As a low-threshold basic programme for those interested in setting up a business, with or without a concrete idea, an open lecture series on setting up a business is planned every second week on Wednesdays from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. EBS and HGU lecturers and founders, and experts in practice will present and discuss topics relevant to start-ups in an application-oriented manner. This programme primarily aims at students with a general interest in the case; founders and guests from outside the universities are also welcome at any time. Suppose 15 lectures of the lecture series are attended. In that case, the person interested in founding a business will receive a certificate of participation in this business start-up programme.

People interested in founding a business who want to implement a sustainable business idea are in the right place in our idea competitions, even if they do not yet have a concrete idea for a start-up. The programme for up to 30 people extends over four weeks and includes several sessions plus intensive elaboration. The programme aims to effectively and efficiently set up an idea in a predefined environment, regardless of whether the concept will be pursued further after the programme. To this end, at the beginning of the programme, the lecturers put together approx. 5 – 6 people depending on their competencies (e.g. HGU and EBS mix) and personal interest. The groups will analyse an industry or a focus topic (e.g. social entrepreneurship (2020), sustainable business concepts (2021), etc.) and its development during the programme. They will generate ideas and work out a sustainable business idea. Participants will learn essential business tools such as industry structure analysis (Porter’s 5 Forces), PESTEL analysis, stakeholder analysis and trend analysis, and scenario planning. The students will also be introduced to idea generation and idea evaluation methods and the Business Model Canvas. At the end of the programme, the teams pitch their idea to a jury of entrepreneurs and partners of the Gründungsfabrik Rheingau.

In the Founder Programme, up to 18 participants with a concrete idea will be given the opportunity in a working (workshop + seminar) to develop their start-up idea into a well-founded, pitch-ready concept out a proper business plan. In intensive weekend modules, the participants are guided through various methods (including Lego Serious Play) to carry out the necessary research and essential work for the project’s feasibility and develop the individual business plan components. There are at least three weeks between the individual modules. The participants have to complete “homework” according to their respective “action plan”, which is then the prerequisite for successful participation in the next module. The content of the three modules is strongly dependent on the respective start-up ideas of the participants and will be flexibly oriented accordingly. Due to the limited number of places available in this programme, we will regulate access via an application procedure.

In this programme, participants learn about the role of the “intrapreneur”, which aims to convince the leading managers of a company with ideas or a new business model. The course provides participants with both the conceptual foundations and practical experience in managing intrapreneurship projects. The programme takes place in close cooperation with regional and national partners. It includes challenging practical projects on which students work in cross-university teams over around two months. The questions of the projects are to be defined together with the corporate partners and revolve primarily around the following topics: Market analysis, idea generation, open innovation, strategy development, corporate innovation or business model development. Current challenges of the companies are to be the focus of the event.