Empowering female founders

Since 2005, guide has been providing support to aspiring entrepreneurs and female founders. The initiative places particular emphasis on offering open-format events to facilitate conversation, provide personalized advice, or inspire—regardless of how concrete the participants’ business ideas or plans may be at the outset.

For example, women can get to know guide’s offerings for the first time through the introductory event “Check-In.” Additional components include workshops with room to experiment, networking meetings, or a temporarily rented workspace as part of Coworking Day. guide’s offerings are flexible, designed to encourage, and provide feedback or coaching in small groups. Year-round support is also available.

guide stands for authentic and personalized startup consulting tailored to the wishes and needs of its clients. The guide consultants are also attuned to the fact that many women, due to multiple demands, have limited time, energy, or even startup capital available for a business project. Together, the consultant and the founder work on the business plan and evaluate the business ideas for market viability, customer focus, profitability, and future potential.

In addition, guide organizes events such as visibility fairs, networking forums, and other networking opportunities.

The Department of Labor and Economic Affairs supports guide as part of the MBQ Munich Employment and Training Program. In 2016, guide was awarded the Anita Augspurg Prize by the City of Munich for promoting gender equality for girls and women.

• munich business also regularly supports the New Roots program at Impact Hub Munich. Participants in this six-month, free support program for mothers interested in starting a business benefit from mentoring, workshops, and networking with like-minded individuals, as well as a coworking space at Impact Hub.
• Our Economic Development unit also supports the annual Women in Tech Lunch, which brings female founders in Munich together with female investors.
• Through the Women Start-up initiative, UnternehmerTUM aims to inspire and motivate women in the areas of entrepreneurship and technology. The program includes networking events, Female Founder Talks, workshops, and the Women Start-up Empowerment training series.
• The Businettes Female Founders Community offers female founders a free initial consultation on legal issues relevant to starting a business.
• The TWIN – TWO WOMEN WIN mentoring program is a one-year, volunteer-based initiative of the Käte Ahlmann Foundation. During this time, female entrepreneurs receive individual guidance from an experienced, independent businesswoman on all matters related to their business development and personal growth.