Our Summer School for Diverse Startups is back with a new batch. Powered by SpinLab and HHL Digital Space, the programme is dedicated to advancing inclusion and equal opportunities within the startup ecosystem. It supports founders from underrepresented backgrounds in overcoming structural barriers, strengthening their visibility, expanding their networks, and bringing their ideas to a wider audience across Germany. This year’s edition is backed by a strong network of partners, including EDIH Saxony, the City of Leipzig, Ostwerk, TGFS, S-Beteiligungen, and Germany Trade & Invest.

The Leipzig Summer School for Diverse Startups, an initiative by SpinLab and HHL Digital Space, returns for its fifth year. Once again, it will support early-stage startups led by underrepresented founders. The program offers participants a customized experience to help them develop and refine their business ideas.

SpinLab - The HHL Accelerator and HHL Digital Space are organizing the fourth “Leipzig Summer School for Diverse Startups” to support underrepresented founders. It is designed to support diverse early-stage startups, providing them with a tailored program to develop their business ideas. The primary goal is to empower underrepresented founders, dismantle barriers to success, and foster an inclusive startup ecosystem. This year's summer school program is supported by the EDIH Saxony, City of Leipzig, Sächsische Aufbaubank,DELL Technologies, Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen, S-Beteiligungen, Spreadshirt and Germany Trade and Invest. 

From July 24 to 28, 2023, HHL DIGITAL SPACE and SpinLab - The HHL Accelerator is joining forces to support diverse startups in their early stages with a tailored program to evolve their business idea. The goal of the "Leipzig Summer School for Diverse Startups" is to empower underrepresented founders, break down barriers to success and create an inclusive startup ecosystem. The program is supported by the City of Leipzig, Sächsische Aufbaubank, EDIH Saxony, Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen, S-Beteiligungen and Germany Trade and Invest.

Central German, as well as international teams, come together in Leipzig to strengthen their entrepreneurial skills. The professional, free program offers participants interactive workshops on important topics such as sales, marketing, and financing, led by experienced mentors, investors, and coaches. The city of Leipzig supports the program as a cooperation partner and will present the "Digital Award," endowed with 2,000 euros, for the second time during the Summer School closing event on July 27 in the new city hall of Leipzig.

Patron Burkhard Jung, Mayor of the City of Leipzig:

"Openness brings progress and development; in this context, openness is not limited to technical or entrepreneurial aspects. Social and intellectual openness are also in demand. That is what the Digital Award  and Summer School for Diverse Startups stands for. This is exactly what we need in our city."

SpinLab and HHL DIGITAL SPACE create an inclusive environment for diverse startups in Saxony

Eric Weber, CEO of SpinLab - The HHL Accelerator, summarizes:

"The Leipzig Summer School for Diverse Startups helps to promote diversity and innovation in the startup scene. The Leipzig startup ecosystem, with its broad network and diverse initiatives, offers valuable support to aspiring founders from all over Europe to successfully implement their ideas in Saxony."

Francie Lange, Incubation Manager of HHL DIGITAL SPACE:

"The Summer School for diverse startups will take place for the third time in 2023. Diversity is in focus with the goal of promoting underrepresented founders and breaking down barriers. It also strengthens the inclusive and entrepreneurial environment in Leipzig. The incubator HHL DIGITAL SPACE and the accelerator SpinLab support the startups in terms of content. In addition, we are very pleased that mayor Burkhard Jung is taking over the patronage of the Summer School."

The next Summer School For Diverse Startups will kick off soon! This time we teamed up with the incubator HHL Digital Space. Diversity drives company success. That’s a result many studies have shown. Yet, diverse startups still lack access to networks and resources like funding. Our mission: more diversity, equality and inclusion in the startup world. Of course this cannot be achieved alone. It’s a major challenge that we must tackle together. We are extremely happy to have strong partners who support our important mission. As a partner we could win the city of Leipzig, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) and Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen.

The first SpinLab Summer School for diverse Startups is over and we are still overwhelmed by all the impressions. From the 12th to the 16th of July, six diverse startups from different industries (meet them further down in the article) completed an intensive week covering the topics of financing, marketing, sales, HR and leadership. The mentoring program was fully packed with different workshops, professional pitch training and individual sessions with leading experts from practice. The highlight of the week was on Thursday evening, when the founders presented their business ideas to the public. Again, congratulations to Mentessa and Yance Sports for winning the pitch event! We will see both teams additionally at the selection days, where they will have the chance to become part of SpinLab’s main program.