BHT Startup Hub

About us

Welcome to the BHT Startup Hub, the startup incubator proudly associated with the Berliner Hochschule für Technik (BHT). Our mission is simple yet powerful: to support ambitious academic startup teams in transforming their ideas into reality.

With our carefully crafted programs, we provide a range of valuable resources to help you thrive. Our dedicated team offers extensive know-how, personalized coaching, free coworking space, access to essential infrastructure, invaluable mentorship, exciting business opportunities, and equity-free scholarship funding. We take pride in fostering an inclusive and diverse community, empowering first-time founders and early-stage startups from various professional backgrounds and cultures.

We warmly invite you to explore the essence of the BHT Startup Hub, where we embark on a collaborative journey to bring your technological aspirations to life. We are genuinely excited to be by your side, offering steadfast support as you navigate the thrilling path of entrepreneurship.

At the BHT Startup Hub, we embrace a lean incubator approach. Our goal is to inspire and guide young entrepreneurs, leveraging the technical expertise of our university to drive innovation and growth. We are a passionate group of professionals who are ready to roll up our sleeves and assist you in every aspect of your startup journey.

The team

Managing Director

Elli

Strauven-Dejean

Managing Director

Elli is head of technology tranfer at Berliner Hochschule für Technik and head of BHT Startup Hub. Always seeking new ways to help good, innovative and future-shaping ideas in their transition from science into society, she keeps the place running. She can look back on extensive professional and management experiences in the fields of event/technology, education/training/coaching as well as management consulting/startup support in various countries.

Technologietransfer | Innovation Hub

Sven

Klinkow

Technologietransfer | Innovation Hub

Sven is a technology officer at BHT's Innovation Hub. His focus is on active trend, idea and technology scouting. He supports the Startup Hub with his experience in knowledge and technology transfer and his contacts to the numerous laboratories and research networks of the BHT. In addition, he provides advice to inventors at the BHT. Questions regarding patents, licenses and other intellectual property rights are part of his area of responsibility. Sven offers individual consulting appointments for people interested in founding a company and for teams. He is the contact person for technology-related questions and implementation strategies.

Project Administration

Joana

Rockendorf

Project Administration

Joana coordinates, conducts and manages the funding projects of the BHT Startup Hub. She not only has her own startup experience but also a diverse background in PR, marketing, insurance and gastronomy. She always has the overview and a plan, but she ain't your Mama!

Startup Coach

Adam

Formanek

Startup Coach

With a solid foundation as a health-tech startup co-founder and extensive involvement in diverse incubators and accelerators, Adam is your go-to expert. His experience isn't just limited to the health-tech sphere – he's also spent years honing his project management skills at the Digital Business Association of Berlin. As a mentor in deep-tech accelerators across Europe, he's well-versed in driving growth and innovation. Adam's insights span various industries including aviation, digital platforms and international trade. His multilingual proficiency is a valuable asset for connecting on a global scale and propel your startup forward.

Startup Coach

Bastian

Behrmann

Startup Coach

As a born networker, Bastian is very familiar with the Berlin startup ecosystem, and he regularly attends a wide variety of startup events and community meetups. For the past eight years, he has been actively involved in the Berlin startup scene. Initially, he served as the DACH manager in the founding team of a young startup, and later transitioned to roles such as community and event manager in various coworking spaces, startup communities, and, in the last four years, in incubation programs. Over the past five years, he has contributed to the development of several workshops and programs for entrepreneurs and early-stage startups. Bastian has successfully coached over 50 international founders and conducted numerous workshops covering topics such as the Berlin ecosystem, networking strategies, international leadership, and fundraising tips.

Startup Coach

Stefan

Godskesen

Startup Coach

Stefan has a 12-year track record in the startup ecosystem, first as a founder and then successfully leading accelerator/incubator programs and has mentored over 350 startups. He is truly passionate about working with people working on their business dreams. He believes that mentoring is about working with their mindset to open up to new perspectives, “it’s about asking the right questions and you will find the direction you need to take”.

Cooperation partners

The Business Angels Club Berlin-Brandenburg e.V. supports young companies with experience, contacts and capital.

By granting guarantees, BBB Bürgschaftsbank zu Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH supports profitable and promising projects where standard bank collateral is not available to a sufficient extent.

The IBB bank supports young, growth-oriented enterprises (focused particularly on the technology and creative sectors) by providing financing options for customised coaching and a wide portfolio of seminars and workshops.

180 Degrees Consulting is the world’s largest social impact consultancy for non-profits and social enterprises.

The Berlin Startup Unit sees itself as a collaborative project to improve the framework conditions for young and fast-growing companies.

The Berlin-Brandenburg Business Association (UVB) is a registered association and represents the interests of the business community in the self-governing bodies of the social insurance institutions.