The LMU Innovation Incubator

From Research to Impact

As part of LMU’s Entrepreneurship & Transfer unit, the LMU Innovation Incubator offers a four-month startup program for LMU teams with innovative ideas, technologies, or startup plans. The program is industry-agnostic and open to all disciplines at LMU.

The LMU Innovation Incubator supports LMU students, researchers, and academic teams in transforming scientific insights, research findings, and innovative ideas into social and economic value. The program is particularly aimed at individuals who wish to explore the potential of their business ideas.

The goals are
• to highlight LMU’s innovation potential
• to translate scientific ideas into concrete applications
• to provide targeted support for startup projects
• to strengthen participants’ startup methods and leadership skills
• to enable socially and economically effective solutions

At a Glance

Apply Now

Applications are open for the LMU Innovation Incubator Cohort #8

Application deadline: July 31, 2026

Whether you already have an innovative startup concept, an early-stage research-based idea, or simply want to explore the potential of your work through entrepreneurship — we encourage you to apply.

We look forward to learning more about your ideas and welcoming the next generation of founders and innovators into the LMU entrepreneurial community.

Program

Who is the program for?

The Incubator is aimed at:

• LMU students and researchers
• Interdisciplinary teams with innovative ideas
• Individuals who are beginning to consider starting a business or have early-stage concepts
• Anyone who wants to systematically explore the commercial potential of their idea
• A concrete intention to start a business is a prerequisite.

What we do

The Incubator is designed for aspiring and early-stage founders who want to systematically develop their ideas and understand their true potential. It provides a structured framework for testing assumptions, defining target audiences and problems, and laying a solid foundation for future startup ventures.

How we do it

The teams work with established methods from innovation and entrepreneurship:

• Validation of ideas and assumptions
• Analysis of target audiences and application areas
• Development of use cases and business models
• Derivation of concrete implementation paths

The four-month part-time program includes: masterclasses on innovation and entrepreneurship, hands-on workshops, individual coaching, and access to mentors from academia, industry, and the startup ecosystem. The LMU Spin-off Service also provides support in securing public funding before, during, and after the program.

Program Dates

Münchener Universitätsgesellschaft (MUG) Award

Since 2024, the Münchener Universitätsgesellschaft (MUG) has been supporting the incubation teams with the Award for Research Transfer and Impact Entrepreneurship. the funding is awarded to the most promising teams during the program.

Application Requirements

• Research or an idea with clear practical and application potential
• Interest in entrepreneurship within an academic setting
• Early stage (pre-seed, concept, or prototype)
• Motivation to validate the market, founders, and business model
• Active participation throughout the program duration
• Applications must be submitted as teams (at least 2 people), with at least one person having an affiliation with LMU
• PhD candidates, researchers, or alumni

Important to know

A clear and transparent clarification of the IP situation is required before the program starts. In case of external funding, a willingness to discuss IP and project details confidentially is necessary.

Application Deadline: 31. July. 2026

Questions / Contact

If you have any questions about participation or the program, the team is always available to help.

Contact:

Annie Weichselbaum

Incubation Lead

a.weichselbaum@lmu.de