Research 2 Venture

From idea to venture opportunity

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The BRYCK Research2Venture helps you turn your research into a first business model.

In 6 weeks, you'll get ...

A clarified opportunity

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, PropTech & Real Estate, Personalized Medicine, Chemistry

Next dates & deadlines:

  • September 7 | Application opens
  • November 11 | Application deadline
  • Last week of November | Pre-boarding & preparation
  • December 9 & 10 | Phase 1: Kick-off & 2 days on-site workshops, in Essen
  • December 11 – February 9 | Phase 2: 5-week validation phase, remote
  • February 10 & 11 | Phase 3: 2 days on-site workshops & pitch event, in Essen

Program details

Our goal is to help you understand whether your research can become the foundation for a scalable venture and to define the most relevant next step.

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 short intro videos on business models and customer discovery.

Phase 1: Explore

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 4-week validation phase.

Phase 2: Validate

4-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: Synthesise & pitch

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 first 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.

Explore our open calls

BRYCK Research2Venture

// November 11 // Application deadline
// Last week of November // Pre-boarding & preparation
// December 9 – February 11 // Program execution in three phases, combining two 2-day on-site workshop blocks in Essen with a remote validation phase in between
// Focus areas // Water, Energy, PropTech & Real Estate, Personalized Medicine, Chemistry

Ready to turn your research into a venture opportunity? In BRYCK Research2Venture, you get to know potential customers and target groups, uncover their problems and needs, and test your assumptions through 10–15 customer or expert interviews. With hands-on support from experienced mentors and industry experts, you turn these insights into promising applications and a first business model — gaining the clarity needed to take your next step toward the market.

Apply now Read more

Contact

Larissa Gajewski

Startup Program Manager

Larissa Gajewski

Marco Herbst

Startup Program Associate

Marco Herbst