The new 7,000m² space brings together not only founders but also innovators, researchers, and corporate partners in a purpose-built environment designed for co-creation, experimentation, and entrepreneurial action.

GRAVITY is centrally located on the fast-growing Bildungscampus in Heilbronn, with leading institutions in close proximity: From Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences (HHN) and branches of ETH Zürich and TU Munich, Fraunhofer and Max-Planck institutes as well as the 42 coding school. And with a student population more than doubling from 8,000 to an expected 20,000 over the next years, Heilbronn is where momentum meets opportunity.

“The opening of GRAVITY is a decisive milestone for Campus Founders. They are at the heart of the Heilbronn startup ecosystem and build the bridge to the universities with the goal of transferring knowledge into entrepreneurial action”, said Prof. Reinhold Geilsdörfer, Chairman of the Management Board of the Dieter Schwarz Foundation.

Deputy Minister President and Minister of the Interior Thomas Strobl showed himself impressed by the new Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Action of the Campus Founders: “With GRAVITY, a place is coming to life that attracts ideas – a centre for innovation, courage, and truly getting things done. The Campus Founders demonstrate impressively that economic success and social responsibility are inseparable. Here you can see what distinguishes our state: progress with integrity, cooperation, and the shared will to shape the future.”

Throughout the day, invited guests had the opportunity to experience the building firsthand, explore the various spaces, meet founders and startups, and engage with the community that is shaping the region’s future.

“With GRAVITY, we have created a space where entrepreneurs can connect, collaborate, and accelerate their startups from vision to real-world impact,” said Oliver Hanisch, CEO of Campus Founders. “We cannot be satisfied with merely preserving prosperity in Germany and Europe – we must reclaim our ambition to win. To remain competitive, we need the courage and innovative strength of startups, supported by genuine collaboration between new ventures and established players. GRAVITY stands as a clear statement that we are serious about this ambition and committed to leading the way.”

Opening ceremony: a strong signal for Europe’s innovation landscape

The Opening Ceremony was attended by leading representatives from politics, academia, industry, and the startup community. Welcoming remarks and speeches were delivered by Prof. Reinhold Geilsdörfer, Chairman of the Management Board of the Dieter Schwarz Foundation, Thomas Strobl, Minister of the Interior of Baden-Württemberg, Dr. Fabian Braesemann, Departmental Research Lecturer in AI & Work at the Oxford Internet Institute (University of Oxford), and Oliver Hanisch, CEO of Campus Founders. Together, they emphasized the strategic significance of GRAVITY as an anchor point and bold statement for entrepreneurship, co-innovation, and technological excellence in the heart of Europe.

Guided tours following the ceremony allowed attendees to explore the building’s open architecture, coworking zones, meeting rooms, maker areas, and event spaces – all designed to empower founders, accelerate startup growth and foster collaboration within the ecosystem.

Demo Day ‘A New Era Begins’: startups showcase their developments

In the afternoon, the opening transitioned into the Demo Day 'A New Era Begins’, showcasing 21 high-potential startups from the Campus Founders AI Founders and Accelerator programmes. Founders presented a broad range of startups – from AI-driven industrial applications and sustainability solutions to enterprise software – in front of an audience of investors, corporate partners, mentors, and ecosystem leaders. The pitches underscored the ambition and ingenuity within the Campus Founders programs and illustrated the momentum of Heilbronn’s growing startup community.

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