Information on the 2026 programme
What does the programme offer me?
- A 10-month programme featuring workshops, one-to-one coaching sessions and networking events to prepare you as well as possible for self-employment
- A budget of 2,000 euros for resources to help you bring your business idea to life
- The chance to win one of five EXIST-Women grants covering your living costs for three months (€1,000–3,000 per month depending on your degree)*
- Participation in the neudeli Female Founders Retreat Weekend
- An experienced mentor by your side
- Optional workspace at the neudeli start-up workshop & access to our Maker Lab
- A certificate upon successful completion of the programme
*Subject to an assessment of individual eligibility in accordance with the EXIST-Women funding criteria and subject to funding approval by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection
Can I take part?
Neudeli empowHER is aimed in particular at women with links to the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar who are interested in starting a business, are still at the very beginning of their founding journey, and wish to familiarise themselves with the topics of founding and self-employment at an early stage. You are considered to have a connection to the university if you are currently studying at, or have previously studied or worked at, the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. A limited number of places are available for participants without a direct connection to the university.
Are you an international participant wondering whether you can take part?
As an international founder, you can take part if you hold a valid visa and are able to attend the events on site throughout the year. In principle, we are flexible about delivering many formats, such as one-to-one coaching sessions, in English. However, some activities will take place in German, such as the Female Founders Retreat or talks held as part of networking events. A basic level of German (B1) would therefore be helpful to at least understand what is being said.
Applicants cannot be admitted
- if they are already in business with the start-up idea outlined in their application.
- if they have already set up a limited company.
- if they are already receiving funding through the EXIST start-up grant or the EXIST Research Transfer programme.
- if they are studying for a Bachelor’s degree and have not yet completed more than half of their coursework.
- if they do not live in the Weimar area and cannot realistically take part in the programme activities.
Not sure whether you’re eligible for an application? Then come along to the online information session or get in touch with us directly. You’ll find the details in the info box on the right.
What content does neudeli empowHER offer me?
| Workshops and coaching sessions | ... to boost your entrepreneurial abilities! Throughout the year, we offer a whole range of workshops and seminars designed to prepare you for the founding process and equip you with useful soft skills for your day-to-day life as a start-up founder. You can Here are some examples of the topics we’ll be covering in our workshops: Tax & Accounting; Choosing a legal structure; Pitch training; Social media marketing… |
| Community and networking events | … to help you build a network of like-minded people and valuable contacts! You don’t have to tackle all this on your own! The importance of a network during the start-up process cannot be overstated. With us, you’ll get to know a group of fellow female founders who are all on a joint journey towards building their own businesses. We’ll kick off the programme with the Female Founders Retreat weekend at Rittergut Positz. Here, you can meet other female founders and soak up plenty of knowledge on topics relevant to starting a business. We also offer regular community and networking events throughout the year, where you can make new contacts both locally and further afield. |
| Mentoring and role models | ... who’ll share their experiences with you! Learn from experienced entrepreneurs how they’ve got to where they are today. Being able to exchange ideas with someone who’s already been down the path of setting up a business can be incredibly helpful and valuable. To this end, we’ll assign you a personal mentor who’ll support you with their expertise and industry contacts. We also organise talk sessions where experienced entrepreneurs share their highs and lows during the start-up process and pass on their personal tips. |
Your commitment
We’re looking for a strong group of aspiring female founders who are keen to work on bringing their ideas to life and are keen to exchange ideas on a regular basis.
To ensure this is a success, you should be prepared to commit to the programme for its full duration of ten months and have a genuine interest in the programme’s content as well as in engaging with other female founders. Before submitting your application, please consider for yourself whether you can and wish to integrate the programme into your daily life.
The programme involves taking part in the following events:
- Selection session at the Start-up Workshop // 23 February, 9.00 am – 12.30 pm
- Programme kick-off // 4 March, from 1.30 pm
- Female Founders Retreat // Weekend of 20–22 March
- Get-to-know-you brunch with the mentors // April, tbc
- MACHN Festival // 3–4 June
- Networking event “Female Founders Connected” // September, to be confirmed
- Closing event // December, tbc
- National ‘Female Gründer*innen’ seminar in Berlin/Munich (compulsory event organised by the project organiser) tbd
- Optional participation in workshops of your choice from the neudeli programme of events
The full annual schedule of workshops and networking events has not yet been finalised. You can find an initial overview in the digital neudeli calendar, which is continuously updated.
How and when can I submit an application?
You can still submit your application for neudeli empowHER online using the application form below. To do so, you’ll need a two- to three-page personal statement. In this, you should describe your start-up idea, your motivation for taking part and what you hope to achieve with neudeli empowHER. You can find all the guiding questions here in the guidance document.
The third cohort of neudeli empowHER runs from March to the end of December 2026.
The selection process
The personal statement you have submitted will be assessed by us, the neudeli coaches, against formal criteria during an initial screening round. If we receive a very large number of applications, the most promising ones will be pre-selected by the team and then forwarded to the selection panel. This panel consists of the programme managers and experts from the start-up scene with experience in founding and/or coaching.
Personal impression counts! That is why, in the second stage, we invite the most promising applicants to a selection session at the start-up workshop. Here, applicants have the opportunity to convince the selection panel of their merits in person during a five-minute pitch. Applicants are assessed on the basis of the following criteria:
- Motivation & commitment
- Need for support
- Communication skills
- Technical skills
- Viability & impact of the start-up idea
Up to 10 applicants will be accepted onto the programme.
