Focus

Mission Investing

By investing our foundation assets in start-ups and technology and start-up centres, we are changing structures and strengthening talent.

The foundation uses its capital in a targeted manner as a strategic lever to become systemically effective. According to the principle of “mission investing”, it invests not only to generate income, but with the aim of actively creating conditions for innovation in Thuringia. The foundation’s capital is used to strengthen places, networks and entrepreneurial ecosystems – for example by investing in start-ups or technology centres. These investments are both economically viable and in line with the foundation’s purpose, thus also creating the structural conditions for a sustainable return on innovation.

In numbers

Invests in technology and business incubators

Developed as innovation spaces. This makes the foundation one of the largest providers of usable space in Thuringia.

25 million euros in income generated and invested since 2009 from the foundation’s assets

Room for innovation

Innovative ideas need spaces in which they can emerge. With the construction of technology and application centres, the foundation is creating a new home for Thuringian innovations. These centres support small and medium-sized innovative companies in particular in research and development projects and a rapid market launch of innovative products by providing high-quality technical infrastructure and development capacities.

Technology and business incubators

We design, build and support technology centres. These centres support small and medium-sized innovative companies in particular in research and development projects and a rapid market launch of innovative products by providing high-quality technical infrastructure and development capacities.

Investments in Thuringian startups

Groundbreaking breakthrough innovations not only need a visionary idea, but also a lot of time to achieve a possible return. Behind innovations that fundamentally change our lives and the market, there is often long basic research, a completely new market and a high risk of failure.

Our foundation starts where the private capital market hesitates. By investing in Thuringian startups, we are providing the financial leverage to implement and commercialize innovative visions.

CrowdArchitects GmbH (until 2025)

Together with experts, CrowdArchitects GmbH develops data-based technology solutions for the (work) flow along the entire influencer marketing process. The IROIN® Influencer Marketing Suite is an all-in-one software for influencer marketing – from influencer search to portfolio maintenance to campaign evaluation on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Twitch. In addition to its headquarters in Erfurt, the 20-strong international team is also based in Hamburg and Berlin. Innovative ideas for complex processes, individual customization options and a team of experts support international brands and agencies in the implementation of their influencer marketing campaigns. CrowdArchitects GmbH was founded in 2014. The foundation’s participation lasted from 2016 to 2025.

Erfurt

https://iroin.io/

IDloop GmbH

IDloop has developed the world’s first 3D scanner that captures fingerprints without contact. Contactless, with microscopic resolution and in a fraction of a second, a fingerprint is scanned and can be compared with existing databases. The foundation’s participation has been in place since 2023.

Jena

https://www.idloop.com/

JeNaCell GmbH (until 2021)

JeNaCell GmbH was founded in 2012. The company develops healthcare applications and specializes in the production of biotechnologically derived nanostructured cellulose (BNC) with defined shaping and controlled structural design. This material is used to develop innovative and forward-looking product solutions in the fields of medicine, cosmetics, technology and pharmaceuticals. The foundation’s participation ended with the successful exit of JeNaCell GmbH in 2021.

Jena

http://www.jenacell.de

Redwave Medical GmbH

Redwave Medical GmbH is a partner for clinically validated, intelligent algorithms in the cardiovascular sector. Cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure are the number one widespread disease worldwide. With clinically validated, intelligent algorithms, Redwave Medical GmbH is revolutionizing their control and therapy at the doctor and at home. To do this, Redwave Medical determines individual measured values such as central blood pressure quickly and easily with the highest clinical accuracy. Medical technology manufacturers can license the algorithms and easily integrate them into their product range. Redwave Medical GmbH was founded in 2017. The foundation’s involvement has existed since 2018.

Jena

https://www.redwave-medical.com/

SmartDyeLivery GmbH

SmartDyeLivery GmbH is developing a platform technology for targeted drug delivery. Nanoparticles are functionalized in such a way that they transport the trapped active ingredients only into diseased organs of the body. The smart nanocarriers thus protect the body from undesirable side effects on the one hand and the active ingredient from premature degradation on the other. The company was founded in Jena in 2014 and has grown steadily since then. Our foundation has been involved since 2018.

Jena

https://www.smartdyelivery.de/de/

How Mission Investment works

The foundation combines a focus on the common good with entrepreneurial strength and decision-making power. As a foundation under private law, it can use capital. It is not tied to fiscal and political cycles, but follows a long-term promise of impact. Their basic assets are permanently retained, and the income from them has a cross-generational effect.

In line with the foundation’s purpose, we invest the impact capital generated from the basic assets where added value with innovation potential is created – flexibly, unbureaucratically and in a targeted manner with maximum impact.