Media Founders Program

Program description

From €40,000 in financial support to an individual mentoring and networking program - with the Media Founders Program, MIZ Babelsberg and the MediaTech Hub Accelerator support media founders from product development to establishing themselves as young companies in Berlin-Brandenburg.

The search is on technically innovative ideas that make journalism and the media world fit for the future and contribute to solving current challenges in the industry. These include combating disinformation and strengthening local media content and information and news expertise.

This is a two-stage program:

• Phase 1 supports the development of a functional product (prototype).
• Phase 2 supports the development of a business model / company.

The type of financial support depends on your professional experience:

Students, graduates and start-ups (up to three years after graduation or foundation) can receive a needs-based grant (individual funding) and a needs-based budget for production costs in phase 1.

• Financial support: max. 40,000 €
• Own contribution: none
• Project volume: max. 40,000 €

Media professionals (at least five years of professional experience) can receive a project cost grant in phase 1. They bear an own contribution of 20%.

• Financial support: max. 40,000 €
• Own contribution: 20%
• Project volume: max. 50,000 €

In addition, both target groups in phase 1 benefit from a coaching budget of €1,500, a strong network in the media industry, regular pitch and networking events, access to audio and online studios as well as editing and production technology and co-working space at MIZ.

Phase 2: Online program for business development, venture development and fundraising

In addition: access to the start-up scene network, mediatech players and investors in Potsdam and Berlin, individual check-ins, coaching & workshops, insights, guides, databases, templates & tools, access to the de:hub initiative, national and international trade fairs

Institution

Medieninnovationszentrum Babelsberg (MIZ)

MIZ Babelsberg is the house of innovations for journalism and media in Berlin and Brandenburg. As an institution of the Medienanstalt Berlin-Brandenburg (mabb), it promotes innovative media projects and media competence in the region in order to strengthen media diversity, local journalism and information and news competence, and to combat disinformation.

Deadline

The application phase for the current funding round of the Media Founders Program runs from April 7 to Juni 1, 2025.

MIZ Babelsberg announces the MIZ Innovation Funding twice a year and the Media Founders Program once a year.

Funding period

Phase 1: flexible depending on requirements, max. 12 months

Phase 2: 8-week intensive program plus 10 months of support on demand

Funding criteria

Funding is available for individuals or project teams residing or (future) headquartered in the Berlin-Brandenburg region or whose projects have a positive effect on the innovative strength of Berlin-Brandenburg as a media location.

The Media Founders Program is aimed specifically at project teams who want to develop a business model from their prototype in phase 2.

You should fulfill these requirements:

• Your project has a technical innovation value.
• Your project makes journalism and the media world fit for the future.
• You intend to develop a business model from your prototype.
• Your project contributes to a solution for current challenges in the industry - e.g. to combat disinformation, to strengthen local journalism or information and news literacy.
• Your project has a positive effect on the innovative strength of Berlin-Brandenburg as a media location.

Additional conditions

Supplementary funding from other programs is possible if the funding objectives are not congruent with those of the MIZ Babelsberg.

Secondary activities to the scholarship are generally permitted (with a maximum of ten hours per week), but must be reported and must not jeopardize or contradict the purpose of the funded research.

Expenses for (commercial)

Entrepreneurial salary/stipend/award money or similar, Development costs, Production costs, Coaching/mentoring services

Funding focuses on

Start-up/Foundation & consolidation, Entrepreneurial know-how, Business model development, Technological innovation

Stage of the company/self-employment

prior to founding, up to 1 year after graduation, up to 2 years after graduation, up to 3 years after graduation, up to 1 year after founding, up to 2 years after founding, up to 3 years after founding, up to 5 years after founding, up to 7 years after founding, existing company

Application type

multi-stage application procedure, by e-mail, Project outline in advance

Application procedure/documents

The following application documents are required for phase 1:

• project outline 
  Content: project objective, technical innovation value, case study, ideas for transfer into practice
• Timetable incl. monthly milestones
• financial plan
• Curriculum vitae incl. reference projects
• Team description

Jury/Decision-making body

Phase 1: The applicants with the best ideas receive an invitation to present their projects to a jury of experts. Mandatory consultations will be held with the finalists beforehand.

Following phase 1, you can qualify for phase 2 by making a pitch at the MediaTech Hub Accelerator.

Assistance/Downloads

Principles for project funding at the Babelsberg Media Innovation Center (MIZ) - Innovation funding (only in German - PdF available on the website)

Funding area

State of Berlin