Participants, mentors and representatives of the Women Entrepreneurship Network met for the first time at the kick-off event held at OTH Regensburg’s Prüfening campus. Prof. Dr. Sevim Süzeroglu-Melchiors, Professor of Digital Entrepreneurship and Finance at OTH Regensburg, gave an introduction to the programme’s content and objectives.
Empowering women on their path to self-employment
The Female Founders Programme is supported by the EXIST-Women funding scheme run by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and offers women support with their start-up ventures, regardless of sector or field. The vision that Prof. Dr Süzeroglu-Melchiors is pursuing with this project is to encourage more women to start their own businesses and to empower them on their path to self-employment.
For nine months, participants benefit from a wide range of support, including individual consultations, specialist workshops and expert talks. In addition, the founders have the opportunity to qualify for financial support. Mentoring plays a central role in this: each participant is supported by an experienced mentor from the business or academic world, who advises her and contributes their specialist expertise.
Prof. Dr Sevim Süzeroglu-Melchiors also emphasised that all necessary resources are available. These include, among other things, the OTH Regensburg Start-up Lab, where the female entrepreneurs have around 700 square metres of space in the makerspace to work creatively on their ideas and prototypes.
The start-up ecosystem as a key to success
Following the presentation of the programme, project coordinator Theresa Engl provided an overview of the process. She encouraged the female founders to actively develop their ideas further and to make the most of the programme’s wide range of opportunities. The importance of networking was also highlighted: building a strong network before it is actually needed is considered a vital foundation for entrepreneurial success. The programme creates the ideal conditions for this: participants can attend events organised by the Start-up Centre and the Start-up Hub East Bavaria (O/HUB) and network within the start-up ecosystem of OTH Regensburg. Networking within the Women Entrepreneurship Network is also a key pillar.
Dr Nina Sindersberger, speaking on behalf of the 2025 Female Founders cohort, also addressed the female founders with an inspiring message: “Without the programme, my idea would have remained just a dream.” For her idea, developed during the programme, of a science experiment kit for children (“NaWi-Gehts?”), she was awarded the Sustainability Prize at the 2025 University Start-up Day. In doing so, she sent a clear signal to the female founders to make full use of all the opportunities and benefits the programme offers.
Dr Sindersberger symbolically presented the start-up giraffe “Raphi” to the new cohort of Female Founders 2026. As the Start-up Centre’s mascot, the giraffe represents having one’s head in the clouds but one’s feet on the ground. This is intended to constantly remind the female founders to pursue their ideas courageously whilst implementing them realistically.
From care to sustainability: ideas that make a difference
At the event, the participants presented their diverse start-up ideas. They impressed the audience with concepts from a range of sectors, ranging from smart pressure-relief cushions used in care settings to prevent pressure ulcers, to the sustainable recycling of old spectacle lenses, and an inclusive printing business.
At the networking buffet that followed, the aspiring founders and mentors got to know each other in person, held initial discussions and forged valuable contacts.
The kick-off event marked the start of the 2026 programme cycle. It is now up to the participants to further develop their ideas and, with the support of the Female Founders Programme, turn them into concrete start-up projects.
