Startup Discovery Lab
12 Weeks. One Idea. Your Startup.
Application will be closed on 25.09.2026.
Boost your idea through our structured 12-week Startup Discovery Lab and learn entrepreneurship best practices with experienced startup advisors. Join with a fully-formed idea, a vague hunch, or simply curiosity about founding.
Participants apply methods from design thinking, user research, prototyping, and business model development to their own projects. This leads to deeper understanding of the problem, the target audience and potential solutions.
Date & Key Facts
Duration
12 WeeksDates
21.10.2026-
27.01.2027
Rhythm
EveryWednesday
15:00 – 17:00
Team Size
Solo/TeamIdea Status
With an IdeaFormat
In PersonYour Benefits
By the end of the twelve weeks, you will have moved from an early hunch to a tested, structured founding project — with the evidence and skills to take it further.
Growth Boost
Gain confidence, refine your skills and accelerate your idea.
Hands-on Support
Work on your idea, validate and build with real feedback.
Expert Guidance
1:1 mentoring from experienced startup advisors.
Strong Network
Connect with founders, experts, researchers and investors.
Programme Overview
Explore —
Weeks 1–3
Understand the problem and your target groups through direct stakeholder and user research.
Create —
Weeks 4–6
Frame the problem, develop solution concepts and shape a prototype you can put in front of users.
Evaluate —
Weeks 7–9
Test your assumptions with real feedback, decide pivot or persist, and pitch your Business Model Canvas at Demo Day.
Business Modelling — Weeks 10–12
Refine your business model and build a convincing, rehearsed pitch for your final presentation.
Participation Requirement
To participate in this program, you must either be a student at a university in Saxony-Anhalt or have completed a degree that is not older than 5 years.
