January 11 - 15, 2027
KLU Campus, Hamburg, Germany
30.11.2026
English
all student levels
KLU Program Certificate awarding 2 ECTS
Discover Your Founder Potential
What if you could explore entrepreneurship without the risk of starting a company right away?
KLU's Winter School in Entrepreneurship is designed for curious students from all disciplines who want to explore entrepreneurship as a possible path for their future. Through hands-on workshops, interdisciplinary teamwork, founder interactions, and visits to startups and innovation hubs, you'll discover what it feels like to create, build, experiment, and take ownership. Developed by KLU SPARK and connected to the Impossible Founders ecosystem, the program offers a gateway to a broader network of founders, innovators, and entrepreneurial opportunities.
What's in it for you?
- Discover whether entrepreneurship could be your path
- Test ideas without the pressure of starting a company
- Meet founders and experience Hamburg's innovation ecosystem
- Work in interdisciplinary teams with students from different backgrounds
- Build confidence, creativity, and entrepreneurial self-belief
- Connect with the wider Impossible Founders network and future opportunities
- Earn ECTS credits within an academically recognized program
Tuition Fee
Tuition fee: Free of charge.
Open to students from all disciplines and study levels at KLU, KLU partner universities, and universities within the Impossible Founders network. No startup idea or prior experience required, just curiosity and an open mind.
Including: teaching material, beverages, lunches, transportation ticket, social program, Welcome and Farewell Dinner.
Registration
Registration: Now open. Submit your application via the button above.
Deadline: 30. November 2026
Places: Limited. Applicants are asked to answer a few short questions about their motivation and expected contribution to the program.
Certificate: Awarded upon 100% attendance and completion of the program.
Overall Program
The Winter School combines theory, practice, and reflection. Participants will engage in:
- Interactive lectures on entrepreneurship and startup culture.
- Workshops and team projects to develop and test business ideas.
- Company visits and guest talks with entrepreneurs.
- Pitch sessions to present ideas and reflect on what it feels like to “think and act” like an entrepreneur.
The central aim is to give students a realistic taste of entrepreneurship: both its opportunities and its challenges. By the end, students will be better equipped to decide whether this path excites them and whether they see themselves as future entrepreneurs.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the program, participants will be able to:
- reflect on their entrepreneurial potential, motivations and strengths
- identify and explore entrepreneurial opportunities arising from current societal and technological developments
- develop and communicate an initial venture concept
- gain first-hand insights into startup and innovation ecosystems
- understand entrepreneurship as a potential career path
Summer School Student Experiences
The KLU Summer School was such a transformative one, I had a great experience of the German culture and excursions to different exciting places in Germany. I also loved how the classes were conducted and the mode of teaching was the best I have ever experienced.
Tracy Tumuhimbise, Makerere University Business School, Uganda (2023)
The Summer School was a well-planned experience consisting of engaging lectures and excursions which brought real-life context to the information we were taught about sustainability as a class from different walks of the world. Sustainability isn't just the future; it is how we will save it and we can do so together.
Mbalenhle Shandu, Stellenbosch University, South Africa (2023)
KLU Summer School was more than just learning – it was a journey of new perspectives and meaningful connections. The hands-on approach made complex topics like corporate sustainability feel both practical and inspiring, sparking my passion to apply these lessons in making a real-world impact.
Tze Yi Tan, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia (2024)
This three-week summer school greatly contributed to my current interest in sustainability within finance. It provided me with the opportunity to engage with professors, PhD candidates, and visionaries of various startups, while also allowing me to exchange diverse perspectives with students from all over the world about their own unique experiences with social, economic, and environmental sustainability. The excursions were also a big plus, as we were able to discover Hamburg, the second-largest city in Germany!
Selina Shibata, The University of Warwick, UK (2024)
Plan Your Stay in Hamburg
To give you some flexibility, we ask that you book your own accommodation for the KLU Winter School in Entrepreneurship 2026. Check out our list of recommended hotels and hostels to help you find a place to stay. Be sure to book your hotel as soon as you can, as rooms may fill up quickly.
Contact
Professor of Marketing and Innovation; Academic Director of the Winter School
Summer School in Sustainability
Want more?
Looking for a summer alternative? Join KLU’s Summer School in Sustainability and tackle real-world challenges in green business, supply chains, and responsible marketing.
