Project progression with EXIST-Women

The funded women receive workplaces at the applicant institution (e.g. in start-up centers, libraries, etc.) as well as the opportunity to use the infrastructure, take part in support and training measures offered both centrally and decentrally by the local start-up network, network with other women in the EXIST Women cohort and regularly exchange ideas with an entrepreneurial mentor with start-up experience. Together with coaches and supporters, the future founders validate their start-up idea, develop a suitable business model and draw up a roadmap for the next steps towards self-employment. This also includes the search for co-founders and issues relating to follow-up financing, e.g. via a start-up support program such as the EXIST start-up grant or EXIST research transfer.

Overview of the timeline:

month	Event
0	EXIST-Women monitoring questionnaire (at the beginning of funding)
2, 4 (max. 6)	Naming the prospective female founders and their mentors
3-5	Seminar founder
1-12	Female Founders Forum
12	Project completion (submission of the founders' "brief descriptions of the start-up idea" (one-pager) and the "evaluation of the measures")
12, 24, 48, 72	EXIST-Women monitoring questionnaire (after the end of funding)

Use of material resources:

EXIST-Women supports each funded female founder with 2,000 euros in material resources. No coaching and material resources plan has to be submitted to the project sponsor. Instead, the funds are made available to the universities as a lump sum. The aim is the personal qualification of the founder and preparation for further start-up activities. The start-up network (possibly with the involvement of the mentor) works with the prospective founder to define her individual roadmap with milestones for the duration of the project and plans the use of the material resources accordingly. The funds can be used for the following purposes, for example:

• Technical devices
• Material for prototypes
• Travel expenses
• Participation fees for events
• Additional coaching

"Seminar founder"

EXIST-Women includes participation in the centrally organized seminar "Female Founder" with approx. 20-25 participants. The 1.5 days in presence in Munich or Berlin are followed after 3 months by a 2-hour online follow-up appointment. On the one hand, this promotes networking among the sponsored women in a protected environment; on the other hand, the women should become aware of their existing entrepreneurial soft skills, strengthen them and recognize their potential. The seminar is not a selection process, but is intended to specifically support the development of the women's entrepreneurial mindset.

+ When will I receive an invitation to the seminar?
Within the first three months after the start of EXIST-Women funding, the female founders receive an invitation to attend the seminar.

"Female Founders Forum"

During the 12-month qualification phase, the prospective female founders take part in the centrally offered "Female Founders Forum" 1-2 times. Here, up to 200 participants meet in Berlin to gain entrepreneurial qualifications and expand their network with each other and with female founder role models. Typical topics of the event include strategic networking, financing and approaching investors as well as business models for ecologically or socially sustainable start-ups.

Meeting of EXIST-Women universities and research institutions

The universities and research institutions funded via EXIST-Women meet once or twice a year as part of the EXIST workshops in a separate format. The funded institutions support each other in transferring particularly successful measures for supporting female founders to other locations. In addition, online workshops are held to exchange ideas on the topic of female entrepreneurship.

Project completion

12 months after the start of the funding period, the funded institutions send the founders a "brief description of the start-up idea" (one-pager), in which the start-up ideas are presented briefly and concisely.

In addition, the funded institution submits an "evaluation of the measures" for supporting female founders. This briefly lists which measures to support female founders were carried out at the institution, how often, to what extent and with how many participants. It also takes stock: What content and formats have proved successful, and where should the concept be adapted? The start-up networks communicate particularly successful measures via the survey "Good practice measures for female founders". Furthermore, the funded institutions can make suggestions on how the EXIST-Women funding measure can be further developed after the end of the model phase.