EXIST Women
Supports women founders from German research institutions preparing ventures with advisory and stipends.
EXIST Women is the female-founder track inside BMWE’s EXIST umbrella, which has operated since 1998 and is delivered through Projektträger Jülich. It is aimed at women from German universities and research institutions who are shaping a venture before the founding path is fully settled. The portal treats it as a distinct EXIST sub-programme for female founders. The programme is a German annual grant with a published range of EUR 2,140 to EUR 32,100. Support combines workshops and advising with monthly stipend support or an expense allowance of up to EUR 2,000, and the eligibility rules keep the route tied to German-registered and German-operating applicants rather than individuals. The record also gives women-led teams a positive eligibility signal. It fits founders who want structured preparation, not just cash. Strong applications are likely to show a clear idea, a serious academic or research connection, and a realistic plan for using the advisory support to move toward incorporation and early validation. That mix makes it a practical bridge from university or institute setting into the first company steps.
No upcoming rounds verified. Cadence: Annual.