Wanted: Innovative business ideas for the music industry

Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft and the Ministry of Culture and Media invite founders and start-ups from the music tech sector to apply for the Music WorX Incubator 2025 by 18 June. The renowned funding programme is aimed at early-stage European start-up teams who want to sharpen their vision, communicate convincingly and build strategic networks.

The three-month programme supports the teams with 3,200 euros in project funding and a monthly living allowance of 1,500 euros per team. In workshops, training sessions and 1:1 sparring sessions, participants develop their idea into a marketable business model with a clear narrative and sustainable strategy. Access to experienced mentors, coworking spaces in the music city of Hamburg and public presentations round off the programme.

In the first month of the programme, the focus is on content: the teams work on a clear vision and a concept for a coherent business model that brings together market demand and impact potential. The next step is to tell their own idea in a powerful way - through storytelling, visual communication and convincing pitch training. In the final third of the programme, the focus is on strategic networking: participants identify relevant contacts, expand their network and present their project to industry experts, mentors and investors. The participating teams retain full control over their ideas; no investment is required to participate in Music WorX.

The most promising start-ups are selected by a panel of experts. The jury members include Lena Ingwersen (Managing Director at Music Cities Network, Keychange Innovator), Julian Krohn (Director Music & Audio at Scholz & Friends), Johannes Rösing (Music Department, Hamburg Ministry of Culture and Media) and Marec Lerche (Head of Business Development at Warner Music Central Europe).

Further information on the Music WorX Incubator and the application process can be found on the Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft website. Applications can be submitted until 18 June 2025 via the online application form.

About the Music WorX Incubator

With Music WorX, the Ministry of Culture and Media, together with Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft, has been specifically promoting the development of innovative business models in the music industry since 2011. Initially focussed solely on Hamburg, Music WorX has been offering teams from all over Europe the opportunity to develop their music tech ideas into market-ready business models since 2014. Successful companies such as Cyanite, Sofa Concerts, Soundvest and NOYS VR have already been supported in the programme.

Music WorX attracts start-ups from all over Europe to Hamburg and makes the city a magnet for forward-looking creative companies.

About Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft
Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft has been the city's business development organisation for the creative industries in Hamburg since 2010. As one of the largest and oldest institutions of its kind in Germany, it supports creative professionals from all eleven submarkets - from design and music to film and architecture to games and advertising. The Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft strengthens the economic and social relevance of the industry with funding programmes, advice, networking events and innovation formats. It is also actively involved in the procurement and development of spaces for creative professionals and in neighbourhood and urban development processes. With the Jupiter project, the conversion of a former department stores', it has created a nationwide beacon for creative interim use, which was honoured with the polis Award in 2024.