We help startups grow faster.
Batch #27 - Focus:
Tech, Web 3.0, AI startups
As the largest innovation network in NRW, STARTPLATZ provides guidance and founding expertise to its startup teams. By connecting innovators and philantropists throughout Germany, STARTPLATZ helps young startups grow and makes relevant innovation happen on a daily basis. Based on STARTPLATZ' years of experience we offer STARTPLATZ Accelerator as a hands-on program for the most promising tech-startups in our community.
Around the world, platforms and ecosystems are increasingly defining the rules of digital business. For several years now, the next evolutionary stage of digital business models and technologies has been accelerating: Web 3.0 and AI. In Web 3.0, ownership and control are largely decentralized and orchestrated with tokens. NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and Metaverse also fall into this context. AI business models create value for customers using AI. This can involve selling AI-powered products or services, optimizing internal operations,
monetizing AI-generated data, or providing AI as a service. In the Startup Accelerator program, we combine expertise from digital business models, Web 3.0, and AI with our large STARTPLATZ network and thereby aim to support startups from various digital fields.
Both startups with a digital business model in general and startups that focus specifically on these topics are in good hands with us and can benefit from the broad expertise of our ecosystem.
Our program is going hybrid again!
Networking is social.
The upcoming Accelerator batch at STARTPLATZ Cologne and Düsseldorf will be a hybrid program. We understand the importance of personal exchange and believe that networking works best in person. However, as our mentors and venture capitalists are spread across Europe, the majority of the expert sessions will be held online. To facilitate the exchange of ideas and promote networking, selected formats such as kick-offs, pitch events and networking events are held in person at our locations in Cologne and Düsseldorf.
At STARTPLATZ we believe that real human connection is the foundation of networking. Our offices in Cologne and Düsseldorf offer the perfect space to connect with fellow founders, join events, and build friendships and partnerships.
Gaming
Enter-tainment
Music
Fashion
Finance
Events
Sport
Health-care
Auto-
motive
Social Media
Art
Real Estate
Together with the startups, we develop a program tailored to you and your needs.
The expertise of 75+ mentors and experts in our network.
Hamidreza Hosseini
ECODYNAMICS
Louis Schulze
Futur3
Christoph Hagenkötter
KICKZ
Nico Limberg
Laid Back Ventures
Simon Klein
IcecreamSwap
Frank Zimmerer
conXito
Michael Hajut
AD3M
Adrian Wilbrandt
Nclip
More Mentors & Ambassadors
Matthias Nawrocki
Gira
Jonas Hayajneh
DAO Maker
Dominik Karaman
eekigai Labs
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:
