Running a Global Startup Accelerator on Podio
Axel Springer Plug & Play is a Berlin-based startup accelerator — a joint venture between Axel Springer SE and Silicon Valley's Plug and Play Tech Center. Since February 2013, it runs three programme cycles per year, selecting up to 15 international startups each time and guiding them through an intensive 3-month coaching programme with €25,000 seed funding.
The Challenge: Connecting a Moving Programme
The programme is anchored in Berlin, but everything around it is constantly in motion. Mentors and network partners from across the world need to be integrated into the programme. Events must be coordinated continuously. Some startups even spend part of the programme in Silicon Valley.
At the centre of it all are the startup teams themselves — for whom fast, continuous information flow and sustainable knowledge transfer are essential. A digital hub was needed that could map all processes and serve as a flexible platform for communication and collaboration at every level of the accelerator.
The Solution: Podio as the Central Hub
Axel Springer Plug & Play chose Podio to centralise all IT and communication processes. They needed an implementation partner for process analysis, design, and rollout — and reached out to Podio directly, who recommended Kollaborateure.
After an initial workshop, existing processes were jointly analysed and mapped into Podio. Workspaces were carefully constructed to organise communication across all startups in each cohort. Both the Axel Springer Plug & Play team and the startup founders were trained by Kollaborateure. The resulting structure can now be extended independently by the team with custom apps as needs evolve.
Results
One central hub
All IT and communication processes consolidated into a single platform.
Instant onboarding
New staff and US-based colleagues get immediate access to all relevant information.
Full pipeline transparency
The entire application and selection process for startups is handled with clarity and overview.
Self-extending system
The team now extends the system independently — startups even use Podio for social coordination.
"The goal was to structure the complex communication channels and organisational processes within Axel Springer Plug & Play. Since everything can be managed in one place with Podio, everything is simpler — our work processes have become more efficient. New colleagues and our team in the US now have immediate access to all relevant information. Even the entire application and decision-making process for selecting startups can be handled optimally — thanks to the clarity and transparency."
— Charlotte Bilzer, Associate Program & Operations"The decision for Podio was followed by a thorough analysis of existing processes, guided by Kollaborateure. Thanks to the needs-oriented development of workspaces and apps, support with data migration, and access rights management across all levels — both for our internal team and the startups — a highly effective system was created quickly. The training sessions gave everyone confidence in using Podio. Today we can extend the system ourselves as needed, and our startups even use Podio to organise their social lives."
— Jörg Rheinboldt, CEO