Open Innovation Cycle by Starthaus

The Open Innovation Cycle reduces the uncertainty and risk of your start-up!

The programme starts for you in the idea phase and accompanies you over three months until the pre- or seed phase.  The Open Innovation Cycle provides you with start-up-relevant skills, such as state-of-the-art start-up methods, and mentors to develop your project You learn to form the crucial hypotheses and how to test them.  You gain the know-how to develop your start-up quickly and with minimum resources. During the programme, we put you in touch with industry experts who will discuss your project with you.

At the end of the cycle, you have an initial vision for your company, a first marketable business model and have developed a minimum viable product.  We put you in touch with experts who give you valuable feedback and contacts for your progress. Perhaps we can work with you to find your first investors.  The skills that you learn make you well-prepared to continue your start-up journey and give you the tools you need for a digital, scalable project.

We can also help you prepare to take part in an incubator, accelerator (e.g. ESA BIC) or the Starthaus coaching programme. Similarly, we support you, for example, in preparing the content of your project for EXIST funding. You will receive the EXIST application with corresponding advice from our co-operation partner BRIDGE.

The Open Innovation Cycle reduces the uncertainty and risk involved in expanding your business model!

The Open Innovation Cycle provides you with state-of-the-art start-up methods as well as experts and mentors to further develop your business model. We work with you to check the validity of your business model and then derive the necessary next steps.

You gain the know-how to develop your business model quickly and with minimum resources. During the programme, we put you in touch with industry experts who will discuss your project with you.

Depending on your starting point and objectives, you complete the Open Innovation Cycle after 3 months with a marketable, investor-ready business model or MVP. At the end, you can present your project to a panel of experts who provide valuable feedback and contacts for your progress. Perhaps we can work with you to find your first investors. The skills you have learned facilitate a structured approach to continuing your project and give you the tools you need for expanding your digital, scalable project.

Within 12 weeks, you develop your project or existing business model together with up to four other start-up teams (using the SCRUM method). You not only benefit from the know-how, the network and possible resources of the other teams, but you also receive individual support in various 1:1 coaching sessions on a weekly basis.

Step 1: One-day incubator

Participation in the Open Innovation Cycle begins with the one-day incubator - currently two exclusive half-day workshops - as a kick-off. Depending on your situation, we take a closer look at your vision, strategy, elevator pitch and business model. We work with you to define the starting point and goal of the cycle and determine the resources you need.

Step 2: SCRUM training

We continue with the SCRUM training. In another half-day workshop, we introduce you to agile start-up methods and you learn how to apply them to your project.

Step 3: Start the Open Innovation Cycle

Now you are prepared to participate in the Open Innovation Cycle for the next 12 weeks.  Every three weeks you meet with up to four other start-ups and the coaches. Your activities focus on agile work planning, with support from experienced coaches. You share ideas in your start-up cycle and thus learn from each other and find the best approach for your success. Open sharing in the group should enable you to make use of mutual synergies, while revealing new perspectives on your own approach.

Step 4: Mid-term pitch

You can expect a mid-term pitch in the middle of the cycle. In this closed-shop format, you will receive exclusive feedback from experts invited specifically for you. Building on this knowledge and these contacts, you can continue to work in a targeted manner.

Step 5: Final pitch

At the end, we address your specific needs by putting you in touch with potential pilot customers, mentors, investors or future employees. In doing so, we want to facilitate the smoothest possible transition from incubation to acceleration of your idea.

• Reducing the uncertainty and risk in founding a company
• All coaches were start-ups once
• Swift validation and further development of business idea and model via MVP design
• Ensuring customer-centric development through involvement of industry experts
• Learning and cultivating lean start-up and agile methods in day-to-day business
• Being part of a group, motivating each other, celebrating successes and dealing with setbacks together
• Optional mutual sharing of network contacts and resources
• Procurement of interested parties for pilot projects
• Preparation for meetings with investors

Participation is open to anyone who...

• is willing to be transparent when addressing their idea or existing business model and their own approach in the group,
• strives for a digital or scalable business model,
• and has the time to take part in the joint spring change every 3 weeks (Fridays).

To apply for the Open Innovation Cycle, all you need to do is to send your pitch or Business Model Canvas and your CV to our Starthaus staff. Look here for more detailed information (in German).