for founders

what you get

our offering
what's in it for you

We provide a fully individualized acceleration package - no equity, fees, or hidden costs. Our team supports you in key areas like B2B sales, feature prioritization, fundraising, and hiring, all tailored to your unique needs to ensure the most efficient use of your time.
How does it work? Through a guided process, the team gains a deep understanding of your situation, aligns on measurable goals, and partners with you to accelerate growth.

our acceleration process
diagnosis phase
We dive deep into understanding your unique business model. Through 1:1 founder interviews, sales call shadowing, customer feedback, and product demos, we thoroughly assess your current status. Our findings are then synthesized to validate key challenges, ensuring a clear path forward
objectives phase
We synthesize our findings and set clear, shared objectives. In a 1:1 OKR (Objectives-and-Key-Results) session with an expert, you'll define OKRs tailored to your acceleration. From there, we create an individualized acceleration package to ensure every step aligns with your objectives.
acceleration phase
Together, we align on next steps and identify the right experts and mentors to fast-track your progress. Bi-weekly sparring sessions with xdeck buddies keep you on course, while founder-led xdays focus on sales, product, and fundraising. You'll also receive monthly mentoring and expert introductions as needed. All designed to accelerate your growth.
alumni phase
You will join our xdeck alumni network after acceleration, becoming part of a strong and impactful community. Connect with a vibrant network of over 80 startups, 20 partners, and 30 mentors. Together, we foster entrepreneurship and innovation through expert sparring and continuous collaboration.
our mentors
You'll be paired with an experienced founder who understands your challenges. In 1:1 sessions, they'll offer tailored advice, help you scale, and maintain an open mind for your needs. From founders, for founders.
Daniel Hanemann
Founder and CEO wundertax

Daniel is an entrepreneur with a focus on marketing and growth and is passionate about businesses solving problems.

Daniel Hanemann
Founder and CEO wundertax
Eva Spannagl
Co-Founder Climatos

Eva is passionate about B2B SaaS, Fintech & Crypto and helping founders build great ideas from scratch. She is Co-Founder at Climatos.

Eva Spannagl
Co-Founder Climatos
Nico Szeli
Co-Founder and MD Warehousing1

Nico is passionate about innovative and disruptive ideas in traditional and undigitized industries. With Warehousing1 Nico and his cofounders reimagine warehouse logistics.

Nico Szeli
Co-Founder and MD Warehousing1
Florian Hildebrand
Co-Founder / Co -CEO at Qualifyze

Florian is passionate about big visions that make the world better and helping people exceed their ambitions.

Florian Hildebrand
Co-Founder / Co -CEO at Qualifyze
Alexander Glörfeld
CFO and CEO Kapten & Son

Alexander is passionate about helping startups and scale ups to achieve strong growth. After gaining experiences in the financial industry, Alexander had the privilege to develop the direct-to-consumer brand Kapten & Son in the role of CFO & CEO.

Alexander Glörfeld
CFO and CEO Kapten & Son
Farhoud Cheraghi
B2B-SaaS Expert & Solo-Entrepreneur @ Ñimbl SaaS

Farhoud has expertise in Product Discovery, utilizing design and systems thinking to uncover real user needs and validate assumptions for resonant solutions. In Product Delivery, he crafts adaptable, scalable software architectures for teams of all sizes. In Company Building, he develops strategies, nurtures company culture, and establishes efficient processes to ensure the company thrives.

Farhoud Cheraghi
B2B-SaaS Expert & Solo-Entrepreneur @ Ñimbl SaaS
Johannes Emigholz
Co-Founder Silexica
Johannes Emigholz
Co-Founder Silexica
Tim Niemeier
Co-Founder ROQ

Tim has built and scaled IT departments of multiple startups and delivered numerous tech products around the globe. He is excited to help build great tech orgs and turn ideas into awesome products.

Tim Niemeier
Co-Founder ROQ
Phillip Eischet
Co-Founder and MD RightNow Group

Phillip is passionate about people and scaling organizations. He is a serial entrepreneur, business angel and has been selected as "Forbes 30 under 30“.

Phillip Eischet
Co-Founder and MD RightNow Group
André Christ
CEO & Co-Founder LeanIX

André is passionate about enabling organizations to create better products and services by moving them to modern IT architectures such as Cloud and Microservices.

André Christ
CEO & Co-Founder LeanIX
Oliver Mickler
Co-Founder and MD Tillhub GmbH

Oli is passionate about innovative retail ideas and supporting young founders. He is a serial entrepreneur with previous experience at Wimdu and MyDriver.

Oliver Mickler
Co-Founder and MD Tillhub GmbH
Konrad Lange
CCO Lendis GmbH

Konrad is passionate about digital marketing, b2b sales, and growing innovative businesses to success.

Konrad Lange
CCO Lendis GmbH
Lars Stäbe
Co-Founder Limehome, VP GTM Xentral ERP

Lars is an entrepreneur, investor and coach who founded Limehome and now works as Vice President at Xentral. With his extensive experience in the startup world he is passionate about helping others succeed in their entrepreneurial ventures.

Lars Stäbe
Co-Founder Limehome, VP GTM Xentral ERP
Christian Blume
Co-Founder Cleverbridge AG

Christian is passionate about mentoring statups and scaleups, sharing his knowledge on international expansion, e-commerce, SaaS and general management, as well as investing into startups that he is passionate about.

Christian Blume
Co-Founder Cleverbridge AG
Lucas Scherer
Co-Founder & CEO sourc-e GmbH

Lucas is passionate about innovation & digitization in traditional industries and developing profitable companies. His expertise covers the areas of B2B-Sales, Sustainable Business Development and HR.

Lucas Scherer
Co-Founder & CEO sourc-e GmbH
Christian Batz
Vice president Igus and former entrepreneur

Christian has a passion for entrepreneurial work, technical innovations and marketing them for the benefit of customers. Due to this experience, his focus is on the B2B product and service business.

Christian Batz
Vice president Igus and former entrepreneur
Oli Steinki
Co-Founder Fond Of and xdeck & owner of THE SHIP

Oli is passionate about finance, operations and real estate development.

Oli Steinki
Co-Founder Fond Of and xdeck & owner of THE SHIP
Antonie Jo Nissen
Co-Founder GoPuls

Antonie is passionate about healthcare and industries that are fast-paced but still extremely behind in digitalization, complex but still simple and relevant for everyone, exciting in business opportunities but still providing true social value.

Antonie Jo Nissen
Co-Founder GoPuls
Lars Wolfram
Co-Founder talentsconnect AG

Lars is a classic pioneer and loves discovering new potentials and developing them from scratch to proof of concept. His sweet spots are anything related to B2B enterprise SaaS sales and business development, especially partnerships.

Lars Wolfram
Co-Founder talentsconnect AG
Alexander Rausch
Founder Certa

Alex is passionate about scaling business models in terms of growing the organisation, improving processes & infrastructure, entering in new markets, measuring the KPI that really matter as well as fundraising from seed to IPO.

Alexander Rausch
Founder Certa
Friedhelm A. Schmitt
Founder and Co-CEO Fincite and Fincite Ventures

Friedhelm is a technology entrepreneur, serial co-founder, scale-up enthusiast and early-stage investor. Founder of 10+ technology companies, co-creating € 100+ mil. company value.

Friedhelm A. Schmitt
Founder and Co-CEO Fincite and Fincite Ventures
Miriam Mertens
Co-Founder and CEO DeepSkill

Miriam’s passions are the tech industry and emotional skills, particularly people-centered leadership. Young founders benefit from her broad business experience in determining a viable market potential.

Miriam Mertens
Co-Founder and CEO DeepSkill
Freya Oehle
Co-Founder and CEO Dreitausendsassa

Freya is a product-builder by heart & experience who stretches the importance of strategic business-planning based on solid technology and effective marketing.

Freya Oehle
Co-Founder and CEO Dreitausendsassa

our experts

Corporate support: In our 3-month acceleration program, you'll connect with top industry experts through monthly sessions, peer work, and 1:1 meetings, gaining access to our extensive network of partners.
Jörg Wupper
Head of Department Customer Center Volksbank Köln Bonn eG

Jörg is responsible for the support of technology-based startups in our entire business area. For over 25 year he has been accompanying young entrepreneurs with their founded companies on the way to fully existence.

Jörg Wupper
Head of Department Customer Center Volksbank Köln Bonn eG
Christian Knott
Early stage VC Partner Capnamic Ventures

Christian started his path in venture capital in 2010 at the HTGF when he supported the very first finance departments of around 80 startups. This background brought him to Capnamic.

Christian Knott
Early stage VC Partner Capnamic Ventures
Ruben Hofmann
Intellectual Property Lawyer Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek

Ruben is a Cologne-based IP lawyer working in all fields of Intellectual Property law, in particular trademarks, unfair competition, copyrights, e-commerce and reputation management.

Ruben Hofmann
Intellectual Property Lawyer Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek
Wenke Trebeljahr
People and Culture FOND OF

Wenke is responsible for organizational development and culture. She helps finding the answers that matter: The reason why we establish a company, build a brand or develop a product. She enables people to build honest, truthful and self-reliant organizations.

Wenke Trebeljahr
People and Culture FOND OF
Gil Baxpehler
Startup Unit KölnBusiness

Gil currently works for the Startup Unit of KölnBusiness, the economic development company of the City of Cologne. Apart from the obvious ties to the city, they are trying to support our local startup ecosystem on all fronts.

Gil Baxpehler
Startup Unit KölnBusiness
Daniela Bach
Investment Manager HTGF

Daniela is an early-stage investor at HTGF with a background in media.

Daniela Bach
Investment Manager HTGF
Antje Lienert
Startup Unit KölnBusiness

Antje is responsible for the welcoming of national and international startups to Cologne. Most of the time, she functions as a network angel to offer startups a soft landing, including potential partners, bureaucratic issues, space and talents.

Antje Lienert
Startup Unit KölnBusiness
Jahn Werner
Global Brand Owner SALZEN

Jahn is passionately committed to building sustainable premium brands from the grass root level. His expertise is a holistic entrepreneurial mindset with a deep understanding of product-market fit and brand ethos.

Jahn Werner
Global Brand Owner SALZEN
timeline xdeck journey
how it works
apply for the next batch
14th January 2025
early-bird application deadline
next round
14th February 2025
final application deadline
finals
March 2025
pitchday batch 11
week 1-3
March 2025
kickoff & diagnosis phase
week 4
April/May 2025
objectives phase
week 5-16
April - June
acceleration phase