Your idea, your start-up: Apply now for EXIST Women!
Do you have an innovative idea and finally want to start a business? Or contribute your power to a team as a co-founder? Then the EXIST Women scholarship is your chance! Get financial support, coaching and a strong network to get started as a female founder. Now is the time to make your vision come true – apply by February 28, 2025!
Become part of EXIST Women and discover the founder in you!
Facts about EXIST Women
females@HIGHEST meets EXIST women
As part of EXIST Women, we are launching our females@HIGHEST network together with our partner universities in the Rhine-Main region. You can expect exciting content and a wide range of opportunities to develop yourself and your idea. You will also be part of the nationwide EXIST network, which supports start-ups from academia.
- Networking: Exchange at meetings on site in the Rhine-Main region and online. Together we will take part in the EXIST Women Event in Berlin or Munich. The date has not yet been set.
- Qualification: Participation in courses and workshops for further development
- 1:1 mentoring with experienced mentors
- 2,000 € material resources for each participant
- Female Founders Event at #INNODAY25 on October 30, 2025
Accompanying program from April to December 2025
- April 28 – Kick-off EXIST Women
- June 25 – Module: Entrepreneurial basics & self-image
- September 9 – Module: Team & Leadership
- October 30 – Females Founders Events at INNODAY25
- November 10 – Module: Pitching for Females
Your potential, your future: Become part of EXIST Women and discover the female founder in you!
Apply by February 28!Financial support
EXIST Women – Start-ups from Science supports women on their way to setting up a business with:
- 2,000 euros in material resources
- an optional three-month grant, provided the participants have no income or work a maximum of 20 hours per week. The grant includes monthly support of 1,000 to 3,000 euros (depending on qualifications)
- a child allowance
The amount of the three-month scholarship varies depending on qualifications:
- Female students (minimum Bachelor’s degree or 50% completed degree): €1,000
- Women who have completed vocational training: €2,000
- Female graduates with a university degree: €2,500
- Women with a doctorate: €3,000
- Child supplement of €150/month per child
- Payment June to August 2025
Mentoring
You will be accompanied by 1:1 mentoring with experienced mentors. In individual exchanges with mentors and other mentees, you can develop personally and professionally – and take the next step towards your vision!
Your potential, your future: become part of EXIST Women and discover the female founder in you!
Apply by February 28!
Workshops
HIGHEST offers a wide range of services to support women on their way to a successful start-up:
- Workshops and co-creation sessions covering everything from developing a business plan to creating a website
- Access to modern infrastructure and technologies such as 3D printers and prototyping software
- EXIST Women event in Berlin or Munich. The date has not yet been set.
- Female Founders Event at the #INNODay25
Module females@HIGHEST
June 25, 2025 from 3-6 p.m.
Module with topics Entrepreneurial basics & self-image
September 09, 2025 from 3-6 p.m.
Module with Team & Leadership topics
November 10, 2025 from 3-6 p.m.
Module with topics Pitching for Females
Innovation meets promotion
The program is aimed at female students, scientists and graduates who want to take the step into self-employment with creativity, innovative strength and determination. Whether with or without a concrete start-up idea – the aim is to specifically support female founders.
The official start of the program is 28 April 2025.
Apply now! EXIST Women
All students, scientists, graduates and members of all RMU universities (TU Darmstadt, Goethe University, University of Mainz) and Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences (h_da).
Whether with or without a concrete start-up idea – motivation, creativity and innovative strength are decisive!
We look forward to receiving your application!
Apply now!Application procedure
- Application deadline: February 28, 2025
- To be submitted: Letter of motivation, personal objectives
- A maximum of 10 participants will be selected
- The jury consists of the experts:
Simone Lühl (start-up consultant at HIGHEST),
Katja Borowski (Project Manager Hessen Ideen/ Female Entrepreneurship).
Further members of the jury will be announced.
Funding conditions for the optional scholarship
- No income or a maximum of 20 hours of work per week during the scholarship period (June-August 2025).
- Simultaneous funding through a scholarship and the start-up grant from the
- Federal Employment Agency is not possible.
- No previous participation in EXIST start-up grants, Hessen Ideen-Stipendiun or similar start-up support programs.
- No previous founding of a company at the time of application.
Application form
Simone Lühl
Start-up Coach HIGHEST; simone.luehl@tu-darmstadt.de
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