ACCELERATOR
Validate, Execute, Grow.

Acquire the tools to validate your business model, gain traction, and achieve investor-readiness within 12 weeks.

Program Overview

Are you a visionary startup ready to solve a real-world problem and elevate your idea?

The Campus Founders Accelerator is a 12-week program in Heilbronn that empowers founders to build and scale their businesses and thrive in today’s competitive market.

Through mentorship, practical methods and strategies, and valuable networks, we help you overcome challenges and further develop your startup. Get coached by experienced entrepreneurs who provide the tools and support needed to accelerate your growth.

Apply now and become part of Heilbronn’s dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Target Group

Early-stage startups with one technical co-founder and one business co-founder, or single founders with high potential.

SETUP

The program offers a "Business Track" to refine strategies and optimize operations. The "Well-Being Track" focuses on conscious leadership and sustainable self-management.

GOAL

To refine your business model, maximize market potential, advance beyond MVP, optimize sales, and master fundraising.

DURATION

15 April – 04 July 2025

Application Deadline:
16 March 2025

Program Highlights

ADVANCED BUSINESS WORKSHOPS

Business knowledge is readily available online, and we understand that. That's why our experts tailor the content to suit the practical needs of our startup in the cohort. It's not the typical workshop setup, instead, picture a small, focused cohort guided by an industry expert, ensuring an intimate and hands-on learning experience.

Business topics covered include achieving product-market fit, product development, customer discovery, marketing, fundraising, and sales for startups.

FIRST-CLASS MENTORS

Access a diverse group of experienced mentors who bring industry-specific knowledge. These mentors offer extensive expertise, invaluable guidance and constructive feedback on your journey as a founder.

SPACE FOR CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION

Maximize your program experience with unrestricted access to our state-of-the-art workspaces, thoughtfully designed to foster creativity and productivity. Benefit from top-notch amenities and a vibrant community of like-minded individuals, all while being conveniently located in the heart of the city, 24/7.

GAME-CHANGING NETWORK

To succeed, startups and innovators need a strong network. That’s why we foster an active and collaborative community of talented individuals, entrepreneurs, operators, regional and international startups, corporations, and a robust network of mentors, experts, and investors.

OUR NEW HOME FOR STARTUPS & INNOVATORS

This could be your new home. Imagine a space where groundbreaking ideas take shape, collaborations flourish, and networks expand. Set to open by the end of 2025, our brand-new building, meticulously crafted across eight levels and spanning 7,000 square meters, will become the epicenter of the Heilbronn startup community.

STRATEGIC MILESTONE COACHING

Work closely with our experienced startup managers to outline milestones from the very start of the accelerator. Benefit from regular check-ins where startup managers provide continuous guidance, support, and assessments of progress.

SCHOLARSHIP

We offer a scholarship program for high potential founder personalities. The aim of the scholarship is to provide financial support to founders earlier in their entrepreneurial journey. As a participant in our Accelerator program, you are qualified to apply for our Founder Scholarship. For more information on the requirements and to apply for the founder scholarship please CLICK HERE

CF STARTUP JOURNEY
Program Process & Timeline

Kick-Off & Goal Setting

- Welcome to Campus Founders & Ecosystem
- Funding Opportunities & Resources
- Set 12-week Milestones with Startup Managers

WEEK 1-2

Customer & Business Readiness

- Accelerating Sales
- Pricing Excellence
- Tailored Marketing Strategies
- Product Development and GTM Strategies
- B2B Outbound Blueprint for Scaleups

WEEK 3-7

Funding Readiness

- Deal Structuring & Legal
- Dynamics of Venture Capital & Business Angels
- Negotiating with investors
- Pitching Mastery: Story-Lining & Story-Telling

WEEK 8-12
EXPERTS
Meet the Team

Samer Nabha

Accelerator Lead

Patrick BURKERT

Head of Startups

FAQ
Participation in the program is free of charge. You just have to convince us of your motivation and commitment.
Many successful startups consist of at least two founders who can cover the technical and business fundamentals. However, if you have a special talent and are convinced that you have what it takes to build and run your own business, we are willing to make an exception for you. Get in touch with us, and we will try to find a solution for you.
What we expect from our founders is full commitment to the program and building their startup. If you are working full-time or in the midst of your studies, it will be difficult to keep up with the fast pace of the program. We require that at least one of your co-founders is fully dedicated to the business, ideally all of them.
Our program is designed for aspiring founders and early-stage startups.
As our curriculum is fast-paced and challenging, we expect you to focus solely on the Accelerator program full-time.
Yes, this is one of our requirements. To get the most out of the program, physical attendance is highly preferred. If you do not live in Heilbronn or the surrounding area, we encourage you to apply for the Founder Scholarship to support your transition to Heilbronn during the program.
We will be selecting up to10 teams.

Our selection criteria revolve around the problem you are trying to solve, the innovativeness of your idea and your competition, the size of the market you are addressing, the scalability of the idea, and your business model.

Additionally, we will evaluate whether your team includes both a technical and a business co-founder and has the potential to build a successful business. Finally, we will assess whether you are a good fit for the program and the community.

After the application deadline, a diverse team of evaluators will carefully review all submissions. Shortlisted teams will be invited to pitch, and ultimately, up to 10 teams will be selected for the program. Successful applicants will be notified by email.
Yes, absolutely! If you’re not selected for this batch, don’t worry. Keep refining your idea, stay determined, and feel free to apply again in the future batches. Persistence pays off! Best of luck!
The program calendar will be filled with various components ranging from workshops, lectures, pitch practice and opportunities to connect with your program peers. If you are spending the day at the Campus Lab, we also expect many community members to drop into Campus Founders Lab at various times throughout the day, giving you opportunity to expand your network. There will also be a ton of community events going on. In general, though, you’ll be working on your product each day, just like all the other founders in the program.
We will be running a number of community events and Q&A sessions before the start of the batch. You may join us there to have your questions answered, so keep an eye on our upcoming events. Alternatively, reach out to samer@campusfounders.de for assistance.
We’re excited to announce the Founder scholarship for participants in our accelerator and incubator programs! This scholarship is designed to support promising founders and ideas by helping to cover founders’ living costs. The scholarship can be granted for up to 12 months, depending on participation in our programs and the achievement of jointly defined milestones. Once you’re accepted into the accelerator/incubator program, we’ll send you a link to apply for the scholarship. As we examine every application in detail, please make sure to apply as soon as possible. Also note that the application process for the scholarship is separate, and you do not automatically qualify for it. In case you have specific questions about the scholarship option, please don’t hesitate and contact johannes@campusfounders.de.

Ready to propel your Business journey?