Offers for those interested in founding a company at the HSWT
We support HSWT students, employees and professors in realising their innovative ideas and developments. With our start-up network, advice and programme offers, we help start-ups to bring the enormous potential and expertise from HSWT into society.
Starting up a business during your studies: Support for students
The start-up support at the HSWT aims to sensitise students specifically to entrepreneurship and promotes start-ups even during their studies. In these formats, students willing to start a business will find the support they need.
Nothing suitable? We are happy to answer questions in a personal appointment, the networking events at meet@FSIWS or by email to fsiws@hswt.de.
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Ideas competitions
The creative potential of students extends across a wide variety of subject areas and skills. Ideas competitions allow students to present their ideas for the first time and get feedback - often the first step towards founding their own company.
These are the winners of the last few years:
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Food Start-up Module
Students in the Bachelor of Food Technology, Agribusiness and Organic Food & Business have the opportunity to work on their own start-up during their studies in supplementary modules for the (further) development of their own food idea. They receive professional support from food technologists and have access to the laboratories and the technical centre at the Food Startup Incubator Weihenstephan (FSIWS).
Foundations for researchers
Innovations should also find their way into the economy: The HSWT, therefore, supports researchers in founding a company, both through strategic considerations on handling the Intellectual Property (IP) of the HSWT and through proactive advice to inventors and founders.
Founders interested in further education
Even non-students can benefit from the know-how of the HSWT. We offer a 12-month food start-up certificate course, in which participants can advance their business idea in the food sector. Neither a university degree nor a general higher education entrance qualification (certificate) is required to participate in the course. After a successful application, interested parties will receive professional guidance on founding their food start-up.
Network for Entrepreneurship
The start-up support at the HSWT is involved in numerous networks and can establish helpful contacts with other founders or targeted support programmes.
Funding of founding teams and start-ups
In addition to advice and know-how, the HSWT also supports founders and startups with further information on funding programs and credit options. If you have any questions about the application process or individual funding programmes, you can contact us.
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EXIST start-up grant
![Logo des Gründungsstipendiums EXIST]()
Here we have collected comprehensive information and the exact guidelines for the EXIST start-up grant.
- For WHOM?
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For students, graduates and academics interested in setting up a business
- WHAT is funded?
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- innovative technology-oriented start-up projects.
- innovative knowledge-based services based on scientific findings
- HOW is funding provided
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- Securing personal living expenses through a scholarship:
- Founders with a doctorate: 3,000 euros/month
- Graduates with a university degree 2,500 euros/month
- Technical staff 2,000 euros/month
- Students 1,000 euros/month
- Child supplement: 150 euros/month per child
- Material expenses: up to 10,000 euros for individual start-ups (max. 30,000 euros for teams)
- Coaching: 5,000 euros
The maximum funding period is one year.
- Securing personal living expenses through a scholarship:
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FLÜGGE
Interested parties can find further information from the Bavarian State Ministry on the FLÜGGE programme here.
- WHO can apply for funding?
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Submission is possible via the technology transfer offices or technology transfer officers of every state university of applied sciences in Bavaria.
The Bavarian University of applied sciences
- appoints a person for the mentoring
- provides the necessary resources (laboratories, workshops, rooms, computer centres and other infrastructures) free of charge to those wishing to set up their own businesses
- administers the funding
Those wishing to set up a business
- must be a member of the applicant University of applied sciences.
- If they are employed by the University of applied sciences, this employment may not exceed 50 percent of their time.
- If they are still students and have not yet completed a Bachelor's degree, they must have completed at least half of the standard period of study and, if applicable, the compulsory practical/abroad semester.
- Teams consisting mainly of students without a Bachelor's degree can only be supported in exceptional cases.
- At least one person willing to found a company must be one of the holders or co-holders of the rights of use/protection.
- are responsible for their own social security and other contributions.
The phase before and at the beginning of an innovative start-up, in particular the development of marketable innovative products and business models as well as making the start-up ready.
Specifically, this includes supporting those willing to start a business,
- in securing their innovative, also digital business model, which could lead to a sustainable business start-up
- who have not been able to complete their start-up project within the framework of EXIST funding due to particular technological challenges and have not yet been able to found a company
- whose technologically innovative, challenging and high-risk project was denied funding in the EXIST start-up grant programme
- HOW is funding provided?
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- Scholarship for those willing to set up a business: 2,500 euros per month plus 150 euros per dependent child.
- Payment of material expenses for the project in the amount of up to 50% of the scholarships awarded
- HOW can you apply?
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Participation in the competition procedure
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Founder loans, credits & capital providers
Individual financing is necessary for each start-up. It may be inevitable to set up your production, then a lot of capital is required, or you take the path via the right partners at the right time. We support founders in all phases!
The table below gives an overview of possible funding and credit programmes and provides links to further information.
- LfA Förderbank Bayern
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The LfA promotes the establishment of commercial and freelance businesses, including business takeovers and active holdings.
Information from the LfA Förderbank Bayern - KfW Bank
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KfW supports companies that go one step further and make their own company fit for the future. Funding is provided for both innovative projects and the financing needs of innovative companies, for example with the ERP Start-up Loan.
Information from the KfW Bank - BMWK
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On 27 July 2022, the Federal Cabinet adopted the first comprehensive start-up strategy of a federal government. It is to be expected that there will always be further programs and funding.
- INVEST
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INVEST brings together start-ups and private investors who believe in bold ideas. The support programme mobilises more private venture capital from business angels and thus helps start-ups to find investors more easily.
Info on INVEST - Grant for venture capital - Funding database of the federal and state governments
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The federal funding database provides an overview of federal, state and European Union funding programs: the search function helps you to browse through the current funding offers and find the one that suits you best.
Information on funding offers from the federal government, the federal states and the EU
