Start-up ideas in the context of AI - The Bridge to Market Program

With the Bridge to Market Program, created for start-up ideas in the context of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Freie Universität Berlin supports researchers in validating research results related to AI with a view to founding a company. The program is aimed at ideas in an early phase. The support service focuses on product and market validations as well as the evaluation of the technical feasibility of scientific AI models and data. Since AI is a cross-sectional technology, start-up projects from any domain and research field are eligible to apply.

Up to three potential founders will be funded over a period of 6 months. The total amount of possible funding is calculated from 10,000 EUR for material resources and scholarships for the founders. Individuals are also allowed to apply. Additional members can be included during the program as long as the maximum of three founders is not exceeded.

Target group

Interested teams with up to three members from the four participating institutions (Technische Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Charité Universitätsmedizin) can apply for the Bridge to Market Program. Researchers, students, graduates and technical staff of the universities are eligible to apply. 

Procedure

Up to three potential founders will be funded over a period of 6 months. The total amount of possible funding is calculated from 10,000 EUR for material resources and scholarships for the founders.

During the project, the project team is supported by the teams of the business incubators of the four participating universities to evaluate and improve the existing ideas, approaches and results for their product and market suitability.

Follow-up funding

If the business idea is positively evaluated, further support from the incubator teams is possible, including the application for further funding, for example the EXIST-Gründerstipendium.

Are you interested? You can find more information and the opportunity to apply here. 

Applications are possible throughout the year. 

Contact for questions about the project

For questions about the program, contact Jonathan Zebhauser (j.zebhauser@fu-berlin.de).