That is exactly where we come in. Innovation Republic curates the process with you: from a vague requirement through curated providers to structured sprint collaboration. Matching and concepts free of charge, non-profit, procurement-compliant.
0 €
For matching, concepts and with an award
14days
To solution proposals
100WD
Working days to proof of concept
100%
Procurement-compliant
Barriers we remove
What holds SMBs back from innovating today?
Barrier
No access to startups
No time for scouting, no network in the scene. IR curates suitable providers and puts you in direct contact.
Barrier
Long procurement routes
Instead of months of tender procedures: a 14-day competition with standardised, purchasing-compliant contracts.
Barrier
Risk aversion
A neutral risk assessment before the PoC. Clear discontinuation criteria. Documented insight gained.
How you get started
How do you get to a clear requirement in 10 minutes?
Step 1 · Innovation check
Structure the requirement
A guided entry in 6 steps: you describe the problem in your own words. IR turns it into a clear, tender-ready requirement — saved straight into the cockpit.
// Example NEED: Predictive maintenance for a CNC fleet BUDGET: €25k–50k SCOPE: 100 working days, on site + remote STATUS: Ready to tender ✓
Step 2 · Choose a partner
Choose a provider
You decide which IR partner the requirement goes to — startup matching via SpinIn, for example. Curated suggestions, a structured comparison, all in the cockpit.
ProviderA GmbH
Munich
94% match
PredictTech UG
Berlin
89% match
MaintainAI
Stuttgart
82% match
Costs
What a procedure costs — and when
You pay in one case only: if you have invited providers into a procedure and it then ends without an award. You see your maximum before every admission.
Step 1 · Requirement, provider search, concepts
€0
Free and you can stop at any time
You describe your requirement, we find suitable providers, and they submit concepts with a non-binding price estimate. Up to this point you can stop at any time without incurring any cost.
Step 2 · Admission
€500per provider, plus VAT
Only if the procedure ends without an award
You invite the providers whose concepts convince you. If the procedure then ends without an award — through cancellation, rejection of all offers or because the binding period expires — each eligible provider receives an expense allowance from you. Directly, not via Innovation Republic.
Step 3 · Award
€0
With an award you pay nothing
You commission one provider. It pays Innovation Republic a success fee of 10 % of the contract value; the other providers receive no expense allowance — but they learn who won.
Worked example
10 concepts received, 3 providers admitted.
Award to one of the three → You pay €0.
No award → 3 × €500 = €1,500 plus VAT — to the three providers, not to Innovation Republic.
One withdraws before the deadline, no award → 2 × €500 = €1,000 plus VAT.
If the procedure ends before the offer deadline, every admitted provider that has not withdrawn is eligible; afterwards, those who submitted on time and presented in the pitch round (§ 8 (4) of our terms). Why the allowance exists: after admission, providers put real work into their offer and pitch — so you only invite those you really want, and you get serious offers in return.
Frequently asked · SMBs
What SMBs mostly ask before starting.
Question 01
What does using Innovation Republic cost us?
Requirement clarification, access to all IR-curated partners and their concepts are free for SMBs and industry. Only the actual contract with the chosen provider is billed — directly between you and the provider, with funding wherever possible. IR refinances itself through a success fee paid by the awarded provider. One exception you should know: if you admit providers to a procedure and it then ends without an award, each eligible provider receives a €500 (plus VAT) expense allowance from you (§ 8 (4) of our terms) — by then they have put real work into their offer. Your maximum amount is known before every admission.
Question 02
How long does it take until we get solution proposals?
From a structured requirement to curated provider proposals we reckon on 14 days. The sprint itself usually starts within two to four weeks after that — depending on the availability of the chosen partners and the complexity of the project.
Question 03
Is this procurement-compliant for public-sector clients?
Yes. We work with standardised, purchasing-compliant contracts and transparent provider selection. For below-threshold procurement the process works directly; for larger volumes we supply the market research and the structured comparison grid your procurement office needs anyway.
Question 04
What happens if the sprint fails?
Every sprint has documented discontinuation criteria from the outset. If the project does not hold up, the sprint is ended in a controlled way — and you are left with documented insight instead of a vague failure. That is explicitly part of the model, not an exception.
Feeling innovation pressure but unsure how to proceed?
Talk to us. We curate the right process with you — from sharpening the requirement to a documented sprint outcome. The first conversation is free and without obligation; we are a non-profit.