Cooperation with start-ups and scale-ups: Working together for innovation!

“In a world where technological developments are advancing rapidly, cooperation between established companies and start-ups is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’ – it is a central building block for shaping the future,” writes our ERGO colleague Hanbing Ma in a guest article for the organisers of Startup Week DUS. We have summarised below how she believes this can be achieved.

“Nothing is permanent except change.” The Greek philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus knew this around 2,500 years ago. His quote is still relevant today.

We are surrounded by advancing digitalisation and megatrends such as generative artificial intelligence, agentic AI, deep tech such as quantum computing and fusion technologies, bio and health technologies, etc. Companies must continuously adapt to this dynamic world if they want to survive. New markets, technologies and changing customer needs require constant and proactive development. Those who want to position themselves successfully in the digital age and remain competitive must constantly reinvent themselves.

For established companies, this can be quite challenging due to their size, structure or processes. They are the much-cited ‘tankers’ that are geared towards stability and efficiency. Fortunately, however, there is someone who can support them and provide important impetus: start-ups and scale-ups.

Start-ups and scale-ups represent a culture of constant change. They are the epitome of innovation, agility and the courage to break new, unconventional ground. In addition to a high level of technological affinity and expertise, they are characterised by a highly customer-centric mindset and disruptive business models. They are a key driver of digital transformation.

Collaborating with them can be a key strategy for corporations to consistently offer simple, innovative and customer-centric solutions, relieve employees of routine tasks and work peaks through new technologies, or achieve greater efficiency, effectiveness and better growth opportunities through the use of new solutions.

Start-ups and scale-ups, in turn, gain access to established networks, market or industry knowledge and resources when they collaborate with (large) corporations. It's a win-win situation for both sides. But where do they meet? At Startup Week Düsseldorf, of course!

Startup Week Düsseldorf

Startup Week Düsseldorf 2025 impressively demonstrates how such an exchange between large and small companies can be mutually beneficial – and ERGO is right in the middle of it! ERGO has been a main sponsor of the event for years and is actively involved in shaping it, for example with its own programme:

• At our Pitch Party @ ERGO on 9 September at Startup Week 2025, start-ups will be able to present their solutions to ERGO experts from the fields of AI, process mining, metaverse and voicebots, partners and an interested audience. Whether as a pitch on stage or during the networking session afterwards, the Pitch Party offers the perfect setting for new ideas and direct discussions.
• In addition, in June 2024, ERGO joined forces with Düsseldorf Economic Development and the community space TechHub.K67 to launch the “ERGO ScaleHub”, an accelerator programme for start-ups and scale-ups in the insurance, finance and health sectors in Düsseldorf.

At ERGO, it’s our ambition to be the digital leader in the insurance industry – both in Germany and in its international core markets.

Working with start-ups and scale-ups is an important part of this. So far, we have successfully operationalised more than 90 national and international start-up and scale-up collaborations within the Group. These collaborations cover the entire value chain of an insurer, from underwriting and sales to customer service.

Text: Hanbing Ma, Head of Innovation & Digital Transformation at ERGO