EXIST-Women
Open continuously
No deadline — apply whenever you are ready.
"Sachmittel in Höhe von 2.000 €" per participant, plus an optional stipend for up to 3 months: students €1,000, with completed vocational training €2,000, graduates €2,500, doctorate holders €3,000, plus €150 per child per month. The programme runs roughly 10 months including mentoring, workshops and network access.
Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWE), operated by Projektträger Jülich
public · national
Deadline: Open all year — Participation is via a university or research institution that runs an EXIST-Women cohort; timings set by each institution.
This funder does not publish a success rate. We rank it using the rate observed across similar programmes and label it as an estimate rather than implying we know.
Moderate — a form and supporting documents.
Who can apply
- micro enterprises
- Stage: idea stage and pre-seed
- Female founders
Targets "Studentinnen, Absolventinnen, Wissenschaftlerinnen" at universities and research institutions with an interest in founding and an initial business concept. Universities and research institutions are the formal applicants.
How to apply
- Find a participating university or research institution ("Antragsberechtigt sind Hochschulen und Forschungseinrichtungen"). — link
- Apply to that institution's EXIST-Women cohort with an initial business concept.
- Take part in the ~10-month programme: mentoring by the Gründungsnetzwerk, workshops and the online platform; receive Sachmittel and, if granted, the stipend.
What you will need
- Initial business concept / idea description
- Proof of status as student, graduate or researcher at the institution
Related reading: How grant deadlines actually work · The EU SME definition (Recommendation 2003/361)
Source. https://exist.de/programm/women/
"Sachmittel in Höhe von 2.000 € […] Antragsberechtigt sind Hochschulen und Forschungseinrichtungen"
Verified on 14 August 2026
Source: exist.de
Similar programmes
EXIST Business Start-up Grant
Open continuouslyBundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWE), operated by Projektträger Jülich
Thuringian Start-up Premium
Status not publishedThüringer Aufbaubank (TAB)
Lower Saxony Start-up Scholarship
Status not publishedNBank – Investitions- und Förderbank Niedersachsen
Schleswig-Holstein Start-up Scholarship
Status not publishedWirtschaftsförderung und Technologietransfer Schleswig-Holstein GmbH (WTSH)
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Start-up Scholarship
Status not publishedMinisterium für Wirtschaft, Infrastruktur, Tourismus und Arbeit Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (delivered by GSA Schwerin, ESF+)
InnoStartBonus Saxony
Status not publishedSächsische Aufbaubank (SAB) / Sächsisches Staatsministerium für Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Verkehr
Free
Get deadline alerts for Germany programmes
One email when a programme in your country closes in 2 weeks or 3 days, or newly opens. No spam, one click to stop. Covers every programme in the country you pick. Free covers one country; a paid plan can watch as many as you like.
Paid, separate from Unclaimed
Want a human to review your application?
Involve Consulting can help — a paid expert-review service run by the same person behind Unclaimed, entirely separate from this free check. A flat fee, agreed up front; never a cut of what you receive.
Talk to Involve Consulting