DB StartupXpress
Über DB StartupXpress
Eine digitalisierte Welt eröffnet Chancen heutige Grenzen zu überwinden und neue Standards zu setzen. Startups ermöglichen es uns, neue Technologien und Geschäftsmodelle rund um die Eisenbahninfrastruktur (Schienennetz, Bahnhöfe, Energieversorgung), Mobilität und Logistik kennenzulernen und zu testen.
Wir suchen durchgehend
innovative Technologien, digitale Anwendungen, vernetzte Materialien und neue Geschäftsmodelle, die das Potenzial haben, die Deutsche Bahn und ihre Geschäftsfelder bei ihrer digitalen Transformation zu unterstützen. Ergänzend fokussieren wir zeitweise spezielle Themen und sammeln die Inputs zu einem Datum.
Euer Nutzen
Wir bieten euch die einzigartige Chance eure Geschäftsideen, Technologien und Produkte direkt mit der DB weiterzuentwickeln und zu testen. Dafür unterstützen wir euch finanziell, mit Coaching und Mentoring, einem Arbeitsplatz in der DB mindbox und dem Zugang zu unserem Netzwerk. Die Deutsche Bahn kann die Entwicklung Deiner speziellen Lösung unterstützen und einer Deiner Kunden werden.
Funding
- 3-monatiges Programm
- 25T € ohne Eigenkapitalbeteiligung
- Arbeitsplätze in der DB mindbox
Know-How
- Zugang zur Welt der Eisenbahn
- Zugang zu exklusiven Datensätzen
- Zugang zu Geschäftsfeldern der DB
Mentoring
- Eigene Startup Manager
- Interne und externe Coaches
- Kooperation mit dem betahaus
Verbessere unsere Welt



Wir suchen ständig nach Innovationen für unser Unternehmen. Bewerbungen für alle Themen können jederzeit eingereicht werden. Daher läuft da Programm DB StartupXpress regelmäßig. Darüber hinaus gibt es immer auch spezielle Fristen für einzelne Themen. Unsere Fokusthemen sind Logistik, Bautechnik, Marketing, Personal und Instandhaltung. Weitere Informationen zu den Suchfeldern in diesen Themen findest du weiter unten.
Wenn du mehr Informationen über spezielle Deadlines suchst oder dich bereits für eine Bewerbung entschieden hast, klicke hier.
Smart Infrastructure
We transport over 7,3 Mio. passengers every day over our 33.000 km of tracks. To keep ensuring the safety and availability of our network, we are looking for ideas which will help us to be better informed about our network every time and to maintain it more efficiently.

Real time information
Knowing the status of every component or machine at all times.

Predictive maintenance
Increase the availability of our rail network by avoiding outtages and failures of our assets and machines.

Wayside monitoring
Increase the knowledge about the trains on our network with the help of stationary measuring sites.

Challenge us
You think you can bring the maintenance of our network to the next level? Send us your ideas!
Intelligent Trains
We operate 25.000 passenger train runs of our high speed, regional and commuter trains and 5.000 freight train runs every day. To improve the availability and punctuality of our trains, we are looking for solutions that will help us to maintain our trains more efficiently and to increase the usage of the trains and components.

Real time information
Knowing the status of every component or machine at all times.

Predictive maintenance
Increase the availability of our trains by avoiding failures and unplanned defaults of our components and trains.

Track monitoring
Increase the knowledge about the tracks with the help of sensors on regular trains.

Other Ideas
You think you can increase the availability of our trains? Apply for the DB StartupXpress!
Innovative Workshops
We carry out the maintenance of our trains and wagons almost entirely ourselves. To improve the quality of the work and the ergonomics of our workers, we are looking for solutions to support or assist our workers. In addition we’re looking for ideas, which will bring the operation of our workshops to the next level by improving the schedule of work and the internal logistics.

Work support
Increase the ergonomics of our hard work and help the workers with the right information at the right time and place.

Communication
Reduce the effort to transfer information from one shift to another and between units with modern communication tools.

Logistics
Knowing the location of all components, assets and tools at every time.

Additional solutions
You can bring our maintenance work to the next level? Apply for the DB StartupXpress!
Modern Tools
Digitization can improve our workforce as well as all of our services. We are looking for ideas which will help our workers, create connectivity at all work places, distribute the information between the stakeholders efficiently, train our workers remotely and give guidance to our workers.

AR / VR
Improve the training, export support and communication with new technologies to create modern work places.

Simulation
Create an environment to predict future maintenance and to simulate the effects of changing strategies.

Communication Infrastructure
Improve the connectivity everywhere in our network, workshops, offices with new tools.

Challenge us
You think you can improve DB with modern tools? Send us your ideas!
Video, Image and Sensor Data Analysis
We are already collecting a lot of data and want to expand it in the future so that we know more about our trains and routes. We are looking for solutions which help us to analyse our existing data (video, image, laser, sensor data, …) or combined solutions of sensor and analysis to monitor our tracks, trains, passengers.

Material supervision
Detect the condition of components and trains, measure the status of parts, analyse optical control boards…

Passenger flows
Count the number of passengers, measure the density on platforms and in trains, locate passengers on platforms...

Track / Train condition
Video surveillance of our network and trains. Generate a 3D model of the network and trains!

Challenge us
You can increase the knowledge about DB related topics? Apply for the DB StartupXpress!
New Products / Business models
DB Cargo AG - Europe's largest freight railway. With around 4,200 customer sidings in Europe, DB Cargo provides its customers with access to one of the biggest rail networks in the world. We are looking for innovative start-ups that can design new products and business models for DB Cargo.

Market platforms
Expansion of freight exchange platforms for freight trains.

Free capacity exchange
Increase the availability of our rail products for our customer.

New Sales Channels
You think you can bring new sales channels to our network? Send us your ideas!

Logistics-Integrator
Increase the network from rail to other transport sites.
New Services
We operate 5.000 freight train runs every day. To improve the services for our customers, We are looking for innovative start-ups that can improve our overall logistics processes with their innovative hard- and software solutions.

Estimated Time of Arrival
Forecast arrival times for goods and freight trains.

Integration in Supply Chain
Linking with customer systems for continuous digitized processes.

Decision support
Increase the support for decisions by customers and/or DB Cargo Sales teams.

Digital consignment note
Reduction of errors (no more paper-based documentation).
Communication
Key resources are customer relationships, a high level of customer understanding, motivated and well-trained employees along with efficient use of rolling stock and a premium quality infrastructure. In addition we’re looking for ideas, which will bring the communication with our customers a long the customer journey to the next level.

Dashboards
New focused presentation of information for our customers.

Feedback/ Complaint Management
New innovative tools to improve our products through customer feedback.

Track and Trace
Knowing the location and conditions of all goods, assets and tools at every time.

Additional solutions
You can bring our communication processes to the next level? Apply for the DB StartupXpress!
Modern Sales Tools
Digitization can improve our sales processes as well as all of our services. We are looking for ideas which will help our sales teams, create new products, services or channels to new or … customers.

Blockchain
Enhanced supply chain security and increased efficiency.

API
Development of new applications through standardized interfaces.

CRM
Increase customer support and develop new tools for our sales teams.

Big Data
You think you can improve DB with modern tools? Send us your ideas!
Big Data
Data helps us to make the right decisions when it comes to human resources. It can help us to find the right candidate and also to develop the skills of our employees. We provide more than 500 professions and are always looking for the right match between people, jobs or projects.

People Analytics
Improve data driven decision making in recruitment or employee development.

Matching
Develop algorithms and platforms that help us to match persons, projects and jobs.

Competency management
Support us by assessing and developing individual and collective skills.

Additional solutions
You can bring data to the next level? Apply for the DB StartupXpress!
Engagement Tools
Collaboration is key to success. Therefore we want to enable our employees to collaborate professionally. Digitization can improve the way we work together. We are looking for ideas which will help our employees to distribute the information and knowledge efficiently and communicate in an modern way.

Feedback and Participation
Improve the communication possibilities to create modern work places.

Digital Learning
Find tools and methods that allow to learn relevant content when needed.

Knowledge Management
Help us to create, share, use and manage the knowledge within DB.

Challenge us
You think you can improve DB with modern engagement tools? Send us your ideas!
Digital Asssitance
Our 300.000 employees have specific and individual needs. We are looking for solutions to support their work and daily challenges. Digital assistance tools can help them to make their work easier and thus to concentrate on the relevant issues and tasks.

Health management
Support our employees to retain the physical and mental health.

Time tracking
Measure the time for different activities without the hassle of manual recording.

Workflow Management
Support complex work proceedings with digital tools and hacks.

Additional solutions
You think you can bring digital assistance to the next level? Apply for the DB StartupXpress!
Smart Planning
Planning phases are the fundament of a successful construction phase and project completion. Due to high complexity of big infrastructure projects, the early phases take time and require high attention to details. We are looking for solutions to avoid planning mistakes which lead to a delayed start of operation and increased costs.

Technical Risk Analysis
Enabling efficient and predictive risk analysis regarding construction ground, environmental protection etc.

Document Management
Collecting relevant information by digital document and content.

Collaboration & Communication
Make stakeholders participate actively in the planning process and provide and share information.

Challenge us
You think you can bring our construction projects to the next level? Send us your ideas!
Project Progress Analysis
DB is in charge of about 800 construction sites operated at the same time. To keep negative impacts on the availability of our network as low as possible, fast and on-time construction progresses are essential. Observation, analysis and visualization of project progress data to forecast impacts caused by any changes are of main interest to us.

Real time monitoring
Knowing the project progress on the construction site any time.

Predictive analysis
Analyzing data to predict construction progress, costs and deadlines.

Data Visualization
Increase the knowledge about the data through mapping and georeferencing.

Other Ideas
You think you can improve our construction progesses? Apply for the DB StartupXpress!
Construction Logistics
Optimizing and speeding up workflows in the construction phase is crucial to an on-time project realization. Therefore we are looking for technologies which allows us to improve our workflow and data management on the construction site.

Workflow Management
Improve collaboration and communication between stakeholders on the construction site.

Data Analysis
Enabling transparency and optimal utilization by recording and evaluating logistics, process and quantitative data.

Additional solutions
You can increase the knowledge about DB related topics? Apply for the DB StartupXpress!
Customer Interaction
DB Regio offers regional transport service for over six million passengers each day. Getting in touch with every traveler to create a good customer experience is our aim for modern passenger transport.

Robotics
Integrating robots into customer interaction, e.g. as customer guidance and support or travel information on-site.

Ticketing
Having an easy („two-click-“) access and a safe payment, e.g. with blockchain technologies.

Human Machine Interface
Enabling interaction between customers and passenger transport devices, e.g. voice and image recognition.

Other ideas
You think you can bring sales and marketing to the next level? Send us your ideas!
New Services
Our core business focuses consistently on increased customer orientation and, accordingly, on improving product and service quality, not least through new digital technologies and services.

Navigation
Navigating passengers through their journey using location-based services.

Shopping
Offering mobile shopping solutions for commuters and travellers.

Entertainment
Creating new entertainment offers for train passengers.

Data-based Services
You think you can improve our Regional Trains with new services? Send us your ideas!
Customer Retention
DB’s ability to attract and retain new passengers is related not only to our products or services, but also to the way we service our existing customers. Generating value as a result of utilizing our products and services creates reputation.

Loyalty Programs
Encouraging train passengers/ commuters and rewarding them.

Comparability
Comparing train travel with other means of transport, e.g. regarding time, emissions…

Crowd Based Services
Encouraging consumers to become more like coworkers to take over specific services.

Gamification
Using gamification tools to improve customer engagement, e.g. for marketing campaigns or customer feedback.
Information Management
DB Regio’s core service is to bring millions of passengers in regional transport each day to their desired destination in a punctual, safe, reliable and environmentally friendly way. Help us improving our customer information management by using existing data, specific tools, innovative technologies or smart processes.

Real time information
Knowing the status of every component or machine at all times.

Processing
Simplifying and digitizing processes for having consistent standards, e.g. passenger‘s rights.

Routing
Getting recommendations considering time, capacity and routes.

Analytics
Receiving forecasts by using different data sets and giving advice for disposition.
FAQ
Was Dich interessieren könnte ...
- die direkte Zusammenarbeit mit einem Bereich der DB (gemeinsame Entwicklung eines Prototypen)
- Top-Level Support des DB Managements
- eine enge fachliche Betreuung durch Fachexperten der DB
- starker Support durch Startup Manager der DB mindbox in allen Lebenslagen
- in den drei Monaten könnt ihr mit Zügen, Schienen und Bahnhöfen arbeiten – wer keine Lust darauf hat, arbeitet mit Bussen, Rollern, Warenlagern, Container oder mit unseren Kunden
- Ihr testet euren Prototypen in der Realität im Bahn-System, also direkt an der Schiene, am Kunden, im Zug, im Bahnhof etc., und zeigt damit, dass Euer Ansatz funktioniert (Proof of Concept)
- Aufbau eines Netzwerkes innerhalb der DB, der Bahn-Industrie und darüber hinaus weiteren interessanten Branchen
- Erschließung eines einzigartigen Absatzmarktes
- Zusammenarbeit mit Europas größtem Mobilitätsanbieter
- kostenloser Arbeitsplatz direkt an der sonnigen Spree mit der Möglichkeit direkt aus dem Zug in den Arbeitsplatz zu fallen
- Anschubfinanzierung von 25.000€ ohne dass wir Equity nehmen
- nein, dafür sind die 25.000€ unter anderem gedacht
- Ziel des StartupXpress Programms ist es, zu testen, ob Eure Anwendung innerhalb der Deutschen Bahn funktioniert (Proof of Concept)
- unsere Erfahrung zeigt, dass mindestens ein MVP oder erster Prototyp vorliegen sollte, damit man innerhalb von drei Monaten auch etwas testen kann
- Euer Team sollte mindestens aus 2 Personen bestehen
- Euer Startup muss als Firma gegründet sein
- unsere Erfahrung zeigt eine hohe Korrelation zwischen regelmäßiger Anwesenheit und Erfolg des Startups
- für den Erfolg des Pilotprojekts ist eine enge Zusammenarbeit zwischen Startup, DB mindbox und dem Fachbereich essenziell – dies klappt mit einer hohen Anwesenheit regelmäßig besser
- abhängig vom Fachbereich, mit dem ihr zusammenarbeitet, könnte Euer DB Büro in der DB mindbox oder aber auch beim Fachbereich direkt vor Ort sein
- uns ist bewusst, dass jedes Unternehmen weitere Kundenkontakte pflegt und deshalb jede Situation individuell besprochen werden muss
- nach der Bewerbung werden die Unterlagen durch das DB mindbox-Team geprüft, ggf. wird um ergänzende Unterlagen gebeten
- in enger Abstimmung zwischen DB mindbox und den Fachbereichen werden die am besten zu unseren Herausforderungen passenden Teams ausgewählt und zu einem Auswahltag
- Teams, die nicht ins Programm aufgenommen werden, übernehmen wir in unsere Datenbank, um ggf. später mit diesen Teams zu arbeiten
- wird Dein Team ausgewählt wird mit der DB mindbox und dem Fachbereich ein Vertrag geschlossen, darin wird u.a. auch geklärt, was Dein Team in den drei Monaten weiterentwickeln und testen soll
- nach Vertragsschluss erfolg der Einzug in die DB mindbox und das Programm startet
- offizielle Einführung in den Bahn-Konzern
- Coachings durch externe Experten
- Mentoring durch Top Level Entscheider
- direkter fachlicher Support durch Experten aus dem Fachbereich
- Anpassung Eures MVP / Prototypen für den Einsatz in der DB
- Präsentation zur Halbzeit (Mid-term) mit Vorstellung Status und nächsten Schritte
- Test Eures Prototypen
- Präsentation vor internen sowie externen Entscheidungsträgern
- finale Präsentation (Demo Day)
- am Ende der drei Monate werden die Ergebnisse präsentiert
- eine Fortführung der Zusammenarbeit wird angestrebt, ist aber u.a. von einem erfolgreichen Proof of Concept abhängig
- alle Parteien werden die Ergebnisse des Programms besprechen und treffen eine gemeinsame Entscheidung über das weitere Vorgehen
- bei Fortsetzung der Zusammenarbeit folgt zumeist eine weitere Optimierung des Prototypen und eine zeitlich & örtlich begrenzte Pilotierung
- nach erfolgreicher Pilotierung kann eine Zertifizierung oder Abnahme durch das Eisenbahnbundesamt stehen
- danach kann eine breite Umsetzung erfolgen