How long does the Founders Bay accelerator program last?

The program runs for six months and is structured in three phases: Foundation, Build, and Scale. During that time, startups work with mentors, masterclasses, pilot partners, and fundraising support to accelerate growth.

Does the Founders Bay program cost money or equity?

No. Participation in the Founders Bay accelerator is free, and Founders Bay does not take equity. Startups receive mentoring, workshops, network access, and Demo Day support without fees or ownership dilution.

Who can apply to the Founders Bay accelerator?

We are looking for climate and social impact startups in Germany, typically in pre-seed or seed stage. What matters most is a committed team, a clear impact focus, and early signals around product, market, or validation.

How does the application process for Founders Bay work?

Applications are submitted online through the form at founders-bay.io/en/apply. After that come review, introductory calls, and selection steps. The process evaluates team quality, problem understanding, solution, impact, and stage of development.

What are the benefits of a remote-first accelerator?

A remote-first accelerator reduces travel time, makes mentors easier to access, and fits better into founders' daily work. Founders Bay combines these benefits with selected in-person formats like kick-off, mid-term, and Demo Day.

What happens on Demo Day?

On Demo Day, startups present their progress to investors, partners, and the wider network. The goal is to build visibility, gather feedback, spark pilot conversations, and prepare for fundraising.

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/Accelerator program

Six months of accelerator for impact startups — free of charge, no equity.

AI accelerates almost everything about building a company today — except trust, investor relationships, and pilot partnerships. That's exactly where our program comes in: tailored to your startup, with three phases and clear milestones — Foundation, Build, Scale. With 150+ mentors, pilot projects with the German Mittelstand and a Demo Day in front of impact investors. See past participants in our portfolio. Ready to start? Go straight to the application form.

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Founders Bay accelerator — startup pitch event in front of mentors and SME partners

months program duration

supported startups

mentors

0M+

EUR funding

MentoringMasterclassesImpactFundraisingNetworkDemo DayCoachingOffice SpacePitch TrainingAlumniMentoringMasterclassesImpactFundraisingNetworkDemo DayCoachingOffice SpacePitch TrainingAlumni

/What we offer

Building blocks that help impact startups grow faster

From individual mentoring and fundraising support to access to Germany's most innovative SME sector — our program provides the infrastructure climate and social impact startups need.

1:1 mentoring

Personal support from experienced founders and industry experts with weekly coaching sessions for your startup.

Masterclasses & workshops

Hands-on workshops on fundraising, product-market fit, go-to-market strategy, and impact measurement — led by top experts.

Coworking & community

Access to coworking spaces in Germany and an active founder community for exchange and collaboration.

Impact strategy

Development of an impact-driven business strategy with measurable climate or social impact — from CO₂ reduction to social inclusion (SDG-aligned).

Investor readiness & fundraising

Targeted preparation for seed and Series A rounds: pitch training, financial modeling, and warm intros to impact investors.

Network & SME access

Exclusive events and access to 150+ mentors, business angels, VCs, and innovative SME partners.

Founders Bay mentoring session — personal 1:1 coaching for founders

Founders Bay startup pitch — Demo Day in front of investors and corporate partners

/Program flow

From MVP to scalable impact startup in 6 months

Our structured accelerator process supports founders step by step — with clear milestones, individual coaching, and direct access to capital.

01— Month 1–2

Foundation: onboarding & status-quo analysis

Kick-off with the full batch, assignment of personal mentors, strengths-and-weaknesses analysis, and definition of individual milestones. Building the impact strategy and first validation sprints on product and target group.

02— Month 3–4

Build: product-market fit & growth

Weekly coaching, masterclasses on go-to-market, impact measurement (SDGs), and scaling. First pilot projects with SME partners, network events, and targeted work on sales and operations.

03— Month 5–6

Scale: fundraising, Demo Day & alumni

Investor readiness training, pitch deck reviews, financial modeling, and warm intros to business angels and impact VCs across the DACH region. Demo Day in front of selected investors and entry into the Founders Bay alumni network.

/Application & selection process

In 5 steps to program start

Our selection process is transparent, personal, and fast — so you always know where you stand.

STEP — 01

Document screening

We review your application carefully: team, product, impact thesis, market, and traction. No anonymous scoring grid — every application is read by our team.

STEP — 02

First call

30-minute personal intro with the Founders Bay team. We understand your status quo, your goals, and assess whether our program is a fit.

STEP — 03

Internal team review

Our team discusses your application internally: impact potential, scalability, coachability, and fit with our mentor and SME network.

STEP — 04

Second call

Deeper conversation with selected teams — concrete needs, program content, and expectations. This is where we clarify together where we can create the most leverage.

STEP — 05

Acceptance or rejection

Transparent, honest decision with feedback — even in case of rejection. If accepted, we start your individual 6-month program together.

From first contact to decision, the process typically takes 2–4 weeks — depending on needs and availability. Applications are possible at any time.

/Who it is for

Is the Founders Bay accelerator the right fit for your startup?

We are looking for ambitious founders with a registered company in Germany who want to change the world with their impact startup and scale fast.

Apply now

Early-stage startups (pre-seed to seed) with a clear climate or social impact focus
Founding teams with a working MVP or a validated business idea
Sustainable business models in CleanTech, Renewable Energy, Circular Economy, FoodTech, Mobility or Social Business
Founded in rural Germany or with clear relevance to rural regions and their challenges
Startup not older than five years
Not currently participating in another accelerator program
Headquartered in a town or municipality with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants