The shift comes after a restructuring of the not-for-profit, which began following the departure of Martin Guérin for the Luxembourg-City Incubator.

nyuko was founded in 2015 from a merger between the Impactory and Business Initiative. It offered innovative schemes for startups in Luxembourg and the Greater Region with a coworking space in rue de Hollerich. In 2018, it moved to new offices in the House of Startups and the coworking space came under the management of the Luxembourg City Incubator. Later that year, the business support activities were moved to Kirchberg.

At a press conference on Friday, nyuko CEO Nicolas Fries explained its focus now was to challenge the ideas of people setting up their own businesses and support them in the validation of their projects and feasibility.

“When I accepted the post, I hoped to adapt nyuko’s strategy to the Luxembourg entrepreneurial eco-system, which has largely filled out in the last 30 years,” Fries said, adding: “In my view, we need to position ourselves as the challenger for the ideas of people creating businesses in Luxembourg, whether it’s for more innovative or traditional projects. That’s why we have again become essential.”

On Friday it was also announced that Robert Goeres would succeed Karin Schintgen as director.

Nyuko’s services are free and available to all types of entrepreneurs at all stages of creation. Positive impact programme Impuls will continue.

Spuerkeess

Through its partnership with Spuerkeess, announced on 25 January, nyuko will also benefit from finance and access to Spuerkeess products, services and expertise. The bank said in the coming weeks it will launch a product dedicated to newly-formed startups.