When Germany’s startup hubs are mentioned, the usual list is short: Berlin first, Munich second, and then often a pause. Yet the numbers suggest Saxony is becoming harder to ignore. According to the latest regional startup data, Saxony is home to 698 active startups, two unicorns and more than €1 billion in startup funding raised since 2020. The more interesting question is not whether Saxony now has a startup scene, but why a growing number of deep-tech founders are choosing to build there.

You're building something ambitious: a sensor that doesn't exist yet, a robotics system that could redefine an industry, or a quantum chip that most people still think is science fiction. You've validated the core technology. Now you need capital, customers, and the right doors to open.ExciteLab is a high-tech accelerator based in Dresden, Germany, launched in 2024 through a collaboration betweenTU Dresden, theTU Dresden Aktiengesellschaft (TUDAG) andSpinLab. The accelerator program supports startups working in robotics, sensors, IoT, semiconductors, and quantum technologies. Here are ten reasons why deeptech startups should join ExciteLab.