For a world that
still thrives 100 years from now.

Science & Startups empowers individuals with diverse backgrounds from Berlin and all over the world to transform their innovations into companies that will shape our tomorrow.

Talk to your personal guide!

Our team would love to support your startup journey. Schedule your appointment right away!

First class Services for
Founders & Talents

Have a look at our services to support startup founders and talents.

100% Free Support

Since we are publicly funded, our services are free of charge and free of equity to you. This is a key benefit for your future growth!

Access to infrastructure

Get access to the infrastructure of the three excellent universities in Berlin like labs, research facilities, tools, workspaces, and other resources.

Co-Founder Matchmaking

If you want to build your startup team and are looking to find co-founders, employees or supporters we'll support you on your way within our matchmaking platform.

Community

You’ll never walk alone: Our teams are embedded within our community to learn, share, and thrive together.

Guidance

As one of the most successful startup ecosystems in Europe we provide professional guidance through the process of starting your own venture.

Investor network

When ready for private funding we support startups with our network of investors like business angels and venture capital firms.

Startup Academy

Want to boost your startup skills in areas like market strategy, commercial law, GDPR compliance, pricing strategies, deal closing and much more? Take part in our academy!

Startup funding & public grants

We support founding teams and startups to get access to initial startup funding and public grants - equity free.

Community Membership

Be part of the Science & Startups Community through digital and analog networking within a committed community.

Individual Events

Opportunity to design individual event formats (e.g. corporate formats).

Partnership and Research

Clarification of needs regarding possible research topics and establishment of contacts with partner universities, startups, and established entrepreneurs from the network.

Marketing Opportunities

Increasing presence and reach through joint marketing activities.

Exclusive Event Access

Privileged access to exclusive events to gain valuable knowledge, insights, and networking opportunities.

Personal Key Account

Get a personal account manager where you can address business related matters.

Access to Talents

Get in touch with the entrepreneurial community, alumni, researchers, and other university talent to leapfrog your own activities.

Qualification

To develop the perfect skill set you receive tailored trainings in relevant subjects like marketing, business development, operations, and more.

Access to Incubation

A best-in-class incubation process provides streamlined startup support including mentoring, networking as well as access to funding and resources.

Employee Training

Advanced development opportunities for employees through trend-specific training programs.

Access to Premises

Access to premises such as laboratories, prototyping facilities, and offices.

Networking and Cooperation Opportunities

Matchmaking based on shared interests with science-based startups, industry partners, alumni, and experts.

Access to science-based startups

Promoting cooperation/partnerships with innovative startups from the university environment.

Incorporating the latest Scientific Advances

Incorporating the latest scientific advances and technologies, such as leveraging the capabilities of IPs, to stay at the forefront of innovation in research and development practices.

Enhancing Innovation Capacity

Enhancing innovation capacity to encourage entrepreneurship in generating fresh business concepts and models, fostering the creation of novel ventures and approaches for progressive economic growth.

Networking and Collaboration

Creating opportunities for networking and collaboration based on interests: connecting with science-based startups, industry partners, alumni, and experts through matching processes.

How it works

To turn a founding idea into a successful startup, you need support—and that’s what we offer through our services. We provide advice and coaching during the startup and early phases, as well as access to the expertise and infrastructure of four excellent universities in Berlin. Through the EXIST startup scholarship and the Berlin Startup Scholarship, attractive public funding programs (100% funding rate) are also available to help bring your startup ideas to life.

01

Book an Appointment

Get your first 30 minutes of free startup consultation.

02

Assessment

Receive guidance on available public grants and other startup support opportunities.

03

Preparation

We’ll collaborate to prepare your funding application and submit it to the appropriate funding provider. You'll then be onboarded into our incubation process.

04

Incubation

Start the incubation journey with three key phases: evaluation of the business model and product, development of a financing strategy, and acquisition of pilot customers with follow-up financing.

05

Acceleration

We provide tailored support throughout your growth phase, including assistance with infrastructure, alumni networks, talent acquisition, consultation, and access to investment and financing opportunities.

Programmes for Founders

Whether you’re brainstorming, building a prototype, or assessing your market fit, we likely have the right program for you.

EXIST Women

Empowers women through mentoring, coaching, and financial support on their path to entrepreneurship and professional independence.
Facts & Figures
  • Qualification support
  • Non-repayable grant of €3,000/person
    • Three months + €2,000 for material cost
    • Personalized coaching, counseling, training, workshops
    • One-on-one mentoring
    • Access to workspaces, events, and a peer-learning program
  • Get additional €150/month for each child when you're a parent.

Bridge-to-Market Program

Assesses the viability of AI-based products or startups by focusing on market validation and technical feasibility.
Facts & Figures
  • Validation support
  • Non-repayable grant of up to €3,000/person/month
    • For 6 months
    • For up to 3 people
    • Up to €10,000 for materials
    • Free co-working space at S&S universities' startup hubs
  • Get additional €150/month for each child when you're a parent.

Berliner Startup Stipendium

Supports founders planning to launch their innovative, knowledge-driven, science- or technology-based business ideas in Berlin.
Facts & Figures
  • Startup support
  • Non-repayable grant of €2,200/person/month
    • For up to 12 months
    • For 2 to 4 people
    • Co-working space on campus
    • Access to business, finance, and mentoring network
  • Access to labs, technical equipment, workshops, master classes

EXIST Startup Grant

Supports founders from universities and research institutions in the initial stages to transform their startup ideas into successful businesses.
Facts & Figures
  • Startup support
  • Non-repayable grant of up to €3,000/person/month
    • For 12 months
    • For up to 3 people
    • Free office space
    • €35,000 material and coaching budget
  • Access to labs, technical equipment, workshops, master classes, coaching, and consulting

EXIST Transfer of Research

Supports outstanding, research-driven projects with a "proof of principle" that require further, cost-intensive development.
Facts & Figures
  • Two-phase startup support program
  • Phase I: Non-repayable grant for technical & business development.
    • up to 36 months
    • up to 4 full-time positions
    • up to €250.000 for material resources
  • Phase II: non-repayable grant for further development & initiating business operations.
    • up to 18 months
    • up to €180.000 for project costs

GO-Bio next

Supports life sciences startup projects by advancing R&D concepts to enable spin-offs and sustainable company development.
Facts & Figures
  • Two-phase startup support program
  • Phase I: Non-repayable grant of at least € 2.500.000 for technical & business development.
    • over 30 months
    • more than 4 full-time positions available
  • Phase II: non-repayable grant for further development & initiating business operations.
    • up to 36 months
    • private co-financing is required

K.I.E.Z. Accelerator

The K.I.E.Z. Accelerator offers 6 months of dedicated support to help incorporated AI startups achieve faster growth and success.
Facts & Figures
  • Program for incorporated AI startups
  • 6 months growth support incl. mentoring, desk at Merantix AI Campus Berlin
  • Connections to industry partners
  • Access to K.I.E.Z. investor network
  • Receive up to €15.000 de-minimis funding
Kultur- und Kreativpilot*innen Deutschland
#1: Wir gratulieren Wombly adaptive kidswear zur Auszeichnung als Kultur- und Kreativpilot*innen Deutschland 2023/24, die sie am 19. Februar 2024 von Die Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien erhalten haben.

Wombly

Kultur- und Kreativpilot*innen Deutschland
#2: Wir gratulieren Wombly adaptive kidswear zur Auszeichnung als Kultur- und Kreativpilot*innen Deutschland 2023/24, die sie am 19. Februar 2024 von Die Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien erhalten haben.

Wombly

Kultur- und Kreativpilot*innen Deutschland
#3: Wir gratulieren Wombly adaptive kidswear zur Auszeichnung als Kultur- und Kreativpilot*innen Deutschland 2023/24, die sie am 19. Februar 2024 von Die Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien erhalten haben.

Wombly

Events

We host a variety of events across the Berlin University Alliance member institutions, including workshops, networking events, and startup competitions.

Match’em

Matching University Talent 

with Startups

If you want to get a startup job, become a startup co-founder or want to build your startup team and are looking to find co-founders, employees or supporters - join Match’em!

Resources for Talents

Mentors

With Science & Startups, you can connect with over 1,700 professors who could become your mentor. A scientific mentor is required to apply for the Berliner Startup Stipendium or EXIST grant.

Interested in becoming a Science & Startups mentor? Get in touch here.

Coaches

Science & Startups offers a network of certified coaches across various fields. Startups connected with Science & Startups benefit from special coaching conditions. Speak with your startup guide to take advantage of this opportunity.

Science & Startups Academy

Science & Startups offers hands-on workshops for founders to gain new skills and expand their expertise. Discover available topics, dates, expert facilitators, and detailed information here.

Competitions

Test your idea, showcase your research, or refine your product for market entry—and win prizes! Participate in our idea competitions, from early-stage student contests to innovation challenges focused on research-based products and business concepts.

100 to 100 Challenge

Have a groundbreaking idea related to health, climate change, social innovation, culture, or education? Share your 100-word concept with us for a chance to win €100. Five winners are chosen each month. The best entries will be featured at the end of the year and recognized publicly.

Forum Junge Spitzenforschung

Each year, the Forum Junge Spitzenforschung competition - organized by Stiftung Industrieforschung and Berlin universities - honors young researchers with innovative, practical solutions stemming from foundational research. Six winners will share €42,000 in prize money to advance their research projects.

Available Startup Jobs

Discover various jobs within our associated startups. For further positions and more details, follow the links below.

Robotics Software Engineer as Founding Engineer W. A. N. T. E. D!

Working Student (f/m/d) / Internship / Thesis / CTA

Founding Engineer in an AI Sales Coaching Startup

If you want to get a startup job, become a startup co-founder or want to build your startup team - join Match’em!

Our Locations

Situated in the heart of Berlin, a leading European startup hub, we’ve established a dynamic ecosystem to foster startup collaborations. Initiated by Berlin’s major universities — TU, FU, and HU — and continually growing.

Contact us

Talk to your 
personal advisor!

Our team would love to support your startup journey.
Schedule your appointment right away!