Opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs and start-up teams
Are you thinking of starting a business, developing your idea further, or simply finding out whether self-employment is right for you? Schwarzwälder Gründergeist offers support for every stage of your start-up journey – from the initial spark of inspiration to the practical implementation.
Our services help you find your bearings, test your idea, develop a business model, identify suitable funding opportunities and connect with relevant people from academia, business and the start-up ecosystem.
Find the opportunity that matches your idea
You’ve come to the right place, whether you’re just starting out or already planning concrete steps. What matters isn’t that your idea is fully developed, but that you’re curious, want to make a difference, and are ready to take your idea further.
What you bring to the table: a huge dose of curiosity, a desire for change, and the courage to develop your idea further. And if you’ve got a pinch of perseverance to boot, we’re a perfect match!
Our services are right for you if you:
- don’t have a concrete idea yet,
- want to develop an initial idea further,
- want to test a business model,
- want to put research findings into practice,
- are looking for co-founders or network partners,
- want to prepare for funding programmes, pitches or competitions,
- are interested in entrepreneurship, innovation and self-employment.
An overview of our services
Start-up advice
Do you have an idea and want to know if it has potential? The start-up advice service offered by the three universities provides personalised feedback, guidance and support to help you take the next steps.
Together, we’ll look at your idea, your business model, your target audience, potential funding opportunities and suitable business structures. The advice is suitable for both early-stage ideas and more advanced start-up projects.
Check out our start-up advice
Events
Workshops, talks, networking evenings and pitch events will introduce you to new knowledge, methods and people.
We’ll show you how to turn your jumble of ideas into a structured plan, put your business model through its paces, find the perfect teammates for your team, and make connections with other founders.
Discover events
Formats
Our programmes are your toolkit for start-ups, innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. They range from low-threshold introductory programmes and competitions to initiatives for female founders, pitch training and guidance on funding opportunities.
Discover formats
Female Founders
We promote visibility, networking and support for women* interested in starting a business and female founders* in the region. Our services are aimed at women* who are starting a business, running a business, working as self-employed professionals, or looking to develop their entrepreneurial skills.
Discover female founders
Not sure which option is right for you?
No problem. Just drop us a quick message using the contact form below to let us know where you’re at. We’ll help you find the right starting point – whether you’ve got an initial idea, are generally interested in starting a business, or are already working on a specific project. Alternatively, take a look at our teams in Freiburg, Offenburg and Furtwangen; they’ll be happy to help you find the right contact person and the best way to get started.
FAQ
What support does Schwarzwälder Gründergeist offer?
The Schwarzwälder Gründergeist offers guidance, advice, workshops, events, competitions, networking opportunities and programmes for developing business ideas. And this is not provided by just one institution, but through the combined efforts of the University of Freiburg and the universities of Furtwangen and Offenburg. This includes support in areas such as ideation, business model development, financing, funding programmes, pitching, team building and market entry. Some programmes are organised across the universities, whilst others take place at the participating locations.
Does my business idea have to be fully developed?
No. You can also get in touch with us even if you don’t yet have a fully formed business idea. We offer a range of services to help you identify your initial interests, recognise potential problems, develop ideas and find out whether entrepreneurship is right for you. If you already have an idea or a team, we can provide further support with validation, business models, funding and implementation.
Are there packages available for different stages of setting up a business?
Yes. The services on offer can cover various stages: from initial inspiration, through the development and testing of an idea, to the formulation of a business model, guidance on funding opportunities, or preparation for pitches and competitions. This means that both newcomers and more experienced teams can find the support they need.
What's inside – a brief overview
The Schwarzwälder Gründergeist programme supports aspiring entrepreneurs at various stages: from initial guidance and the development of a business idea through to business model design, funding, pitching, networking and implementation. The programme is aimed at students, researchers, staff, alumni and early-stage start-up teams from the participating universities and the wider region.