Gründerszene launches Startup Summer Camp for AI builders in Germany; Up to ten fellows and €10,000 prize

“Startup Summer Camp”: Gründerszene Launches Fellowship Program for AI Builders

With the “Startup Summer Camp,” Gründerszene—which, alongside WELT, POLITICO Germany and BUSINESS INSIDER Germany, is part of the PREMIUM-GRUPPE—launches a fellowship program for AI builders. The clear focus is on the development of new AI consumer applications.

As part of the program, up to ten selected participants will have the opportunity to turn an idea into a market-ready product within ten weeks, working full-time. The program emphasizes a strong hands-on approach, close guidance from experienced founders, investors and operators, and direct access to the Axel Springer ecosystem, including the latest AI technologies.

While working on their ventures, the fellows will be editorially covered: under the title “Gründerszene sucht die Super-Gründer,” the Gründerszene editorial team will document the process over ten weeks—across interviews, newsletters, video formats and social media channels—making the journey transparent, detailed and easy to follow, from initial product decisions and growth milestones to setbacks and the final product.

Leo Ginsburg, Head of Gründerszene:“Ideas have never been the problem. Execution has. AI is changing that. With the Gründerszene Fellowship, we give the best builders a stage—and tell in real time how products emerge from ideas.”

Moritz Seyffarth, Editor-in-Chief BUSINESS INSIDER Germany:“Gründerszene stands for the intersection of journalism and entrepreneurship. With the Startup Summer Camp, we make this strength visible: we do not just cover startups—we show, in journalistic detail, how entrepreneurial thinking turns into entrepreneurial action.”

Mathias Sanchez, CEO PREMIUM-GRUPPE: “With the Startup Summer Camp, we bring the best AI builders into execution mode and show live how ideas become products. In doing so, we combine technological innovation with the power of our media brands.”

In a final pitch, the completed products will be presented to a jury including Axel Springer executives, founders and investors, with the best product awarded a prize of €10,000.

The program runs from July 6 to September 11, 2026. Applications can be submitted viathis link.