JUNI Science to Venture Program
From research grant to market leader.
Program details
Why joining?
The benefits of joining the program
Research or technology are rarely the bottleneck. Most spin-offs actually struggle due to management challenges, the “perfectionist’s trap” in product development, or missing the investor-readiness mark.
The JUNI program addresses:
- Team fragility: Fixing the “science-to-market” leadership gap.
- Market drift: Moving from lab perfection to radical MVP validation.
- Capital gap: Aligning your milestones with VC requirements from day one.
The JUNI program helps you go:
- from scientist to founder: We close the management gap before it becomes a venture risk.
- from prototype to MVP: We focus on radical market validation rather than academic perfection.
- from grant to investment: We align your milestones with VC logic.
Program details
Key Facts
Join JUNI’s program for high-potential deeptech and life science spin-offs. We bridge the execution gap with a founder-led roadmap, specifically focusing on the most challenging aspects: team configuration, market validation, and organizational resilience.
Exclusively designed for teams with a Major Research Grant (e.g., EXIST-Forschungstransfer, GO-Bio) that are ready to bridge the execution gap between the lab and the first investment round.
- Duration: Six months of tactical venture building.
- Commitment: One in-person deep dive per month and virtual strategic check-ins.
- Mentorship: On-demand guidance from our 80+ founder network.
- Rolling Applications: Apply now to become part of our Summer Batch 2026.
Program details
Three Program Stages
- Vertical deep dives: We offer specialized tracks for life science & biotech and AI & industrial tech.
- Outside-in events: We organize exclusive matchmaking sessions where research meets entrepreneurial “hustle.”
- Founder-led: Every JUNI session is led by an expert who has successfully scaled and exited a deeptech company.
Stage 01
Foundation & team architecture
Master the transition from science to business. We help you form the perfect co-founding team and equip you with the leadership skills needed to lead a high-growth startup.
Stage 02
Radical market validation
Go from lab-prototype to MVP. We stress-test your tech against real-world industry pain points and regulatory hurdles (MDR, AI Act).
Stage 03
Investor readiness & scale
Harden your business case. We align your milestones with VC requirements and unlock direct access to our elite investor network for your next funding round.
Fellow Profiles & Selection
Eligibility & Selection
We are looking for high-potential research teams (e.g., EXIST-Forschungstransfer or GO-Bio grant holders) ready to transform their IP into a scalable business.
Apply Now!
This is your springboard!
90% of your work happens in the lab. We provide the critical leverage to make sure your technology moves from the shelf into the real world — where it can create value and have an actual impact.
FAQs
What is the JUNI Science to Venture (S2V) Program?
S2V is a six-month, tactical venture-building program designed exclusively for high-potential deeptech and life science spin-offs. We help teams bridge the “execution gap” between laboratory research and their first major investment round.
Who is eligible to apply for S2V?
The program is specifically designed for existing founding teams that have already secured or are currently in a major research grant (e.g., EXIST-Forschungstransfer, GO-Bio, or similar). We do not match individual founders here; we accelerate established pre-seed teams.
How is the S2V Launchpad structured?
The program is divided into three execution-led phases:
- Foundation & Team Architecture: Transitioning from a research project to a high-performance business organization and closing leadership gaps.
- Radical Market Validation: Moving from lab prototypes to MVPs by stress-testing the technology against real-world industry pain points.
- Investor Readiness & Scale: Hardening the business case and aligning technical milestones with venture capital logic to secure follow-on funding.
What is the goal at the end of the 6 months?
The goal is to make your startup “investor-ready.” By the end of the program, you should have a validated business model, a professional team structure, and direct access to our network of deeptech investors for your upcoming funding round.
In which fields does S2V provide specialized support?
We offer dedicated tracks and specialized mentors for two main areas:
- Life Science & Biotech: Navigating clinical pathways, regulatory hurdles, and long-term R&D cycles.
- AI, Industrial Tech & Robotics: Focusing on hardware-software integration, manufacturing scale-up, and B2B sales.
How can you join the next cohort?
Applications for the S2V Launchpad are reviewed on a rolling basis. Since we provide high-intensity, hands-on support, we only admit a small number of selected teams per batch. You can start the process by submitting your pitch deck or project summary through our website.
Your Programs & Ventures contact
Let’s shape your journey together.
JUNI programs are built to support you from talent discovery to venture scaling. As our main contact for program design, Corinna ensures our formats create real value. Whether you want to join a cohort or explore a new collaboration – reach out to Corinna to get started on your journey with us.
