No, we are a publicly funded program.

Unfortunately, not.

Yes, in-person participation in the program is at least for the welcome week and demo day mandatory. Attendance at regular check-ins is mandatory but can also be conducted via video calls.

No, this is not foreseen.

No. However, you need to be based in Germany.

The funding is primarily aimed at women who are still at the beginning of their start-up story and want to familiarize themselves with the topics of start-up and professional independence at an early stage. Discuss with the start-up network that supports you whether the qualification measures offered offer added value for you as a founder and whether the university/research institution still has free capacity to include you in its EXIST-Women application. You must not have founded a corporation yet.

Women with a connection to the university can receive funding, e.g. current or former employees, members of an existing start-up team supported by the start-up network and interested women who want to become members of a university start-up team.

No, this is not required.

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Yes, as long as you have completed at least 50% of your studies or already have a bachelor's degree at the start of the funding.

No, women interested in starting a business without a specific business idea or with a non-technical idea are also supported. During the funding period, an innovation approach can also be developed to increase the viability of the business idea. In the long term, the business ideas should be geared towards later commercial activity.

Yes, after completing Phase 1 of the EXIST Transfer of Research, you can apply directly for Phase 2 of the GO-Bio next program. To do so, submit a project outline by the respective deadlines on March 15 or September 15 of each year.

Yes, a direct entry into Phase 2 of the GO-Bio Next program is possible if certain conditions are met:

• Founding Date: The startup was established no more than three years ago as a spin-off from a university or research institution.
• Usage Rights: The startup holds the rights for the commercial utilization of the R&D approach.
• Equity Contribution: The required equity contribution for the planned research activities can be provided by the startup.
• Location: At the time of funding disbursement, the startup must have a business location or branch in Germany.

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Yes, the initial draft (Projektskizze) for the first phase can be written in English. The formal application (Antrag), which is submitted after the the first selection step based on the initial draft, must be written in German, whereby the detailed description of the work plan (Vorhabenbeschreibung) and the read deck may be written in English.

Yes, external startup teams can apply for funding at Berlin's universities, even without having studied there. The key requirement is a connection to the university, such as collaborating with university academics. Science & Startups assists in finding suitable mentors within the university and supports the application process.

The startup team cannot submit the application independently. The application must be submitted by a university on behalf of the startup team, in collaboration with a startup network (Science & Startups). Additionally, a mentor from the university must accompany and support the project.

The team members must have at least a Master's or diploma degree. Educational qualifications acquired outside Germany must be recognized in Germany.

Up to four full-time positions can be funded as part of the EXIST Transfer of Research (Phase I): three positions for research assistants and one position for a business administration assistant.

No, in order to be able to apply for the EXIST Transfer of Research program, a corporation such as a UG, GmbH or AG must not yet have been founded. The program is aimed exclusively at projects that are still in the pre-foundation phase.

Yes, but only 3 people could receive a scholarship.

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No, since this is pre-startup funding, you are not allowed to have founded a business or generated any sales before the scholarship begins. However, this is possible during the funding period.

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We support EXIST applications from start-up projects that already have an initial prototype and a (provisional) team of at least two founders.

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The application process currently takes about 4-5 months.

Applications can be submitted at any time; the scholarship always starts on the 1st of each month.

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Yes, it is.

No, the scholarship is for full team members only.

Yes, a solution concept is enough if you have validated your solution with relevant stakeholders at that stage (e.g., a pilot customer). Prototype funding is intended to implement your validated solution concept.

If you terminate your startup while we are funding it, you are obliged to inform us immediately (via contact@aimunich.com or directly via the Pipeline Manager). Further, we need to reclaim the hardware that you purchased with the help of the grant.

A maximum of 3 scholarships per team will be granted.

1. You will receive an email informing you how much money you will receive.

2. You will receive a spending plan template that you have to fill out and send back to us.

3. We will process the document internally and then pay you the first of three tranches.

4. If you have already founded a company, we need a de minimis declaration from you.

No, you are overqualified.

No, you are overqualified.

Yes.

Everything can be funded except for private laptops or phones. Generally, expenses must be discussed with the Pipeline Manager in advance.

You can book experts from the industry that are not part of your core team to mentor you in specific topics, like marketing.

Yes. You can pay freelancers with the prototype support.

You can apply for up to 36,000 EUR in stipends for a team of 3, plus up to 16,000 EUR in need-based support for materials and equipment.

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You can cancel your AI NATION scholarship within a month and get the EXIST funding instead.

Yes.

The scholarship is paid every month, the money for prototype support comes every two months. We pay you in advance for your expenses. You need to send us all receipts after you have spent the money. If you have established a GmbH, a copy of the receipts is sufficient.

No, this is not foreseen.

Six months.

You are qualified if …

• You have clearly identified a relevant problem worth solving and validated it with potential customers.
• You have developed a suitable solution concept and discussed it with stakeholders (prototype not required yet).
• Your solution (value proposition) requires AI as the core enabling technology.
• Your AI approach has substance and can be defended against competitors.
• You have defined your target market, size, structure, and competition.
• Your team consists of at least two committed founders with sufficient time to work on the project.
• AI expertise is present in the core team.
• Your project addresses at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).
• All founders are eligible to work in Germany.

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Like EXIST, 5 hours/week of sideline work are possible.

Yes, there are info calls held in advance of the application period. You can find the dates here:https://www.ai-nation.de/events/ai-nation-grant-infocalls

• 2,000 EUR/month per Person (max. 3 people / team) • Child supplement: 150 EUR/month per child.

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The AI NATION GRANT is designed to support early-stage AI projects and startups. It aims to accelerate the development of AI-based business ideas and prototypes.

• In funding phase II, a non-repayable grant of up to 180,000 euros, but no more than 75 percent of the specific costs of the project, can be awarded.
• As a prerequisite for funding, the company must provide its own funds and, if necessary, equity capital in a ratio of 1:3 (up to 60,000 euros). Funding phase II should generally not exceed a period of 18 months.
• For more information, see Application for funding phase II.

• Applicants are small technology-oriented companies with a share capital of at least €25,000 that were founded during funding phase I, with the key know-how holders from funding phase I contributing their knowledge and labor to the new company and being represented by at least one person in the management.
• Significantly more than 50% of the shares must be owned by the founders working in the company.

• The funding is intended for further development work, measures to start business activities in the newly founded technology company and the creation of the conditions for external company financing.

• EXIST research transfer can finance personnel expenses/costs for a maximum of four staff positions as well as material expenses/costs. Material expenses/costs include, for example, everyday items, consumables, capital goods, intellectual property rights, market research as well as the awarding of contracts and coaching measures. Student assistants can also be financed. The expenses/costs for student assistants and material expenses/costs are generally eligible for funding up to a total of €250,000.
• Projects by the research institutions of the FhG, HGF, Max Planck Society and Leibniz Association, which are jointly funded by the federal and state governments, can receive up to 90% funding, and by universities and other research institutions up to 100%. The funding period is generally up to 18 months. For highly innovative and demonstrably particularly time-consuming development projects, a funding period of up to 36 months can be granted with the express consent of the expert jury.
• In addition, the "Start-up Team" seminar, which has proven successful in the EXIST Start-up Grant program, is also held for EXIST research transfer projects.
• Further information is available under Application for Funding Phase I.

• Research teams at universities and non-university research institutions (maximum three scientists and technical assistants) and one person with business management skills will be funded.

• The aim of the first funding phase of EXIST research transfer is to carry out development work to demonstrate technical feasibility, develop prototypes, draw up the business plan and finally establish the company.

• The application can be submitted at any time.

• Universities
• Non-university research institutions

• Yes, but it cannot have already been started at the start of the funding period.

• The university or research institute
  • is integrated into a founders' network.
  • provides the founder with a mentor and a workplace and guarantees free use of the infrastructure.
  • administers funding
• The Founder
  • receives coaching services from the founders' network.
  • attends a one-day seminar on "Founder Personality"
  • presents initial results of the business plan after five months.
  • submits the business plan after ten months.
  • pays taxes and social security contributions independently.

• Securing personal livelihood through a scholarship:
  • Founders with a doctorate 3,000 euros/month
  • Graduates with a university degree 2,500 euros/month
  • Technical employee 2,000 euros/month
  • Students 1,000 euros/month
  • Child allowance: 150 euros/month per child
• Material expenses:
  • up to 10,000 euros for individual start-ups (max. 30,000 euros for teams)
• Coaching:
  • 5,000 euros
• The maximum funding period is one year.

• Innovative technology-oriented start-up projects.
• Innovative knowledge-based services based on scientific findings.

• Scientists from public, non-profit
  • non-university research institutions
  • Universities
• University graduates and former academic staff (up to five years after graduation or leaving).
• Students who have completed at least half of their studies at the time of application, whereby the majority of the team must not consist of students.
• Start-up teams of up to three people.
• One of the up to three team members can also be funded if they have a state-recognized vocational training as a technical employee. Alternatively, a team member can graduate more than five years ago.