Women in Entrepreneurship Online Program 2025
DWIH is launching a hybrid innovation program for German students or researchers who are women. Offered in cooperation with GUILD Academy, this program is a combination of online and in-person learning experiences designed for women researchers to improve their business and presentation skills.
The online program spans eight weeks, from May 6, 2025 to June 24, 2025. The in-person component will be from September 1-5, 2025. It is designed to be conducted online, employing asynchronous learning modules comprising video content and practical exercises. We will hold an info session on March 8, 2025 at 8:00 Pacific Time/17:00 German time. Click here for the slides of the virtual info session we held last year regarding the program.
Questions? Contact info.sanfrancisco@dwih.org.
Applications are open until 100 slots are filled:
Join this program to take action together with a community of diverse entrepreneurs. Validate your idea and get a crash course in all things entrepreneurship to launch and fund your business. Participants will have the opportunity to refine their ideas within the first 8 weeks of the program and submit their proposal to get the opportunity to be selected to be one of 10 participants who receive an invite to the sponsored one-week program to present to investors and startup leaders and deepen their understanding of the opportunities.
This visit catalyzes the exchange of ideas and knowledge between the participants and successful women entrepreneurs who transitioned from scientific backgrounds to lead innovative tech companies and startups and build their transatlantic network. Participants will have lifelong access to the GUILD network.
Program Objectives:
- Cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among women in scientific research roles.
- Equip participants with the skills and resources to effectively commercialize their scientific ideas.
- Facilitate an exchange of ideas and knowledge between the German and US innovation ecosystems.
- Provide exposure to successful female entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and beyond.
Program Components:
Online Learning (8 Weeks): May 6 – June 24, 2025
- Asynchronous modules featuring video content, a resource library, and exercises.
- Weekly 2-hour video sessions for interaction, speaker Q&A, and guidance.
- Continuous support during the program for questions and mentoring.
- Submission process management and review at the end of the program for sponsorships for the 1-week visit
- Open for up to 100 participants
Bay Area Visit (only for ten finalists): September 1-5, 2025
- 1-week visit to Silicon Valley.
- Programming for each day incl. workshops, challenges, guest speakers, company visits and dinners, and logistical coordination.
- Networking opportunities with successful female entrepreneurs.
- Engaging with tech companies and startups led by women with scientific backgrounds.
- Time to work on challenges and network with contacts identified before the visit.
- Open for up to 10 participants.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must have an affiliation with a German university or research institution (Universität, Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften – HAW or staatliche Forschungseinrichtung).
- German citizenship is not required.
Budget and Cost:
There is a non-refundable EUR 50 application fee. DWIH is covering the full tuition of the GUILD Program (a $2000 value) and we want to encourage participants to take full advantage of this opportunity. If selected for the in-person experience, participants or their universities should plan to pay for:
- Travel Expenses: Participants will be responsible for their own flight costs ($1000-$1500) and visas (if necessary).
- Ground transportation to and from the airport.
- Miscellaneous food expenses
Hotels and most meals will be fully covered by DWIH. Some supporter universities provide financial support for flight costs. Don’t let the costs discourage you from applying!
Expected Outcomes:
The anticipated outcomes of this program include a cohort of women empowered with an entrepreneurial mindset and equipped with the knowledge to navigate commercialization strategies in Germany. Participants will establish a network, having cultivated connections with successful entrepreneurs and gaining exposure to cutting-edge innovations in Silicon Valley.
The goal is for participants to have a much better understanding of their career opportunities as a founder and what resources to secure to build new businesses to realize the potential of their innovation and create female-led businesses with the capacity to employ talent and add positively to the GDP.
Program Host:
Anne Cocquyt – Serial Entrepreneur & Female Entrepreneurship Advocate | THE GUILD | Instructor UC Berkeley
Anne CocquytAnne Cocquyt is a serial entrepreneur with a great passion for new ideas and helping people achieve their career goals and launch their dream businesses. She helps startup founders gain the knowledge and confidence to try new business models, innovate like a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, and choose the right fundraising path to grow a successful venture aligned with their values.
Testimonials:
The program helped me to dedicate extra time weekly to my venture which I deeply appreciate as I couldn't have seen such progress otherwise. The inspiring talks brought me insights that also marked my journey positively.Camilla Quintero, TU Munich
I absolutely loved the Guild Program and highly recommend it! This program is an intensive yet thorough course on what it takes to start your own business. Whether you're just beginning, like I was, or you already have an MVP, it's designed for everyone. One of the aspects that particularly motivated me was the opportunity to visit Silicon Valley and meet women entrepreneurs in person! The program is very well designed, providing opportunities to connect with other women, review content, and stay on track. I wholeheartedly recommend it!Micaela Piscione, Freie Universität Berlin
I have learned so much through the Guild Academy program, even more than during my Master's in Applied Entrepreneurship in Germany. Anne is an incredibly knowledgeable advisor who provides sincere and to-the-point guidance throughout the entrepreneurial journey. The modules, tasks, and content were more than enough and perfectly suited to the journey. Although I couldn't watch all the videos, the office hours were my favorite part, as I could receive Anne's valuable guidance and opinions as a great mentorMona Khakzadan, OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts
The program is certainly one of the best things that happened to me in 2024! Anne is such an inspiring woman and has provided all the tools, the contacts and the knowledge we needed at this early stage of our entrepreneurial journey. I can only recommend her and support every business she is involved in. I feel that I am no longer completely lost and I know what I need to do to make my business a success! Thank you so much Anne for the incredible work you are doing.Imene Abid, ESCP Europe