Start-ups wanted: Melitta joins the Stratosfare initiative

In order to find suitable start-ups and work efficiently with them, companies often lack an attractive form of cooperation. Melitta, a manufacturer of coffee and household products, is closing this gap by joining the it’s OWL initiative Stratosfare. The company is relying on the ‘venture client model’ and access to a global start-up network to ensure new innovations within the company.

“At Stratosfare, we benefit from the open exchange with other partners at eye level. This allows us to learn from each other’s experiences and better meet the challenges of the future,” says Dr. Alexander Wesemann, Director Corporate Ventures, Start-Ups and M&A. The manufacturer of coffee and household products is primarily looking for start-ups in the areas of food, alternative materials and technological processes. With the help of the ‘Venture Client Model’ and Stratosfare, Melitta becomes customers (venture clients) of start-ups that offer solutions in the sought-after areas. The advantage: Melitta can easily benefit from the start-ups’ technologies and thus improve its own products, processes or business models. Stratosfare offers Melitta support in implementing the model and easy access to start-ups all over the world.

 

“We are delighted to have gained another company from OstWestfalenLippe in Melitta. Venture clienting is becoming increasingly established as a method of bringing further innovative strength into the company without becoming entangled in lengthy investment processes or even building up your own start-ups.”

Dr. Martin Rabe, Head of the Stratosfare initiative

 

“We are delighted to have gained another company from OstWestfalenLippe in Melitta. Venture clienting is becoming increasingly established as a method of bringing further innovative strength into the company without becoming entangled in lengthy investment processes or even building up your own start-ups,” says Dr. Martin Rabe, head of the Stratosfare initiative. For Melitta, as well as for Claas, Miele and Wago, who are also members of Stratosfare, the venture client model is a targeted way of entering into new collaborations with start-ups and pulling in the same direction. Both sides benefit: Both companies and start-ups can use the venture client model to find out quickly and with little risk whether a collaboration is promising. The start-ups’ development work is remunerated by the companies. This allows the start-ups to finance themselves without giving up shares.

Stratosfare offers this support to companies such as Melitta

Melitta’s precise technology requirements in the areas of food, alternative materials and technological processes are identified in a workshop. The Stratosfare team scouts for suitable start-ups, approaches them and organizes the exchange with Melitta. Stratosfare then supports Melitta in defining and launching a pilot project in which a start-up applies its technology in the company. After three to six months, the results of the pilot project can be fully utilized at Melitta. Depending on the success of the pilot project, it will then be decided whether and how the collaboration with the start-ups will be continued. Melitta can repeat the projects with start-ups as required by the company. The company receives suitable start-ups for new projects from the Stratosfare team at least every two weeks. Melitta also has the opportunity to take part in Stratosfare’s Ecosystem Journeys. The aim of these trips is to discover international start-ups, their ecosystems and new trends. Most recently, Stratosfare was on such a journey with Miele and Wago in France, Sweden and Singapore as well as in Finland and Estonia.

To the Stratosfare website

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