The 2-phase program provides you with relevant know-how and an invaluable network. Learn from our experts, connect with like-minded founders and make your startup investment ready!
The application is open now. Startups can apply until June 30. After that a short list of startups will be invited for interviews and a jury will decide who's in the next Batch. Make sure you don't miss out.
The Kick-off is the start of the program. The startups meet at STARTPLATZ Cologne and get to know each other. On August 11 they meet the community at our summer party and present themselves for the first time with an elevator pitch.
In phase 1, the startups focus on the MVP and validation. In expert sessions and 1on1 coachings they learn the know-how from experts. Additional events like a mentor matching, a pitch training and regular founder sessions function as support tools.
After Phase 1
The startup's development and the midterm pitch determine which startups will move on to phase 2. The startups will pitch to the STARTPLATZ community and share their progress.
Phase 2 focuses on growth and funding. Beside the expert sessions, 1on1 coaching and founder sessions the startups get in contact with Business Angels and VCs. In the VC Office Hours, VCs introduce themselves and the startups get answers to all their questions.
After Phase 2
The Demo Day marks the end of the Batch. The startups pitch one last time to the community, report on their successes and have the opportunity to network. After the program, we stay in touch with our alumni and support them.
The program will focus on the following topics. Changes are possible. At the beginning of the program, we ask for the needs of the startups and can include topics if necessary or match the startups with the right mentors.
We evaluate all applications received and invite the most convincing teams for interviews.
If you have convinced us,
you are part of the next STARTPLATZ Accelerator Batch!
The Accelerator program is exclusive to startups in our community. If you are not part of the community yet, sign up for a membership and you are ready to go.
Fill in the application form and verify your email address. Finish your application by uploading your pitch deck as a PDF – please refer to our Pitch Deck Guide.
If you are selected for an interview you can also present an updated version of your pitch deck.
You present your startup to the STARTPLATZ Accelerator jury and we have the opportunity to ask questions and get to know you better.
The Accelerator program is exclusive to startups in the STARTPLATZ community. Therefore a team community membership is mandatory. You will not only be part of the program but benefit from all other STARTPLATZ perks. Find details here.
Unlike many accelerator programs, we do not take any equity from the startups in the program. There are also no additional costs or fees for taking part in the program. The only cost is that of the STARTPATZ membership.
You should be a digital startup with a software-based product or service. At best you are a startup that deals with the topics Web 3.0, NFT or Metaverse.
You should be an early-stage startup, young and dynamic, heading towards fast growth and first investment.
We are looking for ambitious founders who aim to take their early-stage startup with digital focus to the next level.
The founders in our program should be committed to their startup full-time.
You should have an MVP or advanced prototype that is testable and can be used by the first pilot customers.
Your startup's product, business model, and strategy should be scalable and suitable for high gowth
Your startup should be solving a relevant problem in a new and innovative way.
Any Questions?
We have answered the most frequent ones for you!
You still have questions?
Shoot: accelerator@startplatz.de
The STARTPLATZ Accelerator is a program for scaling and developing early-stage startups. Powered by STARTPLATZ.
You do not have to give up any shares. There are no costs for the accelerator program itself, you only need to be a STARTPLATZ member (minimum Community Team Membership , find all our tarifs here ).
STARTPLATZ Accelerator is cross-financed through the other business areas of STARTPLATZ (memberships, coworking, renting out offices & conference rooms, and events).
The STARTPLATZ ecosystem and the structure of the Accelerator promote & attract the attention of potential investors. We also actively support matchmaking through our large network, events such as the Cologne Funding Days, office hours with VC's and Business Angels, and high-profile events such as the Demo Day.
In addition, eligible founders or founding teams can apply directly at STARTPLATZ for the Gründerstipendium NRW (founders' grant) of 1000 € per month. Here is some more information on that.
Your startup should be in the early stage, i.e. you have a testable MVP at the beginning of the program.
If you have the following things at hand, it will take you no longer than 5 minutes to fill out the form:
Your contact information, a short description of your concept (max. 100 words), your pitch deck.
After you click on APPLY, you will be forwarded to an application form.
Fill this out, upload your Pitch Deck at the end of the form and click on "Submit Application".
Afterwards you will receive a mail with a confirmation of receipt.
At the end of the application period, we look at all applications and select the most convincing ones. We invite these teams to pitch their business idea again personally in front of our jury and have a little interview.
After the pitches, we consult and inform the teams of our decision in the following days.
Our program is 99% remote. If possible, we'd love to meet up in real life for the kick off though, as we want to promote a good batch dynamic from the beginning on.
The size of the team is not important for the application.
Yes, you can also apply as a solo entrepreneur.
The focus of the STARTPLATZ Accelerator is on startups in the early stage, the idea phase should already be finished.
Yes, teams can reapply for the following batch after a cancellation. A new application is required for this.
STARTPLATZ offers a comprehensive service offer for founders & Startups as well as Corporates, which would like to dive into the agile startup world and create synergies.
At STARTPLATZ you have the opportunity to work together with other entrepreneurs in our coworking areas and to profit from the effects of the crowd.
In addition to the standard memberships, we offer startups the opportunity to apply for the discounted bootstrapping program.
You already have an office and have no need for coworking space?
Then have a look at our Community Membership. Become a part of the community, get discounts on workshops & events as well as room bookings.
By the way, an overview of all workshops & events can be found here.
You are looking for a stage for your startup?
With the Rheinland-Pitch STARTPLATZ organizes the largest pitch competition in Germany.
No, we expect our teams to dedicate most of their time to the growth of their startup and a little to our program. Any other programs at the same time would dilute the focus on execution.
On average the workload is about 5 hours per week.
We expect you to participate in all expert sessions with at least one team member. We are convinced that every team can benefit from all of our sessions. However, we don’t want to steal your time! If you feel like a specific expert session won’t be of any value to you or you really just can't make it, please let us know as early in advance as possible. We want to avoid us and our voluntary speakers being surprised by a high no-show rate. Also, participation is one of our criteria to choose the teams for the second phase of the program."
We are open to international teams and have quite a few non-German speaking mentors. As soon as we have one person with us who does not feel comfortable with German, we'll happily do everything in English.
No. The Midterm Pitch marks the end of phase 1. After the pitches, the STARTPLATZ Accelerator team consults and decides which teams will make it into the second phase of the program. This is to make sure that all teams in phase 2 can profit ideally from the contents. The evaluation criteria are:
