Startup Support for Women

EXIST Women

The EXIST Women scholarship specifically supports women in order to introduce them to founding their own business. Even at the beginning of a start-up project, the business idea can be developed and tested over the course of the program. Individual founders and teams can apply; in mixed teams, only women receive funding.

The program

EXIST Women is aimed at female graduates (degrees also older than 5 years), scientists, students (bachelor’s degree or ≥ half of the coursework completed) and women with vocational training and a connection to the university who are interested in the topic of founding a company and want to partcipate in a 12-month qualification program.

Participation is also possible while studying or working. A concrete startup idea can exist, but is not mandatory. Ideas that are not science- or research-based but are aimed at future economic activity are also supported.

 

  • Female founders receive a scholarship for three months depending on their qualifications:

    – Students: 1,000 Euros (gross)
    – Completed vocational training: 2,000 Euros (gross)
    – Completed studies (MA, BA): 2,500 Euros (gross)
    – Completed Ph.D.: 3,000 Euros (gross)

  • The Startup Incubator Berlin provides a co-working space, a prototype workshop and other infrastructure for 12 months.

  • Support from our SIB-internal coaching team as well as from an experienced business mentor from our network for 12 months.

  • Participation in the EXIST Women workshop program.

  • The goal of EXIST Women is to increase the proportion of female founders in the start-up scene.

  • You do not need to have a specific start-up idea to apply. This can be developed and tested over the course of the program.

  • In addition to the founding of innovative startups, the program also supports women’s path to self-employment.

  • Individual founders as well as team founders can apply. In mixed teams, however, only women can receive funding.

  • By participating in EXIST Women, participation in the Berlin Startup Scholarship program can be excluded, as the program qualifies participants as entrepreneurs.

  • EXIST Women can be used specifically to prepare for an EXIST start-up grant and the application can be submitted during the program.

Application Process

Your path to the scholarship

The following outlines your application process for the EXIST Women Scholarship at the Startup Incubator Berlin. For more detailed questions concerning your individual situation, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time.

Applicants must register and participate in the Lean Startup Sprint / Female Edition from March 17 to March 28, 2025, so that they and we have the opportunity to get to know each other. You can apply for this free two-week workshop format on our Lean Startup Sprint page from February 6th. (Please do not register for the sprint in February!). There are no requirements for participation, other than motivation and a love of learning. At the end of the sprint, we invite all interested women to the selection pitch for Exist Women. A jury will then decide which 8 women will be accepted into the program.

The initial application is evaluated according to the following qualitative requirements:
• Competencies of the founders: This assesses the applicants’ specialist knowledge, experience and ability to found and run a successful company.
• Ecological relevance: The contribution of the start-up project to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is assessed here.
• Initial market and competition assessment: It is checked how well the applicants have understood the market and the competitive situation and how they would like to position themselves.
• Prospects of economic success: This evaluates the potential profitability and long-term success of the proposed business model.

Successful participation in the Lean Startup Sprint / Female Edition is a prerequisite for participation in the selection pitch. The decision to participate in the program is made directly after the selection pitches.

All selected participants are subsequently informed about the exact sequence of the support program.

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