Female Founders
Network
DeepTechHub connects, inspires, and supports women across the region as they explore entrepreneurship, develop ideas, and take bold steps on their founder journey.
👩🏼🔧🧕🏼👩🏽🔬👩🏻🎓 Our mission: Empowering women in entrepreneurship.
The Female Founders Network connects women from Karlsruhe, Mannheim, Heidelberg, Heilbronn and Pforzheim who are interested in entrepreneurship or already exploring first startup ideas. It brings together female students, researchers, graduates, experts and early-stage founders to exchange knowledge, build confidence and strengthen female representation in the regional innovation ecosystem.
Through events, workshops, mentoring opportunities and community activities across the five cities, the network creates visibility for female-led innovation and provides a supportive environment for women to develop their entrepreneurial potential – regardless of discipline or background.
Female Founders Brunch
Connect with other founders, mentors and coaches in a relaxed setting for great conversations. The open format switches between cities.
WhatsApp Group
The fastest way to connect with each other, get news on events and stay up to date. Join now.
Working together with exist Women
exist Women serves as a strategic anchor within the DeepTechHub, enabling us to strengthen regional collaboration, align activities across hubs and make better use of shared resources and expertise. While the program provides structure, funding opportunities and a clear annual rhythm, the overarching goal of the DeepTechHub is broader:
🫱🏻🫲🏽 To build, expand and empower a strong Female Founders community across the entire region.
Although each hub can support only around ten women per year through the official exist Women funding, our mission goes far beyond these limited program capacities. We actively design our offers, events and formats to support all female founders and aspiring founders in the region, whether they are part of exist Women or not. This ensures that women who cannot access the formal funding still benefit from the network, knowledge exchange and community support we are building.
To strengthen cross-hub collaboration, we work closely together within the framework of exist Women and have integrated several shared milestone events into the DTH journey: Kick-Off, Retreat, Closing Event and Founders Forum. These milestones are core program elements for exist Women, but — wherever possible — we open them to all interested female founders. The Kick-Off, Retreat and Closing Event are female-only formats designed to create a safe and focused space. The Founders Forum, however, opens to the wider public in order to increase visibility, connect with the broader ecosystem and showcase the strength of our Female Founders Network.
Beyond these milestones, each hub offers additional workshops, networking events and learning opportunities that are also open to all women interested in entrepreneurship. In this way, exist Women is not the end point but the foundation: a catalyst for deeper regional cooperation and a shared vision.
Kick-Off
Your Starting Point for Connection, Clarity & Inspiration (half-day workshop)
The Kick-Off marks the beginning of your exist Women experience in the DeepTechHub region. In an open and empowering atmosphere, participants from all five cities meet for the first time, introduce their ideas, and gain an overview of what the upcoming months will look like.
The event builds the foundation for a supportive community. We clarify organizational details, discuss funding opportunities, share the program structure, and create space to connect on a personal level. You leave with first meaningful contacts, a clear orientation, and the motivation to shape your own path throughout the program.
The Kick-Off will take place in March in Karlsruhe. More info →
Retreat
Your Space for Reflection, Empowerment & Community (one-and-a-half-day workshop)
The Retreat is one highlight of the year: two full days dedicated to connection, creativity, and personal growth. Women from across the DeepTechHub region come together to share experiences, explore personal development tools, and learn from inspiring female founders.
A diverse program awaits: workshops, world café discussions, improvisational theatre, storytelling sessions, yoga, and open exchange spaces for real conversations and peer learning. The event strengthens your entrepreneurial mindset, broadens your perspectives, and connects you with a regional network that supports and uplifts you. You leave with new energy, deepened relationships, and the confidence to take your next steps toward founding.
The Retreat will take place in May in Heilbronn. More info →
Closing Event
Reflect on Your Journey & Celebrate What You’ve Built
(half-day workshop)
The Closing Event brings exist Women participants and fellow female founders together to look back on their journey, exchange insights, and draw strength from the community.
A dedicated workshop provides a safe and empowering space to discuss challenges, learnings, and strategies for the path ahead. In the afternoon, the event opens into the public Founders Forum, where participants meet founders, investors, supporters, and the broader startup ecosystem.
With inspiring conversations and the traditional community gathering later in the day, the Closing Event marks both a meaningful conclusion and the beginning of your next chapter as a founder.
The Closing Event will take place in November in Mannheim. More info →
Founders Forum
Celebrate Female Innovation & Shape the Future Together
(half-day public event)
The Founders Forum shares your work with the public and creates a space where founders, researchers, investors, partners, and curious minds come together to make female innovation visible.
The event features inspiring founder stories, opportunities to meet female-led teams at the Gallery Walk, and insights into programs and initiatives supporting women in entrepreneurship. You’ll explore potential collaborations and strengthen your network across the ecosystem.
The day concludes with a community meetup, creating the perfect atmosphere to continue networking and celebrate the diversity of the regional startup scene.
The Founders Forum will follow the Closing Event. More info →
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. How does exist Women work within the DeepTechHub region?
exist Women serves as the structural foundation for our regional collaboration. While each hub runs its own program, we work closely across the five DeepTechHub locations to align activities, share resources and create joint events. This cross-hub cooperation ensures that all participants benefit from a stronger network, more diverse perspectives and a richer set of opportunities.For general exist Women program details, please refer to the PTJ FAQ
2. What does regional collaboration in the DeepTechHub mean for me as a participant?
It means you are not limited to the offers of your home hub. You can:
- join milestone events of the entire DeepTechHub region
- participate in workshops, talks and networking events across all five hubs
- meet founders and experts from different cities
- build a broader, stronger network
- exchange knowledge and support across institutional boundaries
The idea: one region, one connected Female Founders community.
3. Which milestone events are part of the DTH exist Women Journey?
The following key events are shared across all five hubs: Kick-Off, Retreat, Closing Event and Founders Forum. They bring together all exist Women from Karlsruhe, Mannheim, Heidelberg, Heilbronn and Pforzheim. Whenever possible, they are opened to additional female founders from the region.
4. Can I attend events even if I’m not part of exist Women?
Yes – in most cases. Our vision goes beyond exist Women: we aim to build a strong, inclusive Female Founders Network in the entire DeepTechHub region. That means:
- Most workshops, talks and networking events are open to all women interested in entrepreneurship.
- The Kick-Off, Retreat and Closing Event are female-only formats for a safe and focused learning environment.
- The Founders Forum is open to the wider public to increase visibility and ecosystem exchange.
- If capacities allow, non-exist Woman participants may join Retreat, Closing Event or the Forum as well.
5. What happens at the milestone events?
Each event has a different purpose, but all aim to support your journey as an aspiring entrepreneur.
Kick-Off: Orientation, program overview, idea introductions, first networking
Retreat: 1.5 days of workshops, peer learning, founder stories, creative formats and personal development
Closing Event: Reflection, strategy exchange, learnings and preparing the next steps
Founders Forum: Public visibility, founder stories, Gallery Walk, ecosystem networking
Across all milestones, the focus is on learning, connection and community building.
6. Do the events have a strong networking component?
Absolutely. Networking is a core pillar of our work. We intentionally design our events to help you:
- meet other women from the region
- build long-term relationships
- find collaboration partners
- access knowledge and support
- become part of a growing Female Founders ecosystem
7. What is meant by “safe space”?
We intentionally create environments where women can share openly, ask questions freely and explore their entrepreneurial path without pressure. This includes:
- female-only rooms for selected events
- respectful and supportive interaction
- no idea is “too early” or “not ready”
- confidentiality and trust
- space to talk about challenges as well as successes
8. Do I need a startup idea to join DeepTechHub activities?
No. Many offers are open to all women curious about entrepreneurship – including those exploring interests, searching for ideas or simply wanting to connect. Only the exist Women funding program requires a more formal application process.
9. What if I want to join the network but didn’t receive an exist Women spot?
You are absolutely welcome. Because we only have limited funded places per hub, our regional activities are intentionally designed to include and support all female founders and aspiring founders – regardless of program participation. Workshops, community events, networking formats and many milestone events remain open to you whenever capacities allow.
10. Can I participate in multiple hubs‘ events?
Yes. As part of the DeepTechHub collaboration, you can join activities across Karlsruhe, Mannheim, Heidelberg, Heilbronn and Pforzheim. This helps you broaden your network and gain exposure to different perspectives and ecosystems.
11. Where can I find more information about exist Women itself?
Official program FAQs and details can be found here.
12. How do I apply for exist Women?
Application procedures differ between hubs. Each institution manages its own selection process, timelines and requirements. Please check the website of your local DeepTechHub partner (e.g. your university or startup hub) for detailed information on how to apply.
13. Do I get a mentor or coach as part of the program?
Every exist Women participant is paired with a mentor and supported by a coach throughout the program. This personalised guidance helps participants develop their ideas, navigate challenges and shape their entrepreneurial journey. If you are not part of exist Women, you are still welcome in our Female Founders Network. While mentoring and coaching capacities are limited, we do our best to support you through:
- open workshops
- networking events
- community activities
- connections within the regional ecosystem
Become a Mentor
Are you a founder with experience, industry knowledge or several years on your entrepreneurial journey? Do you want to empower other women, share your insights and act as a role model for aspiring founders in our region?
⭐ We are always looking for committed mentors who want to support female founders in the DeepTechHub community.
What does being a mentor mean?
As a mentor, you accompany an exist Women participant throughout her journey. This includes:
- regular check-ins and open conversations
- sharing your experiences, learnings and network
- supporting her through challenges and decision-making
- offering guidance while letting her find her own path
Every project is different and every mentorship is unique. We encourage you to shape the relationship in a way that works best for both of you. What matters most is your willingness to engage, support and contribute to our community and a stronger Female Founders Network.
📩 If you’re interested, just reach out. We’d love to get to know you in an informal, no-obligation first conversation and explore how you could contribute to the Female Founders Network.
What is exist Women?
exist Women is a nationwide funding program initiated by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) to increase the number of female founders and strengthen diversity within the startup landscape. More than 100 universities and research institutions across Germany participate in the program. The initiative supports women who are interested in entrepreneurship: students (with at least half of their studies completed), graduates, researchers, and women with vocational qualifications. A concrete startup idea is not required at the time of application; instead, motivation, creativity and innovative potential are key selection criteria.
All-year-qualification program
including training on personal development, ideation, prototyping, validation, business model development, market analysis, and networking.
Events and workshops offered by participating institutions and partner universities
Individual consultations and access to expert knowledge
Financial support:
Optional stipend of 1.000€ – 3.000€/month (depending on personal profile)
Additional 2.000€ for material expenses such as travel, coaching, or training
Compatibility with other funding programs depends on specific conditions
Cannot be combined with other stipends or income used for covering living costs (e.g. exist start-up grant)
How to apply for exist Women
The application process for exist Women is managed individually by each DeepTechHub partner. Application periods, requirements and timelines differ by hub. Please check the website of your local university or startup hub for the specific dates and details.
IMPORTANT: The exist Women program runs until the end of each calendar year. Application windows typically open well in advance — so make sure to check early.