Your support for the next step toward launching a startup!
Do you have a promising startup idea and want to take the next step toward launching a spin-off? With the StarTH scholarship, you can further develop your venture in a focused way and reach key milestones – for example by preparing an EXIST application, advancing a prototype, or developing a go-to-market strategy. The funding provides the financial flexibility you need to move your startup project forward during this crucial phase.
What is the objective of the StarTH Scholarship?
The aim of the program is to provide founders with financial support for preparing and applying for startup-related funding programs (particularly the EXIST Business Startup Grant and EXIST Transfer of Research). Projects that are close to founding a company or entering the market can also receive support.
The program provides a flexible budget for material expenses and deliberately avoids complex application and reporting procedures. This allows the next development steps to be implemented quickly and with minimal bureaucracy.
What does the StarTH Scholarship offer?
Founders with a promising project can receive support through the StarTH Scholarship in the form of a budget for material expenses to further develop their startup idea.
The funding may include the following:
- Financial support for further developing the project (up to €3,000 for individual founders or €6,000 for teams), provided as a material expenses budget, for example for prototype development, materials, market analyses, or testing
- Workspace and infrastructure at the neudeli startup workshop, including access to the MakerLabs
- Individual guidance from the neudeli team, for example in preparing an EXIST application or planning concrete next steps toward market entry
The funding is intended for the concrete development of the startup project and is not meant to cover general living expenses.
Who can apply?
The StarTH Scholarship is aimed at students, doctoral candidates, and academic or artistic staff (up to a maximum of six months after graduating or leaving the university) from all disciplines at Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. Both individual applicants and teams are eligible to apply.
The program supports technology-oriented, knowledge-based, and impact-oriented startup projects in an advanced pre-seed phase with strong practical relevance and market potential. Projects focused on self-employment can also be eligible for funding.
When and how can I apply?
Applications for the StarTH Scholarship are possible several times a year. A mandatory initial consultation with the neudeli team is required before applying. In this meeting, we will jointly assess whether the funding program fits your startup project and discuss the possible next steps.
For the official application, we require:
- A pitch deck presenting your startup project
- A milestone and material expenses budget plan for the intended funding period
After an internal review by the neudeli team, selected projects will be invited to present an online pitch within the StarTH network. The pitch will be followed by a short Q&A session. The final funding decision will then be made. As the number of funding spots is limited, we recommend contacting the neudeli team early.
» Information about the funding
» Template for Milestone and Budget Planning
The StarTH scholarships are a cross-university funding program offered by universities in Thuringia and implemented as part of the Thuringian university startup network »StarTH«.
