Initiatives of theHamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft
Music WorX is Europe's first publicly funded incubator for start-ups in the music & tech sector. We offer effective start-up support for founders in the music industry.
We support your innovative business ideas at the interface of music and tech. Music WorX is an ideal development space where you set the pace and direction yourself. By the way: Your ideas belong to you. After Music WorX, you do not cede any company shares to us.
Music WorX is an early stage programme, i.e. you already have an idea, perhaps have already developed an initial prototype, but are not yet ready for the market - because that's exactly where we want to take you. For three months, Music WorX is all about your product. An integral part of the programme is the so-called Product Field. This method helps you to get to the heart of your product, harmonise the perspectives of everyone involved, find the focus, tell the right story around your idea and make the right decisions.
Application phase: 5 May - 18 June 2025
Celina Behn is in charge of the funding program "Frei_Fläche: Raum für kreative Zwischennutzung" (Free_space: space for creative interim use) as project manager within our Space unit.
Celina Behn studied Urban Planning at HafenCity University Hamburg and has already worked in various practical fields in the urban development sector. In various projects (including with Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft), she dealt thoroughly with the interactions between creative industries and urban development.
Each team receives up to 3,200 euros for support services to further develop the business idea. For the duration of the programme, each team also receives a total of 1,500 euros per month as a living allowance.
You will regularly meet with all teams in workshops and training sessions and receive valuable input on the following topics:
In addition, you can expect individual 1:1 sparring sessions with experts as well as advice and dialogue with experienced mentors from the music industry, tech and business.
Two Music WorX pitches await you during the programme, giving you the chance to win a jury prize and an audience prize.
We bring you together with Hamburg companies and network you with relevant industry representatives.
The programme is aimed at teams of early-stage founders from all over Europe who have a business idea at the interface between music and tech. Do you want to develop your idea together? Then Music WorX is the right place for you.
In our application form, we ask for key information about your business idea, your team and your motivation. A meaningful description of your idea is particularly important to us - regardless of whether you also submit a pitch deck or not. We want to understand why you are applying, what drives you and what impact your idea can have. If you have any questions about the application, please get in touch with.
After the application deadline on 18 June 2025, a jury of experts will select the most promising business ideas and invite the selected teams to a digital prepitch. Here, the jury will decide which five teams will take part in the incubator from September 2025. To kick off the programme, there will be a kick-off event lasting several days in Hamburg (probably four days) - this is where you will get to know each other and the programme team and lay the foundations for the coming weeks together.
No, you can apply even before the company is officially founded. If you have already officially founded and registered the company, this is not a reason for exclusion.
At least 2 people per team should take part in the programme. We value diversity and welcome all applications - regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic or social background, religion, disability or age.
Ideally, you are still in the early stage, i.e. you are still in the start-up phase or have just founded your company but are not yet ready for the market. If you have already completed an accelerator programme, the incubator is probably no longer right for you.
Yes, each team receives up to €3,200 for support services to further develop the business idea. In addition, each team receives a total of €1,500 per month as a living allowance for the duration of the programme.
Not continuously. The programme combines digital formats with selective attendance phases in Hamburg. It is important that you are on site for certain programme points - in particular
In the weeks in between, individual workshops and formats will also take place in Hamburg - also to strengthen the network among the teams and make synergies in the incubator tangible. However, a large part of the programme will be held remotely. Teams from all over Europe are very welcome!
Speaker for Music Industry
Ministry of Culture and Media Hamburg
