The German Accelerator program aims to foster the international growth of German tech startups by supporting their effective entry into the U.S. market over 3 months. The program provides workshops, mentoring, networking opportunities, and pitch events to help startups develop U.S. go-to-market strategies, understand the business environment, and gain customer feedback. Notable program metrics include over 400 applicants, 72 alumni startups that have established U.S. operations through subsidiaries or headquarters, and high satisfaction ratings from participants.

1. European Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Stanford School of Engineering
GERMAN ACCELERATOR
Dirk Kanngiesser, CEO
January 4, 2016

2. OUR VISION
To foster the international
growth of German tech startups
by supporting them with an
effective and efficient
entry into the U.S. market.
“ „

3. PROGRAM specs
Preparation Workshops Mentoring
Board
Meeting Graduation
Alumni
Network
DURATI
ON
scope
eLIGIBI
LITY
3 months (+ 3 months extension option)
German startups from ICT-related sectors
36 company participants per year;
18 program extensions granted

4. Objectives for startups
Successful
U.S.
market
entry
Understand
U.S. business
environment
Develop
U.S. go-to
market
strategy
Market
feedback from
U.S. customers
NETWORKING
& Pitching
fundraising
from U.S. VCs

5. UNIQUE MENTORING
PROGRAM
Business Execution
& Success
U.S. Go-To-Market
Strategy
Financing Strategy
Marketing &
Communication
Team and
Leadership Skills
U.S. Legal &
Corporate Structures

6. PROGRAM BENEFITS
Validate
Assumptions
Expand
Network
Speed Up
Development
Acquire Top
Talent
Strengthen
Credibility
Benchmark
With Peers
Fuel
Growth
Build
Relationships
Jump
Learning Curve

7. MOBIL
E
Big Data
E-
commerc
e
Smart
Home Digital
Media
SOFTWA
RECLOUD
SERVICES
Analytics
SUSTAINABI
LITY
gamin
g
E-
Health
Internet of
Things
Company snapshot
Healthcar
e
Productivity
Services
Clean
Tech
FinTe
ch

8. Success stories

9. Success stories

10. Program status
Program established Q1 2012
Dedicated mentor network
400 applicants
8k+ Facebook fans & 2k+ Twitter follower
3,800+ attendees at events in Germany and Silicon Valley
72 alumni
Website & social media channels established with weekly reach of
30,000
Established strategic & community partnerships

11. Program Overview:
Applicants: 400
Graduates: 66 SV, 14 NY
Locations: Silicon Valley (2012) – New York (2014) – Boston (2016)
Participants’ Feedback:
How do you rate your sales leads / customer traction in the U.S.? 3.2*
Positive impact of program participation on your company
4.4
How satisfied are you with your overall mentor experience?
4.7
Overall, how satisfied are you with your LLP experience?
4.4
Would you recommend the program to other startups?
Yes: 100%
Have you established U.S. operations?:
Presence (no legal entity): 43%
Subsidiary: 18%
Headquarters: 3%
Summary of Program
*Average; from 1 low to 5 high

12. Findings & Conclusion
While the “Mobile” sector plummeted in the recent application round the “Software” and “Business
Products and Services” sector set new records.
The sectors are getting more diversified overall including other areas.
Sectors

13. Comparison of applicants and program
participants
Stage
Employees
45 Program Participants
Applicants
Results:
Taking a look at the number of employees and the stage of the
companies, one can see that more advanced companies were more
likely to get chosen for the program

14. CONTACT US
Dirk Kanngiesser
EMAIL: dirk.kanngiesser@germanaccelerator.com
SILICON
VALLEY
(MAIN OFFICE)
720 University Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
SAN
FRANCISCO
1355 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
NEW YORK
137 Varick Street
New York, NY 10013
GERMANY
Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1
80539 Munich

15. GERMAN
ACcELERATOR
- Your fast track to the U.S. -