The K.I.E.Z. Accelerator has been designed to support science-based AI startups that have completed their pre-seed phase. The company must already be incorporated and in the process towards market launch, production, and sales set-up.

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Starting from providing you office space at the Merantix AI Campus Berlin, we are also offering CEO mentoring, cloud credits, expert workshops, connections, and intros to investors. But that’s not all. We focus on your individual growth. If you need help with your marketing, sales, finance or team management, we are there to support. There is almost nothing that we cannot do.

With EXIST-Women by Science & Startups, a total of 30 women* interested in or inclined towards founding businesses have the opportunity to become thoroughly familiar with business creation and self-employment. The program is aimed at graduates, scientists, students, and women* with professional qualifications who want to found businesses either solo or in teams.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) has launched this new funding program to increase the proportion of female founders. The EXIST Women pilot project aims to support women* in developing business ideas to achieve greater diversity in startups and increase the quota of female founders.

This is a 10-month mentoring program that includes coaching, mentoring, qualification, and networking, along with individual support from mentors, a peer-learning program and material resources worth €2,000 per person, and a three-month scholarship of €2,500 for graduates (plus €150 for each child).

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The program is divided into 3 phases:

1. Training and workshops, mentor matching, scholarship
2. Business modelling, mentoring, mindset training
3. Possible follow-up financing, individual coaching, mentoring

Additionally: Accompanying events and activities, workspace in our incubators, a peer-learning program with other participants, as well as individual coaching and intensive startup consulting in the incubator.

The program starts on 03/01/2025 and runs until 11/30/2025. Scholarship payments are made for 3 months, and the material resources allowance is paid as a one-time payment. Compliance with the funding conditions is required (see below).

This is a project of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action to significantly increase the current quota of female founders.

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Applications are CURRENTLY possible until 01/31/2025

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Application process:

1. 20-minute consultation with one of our startup consultants. Book an appointment!
2. Receipt of application form from startup consultant and submission by 01/31/2025 at the latest
3. 5-10 minute pitch and Q&A (02/10-12/2025)
4. Acceptance into the scholarship program (02/14/2025)

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Conditions for receiving a scholarship are:

• You have no income or work maximum 20 hours/week: This condition only applies to receiving the three-month scholarship.
• Simultaneous funding through a scholarship with the startup grant from the employment agency is not possible.
• You have not previously completed an EXIST Startup Scholarship, Berlin Startup Scholarship, or similar startup funding programs.
• You have not founded a company at the time of application.

The scholarship amount depends on your qualification level and is distributed as follows:

• Students (minimum bachelor's degree or 50% of studies completed): €1,000
• Women* with completed vocational training: €2,000
• Graduates with university degree: €2,500
• Women* with doctorate: €3,000

Please also check all other funding conditions on the funding provider's website:

We look forward to your application!

EXIST Transfer of Research is a funding program initiated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). The program aims to support outstanding research-oriented startup projects that have demonstrated a proof of principle (e.g., a functional laboratory demonstrator) and require further high-risk and cost-intensive development to bring their innovations to market readiness.

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Program Objectives

• Technology Transfer: Facilitate the transformation of innovative research results into commercially viable products and services.
• Startup Support: Provide comprehensive assistance to research teams in establishing successful businesses based on their scientific findings.
• Economic Growth: Foster innovation and entrepreneurship to contribute to economic development and competitiveness in Germany.

Program Structure

EXIST Transfer of Research  is structured into two sequential funding phases:

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Phase I: Technical and Business Development

• Objective: Advance research results with startup potential by developing prototypes and preparing for business formation.
• Duration: Up to 36 months.
• Funding:
  • Non-repayable grants covering personnel expenses for up to 4 full-time positions.
  • Up to €250,000 for material resources, including equipment, consumables, and external services.
• Activities:
  • Develop market-ready prototypes or demonstrators.
  • Address technical questions related to product and process implementation.
  • Formulate a comprehensive business plan.
  • Prepare for company formation, including market analysis and strategy development.

Phase II: Business Launch and Market Entry

• Objective: Continue development work, initiate business operations, and prepare for external financing.
• Duration: Up to 18 months.
• Funding:
  • Non-repayable grants covering project-related costs.
  • Up to €180,000 for project expenses, but at most 75% of the project-specific costs.
• Activities:
  • Finalize product development and refine technology.
  • Start marketing and sales activities.
  • Secure external funding from investors or financial institutions.
  • Expand business operations and enter the market.

Criteria for eligibility for funding:

• Applicants: research teams from German universities and research institutions who wish to establish a startup.
• Prerequisites:
  • Proof of the fundamental viability of the project.
  • The development work is high-risk and cost-intensive.
  • Commitment to commercialize the research results by founding a startup.

Application process with the support of Science & Startups:

• Preparation of a detailed project proposal outlining the technological innovation, development plan and business strategy.
• Applications for funding phase I are submitted by one of Berlin's leading universities

Application Deadlines and Start Dates

• Phase I Applications:
  • Deadlines: March 31, August 31, and November 30 each year.
  • Earliest Start Date: Approximately 6 months after application submission.
• Phase II Applications:
  • Should be submitted 6 months before the end of Phase I or within 6 months after its completion.

GO-Bio Next is a funding initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to support promising, research-oriented start-up projects in the field of life sciences. The programme is aimed at high-risk, cost-intensive projects with proven “proof of principle” and high commercialization potential, which are brought to market maturity through structured funding.

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Program Objectives

• Technology Transfer: Enable the development of cutting-edge research in the life sciences into marketable products and services.
• Startup Support: Provide robust support to research teams aiming to launch sustainable businesses based on scientific innovation.
• Economic Growth: Promote scientific breakthroughs that contribute to economic growth, innovation, and Germany's global competitiveness.

Program Structure

GO-Bio Next  is structured into two sequential funding phases:

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Phase I: Technical and Business Development

• Objective: Advance research results with startup potential by developing prototypes and preparing for business formation.
• Duration: More than 30 months.
• Funding:
  • Non-repayable grants covering personnel expenses for more than  4 full-time positions.
  • Up to €2.500,000 for material resources, including equipment, consumables, and external services.
• Activities:
  • Develop functional prototypes or demonstrators.
  • Address technical and regulatory requirements for commercialization.
  • Create a comprehensive business plan and prepare for company formation.

Phase II: Business Launch and Market Entry

• Objective: Support further development, business operations, and market entry.
• Duration: Up to 36 months.
• Funding:
  • Non-repayable grants covering project-related costs.
  • Private co-financing is required to secure this phase of funding.
• Activities:
  • Finalize product development and refine technology.
  • Start marketing and sales activities.
  • Secure external funding from investors or financial institutions.
  • Expand business operations and enter the market.

Criteria for eligibility for funding:

• Applicants: research teams from German universities and research institutions who wish to establish a startup.
• Prerequisites:
  • Proof of the fundamental viability of the project.
  • The project addresses a major need in life sciences and requires public funding due to high risk and technological immaturity.
  • Commitment to commercialize the research results by founding a startup.

Application process with the support of Science & Startups:

• Preparation of a detailed project proposal outlining the technological innovation, development plan and business strategy.
• Applications for funding phase I are submitted by one of Berlin's leading universities

Application Deadlines and Start Dates

• Application Deadlines: March 15  and September 15.
• ‍Earliest Start Date: 10 months after application.