H2UB Start-up Area

H2UB is Europe’s leading Open Innovation Platform for the whole hydrogen value chain. It collaborates with the brightest entrepreneurs, corporate innovators and investors to contribute to the common goal: Net Zero.

As a thought leader in hydrogen innovation, H2UB is scouting breakthrough innovation and facilitating collaboration between start-ups, corporate partners and investors to realize hydrogen projects.

H2UB supports entrepreneurs in the hydrogen industry by providing market-leading and tailor-made start-up programs, and by matching start-ups with potential customers and investors.

In H2UB’s accelerator programs H2 start-ups benefit from compact, focused, and customized individual coaching with mentors and selected industry experts as well as group sessions. The "H2UB SPRINT" is a 10-week program specifically designed for Seed and Series A start-ups from Europe. The track record: In five batches, 23 teams from 8 different European countries have been accelerated. These teams have raised around €150 million euros in external funding and achieved a market valuation of over €320 million euros. In addition, the "H2UB BOOTCAMP" is a dedicated 3-week early-stage program for future founders. By participating in the programs, H2 start-ups become part of the #HYDROVERSE and receive ongoing support from H2UB – through events, intros and matchings with corporate partners and investors.

H2UB works with the smartest corporate innovation teams by leveraging venture clienting and corporate venture building activities from proof of concept to delivery, as well as venture building services. It also scouts, sources, selects, and supports start-ups to deliver innovative solutions to decarbonize business operations and maximize efficiency while investing in future hydrogen champions.

The HYDROVERSE CONVENTION is the biggest hydrogen innovation event in Europe. It focuses on start-up innovation, venture building, implementation of innovative hydrogen technologies, financing and funding, recruitment, and more.

H2UB also organizes delegation tours to the world’s leading H2 events, trade show participation for start-ups, and networking events for its community.

As a think tank, H2UB contributes to expert discussions on the further development of the hydrogen economy. As part of an international ecosystem, H2UB has exclusive access to validated intelligence on more than 150 H2 start-ups and adds them to information from existing databases. Based on this research, H2UB provides Market Intelligence Reports, not only scouting innovative ideas and start-ups, but also conducting dedicated tech assessment of highly rated start-ups and innovative technologies. The H2UB study “Venture funding of hydrogen start-ups” was the pilot product for this service. It has been downloaded over 400 times by high profile investors, corporates and start-ups in the hydrogen and energy sector.

The H2UB is co-funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia and supported by numerous companies and institutions. The shareholders of H2UB are the RAG-Stiftung, OGE (Open Grid Europe), TÜV SÜD and the German Aerospace Center (DLR).