Frequently Asked Questions

The program lasts a total of 18 months and starts in March every year.

Central program components include individual support from experienced and first-class mentors, individual workshops and group workshops, peer2peer learning formats and subject-relevant events both in NRW and on site at the Softlanding Pads in the respective international target markets.

Our program is designed to accelerate the growth of already successful start-ups. You benefit from the expertise of our team - locally and in globally important target markets - as well as from the extensive experience and knowledge of our mentors during individual coaching and workshops.

The program is highly tailored to the individual needs of participants to help them exactly where their needs are. Access to our extensive regional and global network creates contacts with potential customers, business partners and investors.

The program is not aimed at newly founded startups that need support in their initial phase. Scale-up.NRW is a scaling program for already successful start-ups from NRW that are just before or are already in a phase of rapid growth and change.
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The program thus focuses on the typical challenges of fast-growing start-ups. This includes scaling their business model internationally, expanding the management team and implementing far-reaching organizational changes as well as significantly increasing financial requirements.

We have built a three-tier mentoring model of lead mentors, successful founders and subject matter experts. The focus is on the needs of participating start-ups. In an initial phase, the individualized scaling path is developed in a deep dive, followed by the appropriate matching of a lead mentor by the program team.

In order to qualify for the Scale-up.NRW program, your company must above all have scaling potential. In addition, your company must have a registered office in NRW and be registered with one of the following legal forms: UG, AG, GmbH, GmbH & Co. KG. In addition, your start-up is preferably not older than 10 years and you have already successfully completed a financing round.
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You're perfect for the program if...
... you have an exceptional and diverse (founding) team that covers all competencies and important positions. Your start-up has at least 15 employees.
... you've found your product-market fit. You are no longer in pure project business, but have an ongoing product business with a solid number of customers.
... their sufficient growth capital through completed financing (≥ €1 million) and own sales (≥ €0.5 million per year).
... you have the ambition to scale and internationalize.

Das Programm richtet sich ausschließlich an Unternehmen mit Hauptsitz in NRW. Bist du außerhalb von NRW ansässig, kannst du zwar nicht am Programm teilnehmen, aber Teil der Scale-up.NRW Communtiy werden. Sprich uns einfach an.

Definitely! The nationality of the founder (s) has no influence on our selection. As long as your company meets our selection criteria and is based in NRW, you are welcome to apply.

Join our waitlist for Batch #5.

Nachdem wir eure Bewerbung über das Formular erhalten haben, bewertet unser Team alle Einreichungen anhand einer Scorecard mit vordefinierten Auswahlkriterien.

Aus allen Bewerbungen erstellen wir eine Shortlist. Die ausgewählten Teams werden in einem zweiten Schritt in einem Deep Dive vom Programmteam interviewt. Im finalen Schritt entscheidet eine Jury aus erfahrenen Skalierungsexperten sowie Top-Mentoren, welche 10–14 Start-ups in den Batch aufgenommen werden.