SpinLab - The HHL Accelerator Summer School for Diverse Startups 2026

📝 About SpinLab - The HHL Accelerator Summer School

The SpinLab Summer School is a one-week program designed to support startups with diverse backgrounds. Participants will benefit from:

• Workshops led by mentors and coaches covering essential topics such as financing, marketing, sales, pitch training, and product-market fit.
• 1:1 personalized guidance to address individual challenges.
• Networking opportunities with founders and experts from the SpinLab and HHL Digital Space ecosystem.

🎁 Benefits

Participants of the program will enjoy the following benefits:

• Workshops: Hands-on sessions and individual coaching with top experts.
• Strong Network: Access to one of Europe’s best startup ecosystems, including community events.
• Prize Money: Compete for the Digital Award granted by the city of Leipzig, with a prize of €2,000.
• Startup Festival Tickets: The pitch contest winner will receive free tickets to the Web Summit in Lisbon, one of the world’s largest startup conferences.
• SpinLab Academy: Lifetime access to an e-learning platform with expert videos and the opportunity to earn a certificate from HHL Leipzig.
• Free Program: Thanks to sponsors, the program is completely free, allowing participants to focus on their growth.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Diversity: At least one team member must have a diverse background (e.g., women, inter, non-binary, transgender, people of color, international background, person with disability, age diversity, etc.).
• Business Idea: The topic of the business idea is flexible, but it must have growth potential.
• Startup Status: A legally founded startup is not mandatory, but the business idea should be concrete (e.g., in the form of a business plan).
• Availability: At least one team member must be available onsite in Leipzig during the program (20–24 July 2026).
• Language: The program will be conducted in English, so at least one team member should be proficient. If only German-speaking teams are selected, the program can also be held in German.

📅 Application Date and Process

• Application Deadline: 17 May 2026
• Application Process:
  • Complete the application form, which includes a short questionnaire.
  • Upload a pitch deck or a short pitch video (maximum 120 seconds).

🌐 Opportunity Application

For more details and to apply, visit the official SpinLab Summer School website.

📍 Program Dates

• Duration: 20–24 July 2026
• Location: Leipzig

This program is a fantastic opportunity for startups with diverse backgrounds to gain valuable insights, network with industry experts, and compete for exciting prizes. Don't miss your chance to grow your business idea!

• Workshops: One-week program with hands-on workshops as well as individual 1:1 coaching with top experts awaits you.
• Strong network: Get access to one of the best startup ecosystems in Europe with a variety of community events and more!
• Prize money: The highlight of the program is the public pitch event, where your startup competes for the Digital Award granted by the city of Leipzig, which comes with a prize money of 2000€.
• Startup Festival Tickets: The winner of the pitch contest will receive free tickets to the Web Summit in Lisbon, one of the world’s largest startup conferences.
• SpinLab Academy: Receive lifetime access to our e-learning platform with videos from well-known experts and the chance to earn a certificate from HHL Leipzig.
• Free Program: Thanks to our sponsors, the program is completely free of charge for you. We want you to be able to fully concentrate on your growth.