You're a start-up that has a validated tech-based business idea in the early-stage phase and needs support in developing your venture?

Our Venture Creator program connects you with experts and coaches from the start-up ecosystem who will guide you on your journey and help you refine your idea.

Plus, if you're missing a key team member, we can help you find them! Our program offers the opportunity to connect with talented individuals who could become your team members!

What We Offer:

  • Matchmaking Events: Connect with passionate people who want to connect with early-stage start-ups and become team members.
  • Experienced Coaches and Mentors Network: Benefit from our professional coaches' guidance and support throughout the venture creation process and from our mentors' network.
  • Resources: Access to our office space, lab space, MakerSpace workshop, prototyping grants, and further funding opportunities to accelerate your growth.

Why Join?

  • Create an agile business model: Develop a dynamic strategy that adapts to market needs, keeping you ahead of the competition.
  • Build your first MVP: Generate a minimum viable product (MVP) in hardware and software to validate your offering.
  • Develop your entrepreneurial core team: Cultivate a team with the right mindset and leadership skills to achieve your goals.
  • Assess your market opportunities: Identify your target market and find the perfect niche to launch your venture.
  • Enhance your pitch deck: Craft an outstanding pitch deck and optimize your pitching skills to attract investors and customers.
  • Focus on customer-centric approach: Understand your customers' needs to create a compelling value proposition that stands out

Who Should Apply?
 

You, if you are a start-up which

  • is in the early founding stage
  • has a tech-based business idea
  • wants to achieve a problem-solution-fit
  • needs to understand its customers
  • looks for further member for its core team
  • aims to define a roadmap for its business

Please note: This program is not suitable for Solopreneurs! Our general entry criteria for start-ups at XPLORE require that you have a founding team of at least two people working on the venture.

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This Program is for You if You Are Like...

 

Team Linq

Linq joined XPLORE Venture Creator to bring scalable photonic technologies for quantum computing closer to market. Founders Julian and Julius are developing integrated photonic circuits (PICs) for neutral atom quantum systems, helping move the field from complex lab setups to compact, manufacturable solutions.

Coming from a strong research background, the team wanted to sharpen their business model, find the right co-founder for commercialization, and tap into UnternehmerTUM’s deep-tech network. Through XPLORE Venture Creators' matchmaking process, they met Jade Robinson, and found the perfect fit.

Now the team is refining their business model, validating use cases, and preparing for their first funding round. “XPLORE gave us the structure and network we needed to go from research to real-world impact” says Rasmus.

What does your journey look like?

Commitment and Schedule:

The XPLORE Venture Creator Program is an intensive and rewarding experience, requiring a commitment of 15-20 hours per week. This includes:

  • 9 hours of live training sessions with top-tier experts and coaches.

  • 2-3 hours of preparatory work to ensure you're ready for each session.

  • 1:1 coaching and team follow-ups to provide personalized guidance.


Our well-structured schedule ensures that you can balance your participation with your studies, work, and personal life. Most sessions are held online in the late afternoon, making it convenient for you to attend. However, at least one team member must attend the in-person sessions in Munich.

Program Phases

  1. Pre-Bootcamp Phase: Team members can rotate attendance as needed, ensuring that all information is aligned and shared among the team.

  2. Bootcamp Phase: Full participation from all team members is required. This is the core phase where we delve deep into advancing your venture with the support of experts and coaches.

  3. Validation Phase: Continued team rotation is possible, maintaining team coherence.


This program is designed for dedicated and committed teams ready to embrace the exchange with experienced founders and experts. Please ensure you are prepared to meet the time commitment to gain the most from the program.

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Application step by step

 

Our application process is designed not only to help us assess your start-up but also to give you an opportunity to self-assess and establish a baseline of requirements.

Use this timeframe to structure your ideas, iterate, and even conduct additional research and validation before submitting.

Before starting your application, review the entire form to understand what is required. This will help you gather all necessary information and documents in advance. Have your and your team’s contact information ready, including LinkedIn profiles and email addresses.We recommend drafting your responses to the open-text questions in a separate document. This allows you to iterate, refine, and ensure your answers are comprehensive. Once ready, you can easily copy and paste them into the application form.

 

  • No Save Progress: You cannot save your progress, so make sure to gather all necessary information before starting the form.

  • Submission: Ensure your application is complete and submitted before the deadline.

  • Deadline: July 15, 2025, 12:00 pm

 

1. Introductory Video

Your video should be concise yet comprehensive, ideally lasting 90 seconds but not exceeding 180 seconds. Ensure that it includes the following elements from our video checklist.

2. Pitch Deck

Your pitch deck should comprehensively cover all aspects of your start-up. Please download and use our Pitch Checklist to ensure you include all necessary information.

3. OnePager

Your OnePager should briefly describe your idea, value proposition, market, and team members. Use the attached template, rename the file with your start-up name, and upload it as a PDF.

4. Fill in the form!

Application for Start-ups teams

Have Questions?
 

Our team is here to help! If you need assistance during the application process, contact us at xplore.venturecreator@unternehmertum.de.

Lisa questions