Futury opens Startup Space

With a summer celebration attended by more than 200 guests from politics, business, academia, investment, media and the startup community, Futury and the House of Digital Transformation (HoDT) unveiled two pioneering initiatives on 10 September at Frankfurt School of Finance & Management’s Bertramshof Campus:
the opening of the new Futury Startup Space and the launch of a new application centre for Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing, led by HoDT and funded by the Hessian Ministry for Digitalisation and Innovation.

The two initiatives complement one another: the Startup Space provides the infrastructure, community and entrepreneurial momentum, while the HoDT project brings a focus on future technologies with real-world application. Together, they unite research, business and society in a powerful ecosystem — establishing a new hub for innovation in the Rhine-Main region and beyond.

A dual milestone for the region – a home for entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence

The new Futury Startup Space will serve as a central hub for entrepreneurship, innovation and collaboration. Combining infrastructure, expertise and network access under one roof, it is set to become the heart of the region’s industry-driven startup ecosystem.
Spanning 2,000 square metres, the space offers fixed and flexible desks, team offices, meeting rooms and event areas for founders, startups and innovation partners.

The Startup Space also serves as the operational anchor of Futury – the Startup Factory jointly developed by Frankfurt School and the Rhine-Main universities, funded by the German Federal Government and supported by leading industry partners.
Futury’s ambition is clear: to enable more than 1,000 new startup ventures in the region by 2030, with a strong focus on science-based spin-offs.

In parallel, the House of Digital Transformation (HoDT), together with the Hessian Ministry for Digitalisation and Innovation, launched a new anchor initiative for Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing. The aim is to connect research, startups, industry and society more closely, to support the development of practical, real-world AI applications, and to promote the responsible and ethical use of AI technologies.

Summer Festival as a Showcase of Innovation

Guests at the summer festival were given a first glimpse of the region’s innovative spirit:

- The Pop-up Stop of the state-wide AI Tour offered hands-on exhibits, giving visitors a chance to experience how artificial intelligence is already transforming daily life and business.

- In the Futury Startup Area – housed within the new Startup Space – around 50 startups from across the Rhine-Main ecosystem presented their ventures, with roughly one in four focusing on AI-driven innovation. The result: a vibrant display of the region’s creative and technological strength.

You can start anywhere – but growth needs the right place

With the new Startup Space, Futury aims to support science-based founders through the most critical early stages of their entrepreneurial journey. A defining feature of the Futury approach is its close integration with industry, investors, academia and policymakers – a network that transforms potential into progress.

“Germany needs more places where entrepreneurship is seen as a vital mission for the future – and actively shaped,” says Charlie Müller, Founder and Managing Director of Futury. “The Startup Space embodies exactly that: a catalyst for talent, technology and entrepreneurial courage – built on visibility, substance and concrete support.”

Melissa Ott, Managing Director of Futury, adds: “Our goal is to empower researchers, students and young founders to turn their ideas and discoveries into viable, market-ready products – with professional guidance from the first spark of entrepreneurship through to successful scaling.”

Voices on the Opening

Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus, Hessian Minister for Digitalisation and Innovation:“ With Futury, the House of Digital Transformation, and other partners, we’re creating a central hub for collaboration and innovation here at Bertramshof – a place where Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing move from concept to real-world application. Start-ups will find workspace, networks and support for financing here at Futury. At the same time, companies can co-develop and test prototypes with HoDT’s AI project – turning visions into action, side by side with strong Hessian partners from research, politics and business.”

Charlie Müller, Founder & Managing Director, Futury:“ With the Futury Startup Space, we’ve created a place where science, business and entrepreneurship truly meet. It’s not just about nurturing ideas – it’s about turning them into impact through mutual support from everyone in the Futury Startup ecosystem.”

Melissa Ott, Managing Director, Futury:“ We look forward to welcoming many new founders who will find not just an office here, but an ecosystem that supports, empowers and propels them forward.”

Hauke Schlüter, Managing Director, House of Digital Transformation: “ This new AI project will build bridges between research, start-ups, established companies and the public sector. Our goal is to make AI practically applicable – to help tackle the major challenges facing business and society today.”