IDEA | Seminar content
You’ll find the answers to these questions in the IDEA seminar, which takes place once a term. The aim of the workshop is to work as a team to develop a viable idea for your own project. You’ll learn methods for systematically developing and testing innovations – including the Double Diamond approach from Design Thinking, customer validation and the problem-solution fit.
You don’t need to bring your own idea – it will emerge directly during the workshop! If you already have a concrete idea or want to carry on straight after the IDEA, our ADVANCE programme is the right choice for you. There, you’ll take a whole semester to develop your idea into a finished business model.
Methods & Tools
- Introduction: Presentation of the Generator – the HdM’s Startup Centre
- Methodological expertise: Tools from Design Thinking (Double Diamond), Customer Development, Lean Startup and Effectuation
- Problem exploration: In-depth analysis of real-world problems
- Customer validation: Truly understand your target audience
- Pitch of Ideas: Present your results convincingly
ECTS & Registration
The seminar can be taken as an interdisciplinary module using external ECTS credits. Both the IDEA and the ADVANCE modules can count towards the Certificate of Skills for Innovation.
- Bachelor’s: 221506a, ‘Business Start-up 1 – Business Ideas’, 2 ECTS, KMP, ungraded.
Master’s: 368415, ‘Entrepreneurship 1’, 5 ECTS (extended assignment), ungraded.
Prerequisite: Attendance on all seminar days, submission of a short report at the end and (for Master’s students) additional assignments.
Registration for the 2026 summer semester has already closed (the registration deadline was 20 February 2026).
Any questions about the IDEA seminar?
Mara Brune
Startup Center