Our
Story

With the intention of improving the startup culture at universities, UPSTART was launched in 2014 as a consulting company.

At a time when startups had not yet established themselves, working with the public sector left room for improvement – which is why the founding partners ventured into the business world. Out of the motivation to bring the startup idea into companies, UPSTART developed into a full-service innovation service provider with a 360-degree perspective in the corporate sector.

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2014

Let’s co!

Foundation of UPSTART

1. Business unit “Campus” for universities is launched

2015

We are growing.

Move to new premises on 250sqm

Establishment of the 2nd business unit “Corporate Innovation” – today “Performance”

2016

Joining Berlin.

Site foundation in Berlin

Founding of the 3rd business unit “Invent” as an incubator for innovations

2017

Our first baby.

Launch of own coaching platform www.startupcoach.de for startups with 50 coaches

2018

Let’s go Asia!

Site foundation in Singapore

2019

We are expanding.

Site foundation in Frankfurt

2020

We are still expanding.

Site foundation in Düsseldorf

2021

Let’s become one.

Integration of the 4th business unit “Engineering” as a development center

Foundation of the subsidiary “UPSTART Hub Asia Pte. Ltd.” in Singapore

Site foundation in Friedrichshafen

Expansion to full-service innovation service provider with 360-degree perspective

2022

Let’s go global!

Site foundation in Istanbul as nearshoring location

Enable further development for companies

“We want to create space for innovation within companies to make them fit for the future”, says founder Sathees Sabaratnam about his daily work. “For this, however, it is essential to take different perspectives – for example, from the point of view of venture capitalists or from abroad.” These perspectives are ensured by the international and interdisciplinary network as well as locations throughout Europe and Asia.

Our team is based at the headquarters in Heilbronn, but also in Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Berlin, Friedrichshafen, Singapore and Istanbul. We deliberately work in co-working spaces in order to constantly exchange ideas and be part of the innovation scene. Our locations are more than just workplaces for us – they mean inspiration, dialog and networking.

The headquarters in Heilbronn was classically launched in the attic of one of the founders, then moved to the Innovation Factory and today has its own office with over 300 square meters. This was followed by the location in the startup mecca Berlin in the Factory Berlin, in Frankfurt in the TechQuartier, in Singapore in Block71, which serves us as a bridge to Asia, as well as the locations in Düsseldorf in the Startplatz and Friedrichshafen in the RITZ through the integration of the development area. Our newest location in Istanbul forms the technology focus for the IT area.

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Our Story