Kickstart your idea
and shape the future of logistics
Welcome to Start-up Lab!
DHL Start-up Lab, the global intrapreneurship program of Deutsche Post DHL Group, is supporting colleagues from across the globe to kick-start new business models and technologies.
Our Vision
To stay competitive, Deutsche Post DHL Group needs to be at the forefront of innovation. We want to enable our employees to shape the future of logistics and help to promote cultural change and a forward-looking mind-set within our business!
Our Mindset
Many of us have great business ideas tucked away in the back of our minds. We want you to feel free to talk openly about your ideas, to get feedback and develop your concepts. After all entrepreneurship needs to be catching.
Our Methods
We have an entire toolbox of methodologies and support to identify and road test your start-up idea. Depending on your needs, we offer you different solutions and, no matter what happens, always provide a safe space to start, continue or conclude your innovative journey.
DHL Start-Up Lab is described as the intrapreneurship program of Deutsche Post DHL Group, a global platform where employees across countries and business units come together to develop ideas, innovative business models, and technologies for the future of logistics. Rather than working only in established structures, the program encourages colleagues to treat internal experimentation as a serious contribution to the company's competitive position and long-term relevance in a rapidly changing market.
The vision behind the program centers on staying competitive by remaining at the forefront of innovation. In practice, that means giving employees the space to develop concepts, test assumptions, and take part in initiatives that could reshape how logistics services are designed and delivered. The stated aim is not only to generate new ventures but also to promote cultural change and a forward-looking mind-set throughout the organization.
The program addresses a familiar workplace reality: many good business ideas sit tucked away in the back of people's minds, never discussed openly. Start-Up Lab creates a structured setting where colleagues can share those ideas, exchange honest feedback, and receive support from peers and mentors. Multiple batches and opportunities run in different countries, so participation is organized around teams that continue working together after the initial idea phase concludes.
Participants work with a broad toolbox of methodologies and methods, helping them identify viable opportunities, define the road ahead, and decide which concepts are worth pursuing. Depending on the maturity of a concept, different support formats are offered, from early-stage ideation help to more structured guidance. The emphasis is on giving each team a safe environment in which to experiment, receive constructive input, and gradually build toward a launch-ready proposition.
Beyond the core program cycle, the platform acts as a channel for sharing news and updates about digitalization and new business initiatives launched at group, unit, and local level. Resources, videos, and news list items keep colleagues informed about what has already been achieved, while the site's compact navigation and boxed content panels make it straightforward to browse ideas, teams, and program information without distraction.
For employees interested in the journey, the site offers a clear entry point into the program, including information about batches, teams, and how colleagues are supported throughout. The overall message is straightforward: innovation happens when people are given time, space, and confidence to develop ideas, and when the organization treats intrapreneurship as a shared responsibility rather than a specialist activity.
In 2021 Start-Up Lab says goodbye
Since the start of our program, our company has come a long way in regards to its innovation and digitalization agenda – with multiple initiatives being launched on Group- and business unit-level – and is now in a much better position to seize those opportunities across the company. Thus, the need for central support from Start-up Lab gradually decreased and has evolved into a Group-wide effort.
We are tremendously proud of what we have achieved together with our successful intrapreneurs: We not only trained more than 3.000 employees on the necessary skills and tools to drive innovation from within but also initiated 5 batches with almost 750 applications from more than 40 countries – with the result of multiple projects being successfully implemented in our divisions!
What happens next?
In the coming months, we will work with our batch 4 and 5 teams to get ready for their final pitch in March 2021. We continue to support our alumni teams from batch 1, 2 & 3, and share our key learnings gained over the past three years with you.
Start-Up Lab in Numbers
+ Teams
“Incubating new ideas will allow us to lay the foundations for the logistics business models of the future.”
“Start-up Lab can really accelerate things. We built a prototype and tested it in the market within weeks, without long approval processes, without bureaucracy. That is really cool.”
“The Start-up Lab provides an opportunity for employees to innovate and actively be change agents within the Group. It encourages the kind of thinking that will allow us to stay ahead of the curve by challenging people to present solutions that are digital, agile and creative.”
“By being part of Startup Lab, teams not only get the funding and resources to bring their ideas to reality, but they also get taught how to rapidly validate and develop a solution under the guidance of an experienced Mentor”
“It’s important for the long-term success of our company that we nurture the curiosity and creativity of our workforce. The Start-up Lab provides a space where ideas can be transformed into promising growth opportunities.”
“Start-up Lab provides inspiration and motivation for our team members. To attract and retain the best talent, we need programs that allow them to create and implement new ideas and concepts. Thank you SUL for providing this platform.”
Our Start-Ups
Since 2017 we have supported a diverse group of projects. Get to know some of them and learn about their stories.
Inside Start-up Lab
Take a look inside the Lab and find out who we are, how we work and who we work with.
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