With EXIST Women by Science & Startups, 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 and academic bockground not only but especially from Berlin's universities, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, and Charité, who want to found businesses either solo or in teams.

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The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie) has launched this 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.

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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.

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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.

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The current program started on March 1, 2026 and runs until November 30, 2026. 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).

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We use the term "women" as defined by the program's official funding guidelines. Science & Startups recognizes that gender is not binary and welcomes applicants of all gender identities who meet the program's eligibility criteria.

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Applications for the new EXIST Women round 2027 are approximately possible in December 2026.

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All application processes begin with a 15-minute consultation with one of our startup consultants.

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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.
• A valid visa is mandatory for the entire duration of the funding.

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.

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We look forward to your application!

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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.