Startup Mittelstand is a brand that seeks to bridge the gap between startups and medium-sized companies. The Roundtable Startup – Mittelstand was established with the aim of creating cooperation opportunities between these two groups and promoting knowledge transfer and digital transformation. The Roundtable, coordinated by the Centrum für Entrepreneurship & Transfer (CET) of the TU Dortmund and the IHK zu Dortmund, has already seen more than 100 startups and companies participate, including adesso, KHS, swyx, Kostal, DEW21, and Murtfeldt Kunststoffe.

To achieve its goals, Startup Mittelstand offers various services. The Open Roundtable brings startups together with multiple companies, including representatives from academia and industry. The Closed Roundtable facilitates exclusive meetings between startups and a single company, focusing on a specific topic determined by the company.

The Startup Mittelstand Forum is a conference where startups and established companies present on current topics, sharing best practices and discussing success factors. The Roundtable Startup – Mittelstand is coordinated by a diverse group of institutions, including the CET and the IHK zu Dortmund. Leveraging their extensive networks and expertise, the Roundtable brings together startups and companies from various industries.

This collaborative framework cultivates partnerships and strengthens the region's innovation potential