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What is EXIST-Women?
EXIST-Women is a nationwide support programme for women at universities and research institutions in the pre-start-up phase. The aim is to strengthen female entrepreneurial personalities and further develop start-up ideas.
Duration of funding: 1 March 2026 – 31 December 2026
Target group
- Female graduates (even if they graduated more than five years ago)
- Female scientists
- Female students (with a bachelor's degree or at least half of their coursework completed)
- Women with vocational training and university qualifications
- Participation alongside studies or work is also possible, provided that attendance at events and sessions is possible
- Participants may be part of a diverse team, but only the woman(s) will receive funding
- Women who have already received federal or state start-up funding are excluded
- Language requirements: Fluency in spoken and written German is required, as the programme content is delivered in German.
Contents of the funding
Weekly group sessions (online, Wednesdays 1-2 p.m.): Topics include customer understanding, business model development, market and competition analysis, prototyping, marketing & sales, financing, legal basics, pitch training, and team and leadership skills.
Mentor support: Personal support from experienced female entrepreneurs and founders.
Individual coaching by start-up coaches: Regular one-on-one coaching, monthly group coaching, open consultation hours, collegial advice in a peer format, and systemic coaching to create an individual roadmap. Networking with companies for feedback is supported.
Workspaces and infrastructure: Use of the TH Deggendorf Start-up Lab.
Material resources: One-time financial support of €2,000 for coaching, travel expenses, etc.
Optional scholarship: 3 months with €1,000–3,000/month (depending on qualifications) plus child allowance.
Mandatory ‘Female Founder’ seminar in Munich: Participation in the on-site seminar is required. Dates will be announced by the project organiser.
Planned programme schedule
Commitments: You can only apply if you can guarantee that you'll be able to attend the ‘Gründerin’ seminar in Munich, the workshops, and the other events.
The entire programme is available for download as a PDF (in German).
Geplanter Programmablauf (vorläufig)
Disclaimer: Änderungen im Programm und den Zeiten vorbehalten!
März:
Kickoff online
04.03.2026, 10-12 Uhr, online, verpflichtend
Workshop - Persönliches Kennenlernen, Klärung Formalitäten und Status Quo
11.03.2026, 9-12 Uhr, vor Ort im Startup Lab der THD, verpflichtend
Optionaler Workshop - Team und Ideation, je nach Teilnehmerinnenkreis
11.03.2026, 14-17 Uhr, vor Ort im Startup Lab der THD, optional
Peer-to-Peer-Coaching
18.03.2026 oder 25.03.2026, 13.05-13.55 Uhr, online, verpflichtend
April:
1:1 Coaching zur KPI-Definition April
Individuelles Datum vom 30.03. - 01.04.2026, 30 Minuten pro Team, online, verpflichtend
Workshop – Problemverständnis
15.04.2026, 13:05-13:55, online, verpflichtend
1:1 Coaching
Individuelles Datum vom 20. - 24.04.2026, 30 Minuten pro Team, online, verpflichtend
Workshop – Geschäftsmodellierung
29.04.2026, 13:05-13:55, online, verpflichtend
Mai:
1:1 Coaching zur KPI-Definition Mai
Individuelles Datum vom 04. - 08.05.2026, 30 Minuten pro Team, online, verpflichtend
Workshop – Value Proposition & Minimum Viable Product
13.05.2026, 13:05-13:55, online, verpflichtend
1:1 Coaching
Individuelles Datum vom 18. - 22.05.2026, 30 Minuten pro Team, online, verpflichtend
Workshop – Markt & Wettbewerb
27.05.2026, 13:05-13:55, online, verpflichtend
Juni:
1:1 Coaching zur KPI-Definition Juni
Individuelles Datum vom 01. - 03.06.2026, 30 Minuten pro Team, online, verpflichtend
Workshop – Marketing & Branding
10.06.2026, 13:05-13:55, online, verpflichtend
Workshop – Netzwerken & Vertrieb
17.06.2026, 13:05-13:55, online, verpflichtend
Erste Zwischenpräsentation
24.06.2026, 17-19 Uhr, Startup Campus Deggendorf, verpflichtend
Juli:
1:1 Coaching zur KPI-Definition Juli
Individuelles Datum vom 29.06. - 03.07.2026, 30 Minuten pro Team, online, verpflichtend
1:1 Coaching
Individuelles Datum vom 13. - 17.07.2026, 30 Minuten pro Team, online, verpflichtend
Workshop – Session zu Rechtsthemen mit einem Anwalt
22.07.2026, 18:30-20:30, online, verpflichtend
Workshop – Konkrete Tipps für die unternehmerische Praxis
29.07.2026, 13:05-13:55, online, verpflichtend
August:
1:1 Coaching zur KPI-Definition August
Individuelles Datum vom 03. - 07.08.2026, 30 Minuten pro Team, online, verpflichtend
1:1 Coaching
Individuelles Datum vom 17. - 21.08.2026, 30 Minuten pro Team, online, optional
September:
1:1 Coaching zur KPI-Definition September
Individuelles Datum vom 31.08. - 04.09.2026, 30 Minuten pro Team, online, verpflichtend
Workshop – Finanzen & Businessplan
09.09.2026, 13:05-13:55, online, verpflichtend
Workshop – Pitching
16.09.2026, 13:05-13:55, online, verpflichtend
Zweite Zwischenpräsentation
30.09.2026, 17-19 Uhr, online, verpflichtend
Oktober:
1:1 Coaching zur KPI-Definition Oktober
Individuelles Datum vom 05. - 09.10.2026, 30 Minuten pro Team, online, verpflichtend
Workshop – Session zu Rechtsthemen mit einem Anwalt
14.10.2026, 18:30-20:30, online, verpflichtend
1:1 Coaching
Individuelles Datum vom 19. - 23.10.2026, 30 Minuten pro Team, online, verpflichtend
Workshop – Female Leadership
28.10.2026, 13:05-13:55, online, verpflichtend
November:
1:1 Coaching zur KPI-Definition November
Individuelles Datum vom 02. - 06.11.2026, 30 Minuten pro Team, online, verpflichtend
Workshop – Thema nach Bedarf
11.11.2026, 13:05-13:55, online, verpflichtend
1:1 Coaching
Individuelles Datum vom 23. - 27.11.2026, 30 Minuten pro Team, online, verpflichtend
Dezember:
Abschlusspräsentation
09.12.2025, 17-19 Uhr, Startup Campus Deggendorf, verpflichtend
Teilnahme an weiteren wichtigen Events (aktuell noch nicht terminiert):
- Deggendorfer Gründungstag
- Female Founders Summit in München
- Gründerinnenforum in Berlin
- Gründungsstammtische und Messen
- Und vieles mehr
Application
Application:
- Via E-Mail: startupcampus@th-deg.de
- Application deadline: 11 January 2026
- The selection process will take place between the end of January and mid-February.
Application documents:
- Letter of motivation (max. 1 A4 page)
- Brief personal introduction (name, degree programme, background)
- Description of the start-up idea (if available) or general interest in start-up topics
- Motivation for participating in the programme
Selection process:
- 1. Evaluation of the written application based on the following criteria: quality and feasibility of the idea, motivation, development potential, entrepreneurial potential and ability to participate.
- 2. Personal interview with pitch presentation.
- 3. Decision by an all-female jury of experts from various fields.
Contact and questions: startupcampus@th-deg.de