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Gateway Accelerator

We make ideas work — in six months with you!

Gateway Accelerator is the team and leadership accelerator.


By focusing on the professional and personal development of all start-up team members, our tailored program creates value beyond providing standard start-up knowledge.

With our strong ties to the University of Cologne, we offer a broad, international network and link you to mentors from our science and alumni community.

We foster teams to be resilient, to be quicker and of course to be successful! In doing so, we focus on teamwork and mindset. Together with you, we want you to succeed in making your ideas work.

New Batch starting soon!

The Accelerator #Batch 3 starts in early November with the eight finalists from the C3 Campus Competition Cologne. Learn more about the competition here.

Impressions of the 2023 C3 Campus Competition Cologne Final

Resilient, Quick, Successful

The Gateway Accelerator is a tailor-made program for knowledge-led and technology-based start-ups teams from the university scene.

The program is focused on social-, knowledge- or technology-based startups. This way, we can tailor and provide you with the smartest brains in these fields.

It starts every year from September to February and takes 6 month.

Did you know? Social and Green Start-ups are very welcome, too.

Gateway Accelerator Batch #2 - Demo Day 2023 Recap

Our Gateway accelerator is pretty unique, actually.

You don't need to share any equity with us! It's for free. Awesome, right?


Challenge accepted!

The Gateway Accelerator is a university-based program specified on the challenges of university start-ups by heart. We help you to address these stumbling blocks and rise above and beyond. We provide you with a customized program that addresses your needs and questions.

5 challenges we know university start-ups in early founding stages need help with

01

team development to realize their true potential.

02

problems concerning market entry.

03

business model needs optimization or market testing.

04

marketing & sales strategy need more consideration.

05

analysis of international market potential.

What we will focus on together with you

Team building

We help you to build a team that brings all the important skills to the table.

Internationalization

Gateway Accelerator follows an international approach to get your start-up ready for international markets.

Leadership Culture

We look to a modern leadership culture with you and your team.

Market entry & strategy

We help you to get ready for market entry. If you already took that step, we can help you to refine your market strategy.

Reasons to join our Accelerator

01

Focus on social, knowledge- and technology-based start-ups 🚀

02

vast national & international network of companies, investors, institutions, and mentors 🤝

03

free program - you don't need to share any equity with us! 💸

04

Six month program: November till April 📅

05

One Year Co-Working in our Gateway Workspace @ InnoDom Cologne

06

Individualised workshops and 1:1 sessions with experts tailored to your needs

Demo Day 2022 with Gateway Accelerator Batch #1

Team Berghaus & Cie

Team SIEVE

Team skwid

Team Compounder

Our Partners

xdeck

KölnBusiness

neoteq ventures

German Accelerator

Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie

EXIST

Exzellenz Startup Center NRW

Fit for Invest

Corporate Law Clinic e.V.

Got more questions? Get in touch!

We are looking forward to hearing from you.