Newsletter
Fraunhofer Venture
Newsletter
- Fraunhofer Venture - Questions and Answers
- Spin-off Profile
- News
- Events
Fraunhofer Venture - Questions and Answers
Topic: Founders and Their Business Plan - What is Important? An Expert Answers. Interview with: Matthias Keckl, Fraunhofer Venture
Mr. Keckl, how do you usually receive the first ideas?
Usually, we receive first ideas on the phone. Institute employees who want to found an enterprise call Fraunhofer Venture because they have an idea and could imagine to transform this idea into a spin-off. The next step then is to develop a first draft paper. Very rarely, a business plan is already set up at this stage. Only after extensive talks, a first business plan is then developed.
How important is a business plan?
From our point of view a business plan is very important and serves as a basis for the decision to what extent we are able to support a concept and whether we will find investors for this concept. Furthermore, it is also very important for the founders to present their product or service in a simplified and comprehensible manner to a non-research audience.
How significant is the personality of the founders presenting the business plan?
Very important. However, usually the teams and the individual founders are still developing. The behavior of the founder at the beginning often is not the same as the behavior of the entrepreneur later on.
How long do you have to familiarize with an idea to be able to say whether it is good or not? Or is that rather obvious?
It does take some time. Several months from the basic idea to the business plan are nothing special. First of all, we need to get to know the research topic at the institute and the pertaining projects. Also an impression of how the researchers work and how serious they are about the spin-off is important and needs time. In addition, we are involved in the process at a very early stage. But a first gut feeling is often also very helpful.
How many people at Fraunhofer Venture get to see such a business plan?
Basically, the spin-off is supported by one project team consisting of one investment manager - for all commercial issues - and a legal specialist. Additionally, the project is discussed internally to exchange experiences for example with similar projects.
Besides the idea, what is the most important criterion for supporting a spin-off concept?
No doubt - the founders' personality.
What is the most frequent reason - besides the idea - to reject a concept?
If the founders do not mobilize their entire energy to enhance the project or if interests are contrary to each other, i.e. if the economic idea, that is to lead the enterprise to success, does not match with other interests. We try to bundle these interests and to enhance the project with one common goal.
Does it happen that founders, even though Fraunhofer Venture would support them, get cold feet in the end because they are afraid of self-employment?
That happens again and again, because it is often not clear to the researchers what it really means to go into business for themselves and to leave the position at Fraunhofer. The security issue is very important. We try to put across to the founders at an early stage what it means to build up their own enterprise.
Has the number of "bail-outs" increased in times of crisis?
It's not about the crisis actually. It's mainly again about the personality of the founder. I would actually say that people rather tend to bail out in boom times because then it seems more attractive to go into the industry than to found a spin-off.
Spin-off Profile
eZelleron GmbH
Batteries and accumulator systems that regularly need to be connected to the mains for regeneration do not come up to the growing demands on portable energy storages in a satisfactory way. To solve these problems, there is worldwide research in the field of fuel cells underway that provide electric energy entirely independent of the mains, on the move, and efficiently. eZelleron GmbH, a spin-off from the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS has well advanced research and development and solicited high amounts for first-round financing.
With this technology, eZelleron GmbH - a spin-off from Fraunhofer IKTS - made its breakthrough. Since 2008, the Dresden based company has been developing low-emission energy sources for mobile power supply in the form of fuel cells. The eZelleron technology has the potential to produce electric and eco-friendly energy through small fuel cell units entirely independent of the mains and without prior charging. These fuel cell units may not only be used with expensive hydrogen but also with easily available fuels such as propane, butane, diesel, kerosene, or camping gas. The products are free of precious metals and achieve a high degree of efficiency at low costs. The fuel cells may be integrated into other systems or used as external charging devices. Thus, the company is in the position to offer its customers a highly efficient energy source enabling permanent and mobile power supply. By integrating the eZelleron technology into real products, many people can benefit from the advantages of fuel cells. The user enjoys the freedom of using electronic devices on the move anywhere and at any time. Instead of searching for a socket or carrying several batteries, charging adapters, and travel adapters, the own socket is always carried along.
In addition to the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS, eZelleron was able to win the Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences as a strategic partner with long-term experience in the field of fuel cell development.
News
Information on the Company Pension Scheme
In the context of Fraunhofer spin-offs, questions on the company pension scheme keep on coming up. Either on existing contracts of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft or also on new topics evolving with the foundation of a new company, for example:
- How can the legal claim to deferred compensation be fulfilled?
- Is the owner-manager still subject to social insurance contribution?
- How can top performers be tied down to the company?
- How can costs in compensation systems be minimized?
Hannover Messe 2010
This important technology fair in Hannover from April 19-23, 2010 will again be used this year by Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Institutes and Alliances to present their latest developments and research results to trade visitors and the public.
Central topics of Hannover Messe this year are industrial automation, energy technologies, industrial subcontracting, services, and future technologies. Italy is the official partner country.
This year's main booth of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is the electromobility theme pavilion in hall 2. The current project "System Research Electromobility" is intended to support the German automotive industry to secure a worldwide leading position in this field in the long term.
Fraunhofer offers know-how for the entire process chain of future electromobility such as power generation, power transport, drive, and lightweight construction. In total, 34 Fraunhofer Institutes are involved in the project.
With the Energy, Adaptronics, Simulation theme pavilions, the TASK booth of the High-Performance Ceramics Alliance, and the theme pavilion of the IVAM Microtechnology Network, further latest developments are presented at Hannover Messe.
Startup Day 2010
In addition to the scheduled workshops and presentations of participating companies, a moderated panel discussion is planned for the evening. Afterwards, participants may use the Recruiting Lounge and the Network Lounge for further talk and discussion while enjoying some snacks from a light buffet.
The Startup Day 2010 is organized by the Mannheim campus group of the Bundesverband Deutscher Volks- und Betriebswirte e.V. (bdvb). The invitation addresses students interested in starting a business, start-up entrepreneurs, investors, and supporting organizations. The program comprises presentations and workshops aiming at addressing different aspects of founding an enterprise. After a panel discussion, the Recruiting and Network Lounge will serve as communication platforms for establishing important contacts.
The Startup Day will start at 2 p.m. Entrepreneurs, recruiters, and investors may participate for a fee of 20 euros, students are free of charge. Online registration is required.
Munich Network: 5th Technology Day on March 18, 2010
Munich Network and Fraunhofer Venture invite entrepreneurs, managers, and investors to the 5th Technology Day on March 18, 2010 themed ‘Challenges and Perspectives of Business and Innovation Financing’. Start-ups looking for capital and cooperations also have the opportunity to introduce themselves with brief presentations during the event.
The event "Challenges and Perspectives of Business and Innovation Financing" is scheduled to start in the Hans-Seidel-Stiftung conference center, Lazarettstr. 33 in Munich on March 18, 2010 at 9 a.m. The invitation addresses entrepreneurs and managers from industrial and service enterprises, but also investors, financial intermediaries, and consultants from this sector. The event will not only deal with the current situation of business and innovation financing, but also with the situation of the financial and capital markets.
Prominent business personalities and capital market experts have been invited and will not only share their knowledge with the conference participants, but will furthermore also report about personal experiences and ideas. The fee amounts to 330 euros.
In addition, the 5th Technology Day of Munich Network offers start-ups the opportunity to present themselves and their concept. In a 6 minutes pitch, the companies have the chance to solicit capital and cooperation partners. Prior registration is required.
bwcon: High-Tech Gründerfonds Consultation - Registration Deadline: March 12, 2010
Founders and scientists once again have the chance to consult professional investment managers, who will assess their business idea and also to learn more about financing possibilities through High-Tech Gründerfonds. Consultation hours are scheduled for March 31, 2010 and will take place at the office of the business initiative Baden-Württemberg connected (bwcon), Breitscheidstraße 4, in Stuttgart.
High-Tech Gründerfonds - a public-private partnership - provides founders and scientists with the possibility to have their business model assessed by investment managers in a personal consultation and checked for their suitability for financing through High-Tech Gründerfonds. Consultation hours are scheduled for March 31, 2010 and will take place at the office of the business initiative Baden-Württemberg connected (bwcon), Breitscheidstraße 4, in Stuttgart. Appointments are set for the duration of one hour. Registrations including a brief description of the founding concept are accepted until March 12, 2010. Participation is free of charge.
High-Tech Gründerfonds offers financing alternatives for innovative founding projects in the start-up phase. In addition to start-up capital, freshly founded companies may also make use of consulting and support services of the High-Tech Gründerfonds management. The offer addresses founding projects looking for seed financing, but also founders and researchers in the start-up phase.
As a mediator between High-Tech Gründerfonds and freshly founded companies, bwcon together with Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg (MFG) regularly organizes consultation days. In a personal consultation, founders and project teams from research establishments present their business idea to High-Tech Gründerfonds investment managers. The investment managers' task is to assess the presented business models and to check possible financing by High-Tech Gründerfonds.
Would you like to discuss your business idea with experienced entrepreneurs and managers? High-Tech Gründerfonds offers an additional appointment with mentors of bwcon: Coaching Group. The aim is to identify alternative methods for financing and to explain the possibilities of concomitant coaching. Interested founders and scientists also have to register by March 12, 2010 for this event.
Events
Networkshop in Herrsching from May 19-21, 2010
For the 8th time already, the Fraunhofer Venture Networkshop will take place from May 19-21, 2010. The aim is to bring together people with founding ambitions as well as experience for an exchange of experiences.
Different topics, team-building measures as well as entertaining and informative presentations are part of the annual event. The Networkshop is held at the Haus der bayerischen Landwirtschaft in Herrsching on the Ammersee. Registrations are accepted until March 31, 2010.
With a mixture of knowledge transfer, exchange of experiences, and outdoor activities in a casual atmosphere, Fraunhofer Venture attaches importance to organizing a diversified event. The timetable with presentations, teamwork, and team-building measures still leaves enough room for networking.
The event starts Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at 1 p.m. and ends Friday, May 21, 2010 at 1 p.m. The participation fee amounts to 690 euros per person. This price includes accommodation and meals as well as all presentations and outdoor activities. It is recommended to bring casual clothing, sturdy shoes, and weatherproof clothing. The location is handicapped accessible.
German Equity Forum Spring 2010
Once again, from April 28-29, 2010 the German Equity Forum will take place in Dresden. The event serves as a networking platform for young entrepreneurs and start-ups to contact investors, consultants, and funding institutions.
Twice a year, the German Equity Forum invites young, innovative enterprises in the early stage and growth stage to present their business and products to a wide circle of investors. Addressed are in particular high-tech enterprises and start-ups that require capital for financing their research and development or that are planning second round financing for their expansion strategy. The participants receive the opportunity to establish contacts with investors, consultants, and funding institutions.
Since 1996, Deutsche Börse and the KfW SME Bank have organized the German Equity Forum, Europe's most successful and established event in the field of equity financing, on a twice-yearly basis.
Registration for participating enterprises, for investors, consultants, and visitors may be completed online from February 2010.
Set Bookmark