Metro gets involved in the startup scene

Startups and innovation are top-level issues at Metro: CEO Olaf Koch spoke of a "nearly historical day" when at the end of January he opened "Demo Day", during which eleven startups – the first batch of companies funded under the programme – presented themselves to a specialist audience as part of the Metro accelerator in Berlin. In order to start an accelerator of its own, Metro had entered into a partnership with experienced US startup network <link http://www.techstars.com/>Techstars</link>. In October, Metro accelerator will kick off the second round with ten new startups from the food industry and the hospitality sector. Selected teams are offered funding of up to EUR 120,000 as well as support provided by experienced mentors. 

Digital future issues are high up on Metro's agenda which the group proves through investments and takeovers. Gastrando GmbH, founder of <link https://www.gastrozentrale.de/>Gastrozentrale</link>, an online market place aimed at restaurant owners, was one of the startups that participated in the first round of the accelerator programme. In May it became known that <link https://www.orderbird.com/>Orderbird AG</link> had also received funding besides the programme. The Berlin-based startup, one of the leading providers of iPad POS systems for the restaurant industry, had collected a total of <link https://www.orderbird.com/press/pressreleasepdfs/de_de/20160511-orderbird-series-c-20-millionen.pdf>EUR 20 million</link> in a financing round. "We will provide support in terms of relevant expertise as well as access to customers," Koch said about the investment. By taking over companies such as online grocery service "<link http://www.emmas-enkel.de/>Emmas Enkel</link>" Metro Group has shown its readiness to incorporate digital knowledge and innovative business models into the company.