We offer you everything you need in order to follow your heart and your passion for innovation and entrepreneurship. Work in interdisciplinary teams, get in touch with expert coaches and mentors, develop your own original and validated business model for your start-up and become a part of our Franconian and international innovation ecosystem, start-up network and community.
What are the benefits of the Program?
Over the course of two semesters, you will:
Analyze current megatrends and explore opportunities.
Collaborate in interdisciplinary teams to tackle entrepreneurial challenges.
Develop and evaluate start-up ideas with fellow participants.
Learn advanced software-based innovation methodologies.
Expand your professional & personal network globally.
Join our local innovation ecosystem and support future alumni.
Collaborate with mentors and the experienced THN, HSA, and FAU coaches.
Earn an official certificate and digital badge when finishing the program.
Above all,
you can go the extra mile in your innovative and entrepreneurial life, such as:
- Choose Electives: Throughout the program you can choose from a wide range of lectures and events across the participating universities and our innovation ecosystem.
- Go International: At the end of the program, check out the opportunities to go abroad.
- Start-up Track: If your team has successfully completed the Hub program, you can apply for the Start-up Track to take your business idea to the next level. The Start-up Track is a program for early stage start-ups which will begin in September 2025.
At the end of the 12-month program, you will have:
An overview of the current megatrends and how to discover business opportunities
The skillset to go through the entire innovation management process and how to design businesses
A validated market potential
A good innovative network
A validated business model and financial plan
A defined/work in progress prototype
A hardened pitch deck
A good understanding of what comes next for your project, your team and yourself
Program Spotlight
Who can participate?
Eligible to apply are undergraduate (Bachelor), graduate (Master) and postgraduate (PhD) students as well as research assistants from one of the following seven universities: AdBK, EvHN, FAU, HfM, HSA, THN and UTN.
You do not need to have a start-up idea in mind. On the contrary: we are looking for open-minded entrepreneurs who want to explore new opportunities!
You must be enrolled or employed at one of the universities mentioned above until the end of summer semester 2025 (at least until 31st of July 2025). It is not possible for you to participate in the program if you are planning a semester abroad or a semester off, or if you are otherwise not available.
You should be able to attend all our workshops and spend time working with your team between the workshops throughout the whole program.
You should have the motivation to stay involved in the program and in subsequent batches and become an active part of the Hub community.
The program is extracurricular, there are no ECTS credits awarded. The language will be English, although a basic understanding of German is required.
Take your time, check yourself on these points, check the schedule below and be mercilessly honest to yourself. And if everything inside you screams yes, then apply!
How is it taught and implemented?
The program is very hands-on, the focus is on working in teams on specific start-up ideas, especially between workshops. Please find the detailed workshop plan below.
The entire program is divided into three core qualification modules. The modules are offered according to the strengths of the three program leading universities: First, the Trend & Technology Scouting, offered by HSA; Second, the Product (Development) & Business Design, offered by FAU; and Third, the Business Strategy, offered by THN.
During the program, a modern learning platform is available on which you have access to expert knowledge, helpful frameworks and additional tools for reflection and collaboration.
Each team has a dedicated start-up coach who will offer feedback and support whenever needed. In addition, each team will be provided with a prototyping budget for validating the business ideas.
We work with the latest methods and scientific findings of innovation management, business design, impact and sustainability, financing and business strategies for early-stage start-ups. We always consider which methods, concepts, software packages and artificial intelligence can be used effectively today and where they can be questionable or misleading.
You will have the opportunity to help shape the program. A student steering committee will be available to ensure that your core interests are anticipated, that the fun factor is reflected, and that you and your efforts are duly celebrated.
What is the application process?
All applicants will apply via the application form, which can be accessed here on the page under the “Application” button.
The application process consists of three phases:
- Phase 1: Simply apply via the application form by June 2, 2024.
- Phase 2: Afterwards we will contact you via e-mail and ask you to submit documents, certificates and probably a short work sample. Then a first preselection will be made.
- Phase 3: After the preselection, we conduct interviews and decide who will be admitted to the program. We will accept 25 Fellows for the first Batch.
Program Schedule
You can apply for the program until 2nd of June 2024 by clicking on the “Application” button.
The evaluation and interview period will last until 21st of July 2024. Make sure you can be contacted via e-mail during this time.
We will announce the results from 22nd of July 2024 until 2nd of August 2024.
Individual onboarding of our first batch will start in August 2024.
The joint program with all confirmed participants will kick-off on 18th of October 2024 and will last until 31st of July 2025.
Please find below a complete overview of all planned modules, workshops and venues:
Module 1 – Trend & Technology Scouting
Program kick-off and trend exploration to find your spot of interest.
| Name of the event | Date | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kick-off Weekend*) | Fr, 18.10.2024 – Sun, 20.10.2024 | HSA Campus Rothenburg | 3 pm to 7 pm |
| Start-up Meet & Match Optional | Tu, 5.11.2024 | Zollhof Nürnberg | 6 pm to 9 pm |
| Deep Dive Workshop | Fr, 8.11.2024 | Zollhof Nürnberg | 9 am to 5 pm |
| Search Field Workshop | Fr, 15.11.2024 | ANsWerk Ansbach**) | 9 am to 5 pm |
*) Kick-off weekend 18.10.2024 – 20.10.2024: Accommodation has already been booked at the Rothenburg ob der Tauber Youth Hostel. Accommodation and meals are covered by the program. Please plan for Friday and Saturday evening open end. On Sunday, we most likely will finish around 5:00 pm.
The workshops take place at the Hochschule Ansbach Campus Rothenburg which is located here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Qf8DUGcQEQHScsc5A
**) The “Digitales Gründerzentrum ANsWerk” Ansbach is located here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mFvPJZ4hfuj45tNX7
Module 2 – Product (Development) & Business Design
Start with your team and idea and start validating the business potential of your idea.
| Name of the event | Date | Venue*) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ideation Workshop | Fr, 22.11.2024 | d.hip Erlangen | 9 am to 5 pm |
| Team Building Workshop | Sat, 23.11.2024 | d.hip Erlangen | 9 am to 5 pm |
| Discover Workshop | Sun, 24.11.2024 | d.hip Erlangen | 9 am to 5 pm |
| Market and Competitor Analysis | Tu, 26.11.2024 | Zoom | 5 pm to 8 pm |
| Discover Support Consultation | Tu, 3.12.2024 | Zoom | 5 pm to 8 pm |
| Design Weekend | 13.12.2024 – 15.12.2024 | d.hip Erlangen | 9 am to 5 pm |
| Picture of the Future Workshop | Fr, 13.12.2024 | d.hip Erlangen | 9 am to 20 pm |
| Business Model Workshop | Sat, 14.12.2024 | d.hip Erlangen | 9 am to 21 pm |
| Hypothesis & Experiments Workshop | Sun, 15.12.2024 | d.hip Erlangen | 9 am to 5 pm |
| Validate Workshop | Fr, 17.01.2025 | d.hip Erlangen | 9 am to 5 pm |
*) The on-site workshops will take place at the d.hip – Digital Health Innovation Platform, Henkestraße 127, 91052 Erlangen: https://maps.app.goo.gl/v4VRp85tTor2VVCh9
Semester Break Activities
During the semester break (~Feb – Apr 2025) you will work with your team on your business idea and check the market potential. No worries, your start-up coaches are constantly availble for support and of course we offer a couple of (optional) events meanwhile.
| Name of the event | Date | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impact Knowledge Snack | tbd | Zoom | 2h |
| Work in Progress Presentation | February 2025 | On-site tbd | 3h |
| Meetup BayStartUp Start-up Demo Night | Tu, 11.03.2025 | tbd, Nuremberg | Evening event |
| Validation Support Consultation | Th, 27.03.2025 | Zoom | 2h |
| Community Event | tbd | On-site tbd | 4h |
Module 3 – Business Strategy
Focus on your go-to-market strategy and learn how to communicate with your target groups. Reflect on the program and decide on your future.
| Name of the event | Date | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Strategy for Start-ups | Mo, 28.04.2025 | TH Nuremberg | 2 pm to 7 pm |
| Financial Planning Workshop | Fr, 16.05.2025 | TH Nuremberg | 2 pm to 6 pm |
| Venture Capital Financing | Fr, 23.05.2025 | TH Nuremberg | 2 pm to 6 pm |
| Pitching Workshop | Fr, 06.06.2025 | d.hip Erlangen | 10 am to 4 pm |
| Review Workshop | Tu, 17.06.2025 | TH Nuremberg | 2 pm to 6 pm |
| Presentation Test II optional | Mo, 23.6.2025 | Online | 30 min each team |
| Participation on “IdeenPitch der Region” | June 2025 | OM7 Nuremberg | Evening event |
| Participation on “Campus der Löwen” | Th, 26.06.2025 | HSA Campus Ansbach | 4 pm to 8 pm |
| Final Demo Day | Fr, 27.06.2025 | Nuremberg | 9 am to 5 pm |
| What is Next Consultation | July 2025 | Individual team meetings | open |
Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to apply for Batch 1 participation. You can apply for Batch 2 from April 2025.
Stay updated on our activities and next application dates by following us:
FAU – Digital Tech Academy
FAU spin-off services