Materna IT Group steps up its collaboration with start-ups

The Materna IT group is stepping up its commitment to technology start-ups and is collaborating with the start-up accelerator xdeck. As a partner in this collaboration, Materna gains access to the start-up network. Together with the young entrepreneurs, Materna aims to assess and analyse the extent to which these innovative ideas align with the markets, sectors and portfolio themes addressed by the Materna Group. One possible application would be to incorporate these ideas, for example, into the development of digitalisation solutions aimed at greater sustainability.

“We look forward to getting to know the start-up ecosystem better and providing targeted support to these young companies in developing and marketing their ideas. As a technology accelerator, xdeck aims to strengthen innovation in Germany. We at the Materna Group are very keen to be part of this. Our company was also founded over 40 years ago as a start-up and spin-off from TU Dortmund University,” says Materna CEO Martin Wibbe, explaining the commitment.

“Given our focus on B2B tech start-ups, a partner like Materna is a real asset for us. Through this collaboration, our start-ups can benefit from Materna’s many years of experience and technical expertise. We look forward to working together and to the many joint projects with Materna and our xdeck start-ups,” says Dr Markus Gick, Co-Managing Director at xdeck.

Since March 2020, xdeck has been supporting founders of B2B tech companies from Germany, Europe and around the world, and has been guiding start-ups through their growth and scaling processes. Over the past 15 months, the xdeck partner network has received and assessed more than 500 start-up applications. The start-ups supported by xdeck already employ more than 300 people.

As a cooperation partner, Materna is involved in the underlying selection, site visit and accelerator processes – as was most recently the case at the Pitch Day on 22 February 2022, in which Materna took part. xdeck connects young entrepreneurs with experienced business leaders, investors and experts, and also provides office space. In addition to Materna, 16 other corporate partners support the technology accelerator.