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Looking for a commercial co-founder for your groundbreaking technology? Or want to apply as a commercial founder to pioneer a deep tech venture and build a high-performing founding team?
Submit your tech venture looking for a co-founder
Apply as a seasoned commercial co-founder (Pioneer)
What is DEEP Pioneers?
DEEP Pioneers is a plug-in ecosystem program that builds high performing, venture-backable founding teams for deep tech spin-offs.
We are building Europe’s one stop platform for deep tech founding teams. We systematize the founding layer of spinoffs, working directly with top TTOs/universities and investors to turn IP into companies built to scale.
Why it Matters
Only 3% of researchers interested in starting a spin-off actually become academic entrepreneurs, despite 28% expressing interest.
ZEW (Centre for European Economic Research)
Finding suitable commercial co-founders is a major barrier to successful spin-offs in Germany and Europe.
European Commission report "Spin-offs: Driving innovation across the EU-27
65% of startup failures are due to co-founder conflict (misalignment).
Noam Wasserman, Harvard Business School professor and author of The Founder’s Dilemmas
How It Works
Step 1: Scouting
Top 10% of breakthrough research IP & seasoned founders.
Step 2: Matching Workshop
48-hour chemistry stress-test.
Step 3: 6-month of modular Coaching
De-risk team and ultimately business.
FAQs
Top 5 most asked questions
(extended FAQ below)
Who should apply?
Researchers and TTOs
Researchers, research teams, and technology transfer offices with strong technology and spin-off potential who are looking for a commercial co-founder or founding team.
Founders and operators
Experienced entrepreneurs who want to build or join a deep-tech venture.
What makes DEEP Pioneers different?
DEEP Pioneers focuses on building strong founding teams around deep-tech ventures. Rather than supporting technologies alone, the initiative combines structured matching and coaching to help researchers and entrepreneurs form investment-ready founding teams.
How does DEEP Pioneers work?
DEEP Pioneers follows a structured process:
Scouting → Matching workshop → Team coaching → Investment-ready founding teams
We identify promising technologies and experienced entrepreneurs, bring them together through a structured matching process, and support newly formed teams through coaching and development.
What kind of ventures qualify?
Successful serial founders or operators with 5–10+ years in startups or scale-ups, first-principle thinkers, market-savvy, low-ego/high-conviction collaborators who can frame “Why now? Why this?” and lead zero-to-one teams.
Is participation funded?
Yes. At this stage, participation is fully funded through the support of the Joachim Herz Foundation.
Funding includes:
- The two-day matching workshop
- Team coaching for minimum viable teams
Participants are responsible for:
- Travel to and from the workshop location
- Visa and personal expenses
What are the key dates?
Cohort 1
- Applications close: mid-September
- Matching workshop: late October
- Coaching phase: November–March
Cohort 2
- Applications close: December
- Matching workshop: mid-January
- Coaching phase: February–June
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Early applications increase the likelihood of being considered for the current cohort. Strong candidates who are not matched may be considered for a future cohort.
Who should apply as a co-founder?
Experienced founders and operators with a strong track record in startups or scale-ups. Ideal candidates combine entrepreneurial experience, market understanding, and the ability to build and lead teams in early-stage ventures.
What is the time commitment?
Participants should plan for:
- A two-day, in-person matching workshop
- Approximately three hours per month of coaching over four to six months
What happens during the matching workshop?
The workshop is designed to assess team fit, founder alignment, and collaboration potential. Participants engage in structured exercises, discussions, and team-building activities to explore different founder and venture configurations.
How long is the coaching phase?
The coaching phase lasts up to six months and typically includes two structured virtual sessions per month.
How many participants are selected?
Each cohort is intentionally limited in size to ensure a high level of interaction, coaching, and support.
How are applications evaluated?
Applications are assessed based on:
- Technology potential and readiness
- Founder or team experience
- Commercial potential
- Fit with the objectives of DEEP Pioneers
The selection process may include interviews, reference checks, and expert review.
What support do teams receive?
Participants receive:
- Structured founder and team matching
- Coaching from experienced team coaches
- Guidance on team development and alignment
- Ongoing support to help teams become investment-ready
What happens if I am not matched?
Strong candidates remain in the DEEP Pioneers pipeline and may be considered for future cohorts as suitable opportunities emerge.
How is confidentiality handled?
All information shared through the application and matching process is treated confidentially and only shared with selected participants involved in the program.
What language is used?
English is the working language of DEEP Pioneers.
Where does it take place?
The matching workshop takes place in person. Most preparation and coaching activities are delivered virtually.
Are there sector priorities?
DEEP Pioneers is focused on deep-tech ventures and is sector-agnostic within that scope. Recent cohorts have included ventures in health, biotechnology, quantum technologies, cybersecurity, computing, energy, advanced materials, and agrifood.
Can existing startups apply?
Yes. Early-stage companies can apply, particularly if they are seeking an experienced commercial co-founder or additional founding team capabilities.
Who runs DEEP Pioneers?
DEEP Pioneers is run by the DEEP Institute for Deep Tech Innovation at ESMT Berlin.
For questions about participation or partnerships, please contact:
Ali Alam
Manager Venture Building, DEEP Pioneers
ali.alam@esmt.org
Are YOU a
Build your next game-changing deeptech venture.
Refer or apply with a breakthrough IP team looking for a commercial co-founder.
Co-shape the deep tech roadmap as an advisory partner and get early access to top-tier ventures, with founding teams designed to scale.
Partner with us to scale Europe’s deeptech infrastructure - design an exclusive program with DEEP Pioneers.
Last cohort at a glance
We’ve hunted for top IP and seasoned entrepreneurs, delivered our first Pioneers program and collaborated with top TTOs & VC's across Europe:
- Eight ventures selected ranging from Manufacturing, Chemtech/Materials, AI, Energy, Quantum Tech, Cybersecurity, Med/Health, Biotech/Lifesciences
- 80 screened entrepreneurs, with 13 yrs avg. experience, 24 companies founded and 9 exits
- 5 ventures moving to Phase 2 as Minimum Viable Teams(MVT’s), where we are coaching them to become high-performing and venture-backable teams.
- Applications from: Max Planck, Fraunhofer, CISPA, FZ Jülich, TUM, ISTA, DKFZ, Uni Vienna, TU Hamburg, Uni Potsdam, and others.
Ready to shape Europe’s next deep tech pioneers?
Submit your tech venture looking for a co-founder
Apply as a serial co-founder (Pioneer)
Still unsure?
Here are all your questions answered
What’s the time commitment?
A 2-day off-grid matching workshop (in person), plus ~3 hours/month of structured coaching (virtually) over 4–6 months.
What exactly happens at the matching workshop?
A 2-day, in-person, off-grid session where we test different constellations, run psychometric profiling, and pressure-test co-founder chemistry by experienced team coaches.
How long is the coaching phase and what’s the time commitment?
We coach new team constellations for up to six months; typically 2×90 minutes of structured virtual coaching per month.
How many projects/founders do you accept?
We are highly selective, and cap each cohort at (e.g., ~15–20 projects/entrepreneurs) to keep top 0.1% quality and coaching intensity high.
What don’t you do / who shouldn’t apply?
We don’t take unclear IP or locked licensing, mediocre technologies, inflexible teams, or “MBA” only students.
How are applications evaluated?
Structured scouting, reference checks/interview screening, subject expert feedbacks, project lookbooks—to assess market attractivity, tech readiness, and fair transfer terms. Researchers must be serious about equity and spinning off and Entrepreneurs must be committed to building and scaling.
Who’s behind the program?
DEEP Pioneers is run by the Institute for Deep Tech Innovation (DEEP) at ESMT Berlin. Primary contact: Ali Alam, Manager Venture Building, DEEP Pioneers (ali.alam@esmt.org).
What support do teams receive?
High-quality pre-selection, team coaching by experienced coaches, psychometric profiling, and an action plan plus continuous guidance and mentorship to move from “minimum viable team” to a venture-backable team.
What happens if I’m not matched in this cohort?
High-potential founders/IP projects/Researchers remain in our pipeline for future cohorts; we reconnect when a better fit surfaces.
How is confidentiality/IP handled?
We keep all IP details confidential and nothing is communicated externally beyond the rigorously vetted team and serial founders that are committed to the program, with password-protected docs and exclusive access.
What language is used, and do I need to be in Berlin?
English is the working language. The 2-day offsite is in-person (near Berlin/off-grid), and much of the prep/coaching is virtual.
Are there sector priorities?
We are deep-tech native but sector-agnostic—Quantum, health, compute, natural capital, cybersecurity, food etc. Activities are tailored per vertical and clusters.
What does “fully funded” mean – what’s covered?
We cover all program-related costs during the offsite and coaching phase:
• Accommodation and meals during the 2-day offsite retreat near Berlin
• Group transport from Berlin to the offsite location and back
• All coaching, tools, and team development resources for 6 months
You’ll only need to cover:
• Your own travel to and from Berlin (before/after the offsite)
• Any visa or personal expenses not related to the program
Can already-founded companies apply if they’re missing or looking for an experienced entrepreneur?
Yes! Already founded companies in early stages of commercialization can absolutely apply—especially if you're missing a mission-critical commercial co-founder to help you scale.
If you're a research-driven startup in search of the right commercial partner, we’re here to help you find them.
