iF Sprint Summer '26

The iF Sprint is a 48-hour experience designed to explore ideas, build teams, and try out what it feels like to create a startup. Over one weekend, you'll collaborate, experiment, learn from mentors, and present your idea in a final pitch.
Food and drinks are provided throughout the entire event, from Friday evening to Sunday's closing pitch.
Anyone interested in startups and innovation is welcome to join — students and non-students alike, from developers and designers to marketers, scientists, engineers, PhDs, and aspiring founders. What matters most is motivation, curiosity, and the willingness to develop a business model from an idea within a short time.
Do I need to pitch my own idea?
No, you don't have to join with an idea. If you have one, you'll get 60 seconds to present it to the room on Friday. Then the energy takes over: talk to the people whose ideas excite you, find your people, and form a team. Ideas that gather enough followers become a team for the weekend. No idea? No problem — you'll find a team to join.
Are all ideas allowed?
(Nearly) everything is allowed - even if you think your idea is totally crazy!
What happens over the weekend?
Friday — Kickoff & Team Formation
The event starts at 16:00 with registration and networking. Claudio Flores, co-founder and CEO of Mimotype, delivers the opening keynote on what it actually looks like to build a deep tech company from scientific research.
Then it's over to you. If you bring an idea, prepare a verbal pitch — you'll have 60 seconds to present it to the room. Then the energy takes over: talk to the people whose ideas excite you and find your team. Ideas that gather enough followers become a team for the weekend, and the rest of the evening is yours to start working.
Saturday — Build, Learn & Iterate
The core of the sprint. Most of the day is dedicated to working in your team. In between, a series of expert sessions gives you the input you need exactly when you need it:
Problem-Solution Fit, Product Development — Dr. Uve Samuels
Business Model Development — Rita Katona
Pitch Training
Investment — Heidrun Twesten
Sunday — Pitch & Finale
The day is dedicated to refining your concepts and preparing your pitches. One expert session rounds out the weekend:
Legal — Lorenz Jellinghaus
After that, it's focused working time to sharpen your concepts and pitches. Teams then present to a jury of experienced founders and investors, followed by an award ceremony to close out the weekend.
From when to when is the event?
The event starts on Friday (03.07.) at 16:00 and goes until approximately 19:00 on Sunday (05.07.). Mentors from Impossible Founders and Startup Port are available throughout the entire sprint. You are free to figure out within your team who joins sessions and who works on the ideas.
Note: Participants must be at least 18 years old to attend the event. If you already have a startup, then feel free to check out our other programs at impossible-founders.com!