innovate! mittelstand 2026

Location

Seedhouse Accelerator GmbH
An der Katharinenkirche 7 | 49074 Osnabrück

Date

01.09.2026

Fee

Ticket sales will start soon!

Exchange. impulses. implementation.
for the region's SME sector

innovate! mittelstand is the format for future-oriented small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the region. It focuses on key topics of our time:
artificial intelligence, data strategies, digitalization, new sales channels, innovation culture, and change management.

Many of these topics are widely discussed, yet what is often missing is the right framework for genuine peer-to-peer exchange and concrete implementation in day-to-day business operations.

With innovate! mittelstand, we create exactly this space. The platform combines inspiration, networking, and carefully curated startup solutions with the goal of increasing operational efficiency and making digital transformation actionable.

- Exchange instead of buzzwords
- Practice instead of theory
- Regional strength instead of isolated individual initiatives

innovate! mittelstand

more than an event

The first edition of innovate! mittelstand marks the starting point for a long-term platform for digital transformation in mid-sized companies.

In the future, the format will bring together:

- Expert talks on current digitalization and innovation topics

- Exchange formats on equal footing

- Best practices from regional companies

- Access to curated startup solutions

- Concrete approaches to increasing operational efficiency

This creates a format that not only informs, but enables implementation.

a hub for the region

In the long term, innovate! mittelstand aims to establish itself as a permanent point of contact for operational digitalization in mid-sized companies.

A platform that:

- Promotes exchange

- Bundles knowledge

- Makes startup innovation accessible

- Strengthens efficiency in the mid-sized sector

- Initiates cooperation

Initiated by the Seedhouse network, this creates a structured connection between mid-sized companies and the startup ecosystem.

startup solutions for operational efficiency

A central pillar of innovate! mittelstand is the targeted integration of innovative startups. They contribute:

- AI-supported process optimization
- Data-driven decision support
- Automation solutions
- Digital tools for sales & marketing
- Solutions for internal processes and organization

This turns inspiration into concrete courses of action.

production & Manufacturing

Digital technologies are fundamentally transforming production processes. This stage focuses on topics such as:

- Automation and Industry 4.0
- AI in production processes
- Process optimization and efficiency gains
- Data-driven manufacturing
- Sustainability and resource efficiency

This is where production managers meet startups offering solutions for modern industrial processes.

Sales & Marketing

New technologies are changing how companies acquire customers, enter markets, and drive growth.

Topics on this stage include:

- Digital sales strategies
- Data-driven marketing decisions
- Customer experience and platform models
- AI in sales
- New business models

This stage is particularly aimed at companies looking to future-proof their market strategy.

People & HR

Skills shortages and new ways of working present major challenges for many companies.

This stage focuses on:

- Recruiting and talent acquisition
- Digital HR processes
- Employee retention and corporate culture
- Training and future skills
- Organizational development and change

Solutions are presented that help companies build successful teams for the long term.

Startup solutions for operational efficiency

At innovate! mittelstand, we bring startups and SMEs together to make concrete solutions for current SME challenges visible.

Selected startups are given the opportunity to present their solutions on one of the re:innovate stages to decision-makers from SME companies.

We are looking for startups that:

- Present concrete applications or technologies
- Can demonstrate real-world use cases or pilot projects with companies
- Offer a clear value proposition for SMEs

frequently asked question
what you should know?

Whon is the innovate! mittelstand for?

- Managing directors of mid-sized companies

- Innovation and digitalization managers

- Department heads

- Transformation leaders

- Future-oriented organizations from the region

Why innovate! mittelstand?

Mid-sized companies are under increasing pressure to change:

- Processes need to become more efficient
- Markets are changing faster
- Skilled labor is scarce
- Digitalization requires investment and expertise

At the same time, innovative solutions are emerging—often developed by startups that quickly translate new technologies into market-ready applications.

What is often missing is the connection between needs and solutions. innovate! mittelstand creates exactly this bridge.

What can participants expect?

Participants receive:

- Relevant impulses on current future topics
- Practical insights into AI, digitalization, and innovation
- Exchange with regional decision-makers
- Access to concrete startup solutions
- Guidance for strategic investment decisions
- New cooperation opportunities

innovate! mittelstand combines inspiration, networking, and concrete implementation in a clearly structured format.

How can companies actively become part of the platform?

re:innovate offers a high-quality platform with a clearly defined target group: decision-makers from mid-sized companies in the region.

Partners benefit from:

- Direct access to relevant company representatives
- Visibility within the region’s innovation ecosystem
- Positioning as a solution provider in the context of digitalization and efficiency
- Active participation in shaping the program
- Sustainable networking beyond the event

As the starting point of a long-term platform, re:innovate offers not just event presence, but strategic positioning within the regional innovation ecosystem.

Who is behind innovate! mittelstand?

innovate! mittelstand is initiated by Seedhouse, which has many years of experience in building innovation networks and collaborating with startups and mid-sized companies.