UNLEASH YOUR STARTUP POTENTIAL

Join an elite cohort of future founders this winter and transform your innovative ideas into impactful ventures by learning from Hamburg’s most successful entrepreneurs and investors.

A Study Program Powered by:

About
the Program

Ignite your entrepreneurial spirit with this intensive program running from November 2024 to January 2025. Expect hands-on challenges, skill-building workshops, and community-driven learning, all conducted in English. ECTS credits are available.

Program Structure

Bootcamps & Hackathons: Intensive weekend workshops to fast-track your skills.
Weekly Sessions: Knowledge-sharing, training, and motivation.
Pitch Events: Showcase your project to a panel of experts.

Mentors & Coaches

Our program is supported by a team of experienced entrepreneurs, industry professionals, and academic leaders who will guide you every step of the way.

Founder

Elisabeth L'Orange
Oxolo

VC

Sebastian Johnston
Armira & La Famiglia

Founder

Matthias Schmittmann
Atmio

VC

Jannis Fett
HV Capital

VC

Johannes Weber
HTGF

Founder

Lena Weirauch
aiomatic

Founder

Alexander Djordjevic
Foodist & Foodvibez

Angel

Martin Ostermayer
Shortcut Ventures

Founder

Jonathan Kurfess
Appinio

Founder

Tobias Hagenau
awork

Founder

Dalia Das
Neue fische

pitch trainer

lars hartenstein
Pitch Perfect

What You Will Learn

Entrepreneurial Mindset: 

Develop a proactive approach to innovation

Business Modeling:

Learn to create and validate business models.

Prototyping:

Build and test your ideas.

Pitching:

Master the art of presenting your venture.

Networking:

Connect with like-minded peers and industry experts.

Team:

Learn how to identify and secure the ideal co-founder

Why Join?

Interdisciplinary Collaboration:

Work with students from diverse fields.

Venture Focus

Develop the essential skills to build a real business.

Expert
Mentorship:

Gain insights from seasoned entrepreneurs and coaches.

Networking Opportunities:

Build connections with industry leaders and peers.

Your Schedule

Discover the industry leaders, innovators, and experts who will be sharing their insights and experiences.

Session 1

Ignite the Spark: Fueling Your Founder Journey (01. & 02.11.)

Kick off the program with an inspiring session focused on building motivation, fostering commitment, and understanding your entrepreneurial personality.

Session 2

Idea Factory: From Problem to Solution

Dive into problem analysis, brainstorm innovative solutions, and form powerful teams to bring your startup vision to life.

Session 3

Validate & Conquer: Testing Your Startup Hypothesis

Master the art of problem and solution validation. Learn how to identify your target market, conduct effective customer interviews, and gather crucial feedback.

Session 4

Build It: MVP Weekend

Get hands-on and build your first MVP! Explore prototyping methods and strategies, and bring your ideas to life at our makerspace.

Session 5

Market Mastery: From Idea to Impact

Develop a winning go-to-market strategy, market testing, and how to reach your target customers.

Session 6

Fundraising 101: Securing Your Startup's Funding

Learn the essentials of fundraising: from understanding different funding options and VC basics to mastering cap table management and developing a winning funding strategy.

Session 7

Pitch Perfect: Nail your investor pitch

Master the art of the pitch. Explore supporting tools, learn how to craft a compelling pitch deck, and refine your presentation skills.

Session 8

Demo Day: Showtime!

Pitch your startup to a panel of investors and industry experts. Get valuable feedback and potential funding for your venture.

Academic Partners

Our program is supported by a team of experienced entrepreneurs, industry professionals, and academic leaders who will guide you every step of the way.

Prof. Dr.
Jutta Abulawi

HAW Hamburg

Prof. Dr.
Jan-Paul Lüdtke

FH WEDEL

Prof. Dr.
Michel Clement

Uni Hamburg

Prof. Dr.
Paul Drews

Leuphana

Prof. Dr.
Christian Lüthje

TU Hamburg

Prof. Dr.
Jana Timm

Uni Hamburg

SUPPORTED by:

Success Stories

From launching innovative startups to securing funding and making a real-world impact, alumni from the last cohort have achieved incredible success. Discover how the Future Founder Program can help you reach your full potential.

The program brings together an incredible amount of practical knowledge and valuable experience on the subject of start-ups. As a team, we developed a business idea, whereby the interdisciplinary composition led to diverse impulses from different perspectives and exciting discussions during product development. We were strongly supported by the close cooperation with mentors and partners from the business community. Thank you, for the two great semesters.
As a social scientist and humanities graduate, the program was one of the rare opportunities for me to gain an insight into entrepreneurship without an explicit business background. I learned the first steps towards starting a business – something that is usually not part of my other curriculum. This has opened new doors in my career orientation and, thanks to the network, the options now seem tangible to me. In addition, I have met people in the program with whom I can seriously imagine turning a business idea into reality. The two semesters were worth it for that alone!
In the program, I met many interesting people who want to make a difference as entrepreneurs in Hamburg. In addition, the support from the team and the mentors was great, and you got a guide from experts, step by step, to build your own start-up.
Previous
Next

WANT TO BECOME

A FUTURE FOUNDER?

APPLY NOW:

Join Hamburg’s most ambitious future founders. Apply now and unlock your entrepreneurial potential.

Frequently Asked Questions

This program is specifically designed for highly motivated students who are passionate about entrepreneurship and have a strong desire to launch their own startups. We welcome students from all disciplines, though a background in technology or a related field is a plus. If you’re ambitious, driven, and ready to commit to building a successful company, this program is for you!

Yes, all sessions, workshops, and mentoring will be conducted in English.

Yes, you can earn ECTS credits for your participation. However, it’s important to remember that this is not a typical university course. The Future Founder Program is not focused on exams or presentations, but on equipping you with the practical skills and knowledge to build real, impactful ventures. We prioritize hands-on experience and real-world application over traditional academic assessments.

The program runs throughout the winter semester, starting with an intensive boot camp on November 1st and 2nd, and culminating in a final pitch event in January 2025. In between, you’ll participate in regular mentoring sessions and workshops. You will need to invest up to 10 hours per week.

You’ll gain the essential tools and knowledge needed to launch a successful startup. This includes everything from conducting customer interviews and developing an MVP to finding the perfect co-founder and navigating the legal aspects of starting a business.

Unlike traditional lectures, our program offers hands-on experience and direct access to Hamburg’s top founders and investors. You’ll learn from their real-world successes and gain invaluable insights into building a thriving company.

Contact person:

Dr. Max Vellguth

Program Manager

This program is part of the Startup Factory Hamburg Initiative