Venture Clienting enables established companies to become early customers of startups — not by investing in them, but by purchasing and using their innovative solutions directly. This collaboration model bridges the gap between corporate demand and startup agility, creating a win-win scenario that accelerates innovation on both sides. Instead of waiting for a startup to mature or taking equity stakes, corporations can test new technologies in real-world environments through pilot projects or paid proofs of concept. This approach allows them to solve concrete business challenges faster and more efficiently, using cutting-edge solutions that may not yet be available on the open market.
How Venture Clienting builds stronger connections
Venture Clienting enables established companies to become early customers of startups — not by investing in them, but by purchasing and using their innovative solutions directly. This collaboration model bridges the gap between corporate demand and startup agility, creating a win-win scenario that accelerates innovation on both sides.
Instead of waiting for a startup to mature or taking equity stakes, corporations can test new technologies in real-world environments through pilot projects or paid proofs of concept. This approach allows them to solve concrete business challenges faster and more efficiently, using cutting-edge solutions that may not yet be available on the open market.
© Hamburg Invest (KI generated)
How do startups and corporates benefit from Venture Clienting?
Venture Clienting offers startups a powerful opportunity to gain early traction by landing established corporations as paying customers. This not only generates immediate revenue but also builds credibility and trust with investors and the market. Real-world use accelerates product development through direct feedback, helping startups refine their solutions faster and scale with confidence.
Corporates, in turn benefit by accessing innovative technologies and agile solutions without the need for upfront investment or long procurement cycles. By working directly with startups, they can solve specific business challenges quickly and stay ahead of the competition.
Venture Clienting creates a win-win scenario: startups grow faster, and companies drive innovation more efficiently.
Built on years of matchmaking startups with corporates, Hamburg Invest created the Scaleup Hamburg platform to drive this exchange forward. The new online platform from Scaleup Hamburg highlights concrete challenges faced by Hamburg’s business community and facilitates access to potential solution providers.
© Scaleup Hamburg / Hamburg Invest
Find startup solutions for your business challenges
The offering is part of Hamburg Invest’s economic development activities and is aimed primarily at companies that are looking for new solutions but do not always have the necessary resources, networks, or market overview. These companies can publish specific innovation needs and use the platform to connect with startups offering suitable solutions. In addition, companies gain access to a knowledge database for innovation processes, supportive event formats, and the service marketplace, where they can discover further support offerings.
Through the Scaleup Hamburg platform, startups gain direct access to current innovation needs from Hamburg-based companies and have the opportunity to apply directly with their matching solutions - creating value for both sides. The platform is free to use.
Venture Clienting services in Hamburg
-
Scaleup Hamburg
Scaleup Hamburg helps SMEs tackle challenges by connecting them with innovative startups. As a city-led initiative, it fosters cross-industry collaboration and guides the venture clienting process to generate real business impact.
-
Digital Hub Logistics & Commerce
The Digital Hub Logistics & Commerce connects companies, investors, startups, research and education to drive innovation in logistics, trade and supply chain, with Venture Clienting as part of its services.
-
Plug & Play
Plug and Play is a leading innovation platform that aims to make innovation open to anyone, anywhere. Their Venture Clienting support includes Scouting, Dealflows, Use Case Definition, Open Calls and PoC Test & Management.
-
NMA.vc
NMA.vc offers startup-driven innovation services to various industries, including acceleration programs, venture clienting, M&A and funds advisory, as well as interim management and innovation consulting.
-
AI.HAMBURG
AI.HAMBURG promotes the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in companies in the metropolitan region. Through knowledge transfer, networking and cooperation with start-ups, the initiative promotes data-driven innovation and increases the competitiveness of Hamburg's economy.
-
GovTecHH
GovTecHH is the central contact point for startups aiming to collaborate with Hamburg’s public administration. As the city’s venture client unit, it connects authorities with innovative startups and supports pilot projects from identifying needs to successful implementation.
We would be pleased to include your company and Venture Clienting offer on this page. Please submit 1-2 sentences about your offer for Hamburg’s SMEs so we can include it in our overview.
-
News | Dec 8, 2023Hamburg awarded at the Startup Ecosystem Stars Award in Paris
-
News | Jul 11, 2023More startups for the digitalisation of Hamburg's administration
-
News | May 2, 2023Hamburg and ARIC agree on closer cooperation
-
News | Apr 25, 2023How AI can help in the public sector
-
News | Jun 14, 2022GovTecHH - strengthens cooperation between Hamburg and startups
Team Scaleup Hamburg © Hamburg Invest
Contact
Are you interested in finding out more about Venture Clienting, please contact our Scaleup Hamburg team: