Empower Now in Partnership with TikTok

Why FLINTA* founders?

FLINTA* and other discriminated groups face structural and institutional barriers when starting businesses, with female founders facing well-known barriers such as lower funding, childcare, and sexism. Inter, trans and gender non-conforming founders experience additional discrimination and are often left out of “female” empowerment programmes. Awareness of inclusive language and pronoun usage is increasing, but it is not yet the norm. Additional discrimination is also experienced by FLINTA* founders who are part of LGTBQIA+ and BiPOC communities, as well as by disabled or neurodivergent FLINTA* founders. We want to support FLINTA* founders facing multiple discrimination working on topics around participation and empowerment – and highlight their strengths and contributions to society.

Why the DACH region?

We would like to support communities locally. We have a wide network of Impact Hubs around the world that are offering programmes in other countries and we are happy to make introductions. If you are based outside of the DACH region and are (partly) implementing your digital solutions here, we will accept your application.

Which legal form will be accepted for this incubation programme?

We support social businesses, meaning you are for-profit but reinvest your profits into your business or social causes, or meaning that you are non-profit with a financially sustainable business model (or have an idea how to make your business financially sustainable in the future).

Do I need to self-identify my gender and other identity markers in order to be able to participate in the programme?   

You do not need to specify your gender identity or any other identity if you do not feel comfortable doing so. By applying, we will trust that you understand that this incubator is designed for FLINTA* founders. Everyone in our team has lived experience as FLINTA* facing discrimination and we know how important it is that you feel comfortable sharing (or not sharing) lived experiences and identities. There will be a few questions that go beyond business questions. The purpose of asking these questions is to make sure that we can host a safe(r) space for FLINTA* founders from LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities, FLINTA* founders with disabilities, health issues and neurodiversity, and other aspects leading to marginalization, discrimination or exclusion. We strive to create an inclusive and welcoming space where all participants can express their thoughts, needs, and emotions freely without fear of judgment or discrimination. You only share what feels right to you. 

How do you protect my identity and personal information?

Data and identity protection are important to us. Therefore, we would like to express that besides following our data privacy policy and GDPR regulations, it is extremely important to us to make sure that the information provided by you is kept safe. The answers provided by you will only be reviewed by our jury and the IHB team who are part of the incubator programme and will be reviewed only for the purpose of selecting the cohort for the Empower Now incubator. All personal data will be deleted after this purpose is achieved.  We will never reveal any personal identity markers, the only public knowledge is that the incubator is for FLINTA* facing (multiple) discrimination. Everyone participating in the incubator will be required to sign the code of conduct. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send Sara an email.

How can you support me if I feel discriminated against, excluded, or otherwise harmed during the programme? 

We are here to support you. Please refer to our code of conduct

, a living document that we can shape and adapt as a cohort in the programme – including an accountability protocol.

Will I receive mentorship and guidance from successful FLINTA* entrepreneurs?

Yes, we will match you with a mentor to guide you throughout the incubator. We will also host peer learning sessions within the cohort so that you can learn from and with each other, and we will connect you with our community of social entrepreneurs, of whom many are FLINTA* founders.

Will the incubation programme help me connect with potential investors and funding opportunities?

It will be our common goal to help you build partnerships, also with potential investors and donors if this is something you are interested in. We have a large community of impact investors and can make introductions on an individual basis if fitting. 

Will I have the opportunity to showcase my business idea to a wider audience upon completion of the incubation programme?

Yes, we will have a closing event/demo day where you will present your business to a relevant audience. During the incubator, we will do our best to connect you to relevant stakeholders and you will be portrayed on our website and on our social media channels.

Can I apply to the incubation programme with a team, or do I need to apply as an individual?

We accept applications from solo-founders and co-founders. If you are several FLINTA* co-founders, we can offer you up to four spots. Your non-FLINTA* co-founders can join sessions upon request and consensus from the cohort or watch the recordings.

How can I apply for this incubation programme, and what is the application process like?

You can apply via this form. You can find all application questions with their matching selection criteria as an Excel file here. If you don’t feel comfortable using Typeform, you will be able to answer most answers in Excel – you will however need to answer the first few questions on Typeform. Please get in touch with Idil if you have any questions (idil.serifoglu@impacthub.net) and we are happy to help. 

Will it weaken my application if I am openly sharing the struggles and challenges I am experiencing as a FLINTA* founder?

No. This will show awareness of where we can support you and your willingness to learn. We also want to value your lived experience in this incubator as a strength. Following the idea of “nothing for us, without us”, we have integrated leveraging your lived experience in order to support your community with your venture/initiative as a selection criterion.

I participated in the Empower Now ideathon and bootcamp. Can I apply?

Of course! We are excited to receive your application.

Where will the incubator take place?

The incubator is accessible fully online. If you are based in Berlin, you are welcome to join in person and join the incubator in a hybrid format. We will use Zoom, Slack and Miro to work together and are open to other suggestions. We will do our best to lower barriers to participation by having flexible hours, making sure that we have enough breaks (latest after one hour), welcoming switching off your cameras, and giving the opportunity to work in small groups if that feels more comfortable for you. We will encourage everyone to state their needs by sending around a survey at the beginning of the programme.

Are there any fees I need to pay or do you take equity from my business?

No, the programme is for free and we don’t take equity from you. This is possible through the funds provided by our partner TikTok.

How long is the accelerator programme, and what are the time commitments required?

The programme is a 4-month part-time programme starting in Mid-September 2024 and running until the end of January 2025. The programme consists of two parts which will run in parallel:

• 2 months acceleration: 16.9.- 08.11.2024 with a break from 07.10. – 11.10.2024. Here you will need to invest a minimum average of 3-5 hours per week. 
• 4 months of mentoring support: 01.10.2024 – 31.01.2025. This depends on your and your mentor, they are available a minimum of 3 hours per month.

We will try to keep the hours flexible and to schedule dates in advance so that you can plan around it. We will record Masterclasses.

What language will the programme be in?

The programme will take place in English, therefore you should be able to follow the programme in English. If you feel more comfortable with another language, we can make sure that we match you with a German-speaking mentor and will give our best to accommodate other languages for mentoring if needed. We are very aware that not every person speaks English, unfortunately, we cannot accommodate a multilingual programme at this point in time, this includes ASL / DGS. It is not easy for us to realize that we cannot accommodate every need, and we are considering this when looking for future funding. We do appreciate your feedback if you would like to share your thoughts. If you’d like to partner with us to make translation possible in the future, get in touch!

Why did you switch back to English after the Empower Now Ideathon & Bootcamp were in German?

We wanted to try and offer Empower Now in German this year to be mindful of the fact that not everyone speaks English, be it people growing up in the DACH region or newcomers who have been learning German as their second language. During the ideathon, we realized that English was better afterall for all who participated and this is why we decided to switch back to English to offer them the opportunity to continue their projects by applying to the accelerator.

Is there any financial support available to participants in the incubation programme?

Unfortunately, we are not able to give you a monthly stipend. We are however happy to provide financial support for travels to Berlin, childcare or individual needs that may arise upon request. Please let us know in the application form if you have any specific requirements. We are also able to provide funding for additional coaching you might need based on the goals you define.

Can I participate in the incubation program while still working? 

Yes! As long as you can commit to an average of 4-5 hours per week throughout the acceleration part. We will do our best to plan all dates in advance.