EXIST Women
EUR 2,000 material budget per participant plus mentoring, workshops and coaching; some participants also get a stipend of up to 3 months (EUR 1,000 to 3,000/month by qualification, + EUR 150 per child), at the host's discretion. Provided by BMWE / Projektträger Jülich with participating universities and research institutions.
Key facts
- Amount
- EUR 2,000 material budget per participant plus mentoring, workshops and coaching; some participants also get a stipend of up to 3 months (EUR 1,000 to 3,000/month by qualification, + EUR 150 per child), at the host's discretion
- Duration
- up to 10 months
- Type
- Coaching
- Who receives it
- Individual founder
- Equity
- Equity-free
- Repayable
- No
- Stages
- Idea
- Solo founders
- Yes
- Full-time required
- No
- Company required
- No
- University link required
- Yes
- Application languages
- DE
Who can apply
- Women students (at least 50% of degree completed), graduates, researchers, staff of universities or research institutions, or women with a vocational qualification
- First founding idea, early stage is fine
- Apply through a participating university or research institution, not to EXIST directly
- No corporation (e.g. UG, GmbH) founded before the project starts; founding during the programme is allowed
- Not if you already had, or now have, another EXIST start-up grant or a state grant for innovative start-ups
- Stipend only for 3 months without income or with at most 20 h/week of paid work; not combinable with other living-cost funding
- Mandatory two-day in-person seminar in Berlin or Munich
What usually blocks applicants
- No connection to a participating institution
- Already founded a corporation
- Already received EXIST or a state founder grant
- Working more than 20 h/week (no stipend)
What the official documents say
- Material budget up to EUR 2,000 per founder (lump sum) (p. 4)
- Stipend for 3 months only if you earn nothing or work at most 20 h/week (p. 2)
- Stipend per month: EUR 1,000 student, 2,000 vocational, 2,500 graduate, 3,000 PhD; +EUR 150 per child (p. 3)
- No company (Kapitalgesellschaft) may exist at project start; founding during the project is allowed (p. 2)
- Not possible after another EXIST start-up grant or a state grant for innovative start-ups (p. 2)
- Institutions apply by 30 Sep each year, last time 30 Sep 2027; founders apply via the institution (p. 6)
Deadline and timing
Each participating institution sets its own call, often in the first quarter of the year. Institutions applied for the 2027 round by 30 Sep 2026; one more institution round closes 30 Sep 2027, the last under the current guideline. Founder calls for the 2027 cohort are expected from late 2026 / early 2027.
Frequently asked
How much does EXIST Women pay?
EUR 2,000 material budget per participant plus mentoring, workshops and coaching; some participants also get a stipend of up to 3 months (EUR 1,000 to 3,000/month by qualification, + EUR 150 per child), at the host's discretion
Who can apply for EXIST Women?
Women students (at least 50% of degree completed), graduates, researchers, staff of universities or research institutions, or women with a vocational qualification First founding idea, early stage is fine Apply through a participating university or research institution, not to EXIST directly No corporation (e.g. UG, GmbH) founded before the project starts; founding during the programme is allowed Not if you already had, or now have, another EXIST start-up grant or a state grant for innovative start-ups Stipend only for 3 months without income or with at most 20 h/week of paid work; not combinable with other living-cost funding Mandatory two-day in-person seminar in Berlin or Munich
When is the EXIST Women deadline?
Each participating institution sets its own call, often in the first quarter of the year. Institutions applied for the 2027 round by 30 Sep 2026; one more institution round closes 30 Sep 2027, the last under the current guideline. Founder calls for the 2027 cohort are expected from late 2026 / early 2027.
Where do I apply for EXIST Women?
On the official page: https://exist.de/programm/women/. Applications are accepted in DE.
Do I have to pay back EXIST Women or give up equity?
No, it does not have to be paid back. It takes no equity.
Can solo founders apply for EXIST Women?
Yes, solo founders can apply.
Sources and verification
Checked on 8 October 2026. Facts read directly from the official source. This page is orientation, not an eligibility decision.
More funding in Germany (nationwide)
- EXIST Business Start-up GrantPer person per month for 12 months: EUR 3,000 (PhD), 2,500 (graduates), 2,000 (vocational qualification), 1,000 (students); + EUR 150 per child; + materials up to EUR 10,000 (solo) or 30,000 (team); + EUR 5,000 coaching
- Start-up Subsidy (Gründungszuschuss)6 months: last ALG I amount + EUR 300/month for social insurance; then optionally 9 months EUR 300/month (separate application). Tax-free
- Entry Allowance for Self-Employment (Einstiegsgeld)Set case by case on top of Grundsicherungsgeld: base up to 50% of the standard rate (up to about EUR 281/month for a single person, 2026 rate EUR 563), plus 20% if unemployed 2+ years and 10% per extra household member; capped at the full standard rate. Alternatively a flat rate of up to 75% of the standard rate without supplements. Up to 24 months
- Founder Coaching via AVGS voucherReasonable costs of an approved coaching measure paid by the agency via the voucher; scope and hours set on the voucher
- Support for the Self-Employed (SGB II 16c)Usually a loan, grant only in individual cases (grants capped at EUR 5,000 per business; loans can be higher) for necessary business equipment; plus free coaching via third-party providers
- Prototype FundUp to EUR 47,500 (individual) or EUR 95,000 (team) for 6 months; optional 4-month Second Stage up to EUR 31,667 (individual) or about EUR 63,000 (team)