HfWU Startup Campus

Our programs at ZuG are open to a broad range of innovators. If you are involved in academia or research in Germany, we welcome your application.

For the EXIST-Gründungsstipendium and EXIST-WOMEN programs, we invite students, recent graduates (within 5 years of graduation), and researchers or university employees to apply.
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The Junge Innovatoren Program is designed for research assistants and university graduates who have developed innovative products, services, or processes. Specifically, you can apply if you are a research assistant with experience within the last 60 months, a university graduate from the past 60 months, a member of a start-up team of up to 3 members (including at least 2 graduates and a maximum of 1 qualified technical/commercial employee with 2 years of experience), or a former EXIST-Gründungsstipendium holder whose funding ended within the last 24 months.

You do not need to be a student at the Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Umwelt (HfWU) to join our programs at ZuG. However, it is recommended that your entrepreneurial idea or startup should ideally be linked to or benefit from the university’s resources and programs.

ZuG provides diverse financial support tailored to each program:

💰1) EXIST-Gründungsstipendium: Receive a monthly stipend ranging from €1,000 to €3,000 gross, depending on your academic level, and an additional €150 per month per child if applicable. You can also access up to €30,000 for venture expenses and €5,000 for coaching support. The stipend amounts vary: €1,000 for students, €2,000 for those with avocational qualification, €2,500 for graduates, and €3,000 for those with a PhD.

💰 2) EXIST WOMEN: Benefit from a stipend of €1,000 to €3,000 per month for 3 months, based on your qualification level. Additional support includes €150 per month per child and €2,000 for venture-related expenses. The stipend amounts vary: €1,000 for students, €2,000for those with a vocational qualification, €2,500 for graduates, and €3,000 for those with a PhD.

💰 3) Junge Innovatoren: Receive remuneration of 50% of TV-L E13 for up to 12 months, €5,000 for coaching, and €20,000 for material and investment expenses. There is also a child allowance of €200 per month per child.

No. To join our programs at ZuG, you need to be supported by an authorized Gründungszentrum or a similar incubation center.

‍We provide this essential support to help you succeed in your entrepreneurial efforts.

1) EXIST-Gründungsstipendium: You can apply anytime on a rolling basis throughout the year.
2) EXIST WOMEN: Applications are expected to open in January 2025.
3) Junge Innovatoren: Applications are accepted in March and September each year.

All ZuG programs are structured to last for 12 months, giving you ample time to develop and advance your business idea.

To apply for the EXIST-Gründungsstipendium,EXIST-Women and Junge Innovatoren programs,start by reviewing the official program details. Contact tugba.kuepeli@hfwu.de for an initial call and feedback on your idea.

For the EXIST-Gründungsstipendium program, you will need to prepare a business plan and detailed proposal using our templates, a process that generally takes 8 to 12 weeks.

For the Junge Innovatoren program, you will need to prepare a business plan and detailed proposal using our templates, a process that generally takes 4 to 6 weeks. If your business plan is rated positively, you will be invited to a virtual pitch.

For the EXIST-Women program, you can apply via video (once applications are open) and submit a pitch deck, if available. The Zukunft.Gründen Team will select 10 women.