EXIST-Women: Targeted support for female founders
Become a founder with us!
HHU has received approval from the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action for EXIST-Women until 2027. This funding is explicitly aimed at women at HHU who are interested in founding a company and supports them in their startup projects. In January 2025, the second EXIST-Women batch will enter the next round at CEDUS.
EXIST-Women funding programme at HHU
As part of the funding programme, the scholarship holders receive the € 2.000 in material resources and the three-month scholarship money. Each founder is also supported by an experienced mentor and undergoes a qualification programme with workshops and networking events.
Batch 2 schedule overview for 2025
date | time | subject | format |
---|---|---|---|
29.01.2025 | 10 a.m - 2 p.m. | HHU EXIST-Women Scholarship holders // Get to know each other | Networking |
05.02.2025 | 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Personal strengths | Workshop |
12.02.2025 | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Lean Startup | Input - digtal |
19.02.2025 | 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Lean Startup | Workshop |
26.02.2025 | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Lean Startup & Target Group | Co-Working Session |
05.03.2025 | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. | GeschäftsBusiness model development | Workshop |
12.03.2025 | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Business model development | Co-Working Session |
19.03.2025 | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Legal form and trade mark application | Workshop |
26.03.2025 | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Name brainstorming | Co-Working Session |
02.04.2025 | tba | Taxes | Workshop |
09.04.2025 | tba | Business administration | Workshop |
10.04.2025 | from 6:30 p.m. | Female Founders | Networking |
23.04.2025 | from 10 a.m. | Scholarship holders x mentors // Kick-off event | Networking |
07.05.2025 | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. | free work | Co-Working Session |
14.05.2025 | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Marketing | Workshop - digital |
20.05.2025 | from 10 a.m. | EXIST-Women Brunch | Networking |
21.05.2025 | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Pitching | Input - digital |
28.05.2025 | tba | Pricing | Input - digital |
04.06.2025 | tba | Pricing | Workshop |
05.06.2025 | from 6:30 p.m. | Female Founders EXIST-Women | Networking |
11.06.2025 | tba | Pitching | Wprkshop - digital |
18.06.2025 | tba | Body language & presence I | Workshop |
25.06.2025 | tba | Body language & presence II | Workshop |
02.07.2025 | from 10 a.m. | EXIST-Women Brunch | Networking |
02.09.2025 | from 10 a.m. | EXIST-Women Brunch | Networking |
08.10.2025 | tba | HHU EXIST-Women Demo Day // Closing event | Networking |
06.11.2025 | from 6:30 p.m. | Female Founders | Networking |
The Female Entrepreneuership Incubator (FEIN)
- Three-month scholarship of up to €3.000 per month (depending on your educational qualification and additionally you may only work a maximum of 20 hours/week at the same time)*
- €2.000 in material resources*
- Support from a mentor with startup experience
- Exciting workshops on startup-related topics
- Numerous networking events together with the scholarship holders from Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences
The only exclusion criteria are that the applicants have already received startup funding from the federal or state governments or that they have already founded a corporation and/or are already generating sales with their startup.
New startup funding for female founders
With EXIST-Women, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection supports women at universities and research institutions who are interested in setting up a business in the phase prior to founding a company, particularly in the development of their entrepreneurial personality and the further development of their startup idea.
Strengthening the potential of female founders
The EXIST-Women funding line gives women at Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf who are interested in setting up a business and have an affinity for entrepreneurship the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the topics of startups and self-employment at an early stage. Even more than before, the startup networks at the universities are to be encouraged to motivate female graduates, scientists, students and women with professional qualifications and a connection to the university (e.g. technical assistants, chemical-technical assistants, administrative assistants) to become entrepreneurs.
The new EXIST-Women guidelines were therefore published on July 7th, 2023. The new EXIST funding line includes events, counselling and support services as well as a financial grant for prospective female founders.
FAQs:
With EXIST-Women, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection supports women at universities and research institutions who are interested in setting up a business in the phase prior to founding a company, particularly in the development of their entrepreneurial personality and the further development of their startup idea.
Female graduates (graduation can be more than 5 years ago), academics, students (Bachelor's degree or ≥ half of the coursework completed) and women with vocational training and a connection to the university who are interested in the topic of startups and want to take part in a 12-month qualification program. Participation is also possible while studying or working. A concrete startup idea can, but does not have to exist. Funding is also available for ideas that are not based on knowledge or research, but are geared towards later commercial activity. Women who have already received startup funding from the federal or state governments are excluded from funding.
- Participation in our 12-month Female Entrepreneurship Incubator (FEIN)
- Individual coaching by the startup consultants at CEDUS
- Entrepreneurial support from a mentor
- Nationwide network of female founders
- One-off funding of €2.000* (e.g. for coaching, travel expenses or validation of your startup idea)
- optional 3-month scholarship if you have no income or work max. 20 h/week €1.000 - €3.000/month (depending on qualifications) + child supplement*
*The budget freeze unfortunately leads to complications in the distribution and administration of funding, i.e. we can currently only guarantee a 2-month scholarship. Furthermore, the material expenses must be spent by mid-February. With a timely release of the budget freeze, the scholarship will of course be extended to three months.
You will take part in the EXIST-Women events and our Female Entrepreneurship Incubator. EXIST-Women is a startup sensitisation and qualification measure. There is no obligation to start a business. At the end of the programme, you will present your startup idea and the results you have achieved in a short and concise one-pager. If you set up a company during the 12-month qualification phase or during subsequent startup support - great. But if you want to take more time with your startup, that's fine too, because entrepreneurial spirit is needed everywhere!
By completing our FEIN incubator programme, you will learn what is important when setting up a company and how it works. You will also get to know other female founders who will share their experiences of starting a business with you. You were able to develop a new, viable startup idea or further develop your existing idea and validate the business model. You know the next steps for your own startup and may even have already found co-founders or raised follow-up funding.
As an HHU institution, we are required to give preference to women who have a connection to HHU when applying. However, applications are also open to external applicants.
First, fill out the application form on our website and send it to cedus(at)hhu.de. The application deadline for Batch 2025 is November 17th, 2024. If you meet the requirements for EXIST-Women, we will invite you to meet us in person at CEDUS. The personal meeting will probably take place in the week from November 25th to 29th, 2024. The aim is to get to know you, your motivation and your startup idea even better. You will find out whether you have made it into the second batch before Christmas.
Questions? Comments? Need to talk?
Do you have questions about our incubator program, your application or the rest of the process? Then please get in touch: cedus(at)hhu.de