Your path to a successful startup
By your side at every step
At Triathlon, you’ll find the ideal environment to turn your vision into a successful startup.
Our Startup Journey is specifically designed to support students, researchers, and aspiring founders throughout every stage of building a company – from the initial idea to a market-ready business.
The stages of your startup journey
Is your idea just taking shape? Or are you already further along? We support you at every stage.
Stage 1: Idea & Technology
Everything starts with your idea and your technological or scientific approach.
We help you clearly define your innovation and assess its potential.
Key topics in this phase:
- Analysis of your idea or technological/scientific foundation
- Identification of application areas and market opportunities
- Initial assessment of feasibility and scalability
Stage 2: Business Model, Team & Product
Together with our coaches, you develop a viable business model, find suitable co-founders, and bring your product to life – always with a strong focus on market fit.
Key topics in this phase:
- Positioning and conceptualization of your product
- Development of a sustainable and scalable business model
- Team building and co-founder search
Stage 3: Proof of Concept (PoC), MVP & Validation
You test your idea in a real market environment: through a Proof of Concept or a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), you gather valuable feedback and refine your offering.
Key topics in this phase:
- Iterative development of your solution
- Planning and execution of PoC and MVP projects
- Systematic validation of your business idea with real users
Stage 4: Foundation & Partnerships
Whether it’s founding your own company, a joint venture, licensing, or a strategic partnership – we help you find the best path for your project.
Key topics in this phase:
- Access to our network of industry, research, and investors
- Business models and collaboration formats
- Legal and administrative aspects of the founding process
Stage 5: Growth & Scaling
After founding, we continue to support you: in growing your business, stabilizing your company, and financing your expansion.
Key topics in this phase:
- Team development, organizational structure, and internationalization
- Development and execution of scaling strategies
- Investor search and funding rounds
What you benefit from
We support you throughout your personal startup journey in various ways.
Individual support & guidance
Personal coaching, targeted incubation programs, and workshops help you move forward step by step.
Integration into research and teaching
Your startup idea can directly build on current scientific insights and academic programs at Saarland University.
Networking & collaboration
Benefit from our connections to research institutions, companies, and innovation partners – locally, nationally, and internationally.
Professional services
Experts in innovation, intellectual property (IP), career development, and event management are here to support you.
Community & exchange
You become part of a vibrant community of founders, innovators, and companies.
Always by your side — personally
We place great importance on providing individual support throughout your journey.
Every founder is supported by an experienced coach who
- is perfectly matched to your startup project,
- is always available as your point of contact,
- reflects on your challenges together with our team of experts,
- challenges you honestly and asks critical questions,
- provides fresh impulses and supports your strategic development.
Our approach is collaborative, hands-on, and sustainable – because we believe in your potential.
Ready to start your own venture?
We support you throughout your personal start-up journey – from the initial idea to a successful market launch. Talk to us about your venture – online or at the Innovation Center.
Events you might be interested in
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FabLab, Vor OrtOur Newsletter
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