Female Founders in the Spotlight

Morning: exist-Women Closing Event

The day began with an intensive workshop exclusively for exist-Women participants and interested parties. The atmosphere was warm and motivating.

The participants presented their projects, shared their learnings, and outlined the next steps on their entrepreneurial journey. The workshop not only offered practical insights, but also provided an opportunity for intensive networking and mutual support.

Looking back on the year that all participants have behind them, it became clear how much has already been achieved and how much each individual has been able to learn in the program.

You can find out more about the individual participants and their projects in the exist-Women Booklet.

Afternoon: Female Founders Forum

In the afternoon, the event opened up to the entire start-up community as part of the Female Founders Forum. The focus here was on networking, sharing experiences, and inspiration.

A highlight was the input from Janna Kraft and Marie Reger from femfeel, who not only provided inspiring insights into their experiences as founders, but also offered valuable food for thought as mentors.

From innovative projects to the founders’ personal stories, participants were able to make new contacts, initiate collaborations, and benefit from the diversity of the ecosystem.

A look into the future

The events impressively demonstrated that female founders benefit particularly from strong, supportive networks. Anyone interested in the next round of the exist-Women program (starting in 2026) can apply until November 30. All information can be found here.

A big thank you goes to Sarah Manthey and Schadi Neumann, who passionately support the program at KIT, to all supporters and mentors, and of course to all participants who enriched the day with their projects, ideas, and visions.

The combination of practical workshops, open exchange, and inspiring impulses made the day a complete success for the female founder community at KIT and beyond.