Main topics: formation and succession

School of Start-up & Succession

The School of Start-up & Succession has the task of making company formation and succession as well as business plan development applicable for all students at FHM. By focusing these issues in one institute, the special challenges in teaching and also the opportunities for founding a company from FHM are developed. The institute is financed by FHM.

The School of Start-up and Succession at the Fachhochschule des Mittelstands (FHM) imparts entrepreneurial thinking and action by providing all students with methodological and personal support in setting up their own start-up. The institute, founded by Prof. Dr. habil. Richard Merk, aims to fulfill its own claim of being a university “for medium-sized companies by medium-sized companies”, because entrepreneurial thinking and action, along with creativity, innovation and courage, are central prerequisites for the success of medium-sized companies. The School of Start-up and Succession (SSS) ensures that all FHM students are taught the necessary knowledge and skills for a start-up in a practical way. Students receive professional and systematic preparation for economic and personal independence.

Setting up a company as a USP of FHM

FHM is the only university in Germany to offer start-up modules in all degree programs

Start-up, company formation, entrepreneurship, company succession, business plans – every FHM student is familiar with these terms. Since its foundation in 2000, the University of Applied Sciences of the Middle Class has focused on the area of company formation and company succession in both its studies and teaching and in the area of research and development. The FHM sees itself as a business school and prepares students for professional and managerial roles at home and abroad through application-oriented teaching and studies. We try to provide our students with sound, scientific knowledge and methods that enable them to perform outstanding tasks, particularly in the SME economy and society. A particular concern of the FHM is to promote independent, global and entrepreneurial thinking and action.

Start-up know-how for all FHM students

The conscious decision of the FHM to make all students fit to start a business is not only demonstrated by the fact that the module “Starting a Business” or “Developing a Business Plan” is firmly anchored in all courses of study – regardless of whether our students are studying business administration, journalism, psychology or social work. In addition, the FHM offers Expert.Circles and workshops on starting a business or business succession at all locations.
With its own institute, FHM sets standards in the support and counseling of students and alumni. The “Institute for Entrepreneurship and Business Succession (IUG)” of FHM has been completely reorganized in recent weeks and has developed into the “FHM School of Start-Up & Succession”.

FHM School of Start-up & Succession

The FHM School of Start-up & Succession teaches entrepreneurial thinking and action. The FHM supports students on their way to becoming entrepreneurs, i.e. to economic and personal independence. The background to this idea is the FHM's profile as a university for medium-sized companies. We prepare our students specifically for founding or taking over a company – in the courses “Founding a company” or “Business plan development”, at “Founders Mondays”, through individual coaching, through Expert.Circles, through networking with start-ups, through close cooperation with the Founders Foundation, the Cologne start-up site and other partners.

The module: business plan development

Since its founding in 2000, FHM has been the only university in Germany to teach the module “Business Start-up and Business Plan Development” in all of its degree programs. The development of a business model is an instrument for the theoretical and practical penetration of the complex system of “business”.

Start-up in the SME sector:

In the coming years, numerous medium-sized companies will face a generational change. In addition to the topic of start-ups, the issue of company succession will also become particularly important for the preservation of medium-sized economic structures and jobs. If we ask where value creation, jobs, regional dynamism and thus economic growth come from, only one answer remains after critically examining all theories and historical experiences: it is entrepreneurially minded people who take on this role in our society – entrepreneurs, founders or business owners.

Interview with Prof. Dr. Richard Merk, founder of FHM

Prof. Dr. habil. Richard Merk knows exactly what challenges young founders face today and how to best support them. After all, it was he who founded the Fachhochschule des Mittelstands (FHM) in 2000 and made it what it is today.

Mr. Merk, FHM has been promoting the start-up idea among its students from the very beginning – among other things, through the company start-up module. Do you think that this gives FHM students an advantage over other company founders?
"Our graduates are supposed to think and act entrepreneurially in specialist and management positions in medium-sized companies. During their studies, FHM students spend a total of eight months (two trimesters) dealing with the topics of 'business start-up' and 'business plan development'. They learn how to develop a business idea, test it for feasibility, determine its economic potential and calculate the financial requirements. We support them in this process, provide them with in-depth knowledge, offer them creative teaching methods and connect them with the region. This knowledge naturally gives our students an advantage in my view.”

Students on the Master's program in Crossmedia & Communication Management have also addressed the topic and launched the first Design Thinking Camp, the Starters Summit, in April 2019. How important are such workshops for young founders and their ideas?
"I think events like the Starters Summit are extremely valuable. Many young people have great ideas but are unsure how to approach their realization in a structured way. Events like the Starters Summit can help them gather information and develop a structured approach. Creative methods like design thinking can help develop new approaches and find customer-centered, creative solutions. Ultimately, that's what matters – because the customer has to be convinced by the business idea and the concept, otherwise they won't buy the product."

When it comes to start-ups in Germany, everyone immediately thinks of Berlin and Hamburg. What are the advantages of OWL/Bielefeld (or the other FHM locations) as a start-up location?
"Bielefeld has a lively start-up scene that has produced many new start-up initiatives and business ideas, especially in recent years. In addition, there are more and more companies and institutions that actively promote innovative business models. The Founders Foundation is one of them. This non-profit initiative motivates young people in particular to set up their own companies and supports them on their way to starting their own business with premises, mentoring programs, coaching and other services. FHM has been working closely with the Founders Foundation for three years. The Founders Foundation is a perfect partner, as demonstrated not only by the many joint projects such as the Founders Night, but also by the company start-up module.”

In recent years, more and more FHM graduates have taken the plunge into self-employment and company succession. What tips would you give to young people who are currently considering setting up a company?
If you want to start a business, the business idea is the most important thing and therefore crucial. No company can survive in the long term, and no founder can work successfully if the business idea is not right. Young founders should ask themselves how they would explain the core of their business idea to a stranger within five minutes. In this description, founders should consider how their company will stand out from the competition. The benefits for the customer must be clearly emphasized and inspire everyone who listens. But even the best business idea is of no use if the concept is not right. A well-developed business plan is an efficient way to prepare for setting up a business and avoid one of the most common reasons for premature failure: a lack of planning. It can also be an advantage to set up a company as part of a team. It's always great to see someone who has the courage to set up their own business after graduating from the FHM. You need courage and you have to stay on the ball. Only then can you be successful.”

You were once at the beginning of a company start-up, too. What was your driving thought at the time? Were there moments when you thought about giving up?
“I come from the field of adult education. Since my studies in education and economics, I have always been involved with education and economics and find the topic very exciting. Adults decide for themselves whether they want to learn. Therefore, it was of course particularly important that FHM offers its students high-quality teaching, an ideal learning environment and innovative content. This motivated me to create something new and to convince the target group with my idea – that is, FHM. Within half a year, we had received state approval for FHM. And soon after, in October 2000, we enrolled the first 54 students. Building and growing is the best recipe for a start-up.”