9 months to bring your startup to the NEXT LEVEL
COMMITMENT
Remote, hybrid & Co Working Space
Timeline of the Fellowship
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Application Deadline
Until August 6, 2023 (11:59pm)
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.
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Trial Run
September 5, 2023 until September 7, 2023
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.
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Phase I
October 16, 2023 until January 25, 2024
Payout 10.000 €The Media Startup Fellowship will officially start on October 16, 2023. 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.
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Phase II
January 26, 2023 until April 18, 2024
Payout 10.000 €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.
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Phase III
April 4, 2024 until September 18, 2024
Payout 20.000 €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.
We put the interests of startups first.
REQUIREMENTS AND FUNDING PROGRAM
Everything you need to be part of the Media Startup Fellowship
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)
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.
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.
This year our program will take place remotely again. However, some of the dates (pitch days, coachings, workshops, ...) might take place on site during the 9-months program. We will announce the dates in advance and we would be happy to welcome you at our Media Lab office in Munich.
Dates you should already block in your calendar:
In any case, you should be prepared for the Trial Run to take place at the middle of October. This remote workshop will decide who will be accepted into the Fellowship. The program itself will start in November with the Startup School, which will be the fundament of the following 9 months.
FAQ - 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!
Do I have to be in Munich to participate?
Unlike in recent years, you do not have to be in Munich full-time. This year, the program will again take place remotely. There might be a couple of on-site dates for workshops and coaching sessions for which you might have to travel in Munich.
In any case, you should be prepared for the trial run in Munich in October. During this workshop, which lasts several days, it will be decided who will be accepted into the Fellowship. The program itself starts in November with the Startup School.
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 :)
