Welcome Speech
from Dr. Ing. Jan-Peter Seevers, Co-Founder, Veli.
Accelerator
RISING
from AI Startup
to AI Scale-up
You are
an AI-centric startup
looking to scale-up sales
and internationalize?
Then get ready to RISE
Third batch application is open:
Program duration: January 2025 – April 2025
RISING
The AI Startup Rising Accelerator is a tailored 3 months accelerator program aiming to support a limited number of startups with an AI-centric business model in their scale-up stage.
RISING runs once a year and offers qualified support in all areas of the growth process, including workshops, coaching, targeted advice, a prize money of 10,000€ per team, support in public relations and recruitment, and networking with hessian.AI partners, mentors, and investors.
You get
10k price money
Every chosen accelerator startup receives 10,000€ price money to spend freely.
World class mentors
You’ll get access to world class startup and AI mentors from science and industry from the hessian.AI network.
Exclusive workshops
Participate in four exclusive workshops designed for AI scale-ups looking to internationalize with a solid AI foundation. Find more details below.
Access to local AI Infrastructure in Darmstadt
Access to the unique high-performance AI infrastructure optimized for AI workloads at the Darmstadt site.
Workshop Modules
Scaling Sales
Coaching: Jan Klein (Gentea)
Kick-off on 4th February 2025
This module helps AI startups formulate a robust sales strategy to scale their growth. It covers topics such as identifying target markets, developing a sales funnel, and effective sales techniques. The module also includes practical exercises and case studies.
Investment for AI Startups
Coaching: Ingo Franz (Vectorpilot)
Kick-off on 4th February 2025
This module prepares AI startups for investment rounds during their growth phase. It covers topics such as understanding the investment landscape, preparing a compelling pitch, and negotiating with investors. The module also includes mock investment pitches.
AI Ethics and AI Regulations (AI Act)
Workshop on 3rd March 2025
This module focuses on the ethical and regulatory landscape of the AI industry. It covers topics such as understanding the AI Act, navigating regulatory compliance, and ethical considerations in AI development. The module includes case studies and discussions.
Leadership Module for AI Founders
Coaching: Stephanie Renda/Daniel Kraft (Moinland)
Workshop on 4th March 2025
This module equips AI founders with the leadership skills to lead a growing startup. It covers team motivation, decision-making strategies, and conflict resolution. The module also includes leadership exercises and role-playing scenarios.
Key Events
Kick-off Event
This collaborative event with teams from the “AI Startup Competition” serves as an opportunity for networking and collaboration. The event includes team introductions, keynote speeches, and networking sessions.
Investor Speed Dating
This online event provides startups an opportunity to meet and pitch to a variety of investors in a speed dating format. Startups from both the AISR Accelerator Program and the AI Startup Competition participate in this event.
Final Pitch Event
This culminating event allows startups to present their progress and pitch their business to a panel of investors, industry experts, and the wider startup community. Startups from both the AISR Accelerator Program and the AI Startup Competition participate in this event.
Our RISING Mentors 2025:
RISING 2025 – Program Details
VIEW Program Details RISING 2025
January 2025
• 5th January: End Application Phase
• 8th January: Internal selection
• 13th - 17th January: Assessment Week 1
• 20th - 24th January: Assessment Week 2
• 24th Januar: Jury Short-List (download ics-file)
February 2025
• 3rd – 4th February: Kick-Off Event Accelerator RISING + Startup Competition (download ics-file)
• 10th February: Mini Check-in Teams
• 20th February: Check-In Mentors
• 21st February: Check-In Teams
March 2025
• 3rd March: Workshop AI Ethics and AI Regulations (AI Act) (download ics-file)
• 4th March: Workshop Team & Module Leadership
• 20th March: Investor Speed Dating (download ics-file)
• 17th March: Mini Check-In Teams
• 27th March: Check-In Mentors
• 28th March: Check-In Teams
April 2025
• 23rd April: AIConnects (Final Event) (download ics-file)
Impressions from the Accelerator 2023/2024
Leadership-Workshop
with Daniel Kraft, Co-Founder from Moinland.
Accelerator Fair
with all our Accelerator Startups from 2022 & 2023. The picture shows: Anticipate, Cyreen, deepls, Proteineer, summetix, and WIANCO OTT Robotics.
Closing Dinner in Frankfurt
Interested?
ApplY NOW!
RISING Cohort 2024/2025
RISING Cohort 2023/2024
RISING Cohort 2022/2023
"As a startup accelerator, AI Startup Rising offered support in a variety of ways. Through various workshop formats, topics such as investor readiness, employee recruitment, decision-making within the company and aspects of the customer journey were addressed. This support has helped to strengthen the respective areas and promote the growth and development of the company."
"AI Startup Rising simply has a great network! The time we spent with the selected coaches helped us massively, especially in the area of investment readiness!"
"Through its programme, AI Startup Rising has given us access to top experts from the business world and thus sustainably promoted our product development."
