The prototype scholarship
Berliner Startup Scholarship Women
The Berlin Startup Stipendium Women supports female founders and non-binary people who have a prototype and/or an MVP and are in the process of preparing for market maturity.
The aim of the funding is to establish the company and launch the startup on the market. We are looking for female and non-binary founders who continuously test their ideas in accordance with the Lean Startup Method and develop their products in a user-centered manner.
Program
The scholarships are awarded at the Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR Berlin) and financed by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the State of Berlin (Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises).
In addition to financial support for the scholarship holders, each scholarship includes the use of the infrastructure of the SIB – Startup Incubator Berlin and the HWR Berlin.
The scholarship also includes support from our internal SIB coaching team, our pool of external advisors, academic mentors from the HWR Berlin and mentors from our business network.
Even before receiving the scholarship, joining our Startup Now program can offer great added value.
The documents should preferably be submitted in German.
1-4 female founders/non-binary persons per team receive 2,200 euros (gross) per month per person for 9 months.
The Startup Incubator Berlin provides workstations, a prototype workshop and other infrastructure during the funding period.
In addition to the BSS Women scholarship, there is an extra budget per start-up team for external specialist coaching (in coordination with the lead coach).
In addition to the BSS Women scholarship, there is an extra budget per start-up team for external specialist coaching (in coordination with the lead coach).
Funding focuses on business models that offer solutions to social, economic and ecological problems. In addition to tech and SaaS start-ups, we are increasingly looking to promote the area of social start-ups.
As key experts, the potential scholarship holders are significantly involved in the development of the business model, the development of the product or service and the subsequent management.
As key experts, the potential scholarship holders are significantly involved in the development of the business model, the development of the product or service and the subsequent management.
The business model is foreseeably geared towards sustainable economic success.
The company may be not yet founded or not yet economically active on the market.
The team is supported by a professor as Mentor*in accompanied. Proof of mentorship must be provided after the pre-selection.
The female founders preferably have a university degree.
The founders work full-time on their start-up project, mainly on site (SIB Co-Working Space) at the workplace provided.
We are particularly pleased to welcome applicants from the HWR Berlin.
The place of residence (registration address) of all eligible female founders is in Berlin.
Female founders who have already received a Berlin start-up grant from another provider or the EXIST start-up grant are unfortunately excluded from participation.
From A to Z
Your path to funding
For the scholarship start on March 1, 2025, see timeline below. Please check our website and social media channels for current dates.
But come to our Lean Startup Sprints beforehand to get to know us, find a team and even develop a prototype.
Lean Startup Sprint
Application process
Timeline
Monday, December 2, 2024 until Sunday, January 26, 2025
Application BSS Women
Sunday, January 26, 2025
until Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Monday, February 3, 2025
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Friday, February 14, 2025
Individual consulting
until Friday, February 28, 2025
March 1, to October 31, 2025
Saturday, March 1, 2025
FAQ
Question and Answers
Until January 26, 2025
BSS Women Application
Funded by
