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.
Music WorX is an incubator for early-stage start-ups from the music tech scene - and more than just a classic incubator programme: we believe that strong ideas need strong stories to succeed in the market. Over the course of three intensive months, we will support you in moulding your idea into a marketable vision with a clear narrative - and in making the right connections to bring this vision to the world.
The programme is divided into three phases:
Clarity - Define Your Focus (September)
You develop a well-founded vision that combines market demand, product idea and impact into a coherent overall picture. It's not just about the what, but also the why.
Storytelling - Craft Your Narrative (October)
Sharpen your communication skills: learn how to tell your story convincingly - visually, linguistically and strategically.
Connection - Build Your Network (November)
Activate your network, make strategically relevant contacts and position your idea in the industry.
Music WorX offers you space for real development with experienced mentors, a lively network and strong sparring partners at your side.
The application phase for 2026 starts in May.
Apply for Music WorX: The application phase runs from May to June 2026. We will announce the exact deadline shortly.
An expert jury will select five teams from the applications to take part in the Music WorX Incubator 2026.
You develop a well-founded vision that combines market demand, product idea and impact into a coherent overall picture. It's not just about the what, but also about the why.
You sharpen your communication skills: learn to tell your story convincingly - visually, linguistically and strategically.
The Music WorX Pitch is a highlight of the programme. Now it's time to get your idea out into the world. At the Music WorX Pitch, all teams pitch their business ideas to an audience of industry experts and interested parties.
You activate your network, make strategically relevant contacts and position your idea in the industry.
We are also available to teams after the programme has ended, provide networking and advice. If required, we can help with the follow-up funding.
Just 4 Noise is a suite of generative AI tools, fueling audio creativity, NOT replacing it. Via simple text prompting, Just 4 Noise's ML workflow generates high-quality, unique one-shot samples, cutting down search time from hours to seconds and allowing audio creators to find the exact sound they envision. Ranging from drum sounds to synth voices and traditional instruments, our tools enable music creators to stop wasting time and money searching for sounds.
NOVER Audio Services is revolutionizing the audio engineering industry through a mobile, sustainable studio fleet and a digital data platform. This platform integrates an intelligent, intuitive booking system, educational tools for recording preparation, and a community section. The aim is to provide flexible, barrier-free, and location-independent access to professional music production for semi-professional and amateur musicians. The focus is on inclusion, sustainability, and fair working conditions.
Ohr is building a community-first platform for club culture that reimagines how value flows in the electronic music ecosystem. By connecting DJs, producers, promoters, venues, and fans through fair compensation and social interaction, ohr recognises and rewards everyone who contributes—from the artist who makes the track to the dancer who brings it to life.
Postal Sounds is a music mapping platform that helps users discover cities through sound — transforming urban spaces into living playlists. We’re not against algorithms — we’re building a fairer one. A tool that prioritizes local musical identity, emotional storytelling, and cultural connection over trends. Postal Sounds makes invisible stories audible — blending cultural storytelling with geolocation, technology, and music.
Sounts is a social music platform that enables musicians from around the world to collaborate online, asynchronously and stress-free. By removing barriers like latency, scheduling, and technical complexity, Sounts makes music creation accessible to anyone, anytime, anywhere.
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 Helene Berling.
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 continuous. 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 to 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!
Helene is a project manager in the Consultancy & Training department at Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft. She is responsible for the MusicWorX incubator, the young talent format "Stippvisite", the online academy for the self-employed and crowdfunding. She previously studied business administration (M. Sc.) at the University of Hamburg, specialising in marketing and business management, and worked for several years as a project assistant in her current field.
Speaker for Music Industry
Ministry of Culture and Media Hamburg
