Chris Liebold
The Ilmkubator - Start-up Service of TU Ilmenau - invites interested parties to apply for a place in the Ilmkubator Class 2023 by February 28. After three successful rounds, the intensive coaching program of the Gründerservice will start its fourth batch in April.
Starting in April 2023, up to nine teams and individual founders will have the opportunity to further develop their start-up ideas in six modules with the support of Ilmkubator coaches, mentors from the business world and experts.
Comprehensive coaching program
During the 9-month program, participants in the Ilmkubator Class analyze the market for their start-up idea, identify target groups and develop strategies for market entry. Legal and financial framework conditions are also considered in the Ilmkubator Class to pave the way for the start-up idea. Regular coaching sessions help participants to focus on their own goals, such as prototype construction or the first business plan. In addition, all participants are given their own office space and have the option of a non-cash budget of up to 300 euros, which can be used for prototype development, for example. The Ilmkubator also focuses on networking in the region and supports the participants with mentors from the business world and various events. These were found to be particularly useful in past years, as one participant reports: "The Ilmkubator Class was worth a lot to us: getting to know other founders, exchanging ideas and getting new input gave us a lot and helped us on our way. You just always knew where you could go and get help."
Participation in the Ilmkubator Class
The Ilmkubator Class program is aimed at students and scientists at the TU Ilmenau and is free of charge for them. Teams and individuals who are interested in the topics of founding and entrepreneurship can apply to participate in the coaching program for business start-ups. Whether thereby already a concrete establishment project is present or so far only an idea exists, is not decisive for the selection to the participation. What is important is the individual motivation of the applicants and the potential of the project.
The Ilmkubator would also like to explicitly invite international and interdisciplinary teams to apply. Research projects with start-up potential and projects with EXIST aspirations can also be funded as part of the Ilmkubator Class.
This year, for the first time, there is also the possibility of qualifying for the Ilmkubator Class through a team matching process: Interested parties without a start-up idea and those with an idea who would like to find a partner can apply to the Ilmkubator by submitting a short profile with their competencies or requests. The staff of the Start-up Service will put together suitable teams from the submissions, which can go through the Class together.
Application procedure
Interested parties can apply by February 28, 2023 with a brief presentation of their idea and a profile via email to ilmkubator@tu-ilmenau.de. All information on the required details can be found on the website at https://www.tu-ilmenau.de/ilmkubator/ilmkubator-class.
Questions about the program and the application modalities can be clarified on February 9 (online) and February 23 (face-to-face) at 5:00 p.m. each day during a consultation session with start-up consultant Julia Baumert. Pre-registration is not necessary.
The new participants will then be selected from all applications in a pitch event in March. The first workshop module will take place in April and work on the start-up projects will begin.
Apart from the Ilmkubator Class, students and employees can also contact the Ilmkubator's start-up coaches at any time at ilmkubator@tu-ilmenau.de and arrange consulting appointments or attend the Ilmkubator's events. All information about the Ilmkubator program and the Class can be found at www.tu-ilmenau.de/ilmkubator and on social media on LinkedIn and Instagram.
