Introduction
In five days, you learn the fundamentals of developing innovative, customer-centric, and impact-driven business ideas while collaborating on a challenge from a partner in an interdisciplinary team. The Sprint is led by experienced coaches. You will gain practical insights, useful templates and tools, continuous feedback, and opportunities to reflect on your learning. It is a great chance to step out of your comfort zone, meet new people, and generate innovative ideas.
About the program
Course dates (all of them mandatory):
- Online lecture via Moodle (only for students registered for Innovation Facilitator): October 28, 10:00 - 12:00
- 5 onsite workshop dates (excluding weekends): 9:00 - 18:00 (lunch breaks: 12:00 - 13:00)
- Innovation Sprint Campus Munich: November 5 - 11, 2026
- Innovation Sprint Campus Straubing: November 23 - 27, 2026
Unlock Innovation in Just Five Days
Are you ready to embark on a transformative journey? In just five days, immerse yourself in a dynamic experience that will equip you with the essentials to foster innovation. Our Innovation Sprint is your gateway to developing customer-centric, impact-driven business ideas while collaborating within a diverse, interdisciplinary student team.
Open to All Study Programs
At the Innovation Sprint, we believe that innovation should be accessible to everyone. That's why our program is open to individuals of all backgrounds and professions, not just business students. Whether you're a professional, an entrepreneur, or simply someone with a passion for innovation, you're welcome to join us.
Encouraging Diverse Teams
We believe diversity is key to innovation. In addition to interdisciplinary collaboration, we aim to build teams that are diverse in gender and study fields. By bringing together people with different perspectives, we create a more dynamic and creative environment. We especially encourage women to apply and contribute to this inclusive process.
Expert-Led Guidance
Under the guidance of coaches, you'll benefit from their wealth of experience. They will steer you through every step of the process, ensuring you gain practical insights, access useful templates and tools, receive continuous feedback, and seize opportunities to reflect on your newfound knowledge.
Expand Horizons and Foster Connections
Take a step beyond your comfort zone as you connect with like-minded individuals and discover innovative ideas that hold the potential to shape the future. It's not just an opportunity to learn; it's a chance to thrive.
Hands-On Problem Solving
The Innovation Sprint is not your typical lecture. Over the course of five days, you'll tackle real-world challenges and rapidly develop solutions. Prototyping plays a central role in this process, making hands-on craftsmanship a crucial skill. If you enjoy DIY projects at home or have experience working in a makerspace, the Innovation Sprint could be an ideal fit for you!
Leaving a Mark
Upon completing the Innovation Sprint, the best idea from each challenge will be selected to be pitched on stage. This is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate your pitching abilities, make a compelling case to your partner, and inspire many other students with your innovative solutions.
Learning Goals
- Understand and apply the Design Thinking process from problem exploration to prototyping and testing
- Use creativity and structured ideation methods to generate solutions
- Validate ideas and assumptions through user research, experimentation, and prototyping
- Work in interdisciplinary teams on a real-world challenge and navigate uncertainty
- Pitch your idea with confidence and prepare for next steps
Get a glimpse of the program
Ready to ignite your innovation journey? Join us today!
Application
The Innovation Sprint is open to everyone, and we especially encourage women and students from all disciplines to apply! Simply complete the application form and be sure to block the dates in your calendar. If you are a TUM student and wish to earn ECTS credits, you must also register for the “Innovation Sprint” exam (MGT001348) or the “Innovation Facilitator” exam (MGT001347) in TUM Online.
Students should confirm their specific requirements with their program coordinator.
The application phase for the Winter Semester 26/27 Innovation Sprint runs from September 1 to October 18, 2026. Due to the limited number of seats and the high level of interest, a selection process is carried out based on the applications received, in order to ensure interdisciplinary teams and overall diversity.
To ensure a fair and efficient process, applications are pre-screened with the support of AI-based tools. Before being processed, all application data is anonymized, and the AI only evaluates the structured information provided in the application form. All selections are reviewed and validated by the Innovation Sprint team before final decisions are made.
Students who are selected for the Sprint will be notified by email in the weeks following the application deadline. Once selected, participants must confirm their seat. If confirmation is not received by the date indicated in the email, the seat will be offered to another applicant on the waitlist.
⚠️ Important: All Sprint dates are strictly mandatory. If you know that you cannot fully participate, we kindly ask that you reconsider applying or let someone else take your spot.
If you are no longer interested in participating after submitting your application, please withdraw it. This helps us offer your place to someone else who is eager to join. If you are accepted, we will ask you to confirm your attendance promptly so we can finalize the participant list.
For all inquiries please contact: innovationsprint@unternehmertum.de
We look forward to your application and hope to see you soon in the Innovation Sprint!
FAQs
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Can I take part remotely?
No, the event is on site.
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I cannot attend one or two days - is that a problem?
Yes, you have to attend the whole week.
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TUM Students: Do I have to register for a course on TUMOnline?
No, you only have to register for the exam. Please check with your program coordinator which exam should you take (Innovation Sprint or Innovation Facilitator).
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TUM Students: I am not automatically registered on Moodle?
You will have to self-enroll to Moodle through the link we will share with you on Slack after acceptance.
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Management & Technology Master: Can I register for the Sprint?
Yes, but if you want to get ECTS you have to register for the Exam “Innovation Facilitator”, while Bachelor Students register for the exam “Innovation Sprint”
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Can I leave a bit early one day due to important issues？
Only under very urgent circumstances, and you need to contact the Sprint team via innovationsprint@unternehmertum.de or the coach in charge.
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Can I get credits for this course?
Students from TUM Management School, most of Informatics as well as Master Students from Mechanical Engineering can. But for the rest program, please reach out to your program coordinator for confirmation. Please check for both lectures, Facilitator and Sprint.
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Where can I get all the updated info? Where can I find more information?
In TUMtutor or the slack channel.
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Where can I ask my questions related to Innovation Sprint?
In TUMtutor or the slack channel, so others who have the same problems can also see it.
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Can I participate with my friends?
You will be randomly assigned to different groups. Therefore, it is highly unlikely you will work together. Because we want you to learn more about teams in the process.
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Will I get an attendance certificate if I participate?
Every participant of the Sprint will get a certificate at the end.
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How will the exam look like?
It consists of two parts: half from the final pitch in the sprint, half from the reflection paper after the sprint. Please check the description on TUM Online.
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How will the schedule of the sprint look like?
The sprint will last from 9 am to 6 pm every day, excluding weekends and a one-hour lunch break every day.
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How can I confirm if I have successfully joined?
If you have received our confirmation email, it means you have been accepted, however, to secure your spot, please make sure to click the link in the email to confirm your seat.
Contact Us
For all inquiries please contact: innovationsprint@unternehmertum.de
