FAU Sandbox is a program offered by the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, providing funding for student-initiated business ideas.

You have a business idea but do not have the funds and/or are scared to take the first step?

Or you are currently working on your business idea but need some more support?

We are convinced that there are a lot of great ideas out there, that just need a little ‘kick-starting’.

We want our teams to lose their fear of the first step. The Sandbox will provide ten participating teams with max. 2,000€ that can be spent for software licenses, hardware, market research, marketing, developer / service provider fees, domestic travel and anything that boosts your business idea after the nomination to the FAU Sandbox program.

Furthermore you get access to co-working spaces (InnoLab, d.hip/ZiMT Space in Erlangen and Joseph’s in Nuremberg) and a mentor for the two months, as well as further workshop opportunities.

One key-member of each team needs to be member of FAU. But the faculty doesn’t matter. We are looking forward to both non technical and technical business ideas. Teams have to participate at the kick-off, and deliver a midterm- and the final pitch presentation. Everything else is optional, but we highly recommend to use the offers made by our partners in the startup ecosystem. By taking part in the FAU Sandbox innovation fund, teams do not give up any rights to their intellectual property.

The timeline of the FAU Sandbox 2020 was:

• 31.07.  4 pm: Kick-off @d.hip/ZiMT Space (Erlangen)
• 13.08.: Workshop “How to start a company – a legal perspective Pt.1”
• 24.08.: Pitch Workshop @Zollhof (Nuremberg)
• 27.o8.: Workshop “How to start a company – a legal perspective Pt.2”
• 02.09. 3 pm: Mid-term presentation @Brucklyn Hall (Erlangen)
• 09.10.  3 pm: Final Pitch Event @d.hip/ZiMT Space (Erlangen)

Here is our Retrospect Videoclip, it is full of great impressions of the FAU Sandbox 2020. Have fun!

In the upcoming summer will begin the applications for the FAU Sandbox 2021!