Market Discovery Lab - Joachim Herz Stiftung

Discover who needs your technology, where it creates value, and how it can become a real-world application, product or venture.

What is the program?

You have developed a promising technology. Now discover where it creates impact.

Throughout the program, you will:

explore real-world application opportunities
identify customer and user needs
validate assumptions through direct conversations
engage with industry stakeholders and experts
uncover promising pathways to impact and commercialization

By speaking directly with potential users, customers and partners, you will build evidence for where your technology creates value—and what the next steps toward application, transfer or venture creation could look like.

What makes the program different?

Inspired by NSF I-Corps™ and supported by experienced innovation leaders from Europe and Silicon Valley. This is not a classroom exercise. You will test assumptions in the real world, speak with customers and industry stakeholders, and generate evidence for where your technology creates value.

During the program, you will:

Conduct 70–100 customer and stakeholder interviews
Learn from experienced entrepreneurs, mentors and facilitators
Connect with an international innovation network, including experts with Silicon Valley experience
Receive coaching, peer learning and structured reflection
Make evidence-based pivot-or-persevere decisions
Build a strong foundation for future products, applications and ventures.

The outcome: Better insights. Better decisions. Better chances of creating real-world impact.

Who should apply?

PhD candidates, postdocs, researchers and research-driven innovators
Early-stage deep-tech teams (minimum 2 team members)
Teams exploring how breakthrough research can become real-world applications and impact

No prior entrepreneurship experience is required. What matters is your motivation to learn, engage with industry, and explore the path from research to impact.