Our Accelerator Program
We offer a unique program to our startups – during the 20-week program, you will get intensive trainings and coaching on all kinds of business topics.
You will collaborate with one of our leading corporate partners to further develop your product or service, with a € 25,000 project budget.
Program Highlights – Why should you apply?
Intensive Coaching and Mentoring
by seasoned serial entrepreneurs, tech experts, business angels, venture capitalists and experienced industry professionals.
Pilot Project with a Corporate Partner
such as ALDI Nord & SÜD, Festo, Knorr-Bremse and Miele plus introductions to many other corporates & potential new clients for you.
Free Office Space and Support
We provide office space in the heart of Munich where our team is working hard to support you on all matters of your business.
Access to our High-Tech Workshop
In our 1500m² high-tech workshop “MakerSpace” you have access to more than 100 machines and can build your prototypes.
€25,000 Project Budget - no Equity
All TechFounders startups receive a project budget of €25,000 in cash – and we do not take any equity!
Our program is attractive to startups all around the world – whether you are directly from Munich, from Berlin, Israel, or from the United States seeking a way to enter the German market, we provide the right package for you.
During the program, we have presence phases once a month of 3-4 days in Munich with trainings and coachings, mentor meetings, pitch nights and get-togethers.
However, you are also welcome to use our office space permanently during those 5 months, including our high-tech workshop MakerSpace or AI computing power (through our AppliedAI Initiative of UnternehmerTUM) if you need to.
The aim of the accelerator program is to get one of our corporate partners as a high-class customer or investor. Our Demo Day is the final highlight of the accelerator program and a great opportunity to meet with top VCs, business angels, and further corporate partners. TechFounders requires no fees and takes zero equity.
World Class Coaching
TechFounders offers its startups top-tier coachings in all different aspects of the startup game. Our coaches are seasoned experts in their respective fields and eager to help our startups reach the next level through high-quality, tailored and intensive coachings.
Experience a steep learning curve through different formats catered to the exact needs of every startup, whether in class sessions, workshops, pitching sessions in front of high-class mentors or individual coachings.
Topics range from key account management & marketing, trademark, IP & legal issues and HR & financing planning to investor relations, scaling hardware businesses, UX design, and many more.
Key Dates
Our current batch started in July 2020 and will finish with the Demo Day on November 30, 2020.
Key Dates for the next batch (Batch #13):
Application period batch #13:
August 14 – September 20, 2020
Pre-discussions with potential candidates:
October 12 – November 6, 2020
Final pitch events:
Until the end of November 2020
Communication of decision to applicants:
Early December 2020
Kick-off winter Batch 2021:
Mid January 2021
“Having the opportunity to work with an Industry Partner such as Festo was very exciting for us – this is what makes TechFounders really special. Besides that, the individual coaching and exchange with other teams helped us a lot to further develop our business.”
David Hahn
Co-Founder & CEO
“Through the TechFounders program and the collaboration project we gained valuable input to improve our product market fit and business model. The broad network of UnternehmerTUM and TechFounders were an incredible help to find first customers. Recently we closed our Series B round with $33m to expand our product portfolio development and accelerate our international market expansion. It all starts with a dream - Join TechFounders to make your dream reality!"
Andreas Kunze
CEO & Co-Founder
“Through the TechFounders program, we collaborated with the BMW Group to test our solution and quickly optimize it. This has helped us to acquire a number of new customers such as Festo, Viessmann or ZF. Today, we have more than 30 employees and closed our series A financing round in early 2018.”
Maximilian Kissel
Co-Founder & Managing Director
“The collaboration project with the BMW Group as part of the TechFounders program really opened our eyes on how to work with large corporations and helped us to win further big customers. Not to mention our latest successful 7-figure financing round in 2018!”
Victoria Hauzeneder
CTO
"We are engaged in several UnternehmerTUM initiatives and have highly benefited from each. TechFounders greatly supported us in professionalizing our business, expanding our network, and finding investors. Since entering the program, we have closed two financing rounds, won numerous awards, and been voted Germany's 'Start-up of the Year 2017' and made it onto the Forbes list of the '100 most promising startups 2018."
Maria Sievert
Founder & Managing Partner
5 months accelerator program
Mid January
We kick off the new batch with a week packed with events, first trainings and your assessment center!
Mid February
In the second phase, we build on the intro trainings and coachings with heavy focus on building your pitch and connect you with successful CEOs and CTOs!
End March
More 1:1 coachings on your business model, marketing, HR, IP topics, etc. and the first pitch night with potential investors and customers!
End April
This presence phase provides you with some individual trainings that you chose and the last chance to practice your pitch before an audience!
End May
The last phase concludes all coachings and focuses on the Demo Day, where you will have the chance to present your company in front of 250+ investors, industry representatives and the press!
Facts & figures about TechFounders Alumni Startups
TechFounders Alumni Startups
million Euro raised in financing since 2015
%
Alumni Startups are still active
jobs created
%
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