Young Entrepreneurs Club by AiDiA x SNIPES
After 12 intense weeks packed with ideas, pitches, and personal development, the final of our YEC incubator programme took place. It was a strong signal for young entrepreneurial culture.
Six impressive founders presented their visions – with passion, strategy, and the courage to think big. In the end, Best Ozoemena convinced with her brand. NAYA SISTER the jury
🌿 As a qualified cosmetic scientist, Best has developed her own formula of natural, moisturising ingredients and created suitable products from it.
💧 Your focus: Stressed, dry hair – especially curly hair. She also offers empathetic hair advice that provides individual support.
🏆 1st place and €500 prize money. Congratulations!
Great idea? Make something of it!
As part of the AiDiA x SNIPES Young Entrepreneurs Club, we’ll take your vision to the next level together.
🎯 For visionaries who think boldly, dream big and really want to make a difference
📍 No prior knowledge required - just your mindset, your motivation and the courage to get started
🏆 With the chance to win up to €500 in prize money for the best pitch
Alumni
Emmanuella
Participating in the YEC helped me to further develop my business idea. The team gave me valuable perspectives and resources with their contributions and workshops. Thanks to this opportunity, I dared to take the next valuable step: turning my vision into action.
Keziah
Taking part in the YEC has given me access to the Körber Incubator, exciting workshops and great new contacts - I've even made friends. I
I have learnt to grow beyond myself, to start my own start-up and to trust my own voice more.
Leandra
Before the YEC workshop, crocheting was just a hobby for me. Now I know how to turn it into a real business. I have learnt how to market my products professionally and build my brand. The highlight for me was distributing my first prototype. I never thought it would go down so well.
Emmanuella
The YEC helped me incredibly well to redefine what I want and where my idea should go. I got to know some great, imaginative people and I'm looking forward to seeing where we're all going. Thank you for making such great things possible for children with our biography.
What is the Young Entrepreneurs Club?
You have the drive, you have the vision - now all you need is the space to realise your vision.
The Young Entrepreneurs Club from AiDiA x SNIPES offers you the platform to hone your idea, learn skills, network - and go your own way. Whether you already have an idea or not, if you want more, you've come to the right place.
📌 12 participants | nationwide | free of charge
👥 Accompanied by professionals | supported by SNIPES | curated by AiDiA
📅 Programme 2025: 7 June to 6 September 2025
What you can expect - your benefits
Don't wait - start now
Whether you are currently at school, on a gap year or already working on your first project - if you feel that your idea should be heard: Apply!
Info: The YEC programme for 2025 has concluded, but we are planning to offer it again in 2026.
🗓️ Application deadline was 12 May 2025
📍 Participation is free of charge
🧳 Travel and accommodation costs are covered
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
🤔 What is the AiDiA x SNIPES Young Entrepreneurs Club?
➡️ The YEC is a practice-oriented, free support programme for young people between the ages of 16 and 23 who want to turn their ideas, projects or visions into real impact - regardless of whether they come from the classroom, the student group or the community.
🤨 Do I have to have a ready-made idea?
➡️ No! It's enough if you have motivation, curiosity and an idea that you want to turn into something.
🧐 What does participation cost?
➡️ The programme is completely free of charge. Travel and accommodation costs are covered.
😯 How does the application process work?
➡️ Fill out a short form + a few questions about you and your idea - done in a few minutes.
🤓 How much time do I need to plan?
➡️ Kick-off & finale in presence, in between approx. 8 digital workshops/coaching appointments over 12 weeks.
🥸 Who is behind the programme?
➡️ AiDiA - the network for Afro-German founders - together with SNIPES Serves, supported by the Körber Start-Hub in Hamburg.
What happens at the YEC?
Young Entrepreneurs Club
12 young talents from all over Germany demonstrate at the Young Entrepreneurs Club how strong ideas can become when they are supported.
🎤 Voices from the final event at the Körber Start Hub:
"I had no idea where to start - now I have a direction."
"You feel seen. And taken seriously."
"I was taken out of my comfort zone, which has positively changed my view of founding and many other areas. As a rather shy person, the programmes at the beginning and the recurring masterclasses helped me a lot."
- Participant -
Our hosting partners
YEC graduation in Hamburg: Young entrepreneurs impress with their visions
The closing event of the Young Entrepreneurs Club will take place in Hamburg and represents the highlight of the programme. In this context, the participants will present their business ideas to a jury at the Körber Start-Hub office.
The programme participants start from different positions: some come with established ideas, while others enter the programme with initial thoughts. However, over the course of the programme, everyone can successfully develop their ideas further and present them convincingly in their final pitches.
The closing event impressively reflects the progress made, characterised by creative and innovative solutions that highlight the diversity of ideas as well as individual growth. The final pitches not only demonstrate the personal success of each individual but also the strength of the group as a whole.
As part of the AiDiA Pitch Event, participants will also have the opportunity to network with successful BIPoC founders and experience the inspiring atmosphere of a major pitch competition. The event offers the ideal setting to make valuable contacts and further develop entrepreneurial skills.
Some participants were already able to record initial successes after the final event. Our YEC participant Keziah-Naomi Tsagli and her idea „Waymaker Stories“ were successfully accepted into the Körber Start-Hub's incubator programme after completing the YEC programme. „Waymaker Stories“ focuses on the biographies of people from marginalised groups working in underrepresented professions, aiming to inspire children and young people to pursue their own dreams.
Many thanks to our partners for their valuable support
Start your journey into the world of entrepreneurship