The big car and machine manufacturers shape our image of the German economy to this day. Germany is not just a country of engineers, Germany has long been a country of programmers as well. Companies like SAP, Wirecard or TeamViewer are only the spearhead of a “new” German tech landscape. Broadly, this landscape thrives best where you wouldn’t expect it: in medium-sized businesses. There are over 11,000 medium-sized software and Internet companies that have developed from a small garage idea into regional success stories and international market leaders in recent years – without any business plans, financing rounds or marketing campaigns. You could also say: “Digital entrepreneurship 1.0”.
“We should promote the German MitTECHstand instead of reproducing foreign ecosystems in Germany.”
Digital middle class = MitTECHstand
We call these tech pioneers from the German middle class MitTECHstand. Sometimes these digital pioneers were founded in the 1980s – with a lot of love for programming, a good software idea and their own capital. These are often high-growth and profitable companies that have developed into global market leaders on their own because they foresee technical developments – such as process automation, CRM or HR software – and develop excellent software for them. Overall, they generate a turnover of 152 billion euros, employ half a million people and grow three times as fast as other medium-sized companies.
With every growth step, however, the demands on your own organization and international competition also increase. Companies with a certain number of employees can no longer be controlled by acclamation. From a certain number of customers and suppliers, claims can no longer be created manually and requested on time. And once a company has achieved a certain turnover, it is often quickly caught by international competitors with great market power.
The solution sounds very simple: Professional structures, clever financing concepts, liquidity for meaningful acquisitions and good staff at all management levels. But these are topics MitTECHstand founders can hardly tackle in their day-to-day work. This is where we come in – as a new generation of investors who are supporting this attractive medium-sized segment in its next growth step.
“We need a new generation of investors who will support the MitTECHstand in its next development step.”
Where is the MitTECHstand at home?
When it comes to pioneering tech innovations, many people think of Silicon Valley, Berlin or Tel Aviv. But SAP was founded in Waldorf, Wirecard in Aschheim and TeamViewer in Göppingen. That is not particularly surprising. After all, the MitTECHstand – as part of the middle class – is spread over the whole country, in the large metropolises, in the smaller towns and in rural communities. The middle class is the backbone of our economy, society and innovation – and the MitTECHstand ensures that it stays that way!
What makes the MitTECHstand so successful?
#Inventive spirit – digital with passion
At the beginning, there is no business plan. It all starts with a fascination for programming languages and software solutions. Founders at the MitTECHstand are feverishly looking for the best digital solutions to analog problems – until they are perfectly solved.
# Personal responsibility – profitable out of conviction
The company is founded with its own capital. As owners, managing directors and programmers in one person, you combine a deep understanding of technical details with a high level of responsibility and sustainable action for your company, your customers and your employees.
# Sense of home – at home in the region and in the whole world!
Many of these entrepreneurs only know incubators as a medical term. Tech pioneers in the German MitTECHstand arise where the founders originally come from. Many of its founders are regionally rooted and are therefore an important part of the local economy and community.
