Prepare for Global Expansion and Receive Free Mentorship
Kickstart Focus offers learning experiences designed to fit into your busy schedule, helping you build a globally minded, and competitive startup.
Tailored Learning and Mentorship for Global Growth
Kickstart Focus is designed to give you a streamlined experience from our multi-week Kickstart program, with virtual and hybrid sessions focused on industry trends, geographic markets, and emerging startup topics.
Tailored for German startups yet to internationalize, it equips you with the essential tools to scale, providing expert insights and actionable strategies for global expansion. Whether you're 3 months or 3 years away from internationalizing, this program lays the groundwork.
Plus, you’ll receive free personalized mentorship to put your learnings into action.
Upcoming Kickstart Focus sessions
Kickstart Focus: Life Sciences
Tailored to life sciences startups specifically in the medical device and diagnostics sector, you'll gain key insights and knowledge on global growth opportunities in just two days.
Program Details
Cost:
Free for German startups
Date:
November 04 - 05
Application Deadline:
October 30
What You Will Learn
Investor perspective of accessing international healthcare markets
Opportunities and challenges in accessing U.S. and East Asian healthcare markets
How to effectively prepare for and enter international markets
Bonus: Exclusive access to: "Start2 x TUM Venture Lab Healthcare: Life Sciences Startups meet Investor"-Event (Munich, November 21 - learn how to tailor your pitch and engage effectively with investors)
Busy this time? Kickstart Focus runs regularly —
fill out our form here to get updates on future sessions.
Kickstart Focus: Climate Tech
Tailored to climate technology startups, you'll gain key insights and knowledge on global growth opportunities in just two days.
Program Details
Cost:
Free for German startups
Date:
November 21 – 22 (subject to change)
Application Deadline:
November 14
What You Will Learn
Market opportunities from new EU regulations
Asian markets as an alternative to traditional international markets
Go-to-market strategies and international marketing techniques
How to engage with local and foreign governments
Busy this time? Kickstart Focus runs regularly —
fill out our form here to get updates on future sessions.
Kickstart Focus: Latin America
Explore market growth and key innovations in Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, with insights on scaling success from seasoned founders and regional venture capitalists. Join us for an evening networking event in Munich (details to follow).
Program Details
Cost:
Free for German startups
Date:
November 11 - 15
Application Deadline:
November 7
What You Will Learn
General overview of Latin American markets
Exploring market highlights from Brazil, Argentina and Mexico
Theory and practice session on Foothold Markets
Founders success factors and regional VC panel discussion
Busy this time? Kickstart Focus runs regularly —
fill out our form here to get updates on future sessions.
Kickstart Focus: Female Founders
Designed to connect female innovators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders across industries and research fields, our hybrid platform fosters meaningful connections and collaboration. Join us to network in person (details to follow) and access a select group of mentors beyond the program.
Program Details
Cost:
Free for German startups
Date:
December 2 – 4
Application Deadline:
November 28
What You Will Learn
Designed to help female founders scale their businesses effectively
Explore strategies for building a diverse and impactful founding team
Learn how "sponsorship" can elevate your entrepreneurial journey and open new doors
Engage in roundtable discussions with financial experts on fundraising, with a focus on female perspectives
Busy this time? Kickstart Focus runs regularly —
fill out our form here to get updates on future sessions.
What’s in It for Your Startup
Get the Basics Right
Gain the knowledge and skills needed to successfully prepare your startup for international expansion and scaling.
Learn from the Best
De-risk and make better decisions by hearing from expert speakers, experienced founders and individualized mentoring.
Discover Market Opportunities
Identify international market opportunities and tap into emerging startup trends to stay ahead of the competition and enable long-term success.
Access A Global Network
Tap into our global ecosystem to expand your business network with mentors, investors, partners to propel your business forward.
Follow Other Successful Startups
What Previous Program Participants Say
How to Get Started
Follow these simple steps and begin your journey with German Accelerator.
Submit Your Application
Submit your pitch deck along with answers to key questions about your business, including your vision, market-fit, and current growth stage. This information will help assess your company’s potential for success and eligibility for the German Accelerator program.
Selection Process
Our team will carefully evaluate your application, reviewing all provided materials including your pitch deck and company details. If your startup is selected and meets the eligibility criteria, you will be notified of the next steps.
Time to Roll Up Your Sleeves
Join our virtual or hybrid program, featuring speaker sessions, workshops, and fireside chats, designed to kickstart your international expansion or deepen your subject matter expertise. Benefit from personalized 1:1 mentoring to help turn insights into action.
Ready, Set, Go!
With a global mindset in place and feedback on your startup’s readiness for international expansion, you can start working on your milestones. If you’re ready to take the next step, check out German Accelerator’s full Kickstart program, Market Discovery and Market Access offerings.
You Have the Questions We Have the Answers
01
How Can I Apply to the Program?
To apply, simply follow the instructions in the application form. After submission, our team will review your application and get in touch with next steps.
02
Who Is Eligible to Join?
To qualify for any German Accelerator program, your company has to meet our selection criteria:
- Your company must be incorporated in Germany with one of the following legal forms: UG; AG; GmbH; GmbH & Co. KG. We also consider GbRs on a case-by-case basis
- Qualify as a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) based on the EU definition of a SME
- Be under the limit of the official EU De-minimis aid regulation
03
Who Should Join the Kickstart Focus Sessions?
At a minimum, startups should have a clear understanding of their customer segments and sales channels in Germany, possess a minimum viable product, and demonstrate a clear path to scaling their business.
Specific Requirements for Internationalization Focus Topics (in addition to the above):
- Applicants should be planning to scale within the EU and/or globally, have achieved product-market fit in Germany, and show a proven track record of traction.
- Applicants should be preparing for or have completed fundraising rounds that support global expansion.
04
What Are the Program Costs?
Participation in the Kickstart Focus sessions is fully funded, meaning there are no direct costs to startups. This is made possible through funding provided by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).