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

First batch application
now open

Application deadline: November 6, 2022

Program duration: Nov 2022 – Feb 2023

RISING

The AI Startup Rising Accelerator is a 3 months program aiming to support startups with an AI-centric business model in their scale-up stage. Rising runs once a year and offers a variety of different benefits such as price money, mentoring, recruiting, politics and expert evenings and preparations for bigger investments. The included workshops especially address the topics internationalization, sales scale-up and funding readiness for later rounds.

You get

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10k price money

Every chosen accelerator startup receives 10,000€ price money to spend freely.

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World class mentors

You’ll get access to world class startup and AI mentors from science and industry from the hessian.AI network.

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Fireside chat with Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus

Be part of an exclusive fireside with Hesse’s Minister for Digital Strategy and Development.

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Marketing & recruiting support

Receive marketing and recruiting support from experts and members of the hessian.AI network throughout the complete program.

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Final investor pitch

After 3 months of support you will have the chance to pitch in front of VCs, Business Angels and Corporate CEOs for feedback and funding.

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Exclusive workshops

Participate in 5 exclusive workshops designed for AI scale-ups looking to internationalize with a solid AI foundation. Find more details below.

Workshop Modules

International sales

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Sooner or later, scalable startups in the growth phase must focus on internationalization and consistently deal with expansion into additional markets. This applies in particular to AI startups, which must position themselves internationally at an early stage in view of the high competitive pressure. The module therefore addresses the questions how and why internationalization should be approached. Experienced sales specialists introduce the topic in terms of content and methodology and convey this in a case-related manner and with 1:1 coaching. The goal is to formulate an international sales strategy in the context of the company’s growth strategy. Milestones are the examination of the product-market fit and a go-to-market strategy for other countries/markets.

Investment roadmap

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The module addresses the question: How does one ideally prepare for investment rounds in the growth phase? What perspective do investors have on start-ups and scale-ups and what mindset characterizes them? What investment models are there and what are their advantages and disadvantages? What is the ideal investment roadmap from start-up to scale-up? Scaling and growth strategies often succeed through investments such as venture capital. How and why this should be approached is the content of this module. Experienced investment specialists introduce the topic in terms of content and methodology and convey this in a case-related manner and with 1:1 coaching. The aim is to further develop the investment strategy in the context of the company’s growth strategy.

Assure AI technological quality

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How can existing products be optimized on the software and hardware side? What is the difference between good and excellent code? How can current AI developments and trends be integrated in the construction of long-term stable systems? What is the importance of security for the product? Leading AI experts will provide impulses and take a look at the teams’ architectures in 1:1 sessions. The goal is the continuous improvement of the respective solutions and the implementation of state-of-the-art technologies and algorithms.

Team building and management

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AI startups face immense challenges in recruiting employees. The module therefore addresses the question: How can IT professionals with AI expertise be recruited and where do you find the right employees? How do you develop and implement a recruitment strategy? How do you build the startup team specifically by competencies? How do you organize the team effectively? How do you motivate and incentivize your team in the medium to long term? Experienced HR experts introduce the topic in terms of content and methodology and convey this in a case-related manner and with 1:1 coaching. The goal is the further development of the team and the best possible recruitment and retention of employees in the scale-up phase. In addition, innovative models for employee recruitment, participation and compensation are presented to the teams.

Increase team performance

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How do we organize teamwork in the growth phase? How do we create orientation in the team, increase agility, self-organization, trust and performance? How do we connect a corporate strategy with the daily doings? How do we build an effective target system in times of location and time flexible work models? Which tools can be helpful? Experienced change managers introduce the topic in terms of content and methodology and convey this in a case-related manner and with 1:1 coaching. The goal is professionalization in the essential processes through the introduction of a target system.

Interested?

Get in Touch to apply for the next Round