Our pre-seed startup program, backed by the Berliner Startup Stipendium, supports ambitious entrepreneurs working to disrupt the future of urban life. Our fellows receive our full program resources and support to accelerate their ideas and shape the future of cities, starting with our beloved Berlin.
Accelerator
We support teams with an 8-month cohort program teaching the essentials of Entrepreneurship.
Funding
We provide € 2000 per person, for 2-3 founders per team, up to € 48k cash per team + perks & benefits.
Infrastructure
Your new office: Get access to our dedicated area in one of Berlin’s best co-working hubs.
Network
Your cohort, mentors, investors, corporates, and the BIA Innovation Hub, a real ecosystem for your startup.
Future City Accelerator Industries
Our Team and Mentors
Darius Moeini
Founder
BIA
Viktoria Trosien
Director Urban Innovation
BIA
Lou Kest
Project Manager
BIA
Florencia Fedel
Senior Program Manager
BIA
Yash Das Sharma
Comms & Community Manager
BIA
Anastasia Sukhomlinova
Head of Operations
BIA
Neirin Jones
Project Manager
BIA
Dr. Arndt Schweiger
Startup Coach
Mentor
Dr. med. Shari Langemak
Startup Coach
Mentor
Kerem Ergün
Startup Coach
Mentor
Christoph Raethke
Startup Coach
Mentor
& more!
Coaches, Mentors
Startup Founders
Christoph Rohde
Startup Coach
Mentor
& more!
Coaches, Mentors
Startup Founders
Prof. Dr. Ehsan Khaljani
Startup Coach
Mentor
& more!
Coaches, Mentors
Startup Founders
Our Network
Our innovation hub community is the fuel of everything we do.
The BIA Smart City Hub brings together corporates, startups, city officials, tech companies, and citizens reflecting a 360-degree view of the smart city innovation ecosystem. Our program aims at solving urban issues through cross-sector collaboration.
“By catalyzing urban innovation and smart cities, we aim to create meaningful impact especially through data-driven business models in the areas of infrastructure, green tech, energy, retail, and urban life.”
Darius Moeini
Founder @ BIA
“Initiatives like the BIA Smart City Hub [and Accelerator] program bring together the right actors, including those in urban society, in an agile way. Together we will develop answers to urgent questions about our growing city.”
Ramona Pop
Senator @ Berlin Senate for Economics
“By catalyzing urban innovation and smart cities, we aim to create meaningful impact especially through data-driven business models in the areas of infrastructure, green tech, energy, retail, and urban life.”
Darius Moeini
Founder @ BIA
“Initiatives like the BIA Smart City Hub [and Accelerator] program bring together the right actors, including those in urban society, in an agile way. Together we will develop answers to urgent questions about our growing city.”
Ramona Pop
Senator @ Berlin Senate for Economics
So much more than
just an Accelerator 🖤
Eligibility criteria for startups.
- Pre-seed teams: Your company has not been incorporated yet or the "Gewerbeanmeldung" is not older than 3 months
- 2-3 founders in the program who can build the MVP and test the first version in the market
- You have not received a startup scholarship or EXIST grant before
- You are dedicated to build the startup full-time
- You are based in Berlin or just about to move to Berlin
- Tech oriented startups in the areas of urban innovation and smart city
FAQs
Our startup program is an 8-month acceleration program.
It means we provide funding but do not take any equity in exchange.
You can submit your application by completing this form.
Project proposals must be included in the application. However, if you do not have a concrete idea and are interested in participating, get in touch with our team and we will invite you to one of our ideation workshops or try to match you with up-and-rising startup founders.
Yes. Teams have to be from 1-3 founders. However, if you don’t have a founding team and would like to get to know possible co-founders, reach out to us and we will try to match you with other up-and-rising startup founders.
The Future City Accelerator (FCA) is run by Berlin Innovation Agency – an independent innovation and entrepreneurship agency. The FCA program is funded by European Social Fund (ESF) and the State of Berlin and is part of the Berliner Startup Stipendium initiative.
Throughout the runtime of the program you will get diverse support and learning opportunities, through bootcamps, Masterclasses, individual coaching and more. You join our vivid slack community and will be involved in BIA Innovation Hub activities, connecting you to a bold network of corporates, city stakeholder and investors.
The founders – and their startups must not have received any other startup grant (such as BSS or EXIST) or any kind of investment for the proposed business idea.
If the company has already been founded, then it has to be max. 3 months old at the time of application (from business registration (Gewerbeanmeldung) date) and it has to be registered in Berlin. (It is also possible to found the company within the program’s duration).
Founders must be registered in Berlin from the moment the program starts. The program is an 8-month full-time program. In addition the startup commits to register their company in the city of Berlin.
Yes, the program is open to all nationalities. For the beginning of the program you have to be registered in Berlin, Germany. Non-EU Citizens must hold a visa that explicitly allows you to start a company in Germany. This proof has be provided before the start of the program.
The program is full-time and founders are expected to fully commit to their startup to receive the scholarship. Founders can work a maximum of 5 hours per week on other projects or freelance assignments.
Startup Alumni Future City & Health
We are backed by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the State of Berlin.
