FAQ

Eligibility
Eligibility

Costs
Costs

Application
Application

Program Content
Program Content

Program Administration
Program Administration

Eligibility

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

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For our Market Access programs, we look at the following factors to indicate whether your company is ready to expand to new markets:

Product: A product with significant potential in the U.S. or Asian markets and scalable business model, or a proprietary, disruptive technology or product.
Market Traction: For non-healthcare or life science companies, your product or service should have a solid number of customers and traction in Germany. Healthcare and life science companies should demonstrate a high unmet or under-met market need for the proposed solution.
Revenue/Funding: Your company needs to be adequately funded for the duration of the program, including the associated travel, accommodation, and business expenses.
Runway: Startups with sufficient funding, usually for the next 6 to 9 months (usually Seed or Series A as well as extended Series A, Series B, and C) are ready for our programs in the U.S. and Asia, as well as for the Life Sciences program.
Team: The members of the founding and management team need to be willing to learn, actively participate in the program, and be fully committed to establishing operations in the market and/or region.
Strategic Planning: Before you start your expansion journey, you should consider if you have the required resources and willingness to grow your company to new markets and hire people abroad. Your team will have to manage the core business at home effectively while key decision-makers dedicate time to focus on the program and on the U.S. or Asia expansion.
Board Members: Your investors and board members should support your plans to expand your company’s business to new markets with the help of our program.
Physical Presence: For our Japan Market Access program, a physical presence in Japan is required.

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For our Kickstart program, we consider the following minimum criteria to ensure your company is ready to start working on the basics for international expansion:

Team: Core team functions (such as founding team, team quality, and dynamics) set up.
Product: An existing product and business model in place.
Commitment: Founder or C-level commitment to the program.
For our China Market Discovery program, participation in the China Essentials workshop is a prerequisite.

Everything You Need to Know

Eligibility

Costs

Application

Program Content

Program Administration

Main Programs

Ready to Scale Globally?

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