boOst Market Validation Sprint
Your tech works.
Who needs it?
Validate your product Market Fit in 8 weeks.
You’ve shown what your technology can do. Now find out where it can make a difference.
This Incubation programme puts your team to work. Get your hands dirty and find out what holds up. Talk to potential users and customers, challenge your assumptions and put your ideas to the test.
Get your tech
into the f*cking real world
You have the technology. You may already have an application in mind. We work with your team to find out who needs it, what matters to these users and what that means for your business.
FIND THE PEOPLE WHO MATTER
Let’s be honest. Not everyone needs your solution. Together, we identify potential users and customers, recruit interview partners and work on asking questions that get beyond polite encouragement.
PUT YOUR ASSUMPTIONS TO THE TEST
Sounds promising. But does it hold up? Pick the assumptions your business depends on and put them through interviews and prototype tests. We’re right there with clear targets and direct feedback as you go.
Base your strategy on real life insights
Some of what you learn might mess with your plans. That’s useful. We work through the findings with you, sharpen your application and figure out what to build or test next.
HOW THE SPRINT WORKS
Four in-person blocks
Two retreats and two three-day working blocks
Work between sessions
outreach, interviews and testing, with coach check-ins.
Pitch training day
sharpen your story and delivering in front of a crowd.
Demo day
Share your journey and gather support for the next milestone.
01 → GET IN THE SAME ROOM.
We kick off with a three-day retreat. You’ll explain what your technology can do, lay out the assumptions behind your idea and pick the one that would change your direction if it turned out to be wrong. Together, we’ll set a measurable research target and share it with the group.
02 → Talk to strangers.
In the first three-day working block, you will draft a best-in-class research strategy. You will practise how to approach your users, guided by founders who have done this for year. And you will start booking conversations. In the second block, you’ll run interviews and, where possible, see how people deal with the problem in their own work. We’ll compare notes at the end of each day and use what surprised you to sharpen the next round of questions.
03 → Put your findings to work.
At the second retreat, we’ll compare what people said and look for patterns across the interviews. You’ll use what you learn to rethink your application and build a prototype around a specific need. After the retreat, you’ll put it in front of potential users and see what holds up.
04 → Make your case.
You’ll work out how your application could become a business and build a pitch around what you’ve actually found. A dedicated pitch training day gives you time to practise the story and prepare for tough questions with a professional acting coach. You’ll receive unfiltered investor feedback on your deck before presenting at Demo Day.
FOR DEEP-TECH FOUNDING TEAMS
This incubation programme is for teams ready to explore how their idea will solve real world problems. And turn into an exponential growth case.
01
SHOW US WHAT YOUR TECH CAN DO
An early lab demonstrator or strong research data is enough to show that your technology works in principle.
02
COME AS
A TEAM
At least two founders from your team need to attend every in-person session.
03
MAKE TIME FOR THE WORK
Plan for 14 in-person days spread across the programme, plus time for outreach, interviews and testing between sessions.
Dates and locations
Provisional schedule · January–March 2027
| No. | Date | Location | Session |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 15–17 Jan | Erfurt | Kick-off retreat |
| 02 | 20 Jan | Online | Check-in · Interview shortlist |
| 03 | 25–27 Jan | Leipzig | Working block · Outreach and interview practice |
| 04 | 8–10 Feb | Dresden | Working block · Interviews and field research |
| 05 | 19–21 Feb | Venue TBC | Second retreat · Make sense of the findings |
| 06 | Week of 22 Feb | Team work | Build and test your prototype |
| 07 | 26 Feb | Online | Check-in · Prototype testing |
| 08 | 5 Mar | Leipzig | Pitch training |
| 09 | 9 Mar | Online | Check-in · Pitch feedback |
| 10 | 11 Mar | Online | Check-in · Pitch feedback |
| 11 | Date TBC | Dresden planned | Demo Day |
SO WAT’CHA WANNA KNOW?
The commitment, the cost and everything you should know before putting your team forward.
What happens after we register?
We review applications and offer places on a rolling basis. If your team looks like a good fit, we’ll invite you to a short call. We can make a decision within a few days of that call, so it’s worth applying early.
How far along does our technology need to be?
You should be able to show that it works in principle, for example with an early lab demonstrator or strong research data. You don’t need a finished product. Figuring out where your technology could solve a real problem is part of the sprint.
Can we join without a university affiliation?
Yes. Your team can register from any region. You don’t need to be affiliated with a university or research institution.
How much time should we set aside?
Plan for 14 in-person days spread across the programme, including two retreats, two working blocks, pitch training and Demo Day. Between sessions, you’ll need time for outreach, interviews, testing and online check-ins.
We cannot cover our travel expenses. Can you help?
If you are a team from outside of Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt or Thüringen, we have a limited travel stipend you can apply for. Check the box in the application form and we will discuss it in our call.
Can one founder attend on behalf of the team?
At least two founders from your team need to attend each in-person session. You’ll make decisions together and carry the work forward between sessions.
Is it really free? Does boOst take equity?
The programme is free of charge and we never take equity. Both retreats are on us: We cover your team’s accommodation and all meals. You will need to cover your travel expenses to each session and potentially accommodation for the working blocks in Dresden and Leipzig.
What if our original idea doesn’t hold up?
That’s a useful result. You might find that a different group of users needs your technology more, or that the problem looks different up close. We’ll work through what you’ve learned and use it to decide what to test next.
Will we cover fundraising, IP and go-to-market?
You’ll get an introduction to these topics. Most of the sprint is spent finding out who needs your technology, testing an application and turning your findings into a pitch.
Where will we work?
For all working sessions, you will have access to our offices in Dresden or Leipzig and a desk to work on for as long as you need it.
Ready to go all in?
Bring your team, your technology and the questions you haven’t answered yet.
Still got questions?
Tell me what you’re building and where you’re stuck.
