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Fraunhofer Venture
Newsletter
- Spin-off - Questions and Answers
- Spin-off Profile
- Events and Training
- Forums and Network Events
Spin-off - Questions und Answers
The first months of a spin-off - Stephan Schreib from SCUS talks about the beginning and the first steps into self-employment. A look back after 2 years.
The Servicecenter Umweltsimulation (SCUS) is a spin-off of the Fraunhofer Application Center for Processing Machinery and Packaging Technology AVV in Dresden. Since August 1, 2008, the seamless transition of the founders into SCUS GmbH has been fully completed. With the support of Fraunhofer Venture, the young enterprise was able to quickly establish itself on the market successfully.
Stephan Schreib, managing director of SCUS, talks about the young enterprise's start-up phase.
Mr. Schreib, you have been self-employed with SCUS since 2008. What is your resume when looking back?
I would say that we were pretty lucky and escaped major difficulties. It is easier to sacrifice your leisure time to process the jobs you have than to have no jobs and not to know how to earn money. In that sense we are very satisfied when looking back. We have achieved the aim we had in mind and successfully further developed our business area.
How difficult was the initial phase from your perspective? Did you think it would be easier or did everything go as planned?
Due to the fact that we were in a good position from the start, many problems just resolved themselves. We already knew many customers and, thus, could quickly establish ourselves on the market. We took over the business area of the Fraunhofer AVV, that was in pretty good shape. Furthermore, we had easy access to other technology enterprises due to the accreditation of SCUS GmbH. Thank God, we were not confronted with any real difficulties.
How well were you prepared for self-employment? How did Fraunhofer Venture support you?
It was perfect of course that with Fraunhofer Venture and the FFE (Fraunhofer Fosters Entrepreneurship) program we had the opportunity to further develop the business area and received financial aid and support. We were not thrown in at the deep end but had a seamless transition from being a Fraunhofer employee to being a self-employed entrepreneur. The possibility to first test yourself and get organized was very nice. Fraunhofer Venture helped us with that right from the start and offered support for important questions. Our contact with Fraunhofer Venture still is very good.
Please tell us a little bit about the time before the spin-off. How was SCUS' core business integrated at Fraunhofer? Has the core business developed any further or remained the same?
The business area was integrated at the Fraunhofer AVV in 2006 and in 2008 we spun off with this business area and the SCUS GmbH. The area as such does not exist any longer at the Fraunhofer AVV but was taken over entirely by SCUS GmbH. About the core business I would say that it did not change. We are still dealing with environmental simulation - this is our competence and there are also our roots.
What kind of feeling do you have venturing into self-employment? Euphoric, skeptical or do you think that it depends on the person?
We as engineers were rather skeptical and we were far from euphoria. And to be honest, we still are, because things can always turn out different than what was planned.
And what were the first difficulties you did not expect that way?
At the beginning you should keep in mind that gross is not net and consider VAT for investments. Also unexpected advance payments, such as acquisition costs for machinery, may bring cash flows to a halt once in a while.
Why do you think it is worth to venture into self-employment?
In my opinion, it is a different attitude towards life to be self-employed. It makes me more satisfied and I enjoy my freedom. Additionally, you are more flexible and able to react much more quickly as a small company, in particular with respect to decisions. You are simply your own boss and I would always do it again.
Finally: What do you recommend to those who want to found their own company?
From my point of view, I would recommend it to anybody. The important thing is to have a certain financial basis to be secured. You need these securities to be able to be relaxed at the start. Due to the support of Fraunhofer Venture, we were able to do the first jobs at a low risk and create a certain business volume. If you have these possibilities, you should definitely use them.
Mr. Schreib, thank you very much for the interview.
Spin-off Profile
MEMS Foundry Itzehoe GmbH
The development and production of micro-electromechanical components (MEMS components) are gaining more and more importance. Such components are increasingly used in modern electronic devices such as mobile phones, gaming consoles, hard disk drives, or automotive electronics. However, development and production costs for MEMS components are extremely high so that many companies outsource these tasks. In the past, the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology ISIT was able to take over development and production requests of numerous companies. With increasing production requests, at the end of 2009 the decision was made to found the MEMS Foundry Itzehoe GmbH (MFI) with the support of Fraunhofer Venture.
In 2009, the researchers at the Fraunhofer ISIT could obviously see that the Fraunhofer Institute alone could no longer sufficiently execute the most versatile requests in the area of MEMS components. Thus, the decision was made to found a spin-off of the Fraunhofer ISIT, which should focus on the customers' interests in MEMS production. The service of the new enterprise now primarily consists of stipulating by contract customer requests for MEMS developments of the Fraunhofer ISIT and resulting production. This way, research and development of MEMS components remains the focus of the work at the Fraunhofer ISIT while the transition to production isutsourced to MFI. The customers may now receive clear predictions regarding usage rights of devices, production times and processes, quality assurance, and costs. At the same time, the employees of MFI dispose of comprehensive technological competence as regards the machinery of the Fraunhofer ISIT as most of the employees used to work at the Institute.
For the production of MEMS components,such as micromechanical sensors and actuators, on microoptical components as well as on components for high-frequency applications (RF-MEMS), the customers are supplied with the Fraunhofer ISIT internal semiconductor production line. A 1,000 sqm clean room is available. Thus, all individual technologies are available from MFI to be able to realize the entire process chain from wafer start to final wafer measuring without interruptions. The focus is on photo lithography in thick resist layers, the wafer bonding process as well as glass forming.
It is this close cooperation between MFI and the Fraunhofer ISIT that ensures for the customer a quick and more cost efficient transition from the development of components to production.
Events and Training
bwcon: Business Roundtable "Success Factors for Enterprises - Analytical Business Intelligence in Management" in Stuttgart, September 20, 2010
The business world keeps on turning faster and faster. Corporate strategies are constantly put to the test and basic conditions are permanently influenced and altered by most versatile factors. Standard reports, therefore, do no longer suffice to manage an enterprise.
Management requires systems able to represent and project into the future new basic conditions by means of analytical processes.
The business roundtable will deal with how to establish a consistent reporting system with the right business intelligence strategy and in particular how analytical processes may be implemented in individual divisions and on management level.
When?
September 20, 2010, 6.00 - 7.30 p.m., after 7.30 p.m. get together
Where?
bwcon: Meeting Area, Breitscheidstraße 4, 70174 Stuttgart
Register by
September 13, 2010
Netzwerk Nordbayern: Kick-off for the new Business Plan Competition in Nuremberg, October 12, 2010 at 6.30 p.m.
Ready for the business class? The Netzwerk Nordbayern will be happy to see you at the kick-off for the new 2011 Northern Bavarian Business Plan Competition at DATEV eG in Nuremberg!
Participants can expect an interesting program with DATEV eG executive board member Jörg Rabe von Pappenheim and Lars Hinrichs, who founded the Xing business network and turned it into one of the most successful internet start-ups. Today, he dedicates himself to his new favorite project: HackFwd, supporting passionate "IT freaks" in founding an enterprise.
The following get together provides the opportunity to socialize with the Northern Bavarian community of founders as well as to visit the DATEV eG knowledge islands.
When?
October 12, 2010, starting at 6.30 p.m.
Where?
DATEV eG, Casino, Virnsberger Straße 63, 90329 Nuremberg
Forums and Network Events
Bosch Venture Forum in Stuttgart, November 23, 2010
The Bosch Venture Forum in Stuttgart on November 23, 2010 connects selected, innovative start-ups with the experts of Robert Bosch Venture Capital (RBVC), Robert Bosch Business Development and the innovation and research divisions of Robert Bosch GmbH.
The aim of the forum is to achieve strategic investments and to explore and ignite possible development cooperations, licensing partnerships, or supplier relationships. Thus, the Bosch Venture Forum is an excellent opportunity to win Robert Bosch for common product tests or trial operations, R&D cooperations, licensing agreements, as an investor or customer.
Young, ambitious enterprises with a technological background in »Automation & Control«, »Energy & Environment«, »Enabling Technologies« as well as »Healthcare & Telemedicine« are welcome to present their company and to establish contact with Robert Bosch representatives.
The Forum will take place in the Robert-Bosch-Haus in Heidehofstraße in Stuttgart. Registration deadline is October 08, 2010.
When?
November 23, 2010, starting at 6.30 p.m.
Venture Lounge "Media, Internet & Software" in Munich, October 14, 2010
The Venture Lounge on "Media, Internet & Software" on October 14, 2010 connects young founders with VC investors. Selected investors, entrepreneurs, and consultants are invited to participate in the Venture Lounge. In the scope of this event, eight selected enterprises will have the opportunity to present their business case to present investors. Following the presentations, the participants may discuss their case with individual investors in a relaxed atmosphere. Expert presentations and a field report of a successful enterprise complete the program.
Presenting entrepreneurs receive qualified feedback and the opportunity to convince the investors to subject their business case to further reaching assessment. In addition, the enterprise that presented its business case most convincingly will be determined and awarded in the scope of a small ceremony.
When?
October 14, 2010, 1.00 p.m.
Where?
IHK Munich, Max-Joseph-Straße 2, 80333 Munich
Register by
October 04, 2010
German Equity Forum - Fall Forum November 22-24, 2010
Once again, from November 22-24, 2010 the German Equity Forum will take place in Frankfurt. The German Equity Forum Fall targets listed and late stage companies. With more than 5,000 participants from the financial community, German and international entrepreneurs as well as investors and analysts, the 3-day event has become Europe’s largest platform for equity capital financing. With the new country-specific forums with a focus on growth markets such as China, Russia, or Kazakhstan, the forum has established itself as an international network and information platform across European boundaries.
When?
November 22-24, 2010
Where?
Congress Center and Hall 5.1 of Frankfurt Messe,
Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1, 60327 Frankfurt am Main
Innovations Looking for Capital - Investment Forum of the BMWi and the BMBF, November 11, 2010
In the scope of the project support for the EXIST - Transfer of Research program of the BMWi and the "Founding Offensive Biotechnology" (GO-Bio) of the BMBF, the joint event "Innovations Looking for Capital - Investment Forum of the BMWi and the BMBF" will take place in Berlin on November 11, 2010.
The event will provide the possibility to young entrepreneurs to present their start-up project to well-known German early-stage investors and numerous business angels investing in young high-tech start-up projects with a scientific background. The aim of the event is to establish and strengthen contacts for investment financing and to exchange experiences.
A density of high-tech start-up projects with a scientific background unparalleled in Germany is presented to the investors. Up to 40 start-up projects are chosen at the end of one application cycle and have the possibility to present themselves.
The event is free of charge for participants and financed by the BMBF and the BMWi.
When?
November 11, 2010, 9.00 a.m. - 10.00 p.m.
Where?
Spreespeicher
Stralauer Allee 2a
10245 Berlin-Friedrichshain
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