Knowledge
Startup Glossary
Welcome to the ultimate startup glossary - your comprehensive reference book for all relevant terms related to the world of startups! Whether you are just at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey or in the middle of the startup development process, you will find everything you need to know here.
Upcoming Events
Discover the most exciting startup events in the coming weeks - from networking and pitch competitions to inspiring conferences. Here you will find all the dates, brief information and links for direct registration at a glance.
Network Summit: AI Meets SMEs
The best innovations emerge where new ideas meet real-world challenges. That is precisely what the NetzwerkSummit on 30 September 2026 at the innoWerft brings together.
15 years of innoWerft: How an idea grew into a strong innovation ecosystem
When the town of Walldorf, SAP SE and the FZI Research Centre for Information Technology founded innoWerft in 2010, they were driven by a clear conviction: good ideas need more than just good intentions. They need access to experience, networks, capital and their first customers. Fifteen years on, this idea has grown into an established player in the start-up ecosystem.
Runway at the start-up
Setting up a start-up is often like building an aeroplane whilst in a nosedive. The most important question that founders must constantly bear in mind is: How much time do we have left before the aeroplane hits the ground – or, to put it metaphorically, before the company runs out of money? In the start-up world, this remaining period of time is known as the ‘runway’.
What is an MVP? Definition, examples and common mistakes for start-ups
Months of work, and in the end nobody uses it? That can be avoided. A Minimum Viable Product (MVP) helps you test your business idea directly on the market with minimal effort. Find out how to stay focused, gather genuine user feedback and avoid costly missteps.
What is an equity story?
An equity story explains why your startup will gain value in the long term. In the early phase, it is more important than turnover or KPIs because these are usually still lacking. Private investors therefore make their decision based on structure and logic rather than numbers.
Review of the startup year 2025 - and why 2026 will be the year of opportunities
The year 2025 was a milestone for the German startup scene: 3,568 new startups - that's 29 % more than in 2024 and even more than in the previous record year of 2021. After the weaker years of 2022 and 2023, the momentum is back - and stronger than ever before. A good omen for the new year! Find out what the market looks like and what opportunities await startups in 2026.
Startup vs. competitor giants: How to stand your ground in the shark tank
To be fast enough so that nobody can keep up. A wish that many start-ups harbour. But the reality is often different: As soon as a start-up enters the market with a good idea, the big players take notice. Suddenly you are competing with players that have budgets in the millions, established structures and market power.