Female Founders Circle – Edition 1
Six gatherings where women who want to start a company meet women who already have. Together they share what they know, learn from each other and build a network that lasts. In Berlin, from January 12, 2027.
Female Founders Circle – Edition 1
6 Weeks Female Founders Circle, Program → Starting January 2027 / Strictly Limited
JUNI Mitte, Berlin
Overview
Where female founders find each other.
“Female founders tell us again and again what holds them back: access to capital, and above all, access to networks,” says Bettine Schmitz, JUNI Ambassador and Co-Founder of the Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund. The first edition of the Female Founders Circle is built to change that: six Tuesdays this winter in Berlin, two small groups of women matched by stage, and experts who know the path from the inside.
Across six gatherings, this edition covers the questions founders face most:
- Is your idea worth founding, and are you ready to lead it?
- Talking to customers and validating fast
- Go-to-market and turning early interest into traction
- Fundraising and investor conversations
- Negotiating, setting boundaries and knowing your worth
- Building and leading a strong team
- Visibility and networks that open doors
Key facts
What you need to know.
Six Tuesdays this winter, two small groups of women and one circle in Berlin. Block the dates in your calendar now: the circle works best when everyone is in the room, every time.
- Application deadline: December 11, 2026
- Dates: Six Tuesdays – January 12, 19, 26 and February 9, 16, 23, 2027
- Location: JUNI Mitte, Berlin
- Groups: 2 groups of 6–8 women, matched by stage
- Cost: Free, thanks to IHK Berlin
- Commitment: All six gatherings, in person
Program details
Your six Tuesdays.
We kick off together, go deep in our own groups, and close the circle together. With a one-week break for the Berlin winter school holidays.
January 12
Kick-off: Welcome to the circle
Both groups, one room.
- Meet the women you’ll spend the next six weeks with, from day one.
January 19
Group sessions
Each group works on its own stage.
- Group A: From spark to startup – Is your idea worth founding, and are you ready to lead it?
- Group B: From first customers to real traction – Build a go-to-market strategy that turns early interest into growth.
January 26
Group sessions
Each group works on its own stage.
- Group A: Test before you build – Talk to customers, read the signals and validate your idea fast.
- Group B: The fundraising playbook – Walk into investor conversations prepared, and walk out with next steps.
February 9
Know your worth
Both groups, one room.
- Negotiate money, set boundaries and hold your ground with investors, partners and clients.
February 16
Group sessions
Each group works on its own stage.
- Group A: Building your founding team – Find the right people and make the most of Berlin’s ecosystem.
- Group B: Lead through growth – Build strong teams and make the hard decisions.
February 23
Be seen, be connected
Both groups, one room.
- Visibility that builds trust, and networks that open doors. We close the circle, and keep it open.
Selection
Is this your circle?
If you haven’t incorporated a company yet, you’re in Group A. If you have, and it’s up to about three years old, you’re in Group B.
Group A: Aspiring Founders
You’re a fit if:
- You’re seriously thinking about founding, ideally with a research-based or deeptech idea
- You haven’t incorporated a company yet
- You live or work in Berlin or Brandenburg
- You can commit to all six dates in person
You’ll walk away with:
- A clear view of whether your idea is ready to become a company
- A proven way to talk to customers and validate fast
- A blueprint for building your founding team in Berlin’s ecosystem
Group B: Founders
You’re a fit if:
- You’ve founded (incorporated) a company within the last three years
- Your startup is science-, deeptech- or technology-driven (preferred)
- Your company is based in Berlin or Brandenburg
- You can commit to all six dates in person
- Super plus: letters of intent or pilots with first customers. (No paying customers needed yet.)
You’ll walk away with:
- A sharper go-to-market strategy for turning early interest into traction
- Fundraising preparation from the people on the other side of the table
- Tools for leading a growing team and making the big calls
* Not sure which group fits? Apply anyway and tell us where you stand. We’ll sort it out together in the intake call.
Applications
Here's how to join.
Applications close December 11, 2026. Edition 1 starts January 12, 2027. Applying takes about 10–15 minutes: tell us who you are, where you stand and what you hope to get out of the six weeks.
Step 1: Apply
Applications open early November (until then, join our waitlist). Submit yours by December 11.
Step 2: Intake call
If you’re shortlisted, we’ll invite you to a short intake call between December 14 and 17.
Step 3: Decision
We’ll send all decisions on December 21.
Step 4: Confirm your place
Confirm by January 8, 2027, and you’re in.
Step 5: Kick-off
We start together on January 12, 2027.
Your program contact
Questions? Let's talk.
