The EWOR Pre-idea Fellowship is a 6-month programme designed to help you conceptualise and launch an impactful venture.

The EWOR programmes are a blend of a Start-Up accelerator and "Master’s-like Degree"
TODOR
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TALENTSIGHT
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BETH
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PATCHWORK HUB
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KACPER
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OPEN-GRANT
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JOHANNES
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STOCADRO
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70% of our graduates start a successful venture

Up to 150k € investment from EWOR,
millions potentially raised afterwards
*Not all fellows will receive investments

50

50 carefully selected EWOR Fellows so far

For those who don’t have a business idea yet, the EWOR Pre-Idea Fellowship is an entirely remote 6-month programme that turns aspiring founders into successful entrepreneurs.

The EWOR programmes can be completed online from anywhere and do not require relocation. However, many of our Fellows visit their corporate partner at least once throughout their Fellowship. Unfortunately, we cannot assist talents with visa processes or relocation to Germany.

At EWOR, we pride ourselves on our reliable and supportive network of successful entrepreneurs who function as speakers and mentors alike. With over 140 past and present Fellows, all EWOR programme participants are part of this vast network.

We invest in the best start-ups of our Fellows through the EWOR Talent Investors Vehicle. We invest up to €150k at a valuation cap (post-money) of €1,0m for the pre-idea programme and €1,5m for the post-idea programme.

What is the difference?

What is the difference between EWOR and Y Combinator, TechStars, and other start-up accelerator programmes?

Our leadership team has successfully built and sold fast growing tech companies.

EWOR is for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs.

We, the 4 EWOR partners, have founded and sold our companies for an exit value of €2BN+ collectively.

While we invest more money than TechStars and as much money as Y Combinator into our fellows, we start earlier, help them ideate, and prioritise education, networking, and mentoring.

Our acceptance rate is lower than that of comparable programmes because we prioritise quality over quantity. This is the only way to offer the type of dedication and customisation we are aiming for.

OUR PROGRAMMES
The Fellowship and community are built to support you a lifetime.

The Pre-idea Fellowship helps you to launch a venture from scratch. We help you move from problem to idea to successful start-up within 6 months.

You should be ready to go full-time latest once your first cheque is signed. More info here >

The Post-idea Fellowship gets you from a validated idea with first traction to a successful multi-million funding round.

You should be ready to go full-time latest once your first cheque is signed. More info here >

Not sure which EWOR programme is the right fit for you?

Compare programmes by detailed benefits & requirements here

COMPARE PROGRAMMES
OUR PROGRAMMES
The Fellowship and community are built to support you a lifetime.

The Pre-idea Fellowship helps you to launch a venture from scratch. We help you move from problem to idea to successful start-up within 6 months.

You should be ready to go full-time latest once your first cheque is signed. More info here >

The Post-idea Fellowship gets you from a validated idea with first traction to a successful multi-million funding round.

You should be ready to go full-time latest once your first cheque is signed. More info here >

Not sure which EWOR programme is the right fit for you?

Compare programmes by detailed benefits & requirements here

COMPARE PROGRAMMES
A glimpse into our Network
You’ll receive investment and be mentored by Europe’s most exceptional entrepreneurs.
Alex Grots

Alex Grots is the co-founder and CCO of EWOR.

Managing Director (EU) at IDEO.

Alex is one of the co-inventors of Design Thinking.

Founder of ProGlove (half-billion € exit).

Daniel Dippold

A theoretical mathematician (Cambridge, ETH, St. Gallen), coder, and entrepreneur.

Founder of NEWNOW Group (€1 Mio sales within first year).

Founder of Sigma Squared Society (world’s largest youth entrepreneurship community).

Founder of Emoti (tech sold).

Florian Huber

Florian Huber is the founder of united-domains (sold to 1&1 Groupsold to 1&1 group for multi-hundred million), neubau kompass AG, and Signature Ventures (VC).

He is Business Angel of the Year and invested in more than 50 tech startups.

Paul H. Müller

Paul is the co-founder of Adjust (€1.2BN exit), which powers thousands of apps with built-in intelligence and automation, backed by responsive global customer support.

Paul is a prominent angel investor and race car enthusiast.

Valerie Bures

Valerie Bures founded Mrs.Sporty and is among the top 5 of Europe’s most successful female entrepreneurs.

Renaud Visage

Renaud Visage founded Eventbrite (€2BN IPO).

Felix Haas

Felix Haas founded IDNow (unicorn), Bits & Pretzels and multiple other successful ventures.

Lubomila Jordanova

Lubomila Jordanova founded Plan A which provides an award-winning science and AI-powered SaaS platform for carbon accounting, decarbonisation and ESG reporting for businesses.

Co-Founder of Greentech Alliance.

MIT Under 35 Innovator.

Nicolas De Santis

Nicolas De Santis founded Beenz (the first-ever web currency prior to blockchain).

Founder of Opodo (€1.2 BN in sales).

He is one of the co-shapers of the Euro.

Founder & CEO of Corporate Vision.

Christian Kroll

Christian Kroll founded Ecosia, which is Europe’s largest search engine after Google and planted over 186 million trees.

Vaitea Cowan

Vaitea Cowan is the Co-Founder of Enapter (640 MN IPO), an energy startup that is rendering green hydrogen cheaper than fossil fuels.

She is on the Forbes Under 30 in Energy 2020 list.

Amar Shah

Amar Shah founded wayve.ai, an autonomous-driving unicorn valued at €1BN+ with Bill Gates driving in one of their cars.

Sidar Sahin

Sidar Sahin founded Peak Games (€1.8BN exit).

Max von Bismarck

Max von Bismarck is a European serial entrepreneur.

He is Chief Business Officer & Managing Director of Raisin DS, which is a European FinTech Unicorn.

Jens Wasel

Jens is founder of KW Commerce which he bootstrapped to $100 Mio in turnover.

Jens was Managing Director of SellerX (unicorn), is a board member of Oetker Digital and founder of Scale Invest.

Dr. Patrick Nathen

Patrick Nathen founded Lilium, which raised €1.1 BN.

David Rowan

David Rowan is founding Editor-in-chief of WIRED UK, investor in more than 80 startups (7 unicorns) and founded VOYAGERS, including their Climate-Tech and Health-Tech Funds.

Andrej Henkler

Andrej Henkler is a serial entrepreneur who invested in over 15 unicorns.

Ricardo Pires

Ricardo Pires is CEO of billion-dollar conglomerate Semapa, and an active investor, e.g. in the world-renowned investment firm Lakestar.

Eric Steinberger

Eric Steinberger is the Co-founder and CEO of ClimateScience and magic.dev (€30 Mio raised).

Eric has worked at MIT and Facebook AI – before completing his first year at the University of Cambridge.

Alex Grots

Alex Grots is the co-founder and CCO of EWOR. was a Managing Director (EU) at IDEO, is one of the co-inventors of Design Thinking, and founded ProGlove (half-billion € exit).

Alex Grots

Alex Grots is the co-founder and CCO of EWOR. was a Managing Director (EU) at IDEO, is one of the co-inventors of Design Thinking, and founded ProGlove (half-billion € exit).

Daniel Dippold

Daniel Dippold founded NEWNOW Group (€1 Mio sales within first year), Sigma Squared Society (world’s largest youth entrepreneurship community), and Emoti (tech sold).

Daniel Dippold

Daniel Dippold founded, NEWNOW Group (€1 Mio sales within first year), Sigma Squared Society (world’s largest youth entrepreneurship community), and Emoti (tech sold).

Florian Huber

Florian Huber is the founder of united-domains (sold to 1&1 Group), neubau kompass AG, and Signature Ventures (VC). He is Business Angel of the Year and invested in more than 50 tech startups.

Florian Huber

Florian Huber is the founder of united-domains (sold to 1&1 Group), neubau kompass AG, and Signature Ventures (VC). He is Business Angel of the Year and invested in more than 50 tech startups.

Paul H. Müller

Paul is the co-founder of Adjust, which powers thousands of apps with built-in intelligence and automation, backed by responsive global customer support. Paul is a prominent angel investor and race car enthusiast.

Paul H. Müller

Paul is the co-founder of Adjust, which powers thousands of apps with built-in intelligence and automation, backed by responsive global customer support. Paul is a prominent angel investor and race car enthusiast.

Valerie Bures
Renaud Visage
Felix Haas
Lubomila Jordanova

Lubomila Jordanova founded Plan A which provides an award-winning science and AI-powered SaaS platform for carbon accounting, decarbonisation and ESG reporting for businesses.

Lubomila Jordanova

Lubomila Jordanova founded Plan A which provides an award-winning science and AI-powered SaaS platform for carbon accounting, decarbonisation and ESG reporting for businesses.

Nicolas De Santis

Nicolas De Santis founded Beenz (the first-ever web currency prior to blockchain), Opodo (€1.2 BN in sales), is one of the co-shapers of the Euro, and the founder & CEO of Corporate Vision.

Nicolas De Santis

Nicolas De Santis founded Beenz (the first-ever web currency prior to blockchain), Opodo (€1.2 BN in sales), is one of the co-shapers of the Euro, and the founder & CEO of Corporate Vision.

Christian Kroll
Vaitea Cowan

Vaitea Cowan is the Co-Founder of Enapter, an energy startup that is rendering green hydrogen cheaper than fossil fuels. She is on the Forbes Under 30 in Energy 2020 list.

Vaitea Cowan

Vaitea Cowan is the Co-Founder of Enapter, an energy startup that is rendering green hydrogen cheaper than fossil fuels. She is on the Forbes Under 30 in Energy 2020 list.

Amar Shah
Sidar Sahin
Max von Bismarck

Max von Bismarck is a European serial entrepreneur. He is Chief Business Officer & Managing Director of Deposit Solutions, an Open Banking pioneer building the new industry standard for the global USD 50 trillion savings deposit market.

Max von Bismarck

Max von Bismarck is a European serial entrepreneur. He is Chief Business Officer & Managing Director of Deposit Solutions, an Open Banking pioneer building the new industry standard for the global USD 50 trillion savings deposit market.

Jens Wasel

Jens is founder of KW Commerce which he bootstrapped to $100 Mio in turnover. Jens was Managing Director of SellerX (unicorn), is a board member of Oetker Digital and founder of Scale Invest.

Jens Wasel

Jens is founder of KW Commerce which he bootstrapped to $100 Mio in turnover. Jens was Managing Director of SellerX (unicorn), is a board member of Oetker Digital and founder of Scale Invest.

Dr. Patrick Nathen
David Rowan

David Rowan is founding Editor-in-chief of WIRED UK, investor in more than 80 startups (7 unicorns) and founded VOYAGERS, including their Climate-Tech and Health-Tech Funds.

David Rowan

David Rowan is founding Editor-in-chief of WIRED UK, investor in more than 80 startups (7 unicorns) and founded VOYAGERS, including their Climate-Tech and Health-Tech Funds.

Andrej Henkler
Ricardo Pires

Ricardo Pires is CEO of billion-dollar conglomerate Semapa, and an active investor, e.g. in the world-renowned investment firm Lakestar.

Ricardo Pires

Ricardo Pires is CEO of billion-dollar conglomerate Semapa, and an active investor, e.g. in the world-renowned investment firm Lakestar.

Eric Steinberger

Eric Steinberger is the Co-founder and CEO of ClimateScience and magic.dev (€10 Mio raised). Eric has worked at MIT and Facebook AI – before completing his first year at the University of Cambridge.

Eric Steinberger

Eric Steinberger is the Co-founder and CEO of ClimateScience and magic.dev (€10 Mio raised). Eric has worked at MIT and Facebook AI – before completing his first year at the University of Cambridge.

Alex Grots

Alex Grots is the co-founder and CCO of EWOR. was a Managing Director (EU) at IDEO, is one of the co-inventors of Design Thinking, and founded ProGlove (half-billion € exit).

Florian Huber

Florian Huber is the founder of united-domains (sold to 1&1 Group), neubau kompass AG, and Signature Ventures (VC). He is Business Angel of the Year and invested in more than 50 tech startups.

Daniel Dippold

Daniel Dippold founded NEWNOW Group (€1 Mio sales within first year), Sigma Squared Society (world’s largest youth entrepreneurship community), and Emoti (tech sold).

Paul H. Müller

Paul is the co-founder of Adjust (add €1.2BN exit), which powers thousands of apps with built-in intelligence and automation, backed by responsive global customer support.

Paul is a prominent angel investor and race car enthusiast.

Valerie Bures

Valerie Bures founded Mrs.Sporty and is among the top 5 of Europe’s most successful female entrepreneurs.

Renaud Visage

Renaud Visage founded Eventbrite (€2BN IPO).

Felix Haas

Felix Haas founded IDNow (unicorn), Bits & Pretzels and multiple other successful ventures.

Lubomila Jordanova

Lubomila Jordanova founded Plan A which provides an award-winning science and AI-powered SaaS platform for carbon accounting, decarbonisation and ESG reporting for businesses.

Co-Founder of Greentech Alliance.

MIT Under 35 Innovator.

Nicolas De Santis

Nicolas De Santis founded Beenz (the first-ever web currency prior to blockchain).

Founder of Opodo (€1.2 BN in sales).

He is one of the co-shapers of the Euro.

Founder & CEO of Corporate Vision.

Christian Kroll

Christian Kroll founded Ecosia, which is Europe’s largest search engine after Google and planted over 186 million trees.

Vaitea Cowan

Vaitea Cowan is the Co-Founder of Enapter (640 MN IPO), an energy startup that is rendering green hydrogen cheaper than fossil fuels.

She is on the Forbes Under 30 in Energy 2020 list.

Amar Shah

Amar Shah founded wayve.ai, an autonomous-driving unicorn valued at €1BN+ with Bill Gates driving in one of their cars.

Sidar Sahin

Sidar Sahin founded Peak Games (€1.8BN exit).

Alex Schwörer

Alex Schwörer is the owner of PERI - one of the world’s leading suppliers of scaffolding systems - which has 70 international subsidiaries and employs over 9,400 people worldwide. He is also an active angel with an incredible eye for spotting future leaders.

Jens Wasel

Jens is founder of KW Commerce which he bootstrapped to $100 Mio in turnover.

Jens was Managing Director of SellerX (unicorn), is a board member of Oetker Digital and founder of Scale Invest.

Alex Schwörer

Alex Schwörer is the owner of PERI - one of the world’s leading suppliers of scaffolding systems - which has 70 international subsidiaries and employs over 9,400 people worldwide. He is also an active angel with an incredible eye for spotting future leaders.

Max von Bismarck

Max von Bismarck is a European serial entrepreneur. He is Chief Business Officer & Managing Director of Deposit Solutions, an Open Banking pioneer building the new industry standard for the global USD 50 trillion savings deposit market.

Andrej Henkler

Andrej Henkler is a serial entrepreneur who invested in over 15 unicorns.

FAQ