Empowerment Program for Founders in Media & Games in North Rhine-Westphalia
Six months of coaching, mentoring, and networking—free of charge and compatible with full-time work.
The Media Startup Center NRW (MGZ) is launching the application phase for MGZsheroes 2026. This established empowerment and coaching program is aimed at FLINTA* individuals from North Rhine-Westphalia who are interested in starting a business or are already in the process of doing so, and who want to launch their entrepreneurial ventures in the media and gaming industries or further develop their projects in a targeted manner. Over the course of six months, MGZsheroes offers practice-oriented seminars, individual mentoring, and curated networking opportunities, thereby promoting equal opportunity, visibility, and diversity in the media and startup ecosystem.
The success of MGZsheroes is impressively reflected in the current cohort of the MGZstart startup grant program: Six out of ten startup teams are led by women for the first time, and five of these companies were founded by MGZsheroes alumnae. This marks the first time the new MGZstart cohort has more female entrepreneurs than male entrepreneurs —a milestone that underscores the lasting relevance of MGZsheroes to the startup scene in North Rhine-Westphalia. At the same time, recent studies confirm that there is still a need for action: According to the Female Founders Monitor 2025, the proportion of female founders in the German startup ecosystem stands at 18.8%.
About MGZsheroes 2026
The program is aimed at FLINTA* individuals with startup plans or young companies in the media, creative, or gaming industries with ties to North Rhine-Westphalia. MGZsheroes offers a professional environment to refine business ideas, expand entrepreneurial skills, and build sustainable networks.
Over the course of six months, participants will receive:
- Seminars and workshops on topics such as financing, pitching, leadership, and business strategy.
- Individual mentoring from personal mentors who provide support with startup strategy, business models, and building relevant industry contacts.
- Community & networking with industry experts, partner institutions, and the MGZ community.
- Empowerment sessions designed to boost self-confidence, visibility, and resilience.
The program begins on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, with a kick-off meeting that includes a photo shoot, and concludes in October 2026 with a closing event. The seminars take place regularly on Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Mediengründerzentrum NRW in Cologne-Mülheim.
Apply now!
The application period runs through Sunday, May 3, 2026. Applications can be submitted via email to sheroes@mediengruenderzentrum.de.
The application must include a statement of purpose outlining your background and relevant experience in the media and/or gaming industry, as well as explaining why you are currently seeking support for your startup. In addition, applicants must submit the completed and signed application form, a resume, proof of education or relevant professional experience (including 2–3 project examples ), and a brief description of the (planned) business concept. The detailed requirements are published on the MGZsheroes website.
Consulting & Information Opportunities
To support the application phase, the Mediengründerzentrum NRW (MGZ) is offering information and networking opportunities: a digital information session and the “Founders Talk.”
The digital information session will take place via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Registration is not required.
Meeting ID: 386 323 712 481 63 Passcode: eu7s5po6
The“Founders Talk” will take place in cooperation with the International Women’s Film Festival Dortmund+Cologne on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at the Filmhaus Köln. The event is open to anyone interested as well as former participants of MGZsheroes and provides a space for exchange, networking, and inspiration. The focus will be on presenting the program, highlighting entrepreneurial role models, and fostering dialogue about the opportunities and challenges women face in the media industry. The MGZ welcomes two guests who are blazing new trails both artistically and entrepreneurially and are actively shaping the industry: producer Melanie Andernach (MGZ alumna, 2007) and content creator Pocket Hazel.
Partner Organizations of the Sheroes Program
The Media Start-up Center NRW collaborates with numerous partner organizations on the Sheroes program: Cologne Game Lab, Creator College NRW, Digital Media Women, Female Filmmakers CGN, fe:male innovation hub, Fem Devs Meetup, Film and Media Association of North Rhine-Westphalia, Gateway Excellence Start-up Center at the University of Cologne, games.nrw, Startup Unit and Entrepreneurship at the Cologne Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK), ifs International Film School Cologne, Startup Unit KölnBusiness Economic Development GmbH, Gender Equality Office at the Cologne Academy of Media Arts, SAE Institute, GründerCenter Sparkasse KölnBonn, STARTPLATZ Cologne, Web de Cologne, WIFT – Women in Film and Television Germany.
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The Mediengründerzentrum NRW MGZ GmbH began operations in May 2006 in Cologne-Mülheim. With its media-specific MGZstart grant, it targets founders who have their company headquarters in North Rhine-Westphalia in the fields of audiovisual media, games, and new media. The shareholders of the Media Startup Center NRW MGZ GmbH are the Film and Media Foundation NRW and the City of Cologne. In addition, MGZ NRW receives support from the Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Affairs, and Media of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and Head of the State Chancellery, Sparkasse KölnBonn, Pensionskasse Rundfunk, and WBS.LEGAL.
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Contact:
Magdalena Lorbach
Communications Officer Tel: +49 163 9200091