events

| July 9, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. | SQuArE, Room F 1.05, Sonnenstraße 96, 44139 Dortmund |

From Concept to Design: Explained Step by Step.

Content:

The basics of technical drawing, explained simply
Creating sketches
Designing components
Assembling subassemblies

No prior knowledge is required!

The World Climate Game is a scientifically grounded, three-day board-based simulation game in which up to 50 participants take on the roles of decision-makers from the business, political, and civil society sectors. Over the course of ten game rounds—each representing a decade of global development—the players work together to shape an economically, ecologically, and socially sustainable world order.

The game is relevant to members of all (academic) departments at the university and to students in all study programs, as it allows participants to directly experience complex climate and economic policy interrelationships and fosters skills such as critical and networked thinking, problem-solving ability, systemic understanding, and teamwork. The game will be played for the first time at the university in July 2026. By mid-2028, there will be one session per semester.

Location: Sonnenstraße, F212

Time: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. each session

For interested students: Please check with your faculty to see if the game is offered for your study program and register for it through your regular registration channel. The Startup Service does not handle registration.

For interested lecturers: If you would like to use the game in your faculty or in one of your courses, please send an email to gruendungsservicefh-dortmundde. We will get in touch with you.

Further information: You can findmore information and videos about the game at this link(Opens in a new tab) .

| July 2, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. | SQuArE, Room F 1.05, Sonnenstraße 96, 44139 Dortmund |

Learn about the key theories behind 3D printing while practicing how to actually use the machine.

Content:

Overview of additive manufacturing processes
Insight into the FDM process
Design for additive manufacturing
Choosing the Right Material
Configuring the Slicer Correctly
Operating the FDM Printer

No prior knowledge is required!

| May 27, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. | SQuArE, Room F 1.05, Sonnenstraße 96, 44139 Dortmund |

From Concept to Design: Explained Step by Step.

Content:

The basics of technical drawing, explained simply
Creating sketches
Designing components
Assembling subassemblies
Side Note: Parametric Design and Equations

No prior knowledge is required!

Whether on your own or as part of a team:

Start developing and implementing business ideas now!

Do you feel that fire burning inside you? The desire to bring your own idea to life—instead of pursuing a corporate career? Whether you already have your own ideas or are still searching for inspiration: In the Startup Bootcamp, you’ll learn how to develop a business idea, build a prototype, and land your first customer without any initial investment.

What if it only took you 4 days to turn your idea into reality?

We’ve invited successful founders and put together a roadmap. Find out:

what truly motivates you in the long run
how to test a business idea without any capital investment
how to build an infrastructure and prototype
how to do no-budget marketing, and
how to create an irresistible offer.

Day 1: Mindset & Idea Generation

This day is all about you. Your personality, strengths, values, and beliefs. What makes you who you are? What skills do you already have? What might stand in the way of your success? And how can you apply everything you already bring to the table to a startup? We’ll also talk about fears and their significance. A day full of insights.

Insights that will help you align your ideas with your core motivation. And if you’re looking for ideas: developing business ideas that fit you and your personality.

All of this needs a little time to sink in. After a few days, we’ll meet again for Day 2.

Here’s what to expect:

Day 2: Ideas & Team Building

Today, the ideas will be presented to the group, and you can decide:

whether you want to pursue one of your ideas and, if so, are looking for team members
or if you’d like to contribute to another idea as a co-founder.
After the team-building session, you’ll learn the exact plan for bootstrapping the idea. Then we’ll develop a business model and define the parameters for an MVP or your prototype. Throughout the entire workshop, you (and your team members) will receive feedback and guidance on the idea from our coaches.

Days 3 & 4: Market Test Concept and Implementation

Now we get down to business. We’ll show you how to launch a business idea using bootstrapping with almost no capital investment. Develop a business model, build infrastructure, define your positioning, and turn people into real customers with low-budget marketing and an irresistible offer.

Then you’ll be ready to generate your first revenue. Want to join us?

Then sign up now!

All the facts at a glance:

Date:

March 18, 2026 | 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., online (Mindset & Idea Generation)
March 25–27, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day, in-person (Idea Implementation)
Location: KoFabrik, Bochum | Stühmeyerstraße 33 | 44787 Bochum

If you have any questions, feel free to send an email to gruendungsservicefh-dortmundde

CONNECT. INSPIRE. ACCELERATE. Register now for @innoclub selection night ’26!

Dortmund’s growing innovation network is kicking off its second year with a real highlight in just a few weeks—and is opening the doors to its clubhouse for the occasion!

At the selection night, selected startups will present their innovative solutions to innoclub’s partner companies to secure one of the coveted innoclub fellowships, each worth €10,000, and gain access to the exclusive community of startups, scale-ups, and established companies. Here’s what you can expect:

▪️ Inspiring pitches from exciting startups in the region

▪️ Networking with CEOs, innovation managers, founders, and investors

▪️ Exclusive insights into successful collaborations that have emerged through innoclub

▪️ The announcement of the new innoclub fellows

Register now for free via the link and get to know the innoclub community!

Startups, take note:
Want to pitch your own idea and become part of innoclub? Apply for an innoclub fellowship by February 15, 2026, and with a little luck, you’ll be on stage at Selection Night! Alexandra Schmidt and Christoph Gallus from the innoclub team are here to answer your questions about the fellowship.

Through this fellowship, @innoclub supports existing startups with growth potential. It is a flexible accelerator with no fixed intake cycles. This is precisely why innoclub accepts new startups throughout the year.

The next jury meeting—featuring the Dortmund Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), the Economic Development Agency Dortmund, TU Dortmund University, the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Dortmund, and the International School of Management, Germany—is just a few weeks away.

ℹ️ All applications received by innoclub by February 13 will be considered. The new fellows will be announced during the innoclub Selection Night on March 12.

➡️ Become part of the growing innoclub community! You’ll benefit from first-class services and support from established companies in Dortmund and the Westphalian Ruhr region.

Take advantage of this opportunity and apply by February 13 at www.innoclub.net/start-ups. The new fellowships will be announced during the Selection Night on March 12: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/innoclub-selection-night-2026-tickets-1979973144976

Contents:

Theoretical foundations and practical application, operating various slicers and devices, error detection and prevention.

Contents:

In this session, you’ll get an overview of the benefits and requirements, as well as practical tips on how to apply for the following funding programs:

NRW Startup Grant
EXIST Startup Grant
EXIST Research Transfer
Start-up Transfer.NRW
Registration:

You can register by emailing gruendungsservicefh-dortmundde. Please indicate which workshop you are registering for, your study program, your current semester, and whether you are in a bachelor’s or master’s program.

Imagine deciding the fate of our planet—in a unique, app-based board game!

Take on the role of global decision-makers and navigate 100 years of climate crisis, business studies, and politics. Every decision impacts the environment, society, and the future of the Earth.

Using strategy, negotiation skills, and teamwork, you’ll overcome disasters, set climate goals, and shape a sustainable world. Be part of a captivating game featuring a scientifically grounded simulation and real-world challenges!

Sign up now!

Want to learn more? Watch the video here(Opens in a new tab) .

You can find more information here.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at gruendungsservicefh-dortmundde.

Click here for the flyer PDF-File 3,90 MB .

| February 14, 2025 | CAD 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. | 3D Printing 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. | SQuArE, Lindemannstraße 79, 44137 Dortmund |

On February 14, our CAD and 3D printing workshops will take place again. Whether you’re a beginner or already have experience, our workshops are open to everyone.

The CAD workshop “Introduction to SolidWorks and Parametric Design” will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This workshop offers an introduction and teaches the basics for anyone who has no prior experience in this field. The workshop also covers parametric design in SolidWorks. Parametric design in SolidWorks allows you to create parts and assemblies based on adjustable parameters. These parameters can be easily modified, automatically updating the model to meet the new requirements.

The 3D printing workshop will follow from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The workshop is open to anyone who would like to explore 3D printing technology, see a 3D printer in action, and print their first 3D projects.

You can participate in either one or both workshops. The workshops will be conducted in German, but we also offer support in English if needed.

For the workshops, please bring your own laptop or use our equipment on-site. If you decide to bring your own laptop, please note the following minimum system requirements: quad-core CPU, 8 GB RAM, 2 GB GPU RAM, 5 GB hard drive space.

| January 23, 2025 | 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. | SQuArE, Lindemannstraße 79, 44137 Dortmund |

If you’re planning to start a business, you should be familiar with the key legal fundamentals—such as the appropriate legal structure for your company, the taxes you’ll need to pay, and how legal considerations impact the profitability of your business idea and your business plan.

Daniel Heumann, a lecturer and attorney specializing in tax and corporate law, will provide an initial overview and guidance on these important aspects of the legal framework. He will also address specific questions during this workshop.