The Prototyping Scholarship

Berliner Startup Scholarship

The Berlin Startup Scholarship supports founders who have an initial startup concept, a prototype and are in the process of preparing to launch. The aim of the scholarship is the establishment and launch of the company. As lean Incubator we are looking for founders that are striving for continuous improvement and are user centric oriented.

The Program

The scholarships are awarded at the Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR Berlin). The scholarship is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) as well as the State of Berlin.

In addition to financial support, each scholarship includes the use of the infrastructure of the Startup Incubator Berlin (See Navigation: “Location”) and the HWR Berlin. The scholarship furthermore includes support through our internal coaching team, our pool of external advisors, our scientific mentors from the HWR Berlin and from our business network.

Even before potentially receiving the scholarship, joining our Startup Now program can offer a high level of added value.

Scholarship application documents will be accepted in German and English.

  • A maximum of three founders receive €2,000 a month for six months.

  • The Startup Incubator Berlin provides you with the full infrastructure needed. Including  workplaces, a prototyping lab, a design thinking lab and a lot more (see navigation: “Location“).

  • Included is the intensive coaching by our internal SIB coaching-team, our pool of experts from the industry, scientific mentors from the  HWR-Berlin and representatives from our business-network.

  • Only @ SIB: Additionally to the BSS-scholarship we grant every Startup-team an extra coaching budget for technical experts in value of € 1000,-.

  • The Funding focus is on technology-based startup projects with a knowledge-based or creative orientation in the planning and market launch phase.

  • The foundation is a team foundation and supports at least two but no more than three people on a team.

  • The potential scholarship holders are as essential competence bearers, significantly involved in the development of the business model, the development of the product or service, and the subsequent management of the business.

  • The business model is foreseeably aligned towards sustainable economic success.

  • The company may be not yet founded or not yet economically active on the market.

  • The company is mentored by a professor.

  • The founders have a university degree, i.e. Bachelor’s degree or higher.

  • The founders work full-time towards their startup project, of which a minimum of 60 hours a month are spent at the provided working space.

  • If possible, at least one founding member has a connection to the Berlin School of Economics and Law.

  • The founder’s place of residents (registration address) is in Berlin.

  • Founders who have already received a startup grant from another university or the EXIST start-up grant are excluded from participation.

From A to Z

Your way to a scholarship

Applications for the Berlin Startup Scholarship will be possible again from spring 2023.

But before that, come to our Lean Startup Sprints to get to know us, find a team and even develop a prototype.

Lean Startup Sprint

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