OUR KNOWLEDGE BASE FOR START-UPS
For those of you who want to shorten the time until our next workshop or live event with other content worth knowing, here are some of our favorite resources for start-ups.
OUR READING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR START-UPS
Want book recommendations for startups? Sure. Feel free to browse our reading list.
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This is service design doing - Stickdon/Schneider
Learn how to facilitate workshops and run projects, embed service design thinking in your organization, and change the way your teams work as they adopt a more hands-on and human-centered approach – building success for your organization.
Design a better business
New tools, skills, mindsets for strategy and innovation
Female entrepreneur association - Carrie Green
The Female Entrepreneur Association is an online hub designed to inspire women and help them turn their ideas and dreams into reality. The blog covers topics such as business basics, marketing and business growth, mindset and personal development, money and finance, and systems and productivity.
She did it her way - Amanda Boleyn
Boleyn’s blog includes practical tips to help entrepreneurs with both business efficiency and personal growth. Because everyone’s journey is different, the blog covers a range of topics to help women leave their 9-5s and create their own successful businesses.
Where Female Founders Are Gaining Ground in Venture Capital - Embroker
Female Money - Katja Ruhnke
Women invest more sustainably and often with a greater eye for the social in the so-called zebras. These are startups that, as a counter-model to the “unicorns,” are not looking for a quick exit, but for lasting impact. So why aren’t there more women investors? In her book, Katja Ruhnke looks for answers to this question and outlines how she found her role as a business angel.
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Female Founder Stories - Lisa Zaiser
There are an incredible number of inspiring women out there who take their idea, passion and courage and create something wonderful out of it.
Each month, the Female Founder Stories will introduce you to a new female founder and her story. Honest, authentic and with interesting tips for your personal and professional development.
SUPER FOUNDERS - Ali Tamaseb
Uses a data-driven approach to identify the characteristics, educational backgrounds, source of ideas, etc. to
investigate Unicorns and find out what sets them apart from the rest. One stereotype after another, from college dropouts to the “painkiller” idea are debunked.
Why Startups Fail - Tom Eisenmann
We have been dealing with the topic of failure for a very long time and find this book to be one of the few which
addresses failure in a differentiated manner.
Using specific examples of failed companies, the author elaborates on six key themes that
in his opinion, explain most failures. These topics are divided into two phases of the life of a startup
– start (team building, market adaptation, misleading initial success) and scaling. The latter deals with issues of scaling in terms of scope or speed. For each factor, the book
discussed various aspects – the psychology of founders, the mindset of investors, team building, the
management processes, etc. Founders/teams are encouraged to reflect and find checklists of what not to do.
This is service design thinking - Stickdon/Schneider
A practical guide to optimizing the customer experience
Service Design for Business - Reason/ Lovlie/ Brand Flu
How service design can tackle major business challenges and be deployed to have significant organizational impact.
Startup Financing - Martin Giese
Real hands-on tips from investors for founders, from the early phase to exit and from capital requirements to
participation agreement. Lots of checklists and case studies. Co-written by well-known practitioners of the start-up and
venture capital scene.
#nursechsprozent - Renate Weisse
LISTEN
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PODCASTS
For those of you who want to sweeten your next jog with exciting startup podcasts, here’s our pick of shows worth listening in on.
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The Boss - Simone Menne
In her podcast, Simone Menne, former CFO of Lufthansa and one of the first women on a DAX board, also interviews successful women to find out what drives them.
3 lessons on success from an arab business woman - Leila Hoteit
Professional Arab women juggle more responsibilities than their male counterparts, and they face more cultural rigidity than Western women. What can their success teach us about tenacity, competition, priorities and progress? Tracing her career as an engineer, advocate and mother in Abu Dhabi, Leila Hoteit shares three lessons for thriving in the modern world.
Team A - Antonia Götsch & Astrid Maier
Episode with Antonia Götsch, Astrid Maier & Anna Kaiser: How to excite others for both yourself and your ideas.
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Female Leadership - Vera Strauch
Professional Arab women juggle more responsibilities than their male counterparts, and they face more cultural rigidity than Western women. What can their success teach us about tenacity, competition, priorities and progress? Tracing her career as an engineer, advocate and mother in Abu Dhabi, Leila Hoteit shares three lessons for thriving in the modern world.
Conversations of Tomorrow - Jonathan Sierck
A journey into the world of tomorrow: leaders and shapers of tomorrow on humanity, innovation, technology, future trends and business.
Fast and Curios - Lea-Sophie Cramer & Verena Pausder
Fast & Curious is a business podcast with Lea-Sophie Cramer and Verena Pausder. The two founders talk about entrepreneurship, the latest from the start-up scene, investments, business trends… and about life.
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MARKETING_021 - MARTIN WROBEL
Martin Wrobel talks to founders and also very many female founders, he tries very hard to represent them well, about their market entry, challenges in getting early customers and also marketing hacks. Very descriptive, instructive and motivating.
Startups for the Rest of US - Rob Walling
A podcast that helps developers, designers, and entrepreneurs alike successfully launch a
their own software products and apps. That is the promise of Mike Taber and Rob Walling, the creators of Startups for the Rest of Us. This once-a-week podcast has a clear focus on advices and lessons learned. And: There is a transcript for each podcast to read. Top content, top moderation. Recommendation!
Holistic Business Podcast - Christin Woltmann
Podcast for women entrepreneurs/female empowerment. Focuses include soul aligned business, your professional and personal fulfillment, mindset and more.
CONTENT WORTH SEEING
FASCINATING TALKS & VIDEOS
We love inspiring talks by strong women and would like to share some very worth seeing ones with you here.
PUBLIC FUNDING PROGRAMS
YOUR CHANCE FOR FUNDING
Are you currently in the pre-seed, seed or growth phase and looking for funding? We connect you with great investors! In addition to our network, there are many other great funding opportunities for startups.
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HORIZON 2020 & SME INSTRUMENT
WHO.
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (including startups)
- Maximum 250 employees and less than 50 million euros turnover per year
- Largely open to topics and industries
- Focus on promoting scientific and industrial research as well as innovations that can be used to master the challenges facing society, from the energy transition to demographic change.
HOW MUCH?
- As a rule, 70 percent of the project costs, total amount varies from tender to tender in deviation from the “SME Instrument
- As a rule, funding in the implementation phase ranges from 0.5 to 2.5 million euros
REQUIREMENTS
- Funding is available for innovative projects with high growth potential, international market dimension and planned market entry in the near future.
- Proven proof of concept
SME INNOVATIVE
WHO.
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (max. 250 employees and less than 50 million euros in sales per year), also in association with other SMEs or research institutions
- Startups, if own contribution (50 percent of the project costs) can be demonstrably provided
- biotechnology, medical technology, information and communication technologies, materials research, photonics, production technology, resource efficiency and climate protection. Research for civil security, electronic systems and mobility
HOW MUCH?
- For commercial enterprises, up to 50 percent of eligible costs as a grant
REQUIREMENTS
- Funding is provided for innovative projects with high potential for exploitation
- Submission of a project outline with a maximum length of 10 pages
PRO FIT
WHO.
- Legally independent, for-profit SMEs (including startups) with headquarters or a permanent establishment in Berlin
- Non-SME or non-regionally based companies only in association with a regional SME
- Cooperation between science and industry is particularly sought after
- The focus is on information and communication technology, biotechnology, medical technology, optical technologies, transportation technologies
HOW MUCH?
- Up to 80 percent of project expenditures as a grant (up to 400,000 euros) and low-interest loans (usually up to 1 million euros)
REQUIREMENTS
- Product, service or process to be developed must have unique selling point
- One of the applicant companies must have its registered office, or at least an independently organized permanent establishment, in Berlin
- Special Pro FIT early-stage funding for companies that are not older than six months (from the date of commencement of business).
GRW FUNDING
WHO.
- Start-ups and existing companies
- of the commercial economy with predominantly supraregional sales
- In addition to freelancers, other industries are excluded from the subsidy.
HOW MUCH?
- Funding starts from an investment amount of 10,000 euros. If it can be proven that this investment will simultaneously create jobs and that the business activities are supra-regional, up to 30 percent of such investments can be subsidized.
CENTRAL INNOVATION PROGRAM FOR MEDIUM-SIZED COMPANIES (ZIM)
WHO.
- For startups that have survived the founding phase and have existed for more than two years
HOW MUCH?
- For individual projects, depending on the size of the company and the location, between 25 percent and 45 percent of the eligible costs of up to EUR 380,000
REQUIREMENTS
- The technological innovation content and good market opportunities of the funded R&D projects are essential for approval. The ZIM aims to create framework conditions that are suitable for SMEs and is geared to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises.
AVGS
- free consulting for founders from unemployment
- If you are registered as a job seeker and are thinking about starting your own business, you can use the activation and placement voucher (AVGS) from the employment agency to get free help from certified coaches – e.g. for drawing up a business plan and/or a financing concept – and thus get a little closer to your dream of owning your own business.
WHO.
- ALG I recipients
- ALG II recipients (Hartz IV)
- Jobseekers
- Erwerbsaufstocker
- Career Returner
- University graduates
- Persons shortly before the end of a fixed-term contract or notice of termination
- Founders registered as unemployed
- Not eligible for an AVGS are job seekers who are in permanent employment and are seeking a change for personal reasons.
HOW MUCH?
- The activation and placement voucher (AVGS), which unemployed persons can easily apply for through the employment office, covers 100% of the consulting costs for start-ups.
- allows a subsidy of ALG I plus 300 € per month for 6 months. For a further 9 months, the start-up grant can then amount to €300.
- Clarification of formalities and framework conditions of a foundation
- Development of a sustainable business model
- Preparation of the business plan and financial plan
- Expert opinion
- Research for additional funding or grants
- Development of a marketing strategy
- Insight into human resources or accounting
- Training of soft skills such as time management
REQUIREMENTS
- Basically, it is necessary that they have a start-up idea and the motivation to start a business.
ERP CAPITAL FOR STARTUP
WHO.
- Start-ups (also freelancers)
- Company successor
- young companies starting a business
- young companies wishing to consolidate a young company (up to 3 years after starting business)
- young companies, which participate in a company as a managing director
- young companies that take over a company in the context of a business succession
- young companies that want to run a business as their main occupation
HOW MUCH?
The maximum amount of funding is 500,000 euros per applicant. Applicants in the old federal states must contribute 15 percent of the total eligible costs for the project from their own funds (in the new federal states at least ten percent). The own funds can be raised to a maximum of 45 percent of the total capital requirement with the subordinated loan (maximum 50 percent in the new federal states).
REQUIREMENTS
- You need at least 10% or 15% of your own funds.
- You must use your existing assets (except for 10,000 euros lump sum) – total financing of your project is not possible.
- They can increase existing own funds – in the old federal states from 15% to a maximum of 45%, in the new federal states and Berlin from 10% to a maximum of 50% of the eligible costs.
Similar programs like ERP:
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INNOVATION ASSISTANT OF THE IBB
WHO.
- Technology-oriented, legally independent small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the commercial sector and the social economy that develop their own products, processes or services and carry out the main development steps themselves.
- Non-technology-oriented SMEs in the commercial sector and the social economy, if the project in which the innovation assistant is to be deployed and their activities have a strong technological connection, including to a significant extent their own development work.
- Applicant companies must have at least one operating site in Berlin.
HOW MUCH?
- The wage costs of the new employees are subsidized by 50 percent each, max. 20,000 euros.
EXIST FOUNDER SCHOLARSHIP
Universities and non-university research institutions. The scholarship for one year ensures personal living expenses.
WHO.
- Scientists from public, non-profit non-university research institutions and universities
- University graduates and former research assistants (up to five years after graduation or retirement).
- Students who have completed at least half of their studies at the time of application, although the team may not consist of a majority of students.
- Founder teams up to max. three people.
- One of the up to three team members can also be supported with qualified vocational training as a technical employee. Likewise, a team member may have graduated more than five years ago.
HOW MUCH?
- PhD founders 3,000 euros/month
- Graduates with university degree 2,500 euros/month
- Technical employee 2,000 Euro/month
- Students 1.000 Euro/month
- Child supplement: 100 euros/month per child
- Material expenses: up to 10,000 euros for individual start-ups (max. 30,000 euros for teams)
- Coaching: 5.000 Euro
BAFA - MANAGEMENT CONSULTING
WHO.
The aim of the support is that freelancers and tradesmen increase their performance and competitiveness with the help of external consulting (max. five consulting days) and thus secure jobs.
HOW MUCH?
The amount of the grant is based on the assessment basis, i.e. the maximum eligible consulting costs. In addition, the location of the company is crucial. In the new federal states (excluding Berlin and the Leipzig region), 80% of the costs are reimbursed; the Lüneburg region is subsidized at 60%. In the other regions, a subsidy rate of 50% applies. Regardless of age and location, 90% of the consulting costs for companies in difficulty are subsidized
REQUIREMENTS
- Young companies operating for a maximum of two years
- Existing companies that have been on the market for three years, and last, regardless of the period since the start of the business
- Company in economic difficulties
INVEST BAFA
WHO.
- a small and innovative company younger than seven years.
HOW MUCH?
- Private investors are encouraged to acquire business shares in young innovative companies. The private investor will be reimbursed 20 percent of the issue price of his shares as an acquisition subsidy.
REQUIREMENTS
- The company must be a corporation headquartered in the European Economic Area (EEA), with at least one branch office in Germany that is entered in the Commercial Register or a permanent establishment in Germany that is entered in the Trade Register.
MICROMEZZANINE FUND
WHO.
- Applications can be submitted by small and young companies as well as start-ups that have little equity capital themselves
- Companies that provide training, that are founded from unemployment, or that are run by women or people with a migration background
- commercially oriented social enterprises and environmentally oriented enterprises
HOW MUCH?
The maximum investment amount is 50,000 euros with a term of 10 years. For target group companies, the maximum investment amount is 150,000 euros, with initial funding limited to 75,000 euros.
REQUIREMENTS
The company must be expected to be sufficiently economically viable and to manage the investment in accordance with the terms of the agreement. Restructuring cases and companies in difficulty are excluded from financial support.
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