Incorporation & Start-ups

Gateway Start-up Centre at the German Sport University Cologne

From idea to start-up: We’ll support you with your start-up project!

We promote start-ups in the field of sports science and support students, researchers, staff and alumni on their journey to setting up their own start-up. Through personalised start-up advice, training programmes and funding opportunities, we support the development of innovative business ideas in the fields of sport, exercise and health.

Make ideas work.

We support an average of 50 teams a year!

The programmes and events offered by the Gateway Start-up Service at the German Sport University Cologne provide you with the framework to turn your innovative idea into reality: brainstorming, designing and validating a business model, prototype development, financing, networking and setting up your business.

All these services form part of the Gateway Start-up Service, a consortium of Cologne’s higher education institutions comprising the Technical University of Cologne (TH Köln), the University of Cologne, the Rheinische Hochschule Köln, CBS Cologne Business School and the German Sport University Cologne.

You’ve come to the right place if you:

You’d like to get feedback on your start-up idea from your studies or research
have an innovative idea and would like to develop it further
need advice on the next steps
want to apply for funding
are an aspiring founder looking for suitable mentors, coaches and investors
are interested in the topic of entrepreneurship

Studierende sitzen mit Laptops auf dem Schoß im Treppenhaus

Start-up advice

Do, do, do – the path often only emerges once you’ve taken the first step, and even if the idea is still evolving or remains unclear, it’s important to take that first ‘unfinished’ step.

Start-up Naturzeit.Club

Zwei Studentinnen geben sich auf einer Laufbahn im Freien ein High-Five.

Offers & Subsidies

Our start-ups

The Gateway Family

Five universities, one brand

Under the joint brand ‘Gateway Universities Cologne’, the German Sport University Cologne has joined forces with Cologne’s four other largest higher education institutions (the University of Cologne, Cologne University of Applied Sciences, Rheinische Hochschule and Cologne International Business School).

True to the motto ‘make ideas work’, the Gateway Universities Cologne work closely with partners from business, politics and society to promote start-up activities in the region. The aim is to establish an entrepreneurship cluster in Cologne and the surrounding region and to make the area even more attractive as a location for innovative start-ups and investors.

Ein Schaubild, wo alle Einrichtungen der Gateway Familie aufgeführt sind

Gateway Alumni

The Gateway Alumni Network connects funded start-up founders with one another and with universities. It fosters exchange, knowledge transfer and support from experienced founders for future generations, and creates valuable contacts and ideas.

Gateway Factory

Gateway Universities Cologne, RWTH Aachen University, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf and the Start2 Group founded the Gateway Factory to help accelerate the growth of promising start-ups.

Gateway Start-up Network e.V.

Gateway Gründungsnetz e.V. forms a dynamic network comprising universities, research organisations, technology centres, institutes, chambers of commerce, banks and funding agencies. Together, they support start-ups originating from academic institutions.

Gateway Friends’ Association

The Gateway Förderverein e.V. supports the Gateway start-up services at the University of Cologne, Cologne University of Applied Sciences, German Sport University Cologne and Rheinische Hochschule Köln. As members and sponsors, companies help to ensure the long-term support of innovative start-up ideas originating from the academic world.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! As a student, researcher, staff member or alumnus of the German Sport University Cologne or another Gateway university (University of Cologne, Cologne University of Applied Sciences, CBS, Rheinische Hochschule), you can make use of the services offered by the Gateway Start-up Service.

We’ll support you with any questions you may have about your start-up idea, whether you’re just starting out or are already planning to set up your business.

Gateway supports you from the initial idea right through to implementation. This includes, amongst other things:

Personalised start-up advice, from the initial idea through to further development
Funding programmes and training opportunities (e.g. the ‘StarS-Kader’ incubator at the German Sport University Cologne)
Support with developing your business model
Access to networks, mentors and investors
Funding programmes and financing options

You’ll therefore receive both practical and strategic support on your journey to self-employment.

Absolutely!

Many people start out without a fully formed idea. Here at Gateway, you can find out whether starting a business is right for you at all, develop your initial ideas and explore them further together with others. Formats such as workshops and events help you find inspiration and try things out.

Yes, definitely!

There’s huge potential for innovation in the fields of sport, exercise and health, and plenty of exciting start-up opportunities. Your specialist knowledge provides a great foundation for innovative ideas.

No.

You can get in touch at any stage, whether you’ve just had an initial idea or are already well into the implementation phase. The support will be tailored to your specific situation.

The services offered by the Gateway Start-up Service are free of charge as they are publicly funded.

It’s simple:

You can find out about the services on offer via this website and book a consultation directly. Alternatively, you’ll also find contact details on this page for people you can ask your questions.

Even if you don’t go on to start your own business, you’ll gain valuable skills: