Discover. Join. Make an Impact.

Over 32 hours, interdisciplinary teams tackle a real industry challenge and turn a first idea into a working prototype. You'll build something you can actually show, with mentors on hand whenever you get stuck, and pitch it to decision-makers at the end.

Think you can solve a real business challenge at Picnic?

Picnic is an app-based online supermarket without physical stores, delivering groceries straight to customers’ doors with small electric vans.

What to expect:
💼 A real business case straight from Picnic's day-to-day
🎙️ The chance to pitch your solution and get direct feedback from the team
🔍 Insights into careers at Picnic
🥂 Dinner and networking to wrap up the day

Hosted by LAUNCH Darmstadt and LAUNCH Rhein-Main in collaboration with Picnic.

Two-day bootcamp where researchers test their research against real market needs and build a first business model — with feedback from industry, founders and peers.

The LAUNCH x Sparkasse Frankfurt event is a central networking platform for participants of the current Winter Batch. The event focuses on informal exchange between startups, industry experts, and Sparkasse partners. Its aim is to foster valuable connections, share experiences, and create synergies for further business development in a relaxed atmosphere.

Very early-stage founders pitch their startup ideas (1–2 minutes) and receive structured, honest feedback from the group and coach. The session combines practical input on user research and validation with live idea challenges, helping participants test assumptions, refine their concept, and define clear next steps before building.

Join Nucleate Germany × LAB³ e.V. for a 24-hour hackathon bringing together students, researchers, coders, and aspiring founders to tackle real-world biotech challenges!

💡 What to expect?
* Tackle exciting biotech challenges in interdisciplinary teams
* Receive expert mentoring and connect with the biotech ecosystem
* Pitch your solutions and win prizes!
* Enjoy free food and receive participation certificates!

The foundersXchange is organized by HIGHEST, ATHENE Digital Hub Cybersecurity, hessian.AI, HUB31, cesah and YUBIZZ, the startup initiative of h_da.

Focused onsite/online masterclasses on startup topics such as growth, business, tech, and fundraising.

Three personal stories about building, setbacks and the decisions in between, from Volocopter, Knärzje and EintrachtTech. Honest talks, open Q&A, open to the whole ecosystem.

GeneNovate® is entering its next round in the
Rhine-Main region!
The nationwide GeneNovate® Entrepreneurship Program
supports researchers and medical professionals working in gene and cell
therapy, biotech, and life sciences. The program’s aim is to support researchers
in turning scientific ideas into real-world impact, from exploring potential
applications to taking first steps toward translation and spin-off creation.
From January to June 2027, participants can look
forward to:
🚀 Workshops
on entrepreneurship and startup development

💡
Topics such as business models, IP, financing, regulatory affairs, and
go-to-market strategies

🤝
Individual mentoring and coaching

🌐
Access to a nationwide network of researchers, startups, industry experts, and
investors

🎤
Opportunities to develop, refine, and pitch their own ideas
The program is open to advanced students, doctoral
candidates, postdocs, experienced researchers, and medical professionals. And
you don’t need to have a fully developed startup idea to apply.
📍 The
Rhine-Main region, including Mainz and Frankfurt, is once again part of the
program.

💰
Participation is free of charge.

📅
Application deadline: November 13, 2026
👉
Apply here: GeneNovate® 2027
#GeneNovate #Entrepreneurship #LifeSciences #Biotech
#Innovation #ResearchTransfer #Startup #SpinOff #Research #RhineMain

GeneNovate® is the first nationwide entrepreneurship program in Germany, designed to empower innovators and entrepreneurs in the field of Gene and Cell Therapies, Biotech, Medicine, Health and Life Science. The program is currently taking place at 10 locations in Germany.

The program tagets early-career scientists and physicians such as advanced students, PhD candidates and Postdocs, but it is also open to experienced researchers and medical professionals. A key strength of the program lies in its collaborative approach, connecting participants across multiple locations.

The workshop language is english.

The workshops will take place on the campus of Mainz University.

Two-day bootcamp where researchers test their research against real market needs and build a first business model — with feedback from industry, founders and peers.

LAUNCH offers ambitious and creative people the opportunity to lay the foundation for their own startup. Through our hands-on workshops and the support of experienced mentors, we guide you step by step from the idea to a successful company. Targeted networking and suitable infrastructure provide a platform where you can develop your startup in a focused way. The final Demo Day gives you the opportunity to present your startup to a jury and an audience of investors and to win attractive prizes.