1. SMILE at a Glance
SMILE is a cooperation project of the Leipzig University, the HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), and the German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ).
The project is being supported by the European Social Fund (ESF) and Free State of Saxony.

2. Overview
Since August 2006, SMILE (Selbst Management Initiative Leipzig) has been working to establish the entrepreneurial spirit at Leipzig’s universities and research institutes
Students, graduates, and academic personnel who have entrepreneurial ambitions receive support in the form of individual coaching sessions on various aspects of the prestart-up phase
The focus of the programme’s activities is on the personality and the goals of the individuals, who are encouraged and prepared for a life of self-employment and lifelong learning
Between 800 and 1000 participants take part in approximately 80 activities of different types each semester
Nearly 400 start-ups were established in the last 10 years
SMILE is supported by the ESF, the Free State of Saxony and the Leipziger Stiftung

3. Co-operation HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management
Leipzig University
International SEPT Program
Chair for Business Management, in particular Marketing
HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management
Chair for Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Department Knowledge and Technology Transfer
German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ)
SMILE is a cooperation project of the Leipzig University, the HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), and the German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ). The project is being supported by the European Social Fund (ESF) and Free State of Saxony.

4. Locations Leipzig University HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management
Economics
Humanities and Sociological Studies
SMILE.medibiz
HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ)

5. Our focus Realizing+ Using Potentials and Aptitudes
Expanding + Developing
Potentials and Aptitudes
Recognizing + Discovering
Potentials and Aptitudes

6. LIFE

7. LIFE – Leipzig idea competition for start ups
LIFE is an idea competition and no business plan competition
LIFE has low starting barriers: encourages to “test” own idea
Feedback from SMILE Team, Jury and public
Ideas as starting point for entrepreneurship coaching -> often ends in serious business a few years later
Good reference and practice for “serious” business plan competitions
Event gives networking opportunities for industry, city and entrepreneurs
Organised since 2016 together with a start up competition of the local bank SPARKASSE

8. LIFE – Leipzig idea competition for start ups

9. Coaching Process
SMILE
SMILE.medibiz

10. SMILE Innovative Business Model Week
Monday: Diagnostic Day
Pitch of the business idea
Strength-Weakness-Analysis
Tuesday: Value Proposition Day
Definition of concrete customer values of the business model
Wednesday: Innovation Benchmarking Day
Benchmarking of other business models based on the Ten Types of Innovation
Thursday: Business Model Canvas Day
Developing of a full business model using the Canvas approach
Friday: Presentation Day
Pitch of the business model

11. EngagementInnovations
Management Tools
Structure &
Process Innovations
Branding &
Channel Innovations
Network
Innovations
Customer
EngagementInnovations
Profit Model
Innovations

12. Team Building
Motivation of Master and PhD graduates to build interdisciplinary teams
Professionalization of team members
Attracting experienced professionals

13. Funding
SMILE developed an extensive network to provide tailor made financing to young companies:
Public money through local government, EU, etc.
Crowdfunding/crowdinvesting
Local venture capital
Strategic investors
Local banks

14. Funding
1.000th EXIST Business Start-up grant for graduates from Leipzig University
SMILE is a cooperation project of the Leipzig University, the HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), and the German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ). The project is being supported by the European Social Fund (ESF) and Free State of Saxony.

15. Healthcare & Biotech
In the region of Saxony, the sunrise industry of biotechnology – especially red biotech – is in particular being developed in Dresden and Leipzig
Leipzig has a proud heritage as a centre of research. Leipzig University, including its Faculty of Medicine, was founded in 1409, and has the second-oldest uninterrupted history of any university in Germany
The dynamic juxtaposition of hospitals, research institutes and businesses working in the life sciences
Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Leipzig University
Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
LIFE – Leipzig Research Centre for Modern Diseases
Research-intensive enterprises (Vita 34, Bioplanta, c-Lecta…)
SMILE is a cooperation project of the Leipzig University, the HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), and the German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ). The project is being supported by the European Social Fund (ESF) and Free State of Saxony.

16. Example: Life Science
29 start-ups in Life Sciences, 23 still active in the market
More than 150 new full-time jobs
More than EUR 22,5 million raised in funds
EXIST (Start-up Scholarships, Research Transfer)
SAB (Seed-Grant, R&D Network)
HTGF High-Tech Gründerfonds
TGFS Technologiegründerfonds Saxony
Crowdinvesting SEEDMATCH
Others (FORMAT, MNT ERA NET, KfW...)
SMILE is a cooperation project of the Leipzig University, the HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), and the German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ). The project is being supported by the European Social Fund (ESF) and Free State of Saxony.

17. Contact www.smile.uni-leipzig.de SMILE Christian Hauke
Beethovenstr. 15
Room
04109 Leipzig
Germany
Tel: (0)
Fax: (0)
SMILE is a cooperation project of the Leipzig University, the HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), and the German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ). The project is being supported by the European Social Fund (ESF) and Free State of Saxony.