HPI Engine

Lecture

General Information

Term(s)

The program is offered every Winter and Summer term. The next sequence of workshops will run Summer Term 2025. Next information session: 08.04.2025 13:30 (60min)

Time investment

3.5 hours per workshop, with 6 workshops per semester.

ECTS

Students can earn 3 ECTS credits for attending 6 workshops and an additional 3 ECTS credits upon completing 12 workshops in total. Join anytime.

Module type

Compulsory Elective Module

Module selection at HPI

Cybersecurity MA:

HPI-PSK-ML: Management und Leitung
HPI-DE-RWM: Recht, Wirtschaft, Management
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‍Digital Health MA:

‍HPI-PSK-ML: Management and Leadership
‍

‍Data Engineering MA:‍

HPI-DE-RWM: Recht, Wirtschaft, Management
HPI-PSK-ML: Management und Leitung
‍

‍IT-Systems Engineering MA:

‍HPI-PSK-RW: Recht und Wirtschaft
HPI-PSK-ML: Management und Leitung

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IT-Systems Engingeering BA:

HPI-PSK

Grades

Yes, based on homework assignments after each workshop and a final oral exam to assess progress.

Enrollment deadline

enrollment is possible up to 8 days before the oral exam date.

Examination date

Teaching format

Workshops, with interactive sessions, practical exercises, and industry insights.

Teaching language

English

Registration

Fee

free

Team budget

HPI Founder Scholarship

Participants

Maximum number of Participants

Room (Location)

Key dates

Learning and Teaching Methods

The program is structured around practical, hands-on learning experiences. Each workshop includes the following components:

‍3.5-hour Workshop
‍These interactive sessions are designed to provide students with real-world entrepreneurial skills, including group discussions, exercises, and opportunities to network with experts.‍

‍
‍Practical Application
‍Exercises are complemented by real-world scenarios to enhance understanding and applicability.

Workshops

‍

Below is an overview of the workshops provided during the Winter Term and their key topics:

Winter Term 2024/25

Week 1

Day 1

November 5, 2024

Workshop 1
Should I Be an Entrepreneur and What Does It Mean?
Exploring the entrepreneurial mindset, motivations, and the journey ahead.

Week 2

Day 2

November 19, 2024

Workshop 2
Getting Started: Finding Ideas and Markets
Strategies for generating ideas, identifying markets, and understanding market needs.

Week 3

Day 3

December 3, 2024

‍

Workshop 3
Hands-On: Building Prototypes and MVPs
Practical methods for creating prototypes and developing Minimum Viable Products (MVPs).

Week 4

Day 4

December 17, 2024

Workshop 4
Making Money: Finding the Right Business Model and Landing Your First Sale
Developing business models, understanding customer value, and preparing for initial sales.

Week 5

Day 5

January 7, 2025

Workshop 5
Raising Money: Decoding Investors, Crafting Equity Stories, and Perfecting Your Pitch
Insights into securing funding, understanding investor expectations, and refining your pitch.

Week 6

Day 6

January 21, 2025

Workshop 6
Show Me the Money! Securing an Investment
Deep dive into the investment process, strategies for negotiation, and understanding term sheets.

Week 7

Day 7

Week 8

Day 8

Week 9

Day 9

Week 10

Day 10

Week 11

Day 11

Week 12

Day 12

Week 13

Day 13

Week 14

Day 14

Week 15

Day 15

Week 16

Day 16

Week 17

Day 17

Week 18

Day 18

Week 19

Day 19

Week 20

Day 20

Summer Term 2025

Week 1

Day 1

22.04.2025 13:30 - 16:45

Workshop 7
Launch your product: Designing and Executing Your Go-to-Market Strategy

Building a strategic roadmap to launch and scale your product successfully.

Week 2

Day 2

06.05.2025 13:30 - 16:45

Workshop 8

Customer Engagement and Retention: Building Long-Term Relationships
Strategies for keeping customers loyal and engaged as your startup evolves.

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Week 3

Day 3

20.05.2025 13:30 - 16:45

Workshop 9

Pricing your Product: Crafting Profitable and Sustainable Pricing Models

Exploring methods to ensure financial viability through effective pricing.

Week 4

Day 4

03.06.2025 13:30 - 16:45

Workshop 10
Roles within a Startup: Leadership and Responsibilities
Understanding C-level (and other leadership roles) and their responsibilities to build a strong leadership team.

Week 5

Day 5

17.06.2025 13:30 - 16:45

Workshop 11
Founding Your Startup: Setting up the Company.

Step-by-step guidance on preparing and launching your UG or GmbH.

Week 6

Day 6

01.07.2025 13:30 - 16:45

‍

Workshop 12
Being an Employer: Hiring, Retaining, and Leading a Team

Managing the human side of startups – finding and retaining your team members, team-building, and leadership

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Week 7

Day 7

15.07.2025 13:30 - 16:45

not yet scheduled. So far meant as a fall-back.

Week 8

Day 8

Week 9

Day 9

Week 10

Day 10

Week 11

Day 11

Week 12

Day 12

Week 13

Day 13

Week 14

Day 14

Week 15

Day 15

Week 16

Day 16

Week 17

Day 17

Week 18

Day 18

Week 19

Day 19

Week 20

Day 20

Founder Fundamentals

General Information

Description

Founder Fundamentals aims to provide an essential understanding of entrepreneurship, startups, and product development. The workshops are designed to develop a strong foundation in economic processes and business creation while applying these principles to the context of technology and IT startups.

Key learnings

Benefits

Workshops

Our Goals

Examination

Further Questions?
Don't hesitate to contact us!

Additional Services

Frequently
asked questions

Literature

Founder Fundamentals

General Information

Description

Founder Fundamentals aims to provide an essential understanding of entrepreneurship, startups, and product development. The workshops are designed to develop a strong foundation in economic processes and business creation while applying these principles to the context of technology and IT startups.

Key learnings

Benefits

Workshops

Our Goals

Examination

Further Questions? Don't hesitate to contact us!

Additional Services

Frequently asked questions

Literature

Further Questions?
Don't hesitate to contact us!

Frequently
asked questions