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Program & Events

Our tasks include: raising awareness, qualifying, motivating and networking. Whether you have an innovative idea and want to follow-up on it or you are going to take over your family’s business – we provide key information in regular events and give you the opportunity to present your ideas and get to know other founders and regional partners.

Our programs and events are offered in German and English, depending on the interest of international students.

Programs

Our programs build on each other and are intended for all people who are interested in founding a company, with or without a specific business idea.

Lecture Series:
From Business Idea to Business Start-up

This lecture series takes place every week and is open for all those interested in setting up their own business – with or without a specific idea. For 90 minutes, experts and lecturers discuss topics that are relevant for start-up entrepreneurs.  The lectures are intended for students with a general interest in the topic. External guests and founders are always welcome

All participants who have attended 15 or more of the lectures will receive a certificate of attendance.  

Next lectures:

  • 19.04.2023: Building your own brand: How do I position myself online?
    Anne Schubert (Google Zukunftswerkstatt)
  • 05.04.2023: If you can bake a cake, you can build a marketing strategy
    Alise Munson (Head of Marketing/Communication) Alessandra Schumann (Community Marketing)

Drink Innovation Challenge 2023

The success of the first DIC in 2022 has made us thirsty for more. That’s why we’re looking for you and your idea for the 2023 beverage. Together with the experts in beverage research and sustainability and the support of major industry partners, there’s once again an opportunity to make your idea a reality.

What does it look like? Are you already tingling with thoughts of an unprecedented non-alcoholic beverage that also thinks about the environment or pays attention to other sustainability goals? A drink that should definitely be bottled and discovered by thirsty people? Here’s your chance.

Together with experts in beverage research and sustainability, the Gründungsfabrik Rheingau, a joint project of Geisenheim University of Applied Sciences and EBS University, invited students, staff and alumni of both universities to take part in the “Drink Innovation Challenge 2022” (DIC) ideas competition. Under the motto “Your Drink comes true”, innovative, sustainable and alcohol-free beverage innovations were sought … and found.

On 14 June, the winners were chosen in the final pitch event. Here is the story …

Founder Programs: From Business Idea to Business Plan

In this intensive, hands-on workshop for founders we use latest coaching methods to help you turn your idea into reality with a validated business model. During three weekends over a period of three months, you will gain practical insights into the following topics:

  • Target group approach
  • pricing
  • financial forecasting
  • pitch strategy

Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to pitch your idea in front of a professional jury and receive individual feedback.

After the workshop you will have:

  • Access to a network of various mentors, coaches, business angels, investors, bankers, suitable incubators and accelerators,
  •  expert contacts from various fields of science and business,
  •  different perspectives on your business idea 
  • a sophisticated 3-year financial plan, suitable for banks and other investors
  • defined milestones for the next steps.

The workshop is free of charge for students, alumni and employees of Hochschule Geisenheim University and EBS University.

We want to make sure that this is the right program for the current state of your idea. Therefore, we ask you in advance for a digital interview to learn more about your motivation and commitment. During the interview, we want to know:

What is your business idea?

Why are you your own best customer?

Why do you want to participate in this workshop?

Register for the calendar

Cellar Master - The Intrapreneurship Program

In this program, participants learn about the role of the “intrapreneur”, who aim to convince the leading managers of a company with ideas or a new business model. The course provides participants with both the conceptual foundations and practical experience in managing intrapreneurship projects. The course takes place in close cooperation with regional and national partners and includes challenging practical projects which are elaborated by students in cross-university teams over a period of about two months. The questions that will be addressed in the projects are defined together with the corporate partners and focus on the following subjects: market analysis, generating ideas, open innovation, strategy development, corporate innovation or business model development. Current challenges faced by the companies will be in the center of the event.

Events

Our wide range of events includes various kinds of sessions, from inspiring networking to start-up competitions in front of a jury. All of our events are offered free of charge for all founders and those interested in founding.

 

Gründungsfabrik Brunch: from founder to founder!

Have you already set up your own business and would like to share your experience it with other founders? Or are you looking for advice from experienced founders? Then the GründungsfabrikBrunch provides the perfect setting. Every three months we come together in a relaxed atmosphere at the Gründungsfabrik Rheingau and discuss a new topic.

Rheingau Founder Award (“Rheingauer Gründungspreis”)

In cooperation with the Rheingauer Volksbank as well as regional partners, we are organizing the Rheingau Start-up Award again this year with the aim of setting up the region in a sustainable and future-oriented manner as well as promoting innovative ideas.

More than 20 teams have applied for the final on November 28th in the “Neues Forum” of the EBS University in Oestrich-Winkel. If you would like to be there when the winners are chosen, we would be pleased to receive your registration.

Contact

You want to become part of our community or have further questions? We are looking forward to your message!

WHERE: Winkeler Straße 100b, 65366 Geisenheim

WHEN: from 9am, Monday – Friday

PHONE: 0672 24024052

MAIL: hallo@gf-rheingau.de