Scholarships
Gründungsstipendium.NRW
More freedom for your innovative startup: the Gründungsstipendium.NRW gives you a scholarship for up to twelve months. As an accredited startup network, we support you from your application to the end of your funding.
- €1,200 per month and person
- up to 12 months of funding
- up to 3 founders per team
- +€3,600 per person for mixed-gender founding teams
Is this for you?
- Innovative business idea: a new product, process or service with clear customer value
- Not yet founded: your company does not exist yet when you apply
- Living in NRW: primary residence in North Rhine-Westphalia, at least 18 years old
- Full-time: you work on your idea full-time, a side job of up to 15 hours per week is allowed
- Based in NRW: your company will be located in North Rhine-Westphalia
You can find all funding requirements and exclusion criteria in the FAQ of Projektträger Jülich (German only).
Upcoming dates
Application deadline: 1 November 2026
Jury session: 18 November 2026
We will publish the dates for 2027 here as soon as they are confirmed.
Our partners offer further jury sessions:
GründerRegion Aachen
Co:Space Düren
Important: You can submit your idea paper to one network only.
Upcoming dates
- Submit your idea paper: Fill in the current template of Projektträger Jülich and submit it via our application form by the deadline.
- Pitch training: We invite you to a pitch training and prepare you for the jury.
- Pitch to the jury: 5 minutes of presentation, followed by 5 minutes of questions.
- Application to Projektträger Jülich: With the jury’s recommendation, within two months and before founding your company.
- Funding and founding: Up to twelve months of scholarship, supported by your coach. You found your company during the funding period.
Downloads and Links
Jury session and funding decision
Our expert jury decides on the funding recommendation. Our jurors have many years of experience in startup support, universities, investment and business. Three to six members take part in each jury session.
- Prof. Dr. Constanze Chwallek, Professor of Entrepreneurship, FH Aachen
- Rolf Geisen, Alabon Business Development GmbH
- Bettina Olf, Scholz & Friends Commerce
- Andrea Greven, RWTH Innovation
- Sven Pietsch, Innoloft GmbH
- Wibke Mattay, Collective Incubator
- Dr. Ansgar Schleicher, TechVision Fonds
- Iris Wilhelmi, digitalHUB Aachen
In the jury session, you have five minutes to present your idea in a pitch. The jury then asks you questions about your idea and business concept for five minutes. We will let you know the result shortly afterwards.
With a funding recommendation, you submit your application online to Projektträger Jülich within two months of the jury session and before founding your company. Projektträger Jülich then makes the final funding decision.
Questions about your application? Write to us at gruendungsstipendium@hubaachen.de.
