Media Startup Fellowship
Launch your media startup with us!
No matter if you are still in the midst of the idea phase or if you have already passed into the early stage of prototyping and developing an MVP: We will support your startup with high-quality coaching and with a funding pool of up to € 50.000 in order for you to develop innovative digital media products.
Quick Facts
Funding amount
40.000 €
Duration
9 Months
Location
Remote / Munich
Language
German / English
9 months to bring your startup to the NEXT LEVEL
Set Up | 10.000 € Payout
The first phase of the fellowship is about future-proofing your startup through structured testing & strategic decisions.
Coaching Topics:
- Vision & Validation
- Finance
- Pitch
Build Up | 10.000 € Payout
We support you in setting up structures in the areas of marketing, sales, network development and company organization.
Coaching Topics:
- Marketing
- Sales
- Venture Design
Rise Up | 20.000 € Payout
Now is the time! In the final phase, we are focussing on your future financial stability and growth beyond the program.
Coaching Topics:
- Fundraising
- Finance
- Pitch
Remote, hybrid & Co Working Space
As in previous years, our program will take place in both a remote and hybrid working model. During the 9-month period, some face-to-face sessions such as coachings and workshops might take place on-site. Therefore, we would be very happy to welcome you at our Media Lab offices in Munich for those occasions. Naturally, you can also use our coworking space!
Please plan ahead and take into consideration that the Trial Run will definitely take place on site! During this multi-day event, we will choose the startups that will be accepted into the fellowship. In spring, the program will have its kick-off with the startup school.
Timeline of the Fellowship
Application Deadline
Until the given deadline, you have time to complete and send your application. In the meantime, feel free to get acquainted with the program. You may already know some of the startups that had been part of the Fellowship.
Trial Run
The Trial Run is a three-day workshop that will take place on site. During the workshop, you will have the chance to get to know us, experience first coachings as well as challenges and network with further media startups. We, on the other hand, will be able to get a first-hand impression of your work methods. On the third day, an external jury will help us decide which teams will proceed with the fellowship.
Phase I
During the first two weeks for the program, you can expect an intensive workshop phase. As a founder, please dedicate some extra time for this phase. Throughout the fellowship, a resident coach and expert coaches will support and guide you on your journey.
Payout 10.000 €
Phase II
At our Pitch day during the end of the first phase, you have successfully qualified for the next step. That means that you and your common fellows will enter the Sales Phase of the program. The regular coachings will continue and intensify.
Payout 10.000 €
Phase III
As in the previous phase, you will once again hold your ground on Pitch Day in order to continue to Phase III. Depending on your individual situation, the commenced coachings will either be continued or be tailored to your needs. The program ends with a Demo Day.
Payout 20.000 €
We put the interests of startups first
No equity? No problem.
Our fellowship startups benefit from our government funding pool.
We won’t claim any share of your startup.
Really? Really! Zero percent.
You are our Rockstars!
We make your challenges our priority and will provide not only financial but also strategic support.
Use our free co-working space!
We offer a modern office and the possibility to exchange ideas with other founders.
Let’s network!
Make use of our vast network and meet the media professionals that will accelerate your startup the most
Community Love ❤
Once a Media Lab family member, always a Media Lab family member - as a fellow, you are now part of our fantastic community.
Everything you need to be part of the Media Startup Fellowship
Topic
Your Startup ought to revolutionize the media industry
And to emphasize the importance of it: We really do mean media industry. We’re not talking about the sectors of, say, finance or agriculture. In a nutshell: We are talking about every digital solution or technology that will help media companies, journalists or publishers. This includes:
- Content
- Software & Workflows
- Bots & AI
- AdTech
- AR & VR & 360°
- Payment
- Data & Analytics
- Personalization
- Data Driven Publishing
- Film(tech)
Prototype
Prototype available for a media product?
We are looking for teams that are serious about founding. Your company doesn't have to be officially founded yet, but you should be able to prove to us that you can actually build a product, by having a working prototype at hand already.
Innovation
Truly innovative?
We're not looking for the next random blog on any topic - unless you have plans to scale up to a digital publisher. We support plans that innovate with new technology and do something completely different with digital media.
Questions that keep coming up
How do you define "media startup"?
The goal of a media startup is to provide a service for journalists, publishers and other media companies. This can be done via the creation of own content or via technical solutions that support the content of others. Whether platforms, SaaS models, or a special interest content startup, as long as your solution can be applied by media companies, you are right with us.
Topics
- Messaging & Bots
- AI, Algorithms, Machine Learning
- Data- und Robot Journalism
- Payment, Paid Content, New Business Models
- Distributed & Social Media
- Personalized & Atomized Content
- Audio & Podcasting
- 360°-Video, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality
- Mobile Storytelling & Reporting
- Media Ad Tech, Native Advertising
- Influencer, Marketing, PR
- Tech-Startups
CMS & Services
- Tools for Newsrooms
- Ad Tech
- Platforms
- B2C Products, Apps
- Film(tech)
Content-Startups
- Formats for New Technologies (Bots, Algorithms, etc.)
- Platform Formats (Messenger, Live, Snapchat)
- Innovative Advertising Formats
- Media Brands for Special Interest Topics
How far along does the idea have to be?
If you haven't validated your idea yet (= a hundred people asked if they want your product and you received a YES!) then it's more like an Idea Sprint, Workshop or one of our other programs for you. But if you already have enough feedback from potential users, then apply for the Fellowship! Our coaches will help you with your business plan, design and prototyping.
Do I already have to have all team members fixed?
Your team should work for the product. If you build a software, you should have coder on board. If you are working on content and formats, you should have a storyteller on board. During the six months you'll be working on prototyping, so you'll have to be able to implement the input. If there's still too much missing, join one of our other programs!
How much time do I have to spend?
The Media Startup Fellowship is a full-time program. You work 9 months on the product and get a prototyping budget for it. Once a week there is a set coaching session, in between there are mentor meetings and theme workshops and you will present your projects at evening events and conferences among the Media Lab community. You can only do that if you are fully committed. If a part of the team is only working part time, commitment is still possible - as long as you are able to make decisions on a daily basis and can be present at all meetings, you will be a fit for our program.
Are we going to get funding from you?
Each team receives up to 40,000 Euros in prototyping budget. We trust you will make the right decision when considering whether to spend the money on caviar, a trip to New York, or programming individual features.
Are you taking any stakes in our startup?
No.
"What? Really?"
No. Really not. Cool, right? Come to us!
Can international teams apply?
They can, but they need to have a business case in the German-speaking region. We are located in Munich and most of our network is from here. The focus of the program is to get startups started in the GSA-media market.
So if you are located somewhere else and you are targeting users and customers outside of the region, the Media Startup Fellowship is not the right fit for you.
Can I participate if I want to use a technology to develop a business case in the media industry?
Yes, absolutely!
Do you also fund film projects?
We support startups that provide technologies, digital tools and approaches that advance the film industry. This includes innovative digital products of any kind that make working in film easier. The Media Startup Fellowship is not a film grant, so direct funding of films is excluded.
Can I apply without revealing my idea?
No, you can't :)