Phase 1: Presence 

Month 1-2

Intensive training program,

two workshops per week.

You will receive practical input on 

Business Devolopment
Personality & Mindset 
Impact

Phase 2: Practice

Month 3-4

User testing, cooperations, pilot customers - time to realize your product and get out there. You go proactively into the acquisition, are at events and meet with potential partners.

Regular pitch events & feedback

Peer learning

Networking

Fairs, events, festivals

Phase 3: Perspective

 Month 5-6

Time for reflection and outlook: "What are our plans for the time after the soulincubator?" You discover possibilities for follow-up financing and get clarity about your future 

Closing event, Impact Investment Day

Coachings

Fundraising 

 Scholarships

You will receive a total of 13,200 euros for your living expenses during the program (2,200 euros per month).

...Berlin is no longer the cheapest place to live. With the scholarship you can better concentrate on the essentials: Your startup.

We are supported by the European Social Fund (ESF), which finances the program and the scholarships together with the state of Berlin. 

Coworking

No startup without a workspace* and a community!

With us you get a desk and co. as well as lots of opportunities for exchange.

The 400m² coworking space is located in the Berlin headquarters of soulbottles in Berlin-Tempelhof - south and not far from Tempelhofer Feld.

*Stage incl. technology, kitchen, balcony, chill areas, storage space, phone booths, sports room and meeting rooms to be more precise ;-)

Lunch

Brainfood for Entrepreneurs: you will receive a free vegetarian or vegan lunch from our in-house chef from Monday-Friday*.

Insider Knowledge: Our chef is called Kitchen Wizard and he only uses magic with organic quality.

* Everybody needs some time off - that's why we can't always guarantee a lunch.

Trainings

For the jump into clear water -

Our workshops are practice and impact oriented and are constantly being developed.

The training program has been designed based on the founding experiences of soulbottles. It helps you to master the many challenges on the way to a successful social enterprise. This includes topics that are not well represented in other programs, e.g. impact measurement, personal development, ownership of responsibility or non-violent communication. 
Of course we will discuss your value proposition, market size, target grous etc. - don't worry ;-)

Events

With us you are not guests, but protagonists:

Pitch your ideas in different settings: Mutual, in front of an audience, experts and investors or at fares and other network events, for example with partners like Impact Hub and Motion Lab Berlin.

We always invite a broad spectrum of potential funding partners - from private angel investors to family offices and impact funds.

Mentoring

Our mentors are experienced founders and will support you on an equal footing with expertise, feedback and networking.

Your development partners are also an important interface to further resources. They have themselves contributed creatively to the sustainable growth of a company.

Get to know them here:

Are there any costs associated with participation?

No, participation in the soulincubator is free of charge

Can we contact you before our application and clarify further questions?

Yes, you can contact us via the contact form. It is also possible to have a preliminary conversation with the project team in advance of the application to ask questions. 

Is the program conducted in German or English?

The program is mainly conducted in English.  However, for administration, documentation and reporting during participation and specific workshops, it is helpful if you have advanced German language skills available in your founding team. We are happy to support international teams, also with visa issues.

How many teams are supported in total?

Within a batch of 6 months we support a total of 18 participants. The number of teams per batch depends on the suitability of the applications. We expect 5-9 founding teams. 

 How long does the program last?

The soulincubator is a 6-month intensive program. There is no possibility to extend the scholarship until further notice. 

 

Can we reapply if we have already been rejected once?

Yes, you can reapply for the next batch. Only alumni of the soulincubator can't reapply.

Are we socially insured during the scholarship?

No, you are not socially insured through us, as you have a scholarship and not an employment relationship with the soulincubator. You will have to cover the costs for health insurance etc. yourself. 

Can we work in the home office?

Yes and no -  you should be present on site at the coworking space every day especially for trainings. Still it's possible to work remotly in case of sickness, care work, mobility constraints, (external) appointments etc. 

What happens if our team changes during the program?

If your team changes, you have to inform us, the soulincubator team, immediately. If a scholarship holder leaves the program, he/she may be replaced by a new co-founder. 

What can we spend the scholarship on?

The main purpose of the scholarship is to cover your living expenses.

You do not have to provide us with any information or proof of your expenses.

You have to take care of the taxation of your scholarship, your health insurance etc. on your own.

How many members does our startup team need to participate in the soulincubator?  

You need to be at least two founders to participate in the soulincubator*. A maximum of 4 founders can be supported per team.

Our team also includes students and part-timers. Can they also be sponsored?

No, all team members supported by the grant must be working full-time on the project. Students or part-timers cannot be funded.

Non-funded team members can still remain part of your project team and work on it!

Do applicants for the scholarship need a university degree?
No, you do not need a university degree to apply to the soulincubator.

How far should our business idea be developed?

To apply for the soulincubator, you usually need a prototype/ advanced concept for your business model/product. It is not enough to just have an idea. 

 

One of our startup's team members was previously working commercially as an individual.

Is there anything to consider?

Yes, if one of your team members was commercially active in the closely related field of the startup project before applying. In this case, the date of the business registration** is decisive for the admissibility of the application, even if no formal company foundation took place.

Can we work or freelance during the program?

Your fellowship is to be considered as your main and full time job (40h/week). You may not be enrolled as a student or be employed, even part-time. This does not apply to minor secondary employment (mini-job) and small-scale voluntary or freelance work. 

Can I apply alone?

Yes, you can apply alone.

However, participation is only possible if you find at least one co-founder in time*. 

* at the time of the conclusion of the scholarship contract

** date on which the trade license was issued.

When is our startup/company considered "founded"?

Your startup/company is considered "founded" from the date on which the trade license was issued. The date of the notary's office or the date of entry in the commercial register does not apply. 

Is it possible to apply if our startup is already established?

Yes, but your startup must have been founded less than 3 months before we receive your application. No significant revenue should have been generated yet. 

We are already founded, but in a different state than Berlin.

Is this a problem?

Yes, the headquarters of eligible* founded startups/companies must be registered in Berlin during the entire program.

This also means that you may need to relocate the headquarters before the start of the fellowship. 

Do all our team members have to live in Berlin during the program?

At the latest at the beginning of the program, all of your funded team members must live in Berlin. Unfunded team members are not affected by this.

You must provide proof of your primary residence in Berlin early on - alternatively, a residence permit (“Unternehmer:innen visa” is sufficient).

If you have a Non-EU passport, you would have to show a residence permit that allows you to work as a self-employed person or entrepreneur in Germany.

*3 months deadline, see above

Do you give us feedback on a cancellation?

Unfortunately, we usually cannot provide feedback on your rejection. Due to the volume of applications and the large number of criteria, we are usually unable to provide individual feedback.

However, it is possible to have a preliminary interview with the project team in advance of the application to ask questions and get feedback. 

Do we also get (corporate) consulting services?

No, you will not receive consulting services in the strict sense. Your coaches, mentors and speakers in the training program are experienced experts who can give you advice and challenge you. The more concrete your concern, challenge or need for help, the better our experts can help you.

Do we get coaching or mentoring?

Every team gets a mentor and has access to a large network of coaches and experienced entrepreneurs as well as numerous other resources. Coachings will be available for all the trainings contents like business modelling, finance, marketing, legal, team-building, intellectual property, etc. 

What does coaching and mentoring mean to you?

For us, coaching and mentoring means helping people to help themselves. You will be personally supported in your challenges through targeted questions and suggestions and will have experienced sparring partners in a coach and mentor.

Do we have to take care of resources like workshops, coachings, etc. ourselves?

Yes and no. You will receive a pre-planned training program in the first phase of the program (month 1-2), a mentor for the entire duration of the program and access to a large pool of experts and networks.

The pre-planned trainings cannot fully cover your individual needs, as all teams are at different stages/situations.

You should continuously inform us about your needs and ask for and acquire the appropriate resources for you through our networks. We will gladly support you in this, establish contacts or suggest people, resources or opportunities.

The initiative comes from you, the costs of suitable offers and the administrative handling is taken- over by us as the soulincubator.