Why the startup scene needs more variety
Whether agriculture, HR, communications, medicine, banking or education: all major industries are currently enriched by innovative startups. The developments of recent years prove that young companies can change the world. Especially on the rise: founders. Although just about every seventh startup of women is currently founded – but with resounding success: On average, female-run startups generate 40 percent more profit than their male counterparts.
A development that Grace Summer Camp would like to further promote: Founders from different backgrounds will be offered a springboard here to drive development with diversity – and to strengthen the start-up generation of tomorrow.
Maximizing success with Grace – how it works!
Applicants who are interested in founding may apply with very good German language skills. Whether they are working or just finishing their studies, it does not matter. A first idea for your own startup may already exist, but it is not absolutely necessary.
This year’s Grace Summer Camp will take place from July 31st to August 16th in Berlin. During these 2.5 intensive weeks, 20 participants will have the opportunity to develop their startup from the initial idea through the concept to the finished pitch. They are supported by 50 strong mentors, diverse partners and professional coaches. The mentors come from different fields and strengthen the participants in skills such as innovation, entrepreneurship, investment strategy, prototyping, financial modeling and marketing. In addition to this multidisciplinary expertise, the founders of tomorrow can look forward to an extensive network.
Who is behind the Grace Summer Camp?
Grace – Accelerate Female Entrepreneurship is an initiative of the Berlin strategy agency Ignore Gravity, which is implemented in close partnership with She’s Mercedes. She’s Mercedes is an enterprise-wide initiative of Mercedes-Benz with the aim of providing women worldwide with a platform to exchange ideas, develop new ideas and make contacts. Among other things, Ignore Gravity is responsible for the successful LEAD Sports Accelerator.
The Grace Summer Camp will take place for the second time this year and by 2018 it has been able to attract diverse participants from fields such as Data Science and Beauty. Strong corporate partnerships and media attention were also created by the camp. The program focuses on a long-term community spirit: the participants will be supported by Grace beyond the summer camp.
“If in doubt – do it!”
The namesake of the program, Grace Hopper, was the first successful programmer of our time. The pioneer was honored with over 90 awards and was the first woman to win the National Medal of Technology award. Her motto was “If in doubt – do it!” The American computer scientist is a good example of successful women in innovative industries.
Grace – Accelerate Female Entrepreneurship builds on this and contributes actively to making the German-speaking start-up scene more diverse. There are plenty of reasons: With a success rate of 61 percent, female-led startups achieve above-average success rates. The Boston Consulting Group also found that startups with at least one founder generate 78 cents for every dollar of funding, while only men earn 31 cents. Andrea Pfundmeier, Grace Summer Camp mentor and CEO of Secomba GmbH, has dared to take the step to founding in 2011 right after graduation. She says, “My experience as a tech founder is very positive. Of course I made mistakes – but I quickly forgot them because I learned from them. Most people also felt like helping us with the foundation. Who wants to hear a panel of ten men at a conference these days? “So it’s worth your while to apply!
In the Grace Summer Camp aspiring founders can discuss with like-minded people and develop their ideas.
What benefits do the participants expect?
From Artificial Intelligence to Blockchain, Social Justice, Food, Fashion and Medicine to Finance: 50 mentors provide the participants with expert knowledge from various fields and support them with their experience and their network.
Concrete implementation
The participants develop their own startup: from the idea to the concept to the finished pitch. They get coaching in areas such as legal, marketing, finance and VC.
Personal development
In addition, important entrepreneurial skills such as leadership, storytelling and decision-making are strengthened, promising the participants success in their startup.
Inspiration and new methods
The prospective founders visit successful startups and talk extensively with experienced founders. They also learn about new methods such as design thinking and agile working.
Fellow activists
The participants meet motivated like-minded people who pursue the same goal. Together they develop, support each other and celebrate small and big successes. Maybe they even get together and start a joint startup.