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Press Release
Bielefeld, June 18, 2026 – While starting a business in Germany often takes several days or even months, in Bielefeld it will be possible to do so in just 24 hours in the future. At today’s Hinterland of Things conference, five partners from Bielefeld’s startup ecosystem unveiled the “Bielefeld Shortcut” for the first time—a model unique in Germany that enables startups to become operational within a single day.
The Bielefeld Shortcut bypasses bureaucratic hurdles and consolidates the key steps of starting a business into a single process. Instead of wading through appointments, formalities, and coordination, founders receive a ready-to-use corporate structure—including an operating company, a business bank account, and liability protection in the form of a subsidized shelf company—all within a single business day. At the same time, during that same appointment, the holding structure is set up, the
appropriate foundation is laid with articles of association for investments, and approval for long-term funding is granted. For startups, this means one thing above all: less bureaucracy and more time for product development, customers, and growth. At the same time, they also receive financial support.
The launch of the project was announced today at the Hinterland of Things conference in Bielefeld.
“In Bielefeld, we want founders to be able to focus on what really matters: their idea, their customers, their business—not on bureaucracy. With the support provided by the Bielefeld Startup Package, we’re already helping startups sleep better at night. With the Bielefeld Shortcut, we’re now taking it a step
further and alleviate even more of the stress associated with starting a business,” says Hanna Drabon, project manager of the Bielefeld Startup Package.
The Bielefeld Shortcut significantly reduces the organizational burden of starting a business. While traditional startup processes often require several days to weeks of coordination between banks, notaries, and other parties, the Bielefeld model makes a tax ID number and bank account available from day one. At the same time, a professional corporate structure with a set of contracts is established, designed from the outset for growth and future financing rounds. Approval for a funding program—which is otherwise a lengthy process—is also granted on the same day. Startups participating in the Shortcut are subsequently supported with a rent subsidy of up to 64,000 EUR over the next four years, giving them a long-term perspective in the region.
The Bielefeld Shortcut is made possible through collaboration among key players in the
Bielefeld startup ecosystem: Volksbank in East Westphalia provides the operating
entity, subsidizes it, and opens a free business account, while the Founders
Foundation supports the startups with standardized processes. The Teuto Seed Club
designs the process; the Bielefeld Startup Package from WEGE mbH covers purchase and
rental costs of up to 64,000 euros; and The Trailblazers support the startups’ communication and
visibility.
What matters most is not a single component, but the collaboration of all
stakeholders. Only through this collaboration does a process emerge that enables founders to
become operationally ready within 24 hours. The first shortcuts are expected to be available through the Bielefeld Shortcut
as early as July. Those interested can find out more right now at
www.bielefelder-shortcut.de.
“The Bielefeld Shortcut is the result of ten years of consistent
ecosystem development. Together, we have shown that through collaboration, the willingness to explore new
paths, and speed, even difficult conditions can be
transformed. It’s no coincidence that we’re presenting this project for the first time at the Hinterland of Things conference—
the conference, more than almost any other event, embodies the
connection between entrepreneurship, startups, and small and medium-sized businesses that sets our location
apart,” says Dominik Gross, co-founder and CEO of the Founders Foundation.
The Bielefeld Shortcut is another building block of a startup ecosystem that has
gained influence far beyond the region in recent years. For example,
current figures from the OWL Startup Monitor 2025, published by the Founders Foundation and the Startup
Association show that the number of new startups in OWL has more than doubled over the past ten years. In particular, the startup ecosystem in OWL is
rated positively by founders (69 percent versus 57 percent on average nationwide). The organizers
of the Bielefeld Shortcut now view the project as a logical next step in the
region: startups should not only be supported but actively accelerated—
with less bureaucracy, lower costs, and a structure designed for
growth from day one. In this way, the Shortcut strengthens the position of Bielefeld and
East Westphalia-Lippe as one of the leading regions for startups, innovation, and
entrepreneurship in Germany.
“Less bureaucracy, simple and efficient processes, and genuine appreciation for
entrepreneurial spirit are what drive a city forward. In Bielefeld, we use
smart ideas, expertise, and ambition to develop solutions for startups that are only possible within a strong,
cohesive ecosystem,” says Dr. Christiana Bauer,
Mayor of the City of Bielefeld.
The Bielefeld Shortcut enables innovative startups to take over an operating
company (UG or GmbH), including a business bank account, and establish a
holding structure within 24 hours. While setting up a company
often used to require more than 30 active working hours, the setup process
with the Bielefeld Shortcut takes only a few hours. In addition to exclusively digital
processes, it also involves a single appointment with a notary. The model is complemented by standardized
contracts, grants for ongoing fixed costs of up to 64,000 euros, and
integration into the Bielefeld startup ecosystem.
Marek Lehmann, Chairman of the Teuto Seed Clubs:
“For investors, it is crucial that startups are well-structured from the very beginning. The Bielefeld Shortcut achieves exactly that: a standardized, investor-ready foundation in a very short time. This significantly reduces friction losses in the early stages and accelerates the path to potential financing.”
Thomas Mühlhausen, Chairman of the Volksbank in Ostwestfalen eG
“If you want to start a business, you need to move fast. We want people with a good idea to get started right away. Through our company, we aim to make it as easy as possible for founders to get started and provide them with real support in the early stages.”
Sebastian Vielstädte, Business Development Manager at Volksbank in Ostwestfalen eG:
“We’re rethinking the company formation process. That’s why we don’t wait until the client makes a request—we carefully prepare the key steps in advance. With the corporate bank account already set up, the company is immediately ready to operate.”
Francesca Seidensticker, Co-Lead of The Trailblazers:
“The most exciting aspect of this project isn’t just the speed, but the collaboration behind it. Five partners from Bielefeld are pooling their strengths and working together to create something that none of them could have built on their own. This is an ecosystem in action—and, in our view, a model from which other startup hubs in Germany can learn. It’s always possible to make it happen.”
Contacts for Questions and Interviews:
Anna-Luisa Korte
Founders Foundation gGmbH
anna@foundersfoundation.de
+49 160 99244635
Laura Maria Kämz
The Trailblazers
laura@thetrailblazers.de
+49 175 153 20 53
