TechFounders

UnternehmerTUM's five-month accelerator program TechFounders provides your start-up with great prospects for growth.

Audience: early-stage technology start-ups with a functioning prototype and first customers

Cost: TechFounders is free of charge for founders and no company shares must be given away. Our corporate partners finance the program.

Duration: 20 weeks

Start: summer batch: July – Dezember/winter batch: January – June

About

As part of our accelerator, you'll prepare your start-up for the first round of raising venture capital and your team will initiate strategic collaborations with companies. In addition, we offer a mentoring network of experts with industry and investment know-how.

What TechFounders offers:

EUR 25,000 of project budget (no company shares are given away)
pilot project with one of our corporate partners, a potential first client
intensive coaching and mentoring on a wide range of topics
professional and market-related feedback
access to our office space in Munich and administrative support
access to our high-tech prototyping workshop MakerSpace
Demo Day with over 250 venture capitalists, business angels, industry contacts, and media representatives
access to UnternehmerTUM's network, including high-profile mentors, business angels, and venture capitalists

TechFounders and the SAP.iO Foundry

TechFounders also operates SAP's start-up accelerator in Munich: SAP.iO. We support in scouting and coaching of start-up teams and program management. The focus of Munich's SAP.iO Foundry is on innovative B2B start-ups that help SAP clients in offering even more engaging experiences for end customers. In addition to locations in Berlin, Paris, Tel Aviv, New York, San Francisco, Singapore, and Tokyo, the SAP.iO Foundry Munich is now the eighth in the global SAP network.

Start-ups benefit from:

access to SAP's network of customers and partners
a direct contact person at SAP
mentors from the UnternehmerTUM and SAP network
workshops and coaching on technology, sales, financing, etc.
strategic and operative work on a possible integration into the SAP systems

Find out more about the SAP.io Foundry Munich here.

Apply

Interested start-ups can apply if they fulfill the criteria below.

If you are a company looking to cooperate with start-ups, please get in touch with TechFounders directly.

To apply, make sure you fulfill this criteria

We’re looking for start-ups in their early phase with a EUR 2M financing or less.
prerequisite: a functioning prototype, a registered company (GmbH, UG, etc.), a motivated team and an interest in carrying out a pilot project with one of our corporate partners
current search fields: automotive, rail transport, automation and robotics, Industry 4.0, sustainable packaging and distribution solutions, HR innovation, mobility solutions, and many more

Apply on techfounders.com

Personal Contact

Managing Partner

Moritz Förster

moritz@techfounders.com
Managing Partner

Sylvia Stojilkovic

sylvia@techfounders.com

FAQ

When and where does the program take place?

We run two batches every year: Our winter batch starts in January and the subsequent Demo Day takes place in June. The summer batch starts in Juli and ends in December. During the program, the start-ups can use our office space in Munich and our MakerSpace in Garching near Munich.
Do we need to be present in Munich for the entire 20 weeks?

The coaching sessions and other events take place in Munich during five attendance phases (about once a month) of three to four days each. Participation in these sessions is mandatory. However, even during those phases in Munich, you will find time to pursue your day-to-day business.
Are founders from other countries eligible, too?

Definitely! We're excited to accept people from all over the world into our TechFounders program. Among our alumni, there are many international start-ups. It is mandatory, however, that you attend the five attendance weeks in Munich.

Process

The program consists of five attendance phases of three to four days each, spread over the 20 weeks.

Phase 1/kickoff:

introductory event and getting to know each other
first workshops
assessment center

Phase 2:

group workshops and first personal coaching sessions
first pitch training

Phase 3:

personal coaching sessions on the business model, marketing, HR, patent law, etc.
first pitch night with potential clients and capital providers

Phase 4:

continuation of personal coaching
second pitch night with potential clients and capital providers

Phase 5/Demo Day:

conclusion and final coaching sessions
Demo Day with over 250 venture capitalists, business angels, industry experts and media representatives

TechFounders