The Thuringian Regional Innovation Program “TRIP” is launching a new edition and is looking for innovative business ideas for the class 20/21. Ambitious innovators and start-ups can apply until October 15th 2020 to participate in TRIP in order to profit from the 6-month accelerator program.
In 2019 the Thuringian Regional Innovation Program TRIP was initiated by the Thuringian Ministry of Economics in cooperation with the Foundation for Technology, Innovation and Research Thuringia (STIFT). The program aims to create optimal starting conditions for young businesses in Thuringia, accelerate innovations and create synergies and cooperation. 16 innovative projects of the TRIP class 19/20 were already able to profit from the accelerator program: TRIP offers monthly workshops, evening events, individual coaching sessions, pitches at the Digital Demo Day, a budget for prototypes and first series, access to the start-up community and investors and counting.
Today, STIFT is launching the application period for the next TRIP class 20/21 in order to bring the teams at full speed towards investment readiness and thus prepare targeting and acquiring investors. In nine monthly workshops, the participants were able to deepen their theoretical and practical knowledge in all relevant areas, from strategical reflection to financing and targeting investors. In individual coaching sessions, the start-ups´ business models are scrutinized and the next steps of business development are identified.
On top of that, the projects receive a budget of up to € 4,500 to further develop prototypes, conduct market research or customer interviews. Further advantages include networking with other start-ups, SMEs and investors and exclusive access to events. Additionally, TRIP offers the chance to access the € 100,000 early-stage ticket from bm | t “Beteiligungsmanagement thüringen gmbh” and the Get Started Prototyping Program from Thuringia’s business-related research institutions.
For particularly scalable projects, the final TRIP phase focussing on VC financing is planned. The highlight of the program will be a pitch at the Investor Days Thuringia – a unique opportunity to present the business concept to around 600 actors of the international start-up community, investors and innovators.
TRIP is open to all industries and aims at entrepreneurs and young businesses who enter established markets with innovative ideas, products and processes. It does not matter if the business is in a pre-set-up-phase or if it already has been launched. Applications can be submitted online at https://trip.community/ until October 15th 2020.
TRIP was initiated by the ThEx innovative project provided by STIFT. ThEx innovative is supported by the Free State of Thuringia and the European Social Fund with € 2,8 million in the period 2014-2020.
Contact
Christiane Kilian
Head of start-up department
Foundation for Technology, Innovation and Research Thuringia (STIFT) / ThEx innovativ
03 61 · 789 23-74
