Incubator

Turn your research into a business model, sharpen your market perspective through customer interviews and explore the market potential of your technology.

The BRYCK Incubator is a 6-week program to test customer needs and build your first business model.

In 6 weeks, you'll get ...

A validated application field

Real customer & expert insights

A first business model

Program Overview

Target group:

PhD candidates, postdocs, researchers, scientific staff, professors, and research-driven teams with a concrete technology or research project

Cost:

Free for all participants

Format & duration:

6 weeks in total, designed as a triple sprint with 4 on-site workshop days and a virtual validation phase in between

Focus areas:

Water, Energy, Secure & Intelligent Systems, Personalized Medicine

Next dates & deadlines:

  • TBD | Application opens
  • TBD | Application deadline
  • October 20 | Pre-boarding & preparation
  • October 29 & 30 | Kick-off & 2 days on-site workshops, in Essen
  • October 31 – December 2 | 5-week validation phase, remote
  • December 3 & 4 | 2 days on-site workshops & pitch event, in Essen

Program details

Application & selection process

You apply by filling out the application form with key information about your research project. This helps us understand your focus and where our support can create the most value. Your application will be reviewed by industry experts and BRYCK mentors who evaluate your technology, market potential and fit with the program.

Pre-boarding

Before the on-site kick-off, you receive relevant materials, the timeline and expectations for the program. As preparation, each team creates a short 1-pager on their technology and watches two short intro videos on business models and customer discovery. If needed, an optional Q&A call helps clarify open questions before the kick-off.

Phase 1: Research-to-market strategy

2-day on-site kick-off in Essen

The program starts with a 2-day sprint, where you move from a research to a market perspective. You identify where your technology could create real value, map potential application fields and translate your research into first customer problems and use cases. You leave with a clear validation focus, defined customer segments, testable hypotheses, an interview guide and a clear plan for the 5-week validation phase.

Phase 2: Customer discovery & validation

5-week virtual validation phase

After the kick-off, you enter the validation phase. During this phase, each team conducts 10-15 customer or expert interviews. Two virtual check-ins help you reflect on first learnings, correct course early, exchange with peers and sharpen your hypotheses. You leave with structured market feedback, validated or rejected assumptions, sharper customer segments and a clearer value proposition.

Phase 3: Synthesis, pitch & next-steps

2-day on-site sprint in Essen

The programme closes with a 2-day on-site sprint, where turn your validation learnings into a first business model foundation. You refine your story, practise your pitch and present your venture potential to industry experts, founders and ecosystem partners. You leave with a first venture concept and a clear next-step decision: keep validating, start first market activities, explore transfer options or move towards a startup pathway.

Almuni network

As part of the BRYCK Startup Alliance community and our growing national and international ecosystem, you can access alumni activities, community events and follow-on opportunities beyond the program — from formats like the BRYCK Sprint to further support within the BRYCK ecosystem.

Application requirements

Bring your research based business idea:

You join with a concrete scientific project, technology or research result that shows potential for a product idea, use case or business opportunity.

Entrepreneurial curiosity:

You are motivated to explore whether this idea can solve a real customer problem and become the basis for a viable business model — no startup background required.

Collaborative mindset:

You are open to exchanging ideas with other research-driven teams, sharing feedback and learning from expert perspectives throughout the program.

On-site participation:

You can join the full program in person and actively participate in the validation phase between both on-site blocks.

Contact

Larissa Gajewski

Startup Program Manager

Larissa Gajewski

Keep me updated!