Welcome to the site! Nice that you have found your way here.
We are the StarterWerk start-up service at Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences and part of the “Thuringian University Start-up Network”. Do you have an initial idea and want to take it further from a business model to a potential start-up? Then you've come to the right place!
We are at your side free of charge and offer support in the following areas
- Reviewing the business idea
- Support with the creation of a business plan
- Advice on a suitable legal form
- Funding opportunities
- Advice on the Exist start-up grant and Exist research transfer
- Networks and contacts
- Competitions and much more
Whether students, alumni or employees of the university. In a team or individually. We pick you up exactly where you are with your project.
Events and Workshops
July 1, 2025 – Stronger Together: The Journey of a Founding Team
Part of the series: StarTH now – organized by Hochschule Erfurt
🕐 Time: 1:00–2:30 PM
🌐 Format: Online
🎙 Speaker: Melissa Bejjani-Cazaré, Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board, co.hilo Kaffeekollektiv e.G.
🔗 Register and find more information
🗣 Language: English
💡 Inhalt:
How does a strong team evolve during the founding journey? Melissa Bejjani-Cazaré shares the story of co.hilo – from idea to social enterprise. In this interactive workshop, you'll learn how to build effective, resilient teams through real-world stories, reflective exercises, and creative tools. Ideal for early-stage founders or those already scaling up.
September 2, 2025 – How to prototype (almost) anything
Part of the series: StarTH now – in cooperation with Ilmkubator at TU Ilmenau
🕐 Time: 1:00–2:30 PM
🌐 Format: Online
🎙 Speaker: Matthias Testa, Coach & Scout at TU Ilmenau
🔗 Register and find more information
🗣 Language: German
💡 About the session:
Fast, creative, tangible: In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn how to turn your ideas into prototypes – whether digital products, physical objects, or abstract concepts.
You’ll get a hands-on introduction to the basics of prototyping, explore useful tools & methods, and try out how to test ideas quickly.
Perfect for designers, makers, and anyone curious to try something new.
More events in the StarTH now series coming soon!
Stay tuned and don’t miss out on upcoming topics around entrepreneurship and self-employment.
