Interdisciplinary collaboration fosters a diversity of ideas
“We are delighted by the tremendous interest in this year’s Spring School, for which we had a very long waiting list and, unfortunately, could only offer 30 spots. What makes the School special is that students from different academic disciplines come together here and develop truly innovative ideas through their diverse perspectives,” says Dr. Alexander Küsshauer, who organizes the Spring School as a start-up coach at the Transfer Center enaCom.
Participants came from fields such as the natural sciences, economics, and law, as well as agricultural sciences and philosophy. They worked on various ideas that they were tasked with preparing for potential commercialization. These included, for example, technical innovations such as filters that separate oil from water or keep microplastics out of washing machines, or digital applications such as a learning app for children with speech difficulties or an app for lawyers. Creative approaches from the arts, as well as projects aimed at improving healthcare in Uganda or promoting healthier eating, were also developed.
Hands-On Learning
Over the course of five days, the teams went through every stage of idea development: from the initial concept to the final pitch. They learned professional methods and tools for business model development and validation, as well as presentation techniques, and applied them directly in practice. At the finale on the last day, the teams presented their ideas in pitch presentations.
Support for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
The Transfer Center enaCom offers support for bringing ideas to life even beyond the Start-up School. Aspiring entrepreneurs can further develop their ideas through individual consulting and workshops on entrepreneurship topics such as financing, business models, sales, and much more.
Start-up School Also in the Summer
Start-up Schools are held twice a year. The next Start-up Summer School will take place from August 10–14, 2026.
