Jul 17, 2026
Making decisions, learning from each other and growing together: EXIST Women at the “Become an Entrepreneur” retreat
In intensive workshops, the participants work on their business ideas.
A labyrinth for decision-making, sketching to reduce stress, and honest insights into everyday entrepreneurial life: At the “Become an Entrepreneur” retreat, participants of the EXIST Women program at TU Dresden came together to work on their business ideas, learn from each other, and strengthen their network.
From July 10 to 12, 2026, the participants met at the Alte Nudelfabrik Zeitz, a coworking space located in a former industrial building and a place with a special entrepreneurial spirit. They took part in a diverse program of workshops, practical methods, and joint activities. The program focused on refining the participants’ existing business models. Together, they identified the key assumptions underlying their business ideas and developed methods to validate these assumptions over the coming weeks. This was complemented by sessions addressing the personal challenges of the entrepreneurial journey.
Decision-Making in the Maze
One highlight was working with a walkable labyrinth as a method for decision-making. At every turn, participants reflected on a different aspect of an important decision they were facing. Combining these changes in perspective with physically walking through the labyrinth helped them gain clarity and balance intuition with facts – an ability that is not only relevant when making decisions during the startup journey.
Insights from the World of Entrepreneurship
Another highlight was the founding story shared by TUD|excite coach Julia Lüpfert. With personal and honest insights into her own entrepreneurial journey, she inspired many participants to follow their own path instead of searching for a supposedly “perfect” entrepreneurial journey.
The two external speakers also brought new perspectives to the retreat. Isabel Antholz, an experienced founder and managing director, highlighted that strong self-criticism and self-reflection– qualities often associated with women – are not weaknesses. Instead, these qualities can help founders identify gaps in a business model and recognise missing competencies within their teams at an early stage. Eva-Maria Stegemann, a biotech expert with startup experience, emphasized the importance of a strong founding team. She stressed that a startup's success ultimately depends not only on its technology but, above all, on the people behind it. She also encouraged participants to seek professional legal advice early on – for example when drafting employment contracts – to avoid potential risks for their startups later.
Founders' Story - Learning from experienced female founder
A community that lasts
However, the retreat was not only shaped by the input of the speakers. The founders themselves actively contributed to the program. One participant led a sketching session on stress management, where, together with breathing exercises, methods were introduced to become more aware of stress in everyday entrepreneurial life and to handle challenging situations with greater ease. One participant described the impact:
"My biggest aha effect was how the sketching session actually calmed my mind."
Networking and personal exchange were just as important as the professional input. The entire retreat was consistently held in English, creating an inclusive environment for the international group. During a joint cooking session featuring Pakistani specialties – also initiated by one of the participants – cultural diversity was celebrated, and the group discussed the specific challenges international founders face when starting a business in Germany. The international character of the group was also reflected in one small fact: Together, the participants speak ten different languages.
For many participants, the newly formed network became one of the retreat's greatest benefits:
"Getting to know the group – I really got a feeling that this retreat has created a strong bond that will keep us connected for very long. This really makes a difference."
Another participant summed up the impact of the weekend perfectly:
"I felt inspired by the founders, made better friends with the other EXIST Women, and left feeling part of something and more confident in my ideas."
The retreat highlighted how important exchange with other women founders and a strong network are throughout the entrepreneurial journey. Through the EXIST Women program, TUD|excite supports women in further developing their ideas and becoming part of a community that continues to accompany them beyond the program itself.
Cooking Together—Time for Conversation and Delicious Food
Program Contact:
Dr. Iris Steinebrunner
TUD|excite, Startup Manager Life Sciences