Empowering female founders, strengthening diversity, and highlighting potential—that is the core mission of the program. EXIST-Women is a annual federal funding and support initiative delivered by KIT FORGE at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Financed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), the program supports female students, graduates, researchers, and scientific staff with a connection to KIT who want to develop a startup concept or explore entrepreneurship.
A fully developed business idea is not required upon application; the program focuses on motivation, innovation potential, and leadership development across all academic disciplines—from DeepTech to Social Innovation.
Program modules & support framework
- Financial grant support: Monthly stipend of up to €3,000 per participant (based on qualification level) alongside a one-time budget of €2,000 for material expenses, prototyping, and coaching.
- Kick-off & strategic visioning: Official program launch focusing on milestone alignment, program navigation, and personalized action roadmaps to guide participants across the annual funding period.
- Qualification & skill building: Structured workshops covering ideation, prototype development, market analysis, business modeling, and personal growth.
- 1-on-1 coaching & female mentorship: Tailored individual coaching sessions combined with direct access to an exclusive network of experienced female founders, executives, and academic mentors.
Our experts support you
Have questions or interested? Get in touch!
Ready to build
what’s next?
Whether you have a vague idea, a breakthrough research paper, or an active startup – let’s talk.