Subscribe to unlock this article
Thanks for your support.
UnternehmerTUM, long recognized as one of Europe’s leading centers for start-ups, has taken a decisive step into the world of ETA with the launch of its new ETA Hub in Munich. This initiative aims to tackle one of the most pressing economic challenges in Germany today: the widening succession gap among medium-sized and family-owned businesses. The initiative is backed by founding partners including Novastone Partners, Deutsche Bank WM, and Tengelmann Growth Partners.
According to the KfW Succession Monitoring 2024, more and more German entrepreneurs are considering closing their businesses due to the lack of viable succession options. By the end of 2025, around 231,000 SMEs face potential closure, a dramatic increase of 67,500 from the previous year. The implications for employment, regional economies, and the preservation of Germany’s diverse Mittelstand are significant.
UnternehmerTUM has already built a strong track record in supporting transformation processes within established companies, particularly through internal succession planning and technology-driven innovation. The new ETA Hub now extends this support into external succession, offering a structured pathway for entrepreneurial talent to acquire, manage, and grow existing businesses.
ETA has gained increasing traction worldwide, and UnternehmerTUM seeks to make company acquisitions more visible and accessible to talented entrepreneurs. The hub will focus on three main areas: knowledge transfer, networking and implementation support.
Christian Mohr, Chief Customer Officer of UnternehmerTUM, emphasized the urgency of this mission: “The significant succession gap of German companies is one of the greatest challenges of our economy, for which new solutions and innovative approaches are needed. With the ETA Hub, UnternehmerTUM is closing a strategic gap in its portfolio – with a comprehensive range of services from teaching to implementation.”
