TU Dortmund Start-up Weekend | 09. - 11. May 2025
Discover the power of interdisciplinary collaboration!
Join TU Members from diverse departments, collaborate, and develop innovative solutions. Experience hands-on learning with Design Thinking, showcase your journey to experts and get valuable feedback.
Everyone is welcome at the TU Start-up Weekend!
The TU Start-up Weekend is a three-day event of the 17 faculties of TU Dortmund University, where teams focus on working together on innovative ideas.
Whether you have technological expertise, social or creative skills or you are familiar with economic contexts: We are looking forward to your participation!
WHY YOU SHOULD PARTICIPATE
- Experience first-hand what it means to be part of a start-up
- Get advice from experienced coaches and mentors
- Connect with other creative and innovative people and expand your network
- You have the chance to present your ideas in front of an experienced jury. The best ideas will be awarded.
- Free of charge for students and employees of TU Dortmund University
PROGRAM
Friday, 09. May
On Day 1, it‘s all about your ideas! Pitch your Challenge in just 60 seconds, engage in Q&A, and join your teams to kickstart the journey of understanding complex problems and developing innovative solutions.
Schedule
16:00 Check-In
16:30 Warm Welcome
18:00 The Challenges and Teambuilding
19:00 Dinner
20:00 Start Your Journey
23:00 Check-out
Saturday, 10. May
We are providing the perfect framework to bring your ideas to life. Build your own prototypes and receive expert guidance from our coaches as you embark on an exciting journey of innovation.
Schedule
8:30 Entry & Breakfast
11:00 Coaching Session
13:00 Lunch
18:00 Founder Talk
19:00 Dinner
23:00 Check-out
Sunday, 11. May
Prepare for the final presentations! Receive valuable feedback from experienced innovators before your final pitches. Impress a high-caliber jury and the audience with your final projects and have lots of fun.
Schedule
8:30 Entry & Breakfast
11:00 Pitch Prep
13:00 Tea Time
14:00 Pitch Contest
16:00 Award Ceremony
17:00 Too Soon To Say
Goodbye
LOCATION
The three-day event will take place at the CET Headquarter (Wilhelm-Dilthey-Straße 2a, 44227 Dortmund, directions here). Our facility is equipped with the latest machines and a wide range of work equipment.
Your Jury of Experts
Prof. Christina Elmer
Professor for Digital Journalism and Data Journalism @ TU Dortmund University, Institute for Journalism
Digital media, innovation processes, product development, transformation
JProf. Dr. Daniela Giménez Jiménez
Junior Professor of Entrepreneurship @ TU Dortmund University
Entrepreneurship, Women in Business, Sustainability
Fabian Göddert
Start-up Founder @ Acuire
Financial modeling, product management
Meet Your Coaches
Julius de Groot
PhD Candidate, Research Assistant @ TU Dortmund University, Chair for Entrepreneurship and Digitalisation
Platform-based business models, digital prototyping, design thinking
Svenja Schmidt
HR Development Consultant @ Ardex GmbH
Systemic coaching, HR development expert
Kim Pham
Project Manager @ EDIH-DO (European Digital Innovation Hub Dortmund), TU concept GmbH
Experience in financial and public sector, start-up consultant, agile methodologies, design thinking, OKR
Dominik Schmelter
PhD Candidate, Research Assistant @ TU Dortmund University, TIE Institute - Technology, Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Design thinking, sustainable entrepreneurship
Lukas Erbrich
PhD Candidate Media Economics @ TU Dortmund University, Institute for Journalism
Media start-ups, platform research
Dilista Jakupi
Product Manager @ CET, TU Dortmund
Expert in: entrepreneurship education, social innovation, agile methodologies, design thinking.
Jana Drechsler
Start-up Manager Corporate Development, M&A @ Opta Data Gruppe
Start-up-corporate collaboration, founding, business development, sales
Jan Wittkamp
Project Manager @ City of Dortmund, Dortmund Kreativ
Sports scientist, experience in public and privat sector from commercial rights distribution, cultural and creative industry expert
Henning Moldenhauer
Sustainability Manager @ TU Dortmund University
Project management, analytical thinking, pitching, moderator, optical spectroscopy
Rebekka Bracht
Manager Start-up Ecosystem & Corporate Partnerships @ Initiativkreis Ruhr / Gründerallianz Ruhr
Networking, entrepreneurial ecosystem, female empowerment, data start-ups
Philip Müller
Chief Operating Officer (COO), Co-Founder @ Nuwo.co
Serial entrepreneur, started multiple companies in Berlin, Hamburg and Dortmund, business economics background
Showcase your strengths
You have creative skills or are good at putting yourself in other people’s shoes ? You are good at interacting with people and building empathy with them? You have lots of creative ideas on how to better solve problems from a user perspective?
You have technical or programming skills, know the latest trends and like to work on developing new solutions? You are the right person when it comes to making new technologies applicable? Are you interested in how new technologies can help solve the complex problems of our time?
Are you familiar with key business figures and economic contexts? You know what is important in the development of new business models and how value is created? You have already dealt with market and competition analyses and can pass on your knowledge to others?
Questions?
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions! You can contact us via mail.
