RemscheidcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2022Economic development agency of the city of Remscheid. Co-hosts events including the Frühstarter – IMPULS. NETZWERK. SANDWICH format and supports the NRW Startercenter Remscheid located at the Gründerquartier. Contact: Matthias Schachmann.
• FAB.Region Bergisches StädtedreieckcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAB.Region is a collaborative initiative connecting economy, social providers, and civil society around circular economy topics in the Bergisches Städtedreieck. The Gründerschmiede contributes startup, innovation, and new business model perspectives to FAB.Region projects such as the textile workshop initiative with the Kinderschutzbund.
• Kinderschutzbund RemscheidminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal child welfare organization collaborating with the Gründerschmiede on a planned textile workshop project to rethink textile circularity from collection to reprocessing, as part of FAB.Region's circular economy initiatives.
• ENA Bremicker StiftungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate foundation that funded the installation of the Innovationswand (Playwall) in the courtyard of the Gründerquartier, a physical method display for entrepreneurship education accessible to the public.
• Unikat Colors (Design Agency)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign agency that created the visual design and artwork for the Innovationswand (Playwall) installation at the Gründerquartier.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Impact Hub Germany: Impact Hub operates a network of coworking, incubation, and community spaces across Germany focused on social entrepreneurship and innovation. It mirrors Gründerschmiede's blend of workspace, programming, and community-building for mission-driven founders, though at significantly larger national scale.
• coworkit (Solingen): coworkit is a coworking and event space in Solingen, part of the Bergisches Städtedreieck. It co-organized the 1st Bergische Start-Up Woche with Gründerschmiede and offers directly comparable coworking, event, and community services to the same regional audience.
• Startup-Center der Bergischen Universität Wuppertal: University-affiliated startup center offering entrepreneurship support, founder coaching, and connections to academic resources in the same Bergisches region. It co-organized the Bergische Start-Up Woche with Gründerschmiede and addresses the same founder segment with adjacent institutional backing.
• solingen.business (Gründer- und Technologiezentrum Solingen): The Solingen founder and technology center hosted the 3rd Bergischer KI Summit with Gründerschmiede and serves the same regional audience with comparable incubation and event programming. It is the closest direct municipal peer in the Bergisches Städtedreieck.
• W-tec Wuppertal: W-tec is the technology and startup center in Wuppertal, co-hosting the Bergische Start-Up Woche alongside Gründerschmiede. It provides comparable incubator services and is part of the same Bergisches Städtedreieck regional innovation network.

Broad incumbents

• Factory Berlin: Factory Berlin is a well-known startup campus offering coworking, event, and community programming in Berlin. While much larger and in a different city, it represents the broader incumbent model of tech- and founder-focused campus that Gründerschmiede operates in miniature for the Bergisches region.
• Mindspace Germany: Mindspace is a German and European coworking chain offering flexible office, coworking, and event spaces across multiple cities including Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich. It overlaps with Gründerschmiede's coworking and meeting room offerings but as a premium, multi-city operator rather than a regional incubator.

Regional players

• Garage33 (Bielefeld): Garage33 is a startup incubator and coworking space in Bielefeld that combines founder support, event programming, and workspace similar to Gründerschmiede. It serves a comparable mid-sized German city with regional public funding support and addresses an analogous founder and SME audience, though in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCp3tuDWYku3453jD6BUiWzA
• Facebookfacebook.com/gruenderschmiede
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gruenderschmiede
• Instagraminstagram.com/gruenderschmiede_remscheid

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Grunderschmiede Remscheid E.v.