Back to approach
VISION LAB
Driving Diversity in Tech
Earlybird Vision Lab is Germany’s first VC incubator and impact fund supporting pre-seed startups by entrepreneurs with migration backgrounds.
Vision Lab’s mission
Ideas Come from Everywhere
Across Europe, language, cultural, or bureaucratic barriers often prevent people with a migration background from growing great ideas into successful businesses. This perpetuates social inequality, a critical issue demanding attention and hindering societies’ innovative and economic opportunities. Silicon Valley’s impressive founder stories are proof that a diverse tech ecosystem is a massive innovative force and a crucial economic factor. Almost half of all startups in the Bay Area were founded by migrants or their children. With Vision Lab, our mission is to support founders with migration backgrounds and actively contribute to building a more diverse startup ecosystem, starting in Germany.
What we offer
Program Pillars
Vision Lab is made up of three essential elements which promote the success of participating companies.
01 —
Workshops & Networking
Topic-specific workshops with practical advice from our network experts
02 —
Mentorship
Individual coaching by industry professionals, with particular experience in overcoming cultural barriers in the European startup landscape
03 —
Funding
An investment through a convertible loan of EUR 25K to boost startups in their journey.
Ecosystem collaboration
Our partners
This impactful program is made possible with continued support from industry leaders.
Joining Vision Lab
who can apply?
Are you a highly motivated founding team in Germany dedicated to making a difference in your industry and successfully translating your business idea into reality? Great – it’s a match.
We are looking for startup teams with ideas that fulfill the following criteria:
Startups must be based in Germany Addressing multi-€ billion markets with plenty of room for innovation
At least ONE of the founders must be a first generation migrant in Germany
Strong entrepreneurial and management personalities
Distinctive MVP with a clear USP, a high degree of defensibility and a convincing product roadmap
First indication of product-market-fit – strong interest from customers and a promising sales pipeline
A healthy business model and a clear understanding of pricing dynamics
SPOTLIGHT COMPANIES
Success Stories
We meet you at eye-level to take your company to the next one.
FAQS
Questions? We Have Answers
If you’re looking for further information, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
How does Vision Lab specifically address the challenges faced by founders with migration backgrounds?
Vision Lab tackles these obstacles by offering tailored support to entrepreneurs with a migration background. This includes personalized mentorship to navigate the German business landscape and networking opportunities with industry leaders who understand these challenges. Additionally, by providing funding through the Vision Lab Fund, we help reduce financial constraints.
How does the relationship between Vision Lab founders and Earlybird continue after the program?
How does Vision Lab define diversity?
