Mentoring program for women/FLINTA*
foundHER: Your idea. Your network. Your path to self-employment & start-up
foundHER is a ten-month mentoring program at Coburg University of Applied Sciences that is explicitly aimed at women/FLINTA* interested in starting their own business who want to take the step into self-employment or develop a start-up idea. The aim? Women/FLINTA* should be supported in their entrepreneurship and leadership skills and build up a network. Through individual support, practice-oriented workshops and the exchange with experienced mentors, the participants are accompanied on their way to self-employment and start-up.
FAQs
foundHER is an intensive but low-threshold qualification program that accompanies women/FLINTA* at Coburg University of Applied Sciences on their way to self-employment or founding a company.
All participants receive a grant for the entire funding period:
- Practice-oriented workshops on topics such as idea development, prototyping, business model development, financing, marketing and sales
- Group coaching, counseling & supervision
- Mentoring by an experienced entrepreneur (chosen by yourself or from our network)
- A lump sum of 2,000 euros for material resources (e.g. to validate the start-up idea, for development work, travel expenses in the start-up context or further training)
- Access to the services of the Coburg start-up network, the Female Founders Community Nordbayern and the nationwide EXIST Women network
In a second phase of the program, selected participants will receive additional:
- Intensive support with individual coaching sessions and individual support during the implementation phase
- a three-month EXIST Women scholarship to cover living expenses:
- Currently enrolled female students who have completed at least half of their studies: 1,000 euros/month.
- Women/FLINTA* with completed vocational training: 2,000 euros/month.
- Graduates with a university degree (who are not enrolled for a degree course during the funding period): 2,500 euros/month.
- Doctoral students: 3,000 euros per month.
- Child supplement: 150 euros/month per child
- Female students (from 50 % study progress or with a completed Bachelor's degree)
- University graduates (the degree can also be more than five years old)
- (Former) (academic) staff and doctoral candidates at Coburg University of Applied Sciences
- Other university members (please explain the connection to the university in your application)
Participation is possible while studying or working. An initial start-up idea or a clearly defined thematic interest should be present; a fully developed business idea is not a prerequisite. Funding is also available for projects that are not science- or research-based, provided they are geared towards subsequent commercial activity.
In principle, the program is aimed at women/FLINTA* whose project is still in the pre-start-up phase and who have not yet started a formal start-up or self-employment. In justified individual cases, participation can also be considered for women/FLINTA* who are already registered as self-employed. There is no obligation to set up or register self-employment during the program. However, a prerequisite for participation is a clear commitment to active, binding cooperation for the entire duration of the program.
Formal requirements
The following formal requirements apply for participation in the program and for receiving the financial EXIST-Women grant:
- The project is still in the pre-foundation phase; neither self-employment has been registered nor a corporation founded to date.
- To date, no funding has been received as part of the EXIST start-up grant or the EXIST research transfer program.
- Bachelor students must have completed at least 50% of their coursework.
- The start-up qualification can take place alongside studies or work; however, the three-month financial grant requires that either no income is earned during this period or that employment of a maximum of 20 hours per week is pursued. The lump sum for material resources is not affected by this.
You do not meet the requirements, but would still like to participate in the program?
Women/FLINTA* who do not meet the formal requirements can still apply for foundHER. Depending on the selection decision and available capacities, participation in the program as an
Irrespective of this, other start-up support services are available at Coburg University of Applied Sciences. Further information on this can be found in myCampus under Service > Gründen.
The next cohort of foundHER Vol.2 will start at the end of February 2026. During the funding period, the scholarship holders take part in various compulsory and optional formats that support them on their path to self-employment and start-up. The binding dates will be announced at the start of the program.
Phase 1: Developing ideas and setting objectives (February to April)
The first phase serves to provide orientation, to concretize one's own idea(s) and to set individual development goals.
Elements of this phase (all mandatory):
- End of February: Kick-off with all scholarship holders for mutual networking and joint program coordination
- Beginning of March: Kick-off with the workshop "Ready, Set, Startup!" and the official kick-off event with getting to know the mentors
- Individual initial consultation with personal milestone planning
- First qualification workshops
Objective of the phase: Development of a start-up-related mindset, sharpening of one's own role as a founder and self-employed person as well as definition of the content orientation and central milestones for the further course of the program.
Phase 2: Qualification, development & validation (April-August)
In the second phase, the focus is on the structured further development and validation of their own start-up idea. The participants acquire basic start-up skills and try out initial implementation steps. This is supplemented by supervision and mentoring sessions.
Mandatory elements of this phase:
- Participation in at least three qualification workshops (usually on the first Thursday of the month)
- Group coaching & supervision every 4-6 weeks
- Participation in the "Female Founder" seminar in Berlin or Munich (two days, attendance) incl. two-hour online follow-up
- Interim presentation of the results at the end of July/beginning of August
- Regular mentoring meetings (self-directed)
Optional elements of this phase:
- Participation in networking events, workshops and lectures organized by the start-up support and the regional start-up network
- Participation and independent organization of meetings of the Female Founders Community as peer-to-peer formats
- Use of non-cash funds for start-up-related expenses
Objective of this phase: Further development and validation of the start-up idea, including creation of initial prototypes, testing of ideas and assumptions, development of a viable business model in order to create the basis for a sound decision-making and implementation capability in the further course of the program
Phase 3: Intensification, specification, implementation & conclusion (August-December)
In the development phase, the focus is on the concrete implementation of the start-up idea. The scholarship holders work on market-related steps such as sales, financing, marketing, legal foundations of the start-up and preparing for a possible market entry and continue to take part in workshops, supervision and coaching formats. Some participants who have shown particularly strong commitment and start-up potential in the first two phases receive a financial EXIST grant in addition to the lump sum for material resources in order to intensify the implementation and support the step towards start-up or self-employment.
Mandatory elements of this phase:
- Participation in at least three qualification workshops (usually on the first Thursday of the month)
- Group coaching & supervision every 4-6 weeks
- Regular mentoring meetings (self-directed)
- Participation in the internal closing event with all scholarship holders and mentors from Coburg
- Participation in StageHERo – the final event of the Female Founders Verbund Nordbayern, incl. presentation of the start-up idea as a pitch or exhibition stand
- Individual final consultation: review of achievements & with a view to milestones after the program
- Submission of a one-pager with the start-up idea and the results developed
Optional elements of this phase:
- For selected scholarship holders: Financial support through the EXIST scholarship from September or October as well as additional individual coaching sessions
- Use of non-cash funds for start-up-related expenses
- Participation in networking events, workshops and lectures organized by the start-up support and the regional start-up network
- Participation and independent organization of meetings of the Female Founders Community as peer-to-peer formats
- Founding a company/registering as self-employed, submitting an application for further funding (e.g. EXIST start-up grant) and further additional support from the Coburg University of Applied Sciences start-up advisory service
The aim of this phase is to translate the developed concepts into market-oriented implementation steps and to prepare for a possible start-up or self-employment process.
The supporting program is currently still being planned. All dates for the specific workshops, networking events and lectures within the framework of foundHER will be communicated to the scholarship holders by e-mail before the start of the program.
The foundHER program combines regional and national offers:
- Most of the events and workshops take place at Coburg University of Applied Sciences or in the district of Coburg; some voluntary events are held in the regional start-up network of Northern Bavaria.
- Digital formats can also be added (e.g. online workshops, coaching or networking events).
- The start-up seminar and network meeting takes place in Munich and Berlin.
Participation in the program requires regular attendance at face-to-face events. It is therefore an advantage if you live in Coburg or the region.
The application deadline for foundHER is 23.01.2026. The selection process is multi-stage and serves to evaluate the submitted applications fairly and transparently. The selection is made by an external selection committee, which assesses the documents and the interviews as well as later awarding the financial EXIST Women's Scholarship. The focus is on motivation, commitment, start-up potential and suitability for the program.
Procedure of the selection process:
Stage 1: Submission of application documents.
In the first stage of the selection procedure, all applicants submit the following documents:
- the application form,
- a written answer to key application questions (1-2 pages),
- a pitch video (2-3 minutes)
The complete application documents must be collected and sent by e-mail within the application deadline to gruenden@hs-coburg.de within the deadline.
In this first selection phase, the focus is on the motivation and determination of the applicants, their willingness to actively participate in the program, their initial start-up potential and their fit with the program's requirements and working methods.
Stage 2: Short interview (beginning of February):
Suitable applicants will receive an invitation to a short interview on January 30. The interviews are expected to take place between 02 and 04 February. The selection committee will have the answers to the application questions at their disposal to prepare for the interview. In the interview, the willingness to implement, entrepreneurial mindset, personal development potential, the relevance or impact of the idea implementation for the Coburg region as well as the feasibility and further development opportunities of the (existing or planned) idea will be assessed. On this basis, the scholarship holders are selected to participate in the program and receive a lump sum in kind.
Stage 3: Selection of the EXIST scholarship during the program (end of July/beginning of August)
During the course of the program, a decision is made as to which scholarship holders will also receive a three-month financial EXIST Women scholarship. Scholarship holders who demonstrate a clear further development of their idea in phases 1 and 2, a high level of implementation strength and initiative, a growing entrepreneurial mindset and a realistic and viable start-up perspective – ideally in the Coburg region – will be considered.
To ensure a fair, transparent and independent selection, foundHER works together with an external selection committee. This committee reviews all submitted application documents, evaluates the letters of motivation and pitch videos and conducts the short interviews. The subsequent selection for the financial EXIST grant is also carried out by an external selection committee.
The committee is made up of representatives of the regional start-up network, the Female Founders Community Nordbayern, members of the Coburg University of Applied Sciences from outside the department and scholarship holders from the first cohort of foundHER.
foundHER is funded as part of the EXIST Women program by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) with the participation of the European Social Fund (ESF ) to support women/FLINTA* in taking the first steps towards their own start-up and to contribute to a significant increase in the current start-up rate of women/FLINTA*.
If you have any questions about the program, are interested in participating or in becoming a mentor, please send an e-mail to gruenden@hs-coburg.de with the subject line foundHER .
Our foundHER scholarship holders show how diverse and creative start-ups can be – and how powerful a network of women can be.
Contact person
Elena Friedel
Employee Transfer and Entrepreneurship Unit
- Friedrich-Streib-Str. 2
96450 Coburg
Overview
The website of Coburg University of Applied Sciences was translated using translation software provided by a third-party provider such as DeepL. The official text is the German version of the website. No liability is assumed, either explicitly or implicitly, for the accuracy, reliability, or correctness of the translations into another language.
