The Westerwelle Young Founders Programme is a fully-funded 6-month programme for young entrepreneurs from emerging and developing countries. The programme aims to connect young founders from all over the world and offers a mentoring programme tailored to their particular challenges. It supports them in developing their entrepreneurial skills and their international network.
The westerwelle Spring 2021 Young Founders Programme kicks off with a digital kick-off conference from 1 to 5 March 2021. Over the next six months, the young founders will have the opportunity to develop their company with the support of a personal mentor and exchange ideas with the other young founders and get feedback.
In addition, the Westerwelle Foundation will select the ten best-performing young founders and invite them to the Top-10-Conference in Berlin in autumn 2021. During this conference, the selected start-ups will have the opportunity to present themselves in front of investors, take part in workshops and networking events and gain an insight into the German start-up scene.
Applications for the Westerwelle Spring 2021 Young Founders Programme are open from 13 November to 9 December and can be accessed here.
We wish all applicants the best of luck and look forward once again to a new cohort of inspiring young founders:
The Top-10 Conference - a week-long conference in Berlin for the ten best-performing startups who will have the unique chance to pitch in front of investors, take part in workshops and networking events and gain an insight into the German startup scene. (Travel and accommodation will be covered by the Westerwelle Foundation);
A personal mentor who is an experienced entrepreneur and will act as a sparring partner with whom you can discuss upcoming challenges and new opportunities;
Monthly peer mentoring connects with the other successful young founders in the cohort to share knowledge and support each other;
Expert sessions on relevant topics (e.g. OKRs, investor KPIs, marketing and sales);
The Young Founders Network - a strong alumni network that acts as a platform for all Young Founders to connect with each other, exchange ideas and find support for existing challenges;
Exposure to the Berlin startup scene and the public for you and your startup through our social media channels and our networks,
Assistance beyond the programme, as we continue to be a contact person for the Young Founders and will help you find suitable experts for challenges, offer opportunities to share learnings with current cohorts or celebrate successes.
The buddy programme that connects alumni of the Westerwelle Young Founders Programme with new Young Founders operating in the same business to potentially open doors and improve mutual exchange.
Our requirements
You recently (in the last 5 years) started a for-profit company with a scalable business model that achieved Product-Market Fit and ideally secured the first external funding (if you run a business model that requires external investment);
your company is based in a developing or emerging country or has a strong business focus on developing and emerging economies;
you have a good working knowledge of English;
you are available to attend the digital kick-off conference and can make time to participate in monthly mentoring and peer mentoring calls for the 6-month programme.
Please note that foreign applicants must have valid travel documents (including a visa, if required) to enter Germany and valid travel medical insurance.
Spring 2021 YFP application process
Application deadline (9 December 2020, 12pm CET)
Skype interviews with selected candidates (2nd January to 31st January 2021)
Jury decision and selection of participants (4 February 2021)
Notification of all candidates (6 February 2021)
The Network
One of the highlights of taking part in the Westerwelle Young Founders Programme is that each participant will also join the Young Founders Network - a strong network of entrepreneurs from emerging and developing countries who have taken part in the programme. The Young Founders Network is a place to seek knowledge, develop synergies with other Young Founders and support each other.
More information here:
