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The EWOR Advantage: 5 Reasons Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München Students Should Look Beyond Local Incubators

EWOR Team
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EWOR Team
The EWOR Advantage: 5 Reasons Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München Students Should Look Beyond Local Incubators

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As a student at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, you may be familiar with the local incubators and entrepreneurial programmes offered on campus. While these initiatives provide valuable support, expanding your horizons could significantly increase your odds of long-term success. In fact, one study found that 87% of startups that went through top-tier programmes were still active after five years, compared to just 44% of those that went it alone. That’s the kind of difference the right programme can make.

But how do you know if an incubator programme is right for you? With so many rigid, one-size-fits-all options out there, finding the right fit can be tough. That’s where EWOR comes in: a uniquely flexible platform combining global mentorship, funding opportunities, and a prestigious network – designed specifically to help ambitious founders thrive.

In this article, we’ll explore five key reasons why Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München students should look beyond their local incubators and consider EWOR to accelerate their entrepreneurial journey.

1. Access to Global Mentorship

Many university incubators and local programmes offer mentorship from faculty, alumni, or nearby founders. While helpful, these perspectives are often limited to regional markets and conventional startup paths.

EWOR operates borderless, on a global scale. Fellows are paired with mentors who have founded and scaled companies across continents and industries – including unicorns like SumUp, Adjust, and ProGlove. Rather than sporadic office hours, mentorship is built into the fabric of the programme – modular, consistent, and personal.

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) supports early-stage entrepreneurs through its Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (IEC) and programs like the LMU Innovation Incubator. These initiatives connect students and researchers with experienced local mentors. Local mentors provide invaluable guidance by sharing their real-world experiences, best practices, and insights into the Munich startup ecosystem. They offer tailored advice, coaching, and feedback, helping entrepreneurs refine business models, validate ideas, and prepare for market entry. This local network is crucial for navigating the specific challenges and opportunities within the regional market, increasing the startups' chances of success.

With EWOR, you’ll have the chance to work with mentors who have scaled their businesses across different countries and industries, providing invaluable insights that can help your startup succeed in the global marketplace.

2. Larger Funding Opportunities

While local incubators may provide grants or limited seed funding, securing substantial capital is often a challenge for early-stage entrepreneurs. EWOR offers up to €500,000 in initial funding for selected startups, which can significantly boost your ability to develop your business. Moreover, EWOR provides access to a global network of investors, venture capital firms, and angel investors, ensuring that you have the opportunity to secure further rounds of funding as your startup grows.

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) offers various funding opportunities for student startups through its Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center (IEC). The LMU Innovation Incubator is a key program, providing early-stage support to students, researchers, and staff. This three-month program helps participants validate ideas and develop business plans. LMU also assists with applications for public funding programs like EXIST and FLÜGGE, which are designed for university spin-offs. While specific "seed funding" directly from the incubator isn't explicitly detailed, the support in securing external grants and connecting with investors serves a similar purpose. The university's Spin-off Service provides guidance throughout the funding application process and project realization. Additionally, the LMU Knowledge Transfer Fund offers funding for projects translating research into innovation.

By choosing EWOR, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München students can tap into larger funding sources, giving them the financial support needed to scale their businesses more effectively.

3. A Highly Selective and Prestigious Network

One of the main advantages of EWOR is the highly selective nature of its community. EWOR accepts only the top 0.1% of applicants, bringing together some of the world’s most talented and ambitious entrepreneurs. 

This exclusivity doesn’t just elevate the quality of each cohort — it also unlocks access to an extraordinary network of investors, mentors, and industry leaders. Just to name a few: Fabrice Grinda, one of the world’s leading angel investors and founder of OLX; Christian Kroll, founder of Ecosia, Europe’s largest search engine after Google; and Vaitea Cowan, co-founder of Enapter, (€640M IPO) and a Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Energy. 

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) fosters a strong entrepreneurial community through its LMU Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (LMU IEC). This center supports students and graduates in commercializing their ideas. The LMU Innovation Incubator, a key program, provides early-stage support, including free office space and coaching, to promising startups. The LMU IEC actively promotes networking and collaboration among students, researchers, and industry partners. They offer various programs, workshops, and events designed to connect aspiring entrepreneurs with experienced mentors, investors, and other relevant stakeholders in the Munich innovation ecosystem. This interconnected environment helps students build crucial connections and facilitates collaborative opportunities.

While local incubators at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München may provide valuable networking within the campus or regional ecosystem, EWOR’s global network opens doors to entirely new levels of collaboration. Fellows work alongside peers from dozens of countries and industries, connecting with elite investors, unicorn founders, and seasoned operators.

As many fellows have said, the community is one of the most unexpected – and most valuable – parts of the experience. “The real magic lies in the community: the kind of conversations, insights, and connections that lead not only to breakthroughs – but to lasting friendships with some of the most fascinating people they’ve ever met”.

4. Flexibility and Remote Access

Many local incubators require in-person participation, which can be limiting for students balancing coursework, part-time jobs, or other commitments. 

LMU Munich's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (IEC) supports students and graduates in developing startup ideas. They offer resources like free office space, coaching, and networking opportunities to around 15 startups each semester. LMU provides various programs with different formats. The "impACTup! Basic Course" is primarily online with on-site kickoff and closing events. The "impACTup! PhD Course" is a hybrid workshop. Other courses, like "Starting Up," utilize video lectures and group work. This mix of online, hybrid, and in-person options can cater to diverse student needs and potentially increase participation by offering flexibility. While LMU strives for accessibility, their websites are undergoing a relaunch, and some accessibility issues exist with older documents and multimedia content. They do offer support for students with disabilities.

EWOR’s fully remote programmes are built for modern entrepreneurs – offering the flexibility to participate from anywhere, on your terms. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München students can access top-tier mentorship, founder-led education, and global resources without needing to relocate or follow a rigid schedule. Whether you’re validating an idea or scaling your first product, you’ll have the freedom to build around your life, not the other way around.

And if you're worried about missing out on in-person connection – don’t be. EWOR hosts real-world gatherings like the EWOR Connect and EWOR House, a multi-day retreat where fellows, alumni, and investors connect in person. We also organise city-based meetups and our flagship Grand Pitch event, which brings hundreds of top-tier investors together twice a year. So while the programme is remote-first, it’s far from remote-only.

5. Comprehensive Entrepreneurial Education

Local incubators often provide valuable workshops and learning modules, but they may be limited in scope and depth. EWOR offers over 200 exclusive videos, workshops, and educational modules designed by top entrepreneurs and industry experts. This comprehensive entrepreneurial education covers everything from refining your business idea to scaling and securing funding, ensuring that you develop both as an entrepreneur and a leader.

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) offers educational support for entrepreneurial students primarily through the LMU Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center (LMU IEC). The LMU IEC aims to foster innovative and entrepreneurial thinking across all faculties. Their programs include workshops, courses, and events designed to help students develop entrepreneurial skills. For instance, the LMU Innovation Incubator provides practical workshop modules and tailored coaching to help turn ideas into businesses. They also offer the "impACTup!: Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Better Futures" course, which focuses on developing skills for sustainable innovations. These initiatives provide students with the knowledge and tools needed for their startup journey.

With EWOR, you’ll gain access to a more extensive and detailed entrepreneurial education, giving you the tools needed to overcome challenges and succeed in today’s competitive startup landscape.

That’s a Wrap

While Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München's local incubators offer great resources for students starting their entrepreneurial journey, EWOR provides an unmatched opportunity for those looking to take their startup to the next level. With access to global mentorship, larger funding opportunities, a highly selective network, flexible remote programmes, and comprehensive entrepreneurial education, EWOR offers Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München students the chance to build and scale their startups on a global stage. If you’re ready to look beyond local incubators and accelerate your entrepreneurial success, EWOR could be the ideal platform for you.

Image credits: Andrew Stutesman on Unsplash

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EWOR Team

EWOR Team

EWOR is a radically selective fellowship backing the world's top 0.1% of founders. We invest €500,000 per founder and provide intensive, bespoke support from full-time unicorn builders (SumUp, Adjust, ProGlove). Our virtual-first model helps outliers scale faster and smarter anywhere globally, tackling significant challenges and raising substantial follow-on funding.

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