Incubator
Ignition
from pilot
to market readiness
Awesome to see you want to apply
Check if this is the right program for you
- Target point at the beginning of the program: You are ready to go into a pilot phase with pilot customers.
- Goal at the end of the program: You are prepared to the point where you can achieve market readiness.
- Previous programs: e.g. EXIST, Hessen-Ideen-Stipendium, AI Startup Rising Startup Competition or Lean AI Startup Funding, …
- Follow-up program: AI Startup Rising’s accelerator program.
Unsure if you should apply?
What you need
to apply
Application for the 2026 batch will open on December 12, 2025 – Deadline is January 12, 2026.
The application runs via the Link below. You register and present your startup along these points:
- Team: Who is in the founding team or advisory board and what is your legal form?
- Vision and impact: What problem are you addressing and what is your approach to solving it? What impact and benefit will result if you are successful?
- Innovation and USP: What is innovative about your startup? How can you stand out from existing solutions?
- AI usage: In what ways are you using machine learning, data science, or AI?
- Target groups and market: Who benefits from your solution and how large is the market volume?
- Business model: What is your business model?
- Development to date and status quo: What have you already developed, which programs have you participated in so far and what is the current status?
- Pilot phase to market maturity: How do you want to use the incubator program? Where are your needs and what is particularly relevant for your next development step?
Application
The application for the third batch (2026) opens at December 12.
Deadline is January 12, 2026, at high-noon!
After your application, we will make a pre-selection based on the following question:
How well does your startup fit the AI Startup Rising “Ignition” programme? (Right phase, team + expertise, goals in the programme)
Next steps:
Your application will be analysed and you will be invited to a 1:1 session 12th until 16th of January.
You will receive a link where you can book a time-slot according to your preference.
In 45min you will present your startup vision in 10 slides. We will have enough time to walk through your demo and clarify relevant questions and details.
The external jury session will be on 19th of January.
Selected teams will start with a kick-off on 26th of January.