back to overview
Young entrepreneurs in science

1x a year

Entrepreneurship For Students Know How Transfer

about the program

The aim of this program is to open up new career and development perspectives for highly qualified scientists who want to become entrepreneurs before or soon after completing their doctorate. Applying both design thinking and interdisciplinary teamwork, participants are encouraged to discover their existing skills as well as their potential. What’s more, personal contact with start-up founders and intrapreneurs from innovation-oriented companies facilitates an up-close exploration of the opportunities and challenges of entrepreneurship.

In the process, entrepreneurial thinking does not begin with the business plan. Rather, the beginning is embedded in play: “How much start-up can you find in your dissertation?”

powered by

contact

Irina Reimer

Venture Director

irina@lifescience-factory.com
+49 175 7934152

learn more

Would you like to learn more about the initiators and the programme? Then take a look at the website!

to the website

back to overview
Wildcard Challenge

1x a year

Accelerator Entrepreneurship Networking Start-up Consulting

Let’s develop your idea together!

Do you have a sound idea for a start-up? Is your idea embedded in the field of life sciences (biotechnology, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, etc.)? Do you want to develop your idea with excellent coaches and get straightforward feedback?

Then you are a perfect contestant for our Accelerator Wildcard Challenge!

Together with our partners White IP and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), we’ll devote a day to input and feedback all about your idea. You will learn the Business Model Canvas and Roadmap approaches. We’ll work with you to develop a tailored roadmap for your upcoming challenges.

And the best part is: You may win a wildcard spot in the ELSA program!

Join us there and make the most of this opportunity! Will you be the next Life Science Unicorn? You’ll never know unless you try!

Goals and advantages of the Wildcard Challenge

What do we do at the Wildcard Challenge?

Evaluate your business idea
Create a business model canvas and a roadmap tailored to your idea
Evaluate the innovativeness, marketability, go-to-market options, regulatory aspects, and product security options for your idea
Offer input on investor meetings, as well as strategies for potential partnerships and understanding the customer base

What are your advantages?

You receive free coaching from selected life science experts
You are shown possible stumbling blocks at an early stage
You learn to better understand your potential customers and partners
You add valuable contacts to your personal network

Application procedure

Registration for the Wildcard Challenge is not open yet. If you are interested or have questions about the program, just fill out the contact form to get in touch with us. If you sign up for our newsletter, you will be informed as soon as registration for the Wildcard Challenge opens.

Request

Procedure of the Wildcard Challenge

09.30 to 10.00 AM: Warm-up

Status analysis based on the Business Model Canvas for idea/technology | market | IP | financing

10.00 AM – noon: Work session

Transfer from BMC to the roadmap
1:1 session between teams & coaches

Noon – 1.00 PM: Lunch break

1.00 – 4:00 PM: Work session

Transfer from BMC to the roadmap
1:1 session between teams & coaches

4.00 – 6.00 PM: Next steps

Determining the next steps from roadmap
1:1 session between teams & coaches

6:30 PM: Award ceremony & get-together

Information about the Wildcard Challenge will be published soon. Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed.

Jury 2022

Sebastian Mähler

Martin Stammann

Tatjana Kasper

Organizers of the Wildcard Challenge

High-Tech Gründerfonds

HTGF is a seed investor, seeking out and financing technology start-ups that have growth potential. With a volume of around €900 million spread across three funds and an international network of partners, HTGF has accompanied more than 650 start-ups since 2005. Their team of experienced investment managers and start-up experts supports the young companies with know-how, entrepreneurial spirit, and passion. The focus is on high-tech start-ups in the fields of digital tech, industrial tech, life sciences, chemistry, and related business areas. More than €4 billion in capital has been invested in the HTGF portfolio by external investors in more than 1,800 follow-on financing rounds to date. In addition, the fund has sold shares in more than 150 companies.

The fund investors in this public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, KfW Capital, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and 32 companies.

https://www.htgf.de/en/

white ip group

White IP Business Solutions GmbH is part of the White IP Group, alongside White IP Patent & Legal GmbH. They support pioneering companies with respect to both business management and legal matters in all aspects of innovation. From intellectual property rights (patents, trademarks, designs, etc.) to exploitation possibilities, strategies, and realization of business projects, their expertise is your advantage.

White IP can advise start-ups on their strategic orientation, protection and exploitation of their ideas, process design and even corporate transactions.

The White IP Group has a patent law firm and a management consulting company as legally independent entities, giving them the interdisciplinary expertise to partner with you in addressing questions concerning intellectual property rights and business management.

Patent law firm and management consultancy, Dresden | white ip (white-ip.com)

Life Science Factory

The goal of the Life Science Factory is to promote scientific progress in the life science sector and strengthen research and development of innovative technologies that have a clear application focus.

Since January 2022 we have been offering start-ups fully equipped laboratory space, including state-of-the-art equipment, in the Sartorius Quarter.

In its 3,300 m² meter facility, the new Life Science Factory is also home to innovative event and office spaces, as well as the Maker’s Factory.

Life Science Factory (lifescience-factory.com)

back to overview
life science valley

Accelerator Business Plan Entrepreneurship Funding Start-up Consulting

about the program

The Lower Saxony high-tech incubator for start-ups in the life sciences

The Lower Saxony Ministry of Economic Affairs is funding a number of high-tech incubators at various locations throughout the state with the objective of accelerating the establishment of new high-tech companies in Lower Saxony, supporting innovations, and ensuring the viability of the region into the future.

Life Science Valley’s founding partners

Life Science Valley GmbH was founded jointly by the University of Göttingen Medical School, Life Science Factory, and Sartorius in a collaborative effort combining excellent science & research, profound knowledge of start-up incubation and acceleration, and innovation-driving industry.

For more information on Life Science Valley, click here.

contact

Levke Johanna Deutsch

HTI Programme Management

Levke-Johanna.Deutsch@lifescience-valley.de
+49 1511 719 3023

back to overview
mentor match

Accelerator Entrepreneurship Know How Transfer Networking

charge-free Mentoring Program for Experience Exchange between Life Science Start-ups and Established Companies

In the business world, innovation and experience are equally crucial for long-term success. Our 1:1 mentoring program pairs start-ups from the Life Science Factory with experienced mentors from IHK-affiliated industrial companies to create win-win situations and provide tailored mentoring and reverse mentoring. We prioritize quality over quantity, thus, we follow a “matching as a service” approach, carefully selecting the right contacts for each other to ensure each partnership delivers the maximum benefit.

for Start-ups:

Free access to expertise and the network of experienced mentors
Support in overcoming challenges
Assistance with strategic decisions
Accelerated growth
Access to valuable knowledge and resources
Maximization of innovation potential
Improved market opportunities

for industry partner:

Gaining fresh perspectives and innovative ideas
Identifying future business partners
Early recognition of investment opportunities
Expanding industry knowledge

Our pilot program not only promotes the individual success of participants but also strengthens the entire Life Science ecosystem through the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and networks. Together, we aim to create a platform for sustainable growth and innovation.

Goals & Process

Trustful selection of “matches”

We place great importance on building trust between participants and careful selection of mentors and start-ups to ensure that both sides benefit optimally.

Structured framework for goal-oriented conversations

Our program offers a structured framework (Mentoring Canvas as a tool) that facilitates goal-oriented conversations and effective collaboration.

Breaking down barriers

We help to break down potential barriers and “hesitations” to foster open and productive communication between mentors and mentees.

Feedback and success measurement

Regular feedback is an integral part of our program to ensure continuous improvements and the success of the matching relationship.

Criteria for Participation

For Start-ups:

Member of the Life Science Factory Community
Willingness to participate actively and openness to feedback
Clear goals and expectations for the mentoring

For Mentors:

Member of the IHK Hannover
Extensive experience in the industry with a focus on relevant business areas (HR, finance, production, scaling, etc.)
Willingness to invest time and knowledge

Contact

Interested in being part of the Mentor Match Program? Contact us, and we will select a suitable contact for you!

Catalina Dirks

working student

Industrie- und Handelskammer Hannover
Geschäftsstelle Göttingen
Bürgerstr. 21, 37073 Göttingen

mentormatch@hannover.ihk.de
0551 70710-124

about IHK

The IHK Hannover serves and represents the interests of over 180,000 member companies in the counties Diepholz, Nienburg, Schaumburg, Hameln-Pyrmont, Hildesheim, Holzminden, Göttingen, Northeim, and the Hannover region. We are headquartered in Hannover, with six offices in the region. As a public-law corporation, we also perform numerous sovereign tasks, especially in vocational training.

The Göttingen office of the IHK Hannover is a regional contact for economy, politics, administration, and media in the counties of Göttingen and Northeim. It represents the interests of member companies locally and offers various services.

More about IHK Hannover

about the Life Science Factory

Initiated by the life science corporation Sartorius, the Life Science Factory promotes scientific advancement and company foundations in the life science area. The goal is to strengthen research and development of innovative technologies with a clear application focus and provide scientists space to take their first steps outside academic institutions.

Since 2022, the Life Science Factory in the Göttingen Sartorius Quarter offers state-of-the-art and fully equipped laboratory spaces, coworking spaces, multi-use event areas, and a prototyping workshop. Regular event, consultation, and workshop offers are an essential part of the Life Science Factory’s services. From the end of 2024, there will be an additional location in Munich in cooperation with Helmholtz Munich.