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Menschen im Kittel stehen vor Maschinen | © Michael Iffländer

Starting new business


Start easy!

One city - many opportunities

Bremerhaven - the inspiring location near the North Sea coast - offers ideal conditions for a successful business start-up. Here, founders benefit from an innovative network of public and private organisations that is specifically tailored to their needs.

BIS Bremerhaven Economic Development company supports you throughout the entire start-up process, from the initial idea to sustainable growth. We provide you with free initial advice and support to help you develop your business concept and find suitable funding and financing options. We also help you choose the ideal location and put you in touch with valuable network partners.

Menschen sitzen auf Stühlen und hören einer Vortragenden zu | © WFB/ Jan Rathke

Welcome to the starthaus-initiative bremerhaven

The Starthaus Initiative Bremerhaven bundles services and expertise for different target groups in Bremerhaven with its advisory centres.Many partners of the Starthaus-Initiative will support you with their respective services and expertise, offering free individual consultations, seminars and workshops, coaching, network meetings and financing and funding opportunities.

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Menschen sitzen im Meetingraum und schauen auf ihre Laptops | © Jens Meier

Consulting

A start-up can arise from different phases and developments in life - e.g. as a part-time job, as a return to work after a family phase, from unemployment or as a graduate of a university degree programme or vocational training. Perhaps you also have an innovative business idea, are planning to set up a social enterprise or would like to take over a business? In all these phases, you can count on the support of BIS and its network partners from the Starthaus Initiative Bremerhaven.

Our aim is to provide you with the best possible support and pave the way for a successful business start-up. 

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hand in hand with our partners

BAB Starthaus Bremen und Bremerhaven

As a department of Bremer Aufbaubank (BAB), Starthaus offers start-ups in Bremerhaven and Bremen a comprehensive range of financial support and financing for start-up projects in addition to advice, information and networking events.

starthaus-bremen.de

afz Employment Promotion Center

The Employment Promotion Center (afz) offers business start-up advice for all sectors. In addition, there is specific counselling for women, migrants, the unemployed and people at risk of unemployment. The counselling includes the development of suitable start-up models, consideration of the compatibility of self-employment and family and support in the preparation of the business plan. In addition, statements for the job centre and events specifically for female founders are offered.

Business start-up advice for women is closely linked to the afz women's advice centre ZiB.

zibnet.de
afznet.de

Employment Agency and Job-Center Bremerhaven

The employment agency and the job centre will also provide advice if you want to start your own business after becoming unemployed. If you are receiving basic income support as a jobseeker or unemployment benefit and are thinking about setting up your own business, you can apply for free coaching or counselling. The afz or the Starthaus Bremen / Bremerhaven can help you in this case.

arbeitsagentur.de

Bremen Chamber of Commerce - IHK for Bremen and Bremerhaven

The Chamber of Commerce for Bremen and Bremerhaven provides general information on setting up a business, arranges contacts in international business transactions and offers seminars, specialist events and networking events. It advises on customs and foreign trade issues, helps with legal questions and issues foreign trade documents such as certificates of origin and carnets.

The chambers' business juniors are available to provide advice and support from their own start-up experience.

ihk.de

Chamber of Crafts for Bremen and Bremerhaven

The Social Impact Lab Bremen sees itself as a contact point for exchange and networking on the topic of "sustainable start-ups" and "sustainable business" in Bremen and Bremerhaven. In cooperation with network partners from the start-up scene in the state of Bremen, they offer targeted start-up advice to those who have business models with a positive social impact. Workshops and individual or group coaching sessions are used as formats.

bremen.socialimpactlab.eu/

Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences 

The unique "Foundation, Innovation, Leadership" (GIF) degree programme is aimed at budding entrepreneurs and those who want to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. However, this Bachelor's degree programme is just one of several options at the university. The Career Service Centre acts as an interface between the university and the job market, offers a comprehensive platform for starting a career and supports you with information and individual advice.

It puts you in touch with the university initiative BRIDGE, which provides counselling, practical workshops and seminars in the early start-up phase.

BRIDGE also arranges the EXIST start-up grant - a funding programme of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection - and advises on other federal funding programmes.

hs-bremerhaven.de

Social Impact Lab Bremen

The Social Impact Lab Bremen sees itself as a contact point for exchange and networking on the topic of "sustainable start-ups" and "sustainable business" in Bremen and Bremerhaven. In cooperation with network partners from the start-up scene in the state of Bremen, they offer targeted start-up advice to those who have business models with a positive social impact. Workshops and individual or group coaching sessions are used as formats.

bremen.socialimpactlab.eu

Hilfswerft gGmbH

Hilfswerft, which specialises in social entrepreneurship, is dedicated to creating educational opportunities for students, trainees and young academics. The "Social Entrepreneurship Camp" format offered by Hilfswerft enables participants to gain an intensive insight into the world of sustainable entrepreneurship in a short space of time.

hilfswerft.de

Weitere Netzwerkakteure

Weitere Netwerkakteure finden Sie hier.

Fundings and Financing

The promotion of entrepreneurial initiative by BIS Bremerhaven's Economic Development Company ranges from the provision of attractive locations and a well-developed infrastructure to financial support for promising projects, initiatives and companies. Various financing aids are available for start-ups, which we are happy to arrange in a consultation.

BAB-Microkredit

Bremer Aufbaubank (BAB) offers a loan (max. 50.000 euros) in a simplified procedure for natural persons who want to set up, take over or already operate and continue a micro-enterprise as a commercial enterprise or as a freelancer.

funding programs

BAB has been the development bank for the location and the people of Bremen and Bremerhaven since 2001. For founders who are unable to realise their project with a BAB microloan, BAB has other financing programmes available.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding offers an opportunity to draw attention to your own business idea and attract individual financial supporters. Crowdfunding is also possible in combination with the BAB microloan and other funding instruments.

Consulting funding

Business start-ups in Bremerhaven and Bremen who wish to set up or acquire a commercial or business-related freelance business can receive a subsidy for counselling services.

Succession

Starting your own business can also take place as part of a business succession. The network partners of the Starthaus-Initiative Bremerhaven offer initial advice on funding opportunities for this challenge.

Startup Funding BRe-up

The Bre-Up funding programme supports start-ups in Bremerhaven and Bremen during their first five years after being founded, from product development to market maturity. Start-ups can receive up to 150,000 euros in funding.

Room offers

The question of location and space is an important component when setting up a company. Bremerhaven has a wide range of properties on offer and it is often cheaper to rent or buy here than elsewhere. Whether you are looking for office space, technical rooms, laboratories or a vacant plot for the construction or conversion of your own property - take a look around our commercial property portal or discover what the city has to offer on a tour.

Commercial property portal

Businesspark timeport

With a total of 5.600 m² of space in three buildings at the New Harbour, timeport impresses with its inner-city location in the so called "Havenwelten" as well as its modern architecture and contemporary facilities. 

timeport 1 is located in a historic building; timeport 2 and 3 buildings are located directly at the New Harbour and are connected by a passageway.

Tenants also benefit from flexible space concepts, modern technical infrastructure and event and conference rooms. The attractive maritime location makes it one of the most sought-after office properties in Bremerhaven.

Commercial estate Rudloffstr. 111

The Commercial estate in the Rudloffstr. is a modern, functional building on two levels consisting of workshop units of different sizes as well as office and social rooms.

The favourable rents offer a good starting point for start-ups and young companies in the craft and trade sector. The building is located close to Bremerhaven's city centre and the Havenwelten in the Rudloffstr. development area, which is to be developed into an urban quarter in the coming years.

BRIG Bremerhaven innovation and start-up centre

The BRIG is in a central, urban location approx. 0.5 km from the feeder road to the A 27 motorway exit - Bremerhaven Mitte. It is approx. 2.5 km to the city centre and the Havenwelten and 1.6 km to Bremerhaven Central Station.

 

The tenants at BRIG are technology-orientated, knowledge-based start-ups from universities, institutes, colleges and companies, young companies in the start-up or growth phase as well as established companies planning a start-up, an outsourcing project or wanting to carry out a temporary innovation project away from their day-to-day business.

Foundation floor „die theo“

The historic Art Nouveau building is located in the Wilhelminian-style "Goethequartier" district not far from Bremerhaven's city centre.

On the start-up floor, small business founders have the opportunity to prepare and realise their business idea at a reasonable rent.

Here, self-employed people are helped to start their own business. Important office facilities can be shared, experiences exchanged and synergies created.

Pop-Up-Stores

The municipal housing association STÄWOG offers start-ups and other initiatives space in its properties to set up a temporary retail business such as a pop-up store at a favourable rent.

This is an excellent opportunity to test your own business idea and the market and gain experience.

Gebäude mit vielen Fenstern | © BIS/Partner und Partner Architekten

Green Economy Business Incubator

Bremerhaven development company Alter/Neuer Hafen (BEAN) is currently planning the construction of a business incubator for the green economy in Bremerhaven together with us. The four-storey start-up centre will provide the best conditions for founders and start-ups who want to promote the green transformation of the economy with their services and products.

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Networks

Bremerhaven Interest Group North (BIN)

BIN is committed to maintaining and improving the quality of life in the north of the city and the interests of its members. In particular, it is represented in all business matters, but also in real estate matters, for example.

bin-nord.de

Social Entrepreneurship Network Germany(SEND)

The SEND network has set itself the goal of further strengthening the ecosystem in Bremerhaven and Bremen for social enterprises and sustainable business and creating good conditions for social entrepreneurs.

send-ev.de

Food and Beverage Industry Bremen (NaGeB) e.V.

The association Food and Beverage Industry Bremen (NaGeB) e.V. represents the interests Bremen’s and Bremerhaven’s food industry. The NaGeB promotes the exchange between companies, provides support for industry-specific challenges and acts as a network in the region. Its focus is on topics such as quality assurance, innovation, digitalization and joint projects in order to strengthen the overall competitiveness of Bremen’s and Bremerhaven’s food and beverage industry.

nageb.de

STARTHAUS BREMERHAVEN initiative

Starthaus Bremerhaven offers a wide range of services to support people wanting to start their own business or having recently founded one and are currently in their development phase. These include top-class and individual consulting, enriching event formats such as workshops and seminars and various other ways of support accompanied by a wide range of networking activities.

starthaus-bremen.de

FFCC - Female Founder Coffee Club Bremerhaven

Do you want to start your own business in Bremen or Bremerhaven or have you already successfully launched one? The Female Founders Coffee Club offers the opportunity for an open exchange with female founders and entrepreneurs over coffee and fresh croissants. The Female Founders Coffee Club Bremerhaven takes place every third Monday of the month.

starthaus-bremen.de

Female entrepreneurs network for Bremerhaven and the surrounding area

The Female Entrepreneurs Network supplements the existing offers for female founders, entrepreneurs and freelancers/artists. At meetings that take place regurlarly, each participant is given the opportunity to briefly introduce herself and her company or business idea.

feelstrong.de

Social Impact Lab Bremen

The Social Impact Lab Bremen sees itself as a contact point for exchange and networking on the topic of sustainable start-ups and sustainable business in the federal state of Bremen.

bremen.socialimpactlab.eu

Business Professional Women (BPW)

BPW is one of the largest networks for female entrepreneurs and working women worldwide. The network is committed to supporting women at all hierarchical levels and in all sectors in developing their professional potential.

she-works.de

Wirtschaftsjunioren Bremerhaven (Junior Chamber Bremerhaven)

The Wirtschaftsjunioren Bremerhaven is an association of young entrepreneurs and managers who volunteer their time to further strengthen the economy in Bremerhaven. The association is part of the largest German network of entrepreneurs and executives, the Junior Chamber Germany and the international umbrella organization Junior Chamber International JCI.

wj-bremerhaven.de

Haven-Net e.V. business association

The entrepreneurs' association Haven-Net e.V. is a network that promotes cross-industry exchange between entrepreneurs. It offers a platform for the exchange of knowledge, experiences and resources through regulary held meetings, events and cooperation opportunities in order to strengthen and support local entrepreneurship in Bremerhaven. Business founders and start-ups are very welcome.

haven-net.de
Barbara Schieferstein | © BIS/Jens Meier

Business start up’s/subsidies

Dr. Barbara Schieferstein