Entrepreneurial thinking, a thirst for innovation, and the question “What if…?” have become an integral part of Hof University’s DNA. The StartUpLab serves as the central hub for anyone looking to turn an idea into something more—whether they’re students, administrative staff, or researchers.
The StartUpLab combines teaching, awareness-raising, consulting, and coaching on all aspects of starting a business. It provides support in developing business ideas and prototypes, creating business models, building teams, and addressing questions about funding and partners. At its heart is the MakerSpace, a high-tech workshop where students and researchers can turn their ideas directly into initial prototypes.
The offerings include formats such as the “Ideation Week” teaching event, workshops, field trips, and qualification programs like “GO! Gründungshub Oberfranken” or the collaborative projects “YES – Young Entrepreneurs in Science” and the “Stoff im Kopf” textile accelerator at Reutlingen University.
The StartUpLab sees itself as a network hub: It connects university talent with regional companies, investors, funding programs, and partners such as the digital startup center Einstein1, which primarily supports digital startups outside the university context.
By the way, many people confuse the two: Even though the StartUpLab has its office in the Einstein1 startup center—we are not “just the same thing in green.” The StartUpLab is a program offered by Hof University for all university members; Einstein1 is the region’s independent digital startup center. Or to put it another way: We share the address, but not the organizational structure.
Important: You don’t need a fully formed startup idea to be in the right place at StartUpLab . Anyone who is simply curious about entrepreneurship, looking for a team, or wants to test their own research topic for startup potential will find a home here. StartUpLab invites all members of Hof University to stop by, ask questions, and discover together what potential lies in their ideas.
