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 CLAAS, Datev, HP Tech Ventures, 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 Batch #17 kicks-off in January 2023 and will finish with the Demo Day on May 2023.
Key Dates
Application period Batch #17:
August 23- September 30, 2022
Pre-discussions with potential candidates:
End October – Mid November 2022
Final pitch events:
Until the end of November 2022
Communication of decision to applicants:
Early/Mid December 2022
Kick-off Batch #16:
Mid January 2023
“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
"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
"The TechFounders program and pilot project with ALDI Nord & ALDI SÜD gave us a lot of valuable experience that helped us to further develop our company and to keep on with our mission – to strive towards a world without single-use plastics. Since the program, the “Spoonies” have spread all across Europe, and we have closed a six-figure funding round!"
Amelie Vermeer
Co-Founder & CEO
"The collaboration project with a big corporate partner such as Knorr-Bremse was a great opportunity to challenge ourselves and further develop our solution. In addition, TechFounders' outstanding coaches and mentors gave us valuable guidance to improve our business model and get our company on the right track!"
Dr. André Schweizer
Co-Founder & CEO
"If you are looking for strong partners to grow and scale your impact, this is the place to be. The Techfounders program with its great team, experienced mentors and inspiring founders has propelled our business tremendously. Together with our project partners at ALDI Nord & ALDI SÜD, we have the unique opportunity to make sustainability affordable and our innovative plant-based tuna available to everyone."
Deniz Ficicioglu
Co-Founder
"The TechFounders program helped our solution enter the market and win global leaders in manufacturing as customers. The Ultimate DemoDay was a powerful platform to launch our fundraising and brought a lot of attention towards FotoNow, allowing us to obtain new leads and reach out to investors directly. In the course of the program, we have benefited a lot from the leadership of the TechFounders team and experienced advisors. "
Florian Ziesche
Co-Founder & CEO
5 months accelerator program
January
We kick off the new batch with a week packed with events, first trainings and your assessment center!
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!
March
More 1:1 coachings on your business model, marketing, HR, IP topics, etc. and the first pitch night with potential investors and customers!
April
This presence phase provides you with some individual trainings that you chose and the last chance to practice your pitch before an audience!
May
The last phase concludes all coachings and focuses on Demo Day, where you will have the chance to present your company in front of investors and industry representatives!
Facts & figures about TechFounders Alumni Startups
TechFounders Alumni Startups
million Euro funding raised since 2015
%
Alumni Startups are still active
jobs created
%
