myStipendium

What myStipendium does

myStipendium (legal entity: MY Access to Funding gGmbH, formerly ITS Initiative für transparente Studienförderung gemeinnützige UG) is a Berlin-based, privately held German non-profit that operates mystipendium.de, described as Germany's largest scholarship platform. The core product is a free, self-serve web platform that matches student profiles (field of study, academic level, personal background, location) against a curated database of more than 3,260 scholarship programs from over 2,500 providers, covering domestic and international awards (Begabtenförderungswerke, Deutschlandstipendium, Erasmus, Fulbright, specialised MINT and medical scholarships, and doctoral funding). Around the matching engine the company has assembled a broader student-finance content and tooling layer including a BAföG calculator, a digital BAföG application assistant, a job and internship board, a study orientation test, a Studentenwerk directory, and an information portal comparing distance learning programmes.

The platform is free for students; revenue is generated entirely through affiliate commissions when users click through to partner distance learning universities (IU, Wilhelm Büchner, AKAD, EURO-FH, Apollon, WINGS, PFH, Fresenius, and others) and request informational or application materials, plus a smaller YouGov co-registration stream. Go-to-market is product-led and content-led: the company invests heavily in SEO-oriented editorial content across scholarships, BAföG, taxes, insurance, and student life topics, and leverages organic earned media in major German outlets (Süddeutsche Zeitung, Die Welt, FAZ, Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, WDR, Deutsche Welle). Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the website, with a geographic focus limited to Germany.

Strategically the company positions itself as a mission-driven educational-equality initiative rather than a venture-backed SaaS, reflected in its gGmbH non-profit structure, Ashoka membership, Hochschulperle and 'Land der Ideen' awards, and a high-profile endorsement from Dr. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. The product roadmap signals ongoing expansion of the student-finance super-app thesis, but monetisation remains structurally dependent on a small group of Fernstudium affiliate partners, which is the central concentration risk for a PE/VC investor evaluating the asset.

Name

myStipendium

Legal name

MY Access to Funding gGmbH

Website

https://mystipendium.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

myStipendium is a Berlin-based German non-profit operating Germany's largest free scholarship matching platform, connecting students to over 3,260 programs via a self-serve web tool and monetising through affiliate commissions with partner distance learning universities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scholarship Matching Platform

NAICS

Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (51929), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Application Support, Matching Platforms & Scholarship Administration Services (EDAIAOAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Research Grants, Fellowships & Stipends (International) (EDAIAOAJ)

Keywords

• Scholarship matching platform
• Study financing tools
• Student funding database
• Distance learning portal
• BAföG assistance tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Affiliate commissions from distance learning universities: The platform embeds affiliate links to partner distance learning universities (IU Internationale Hochschule, Wilhelm Büchner Hochschule, AKAD University, Euro-FH, etc.). When users click through to request informational materials, myStipendium earns a commission from the partner institution. The source explicitly states 'Dieser Artikel enthält Affiliate-Links. Wenn du auf einen Affiliate-Link klickst, bekommt myStipendium.de von dem betreffenden Anbieter eine Provision.'

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

myStipendium operates Germany's largest scholarship matching platform, offering free profile-based matching against a database of 3,260+ scholarship programs and 2,500+ providers. The platform bundles a scholarship search engine with complementary study-financing tools including a BAföG calculator, a digital BAföG application assistant, application guidance content, a student job/internship board, and a distance-learning information portal. End users (students) access all services at no cost; the company monetizes through affiliate commissions when users click through to partner distance-learning universities.

Product overview

myStipendium ist eine nicht-kommerzielle Online-Plattform für transparente Studienförderung, die von der MY Access to Funding gGmbH betrieben wird. Das Kernprodukt ist die Stipendien-Suchmaschine mit über 3.260 Stipendienprogrammen, die Benutzerprofile mit Stipendienkriterien abgleicht. Die Plattform umfasst ergänzende Module wie den BAföG-Rechner, den digitalen BAföG-Antragsassistent, eine Jobbörse für Studentenjobs und Werkstudentenstellen, Stipendienbewerbungs-Ratgeber sowie ein Verzeichnis von Studentenwerken. Zusätzlich bietet die Plattform ein Informationsportal für Fernstudiengänge mit Vergleichen von Fernhochschulen und deren Studienangeboten.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• myStipendium Stipendiensuchmaschine (Scholarship Search Engine) Germany's largest scholarship database and matching platform. Students create a free profile and receive personalized scholarship recommendations from a database of 3,260+ programs across 2,500+ providers.
• BAföG-Rechner (BAföG Calculator) Online calculator that estimates an individual student's BAföG (German federal student aid) entitlement based on personal and family financial data.
• BAföG-Antragsassistent (Digital BAföG Application Assistant) Digital wizard that walks students through completing a BAföG application step by step to reduce errors and processing time.
• Jobbörse / Praktikumsbörse (Student Job & Internship Board) Listings portal for student jobs, working student positions, and internships, used by students to supplement study financing.
• Stipendienbewerbungs-Ratgeber (Scholarship Application Guidance) Editorial resource library that walks students through preparing scholarship application materials such as motivation letters, CVs, recommendation letters, and interviews.
• Studienorientierungstest (Study Orientation Test) Online personality assessment that analyzes a prospective student's talents and interests and compares them with other participants to support study and career orientation decisions.
• Studentenwerk-Verzeichnis (Student Services Directory) Directory of Germany's Studentenwerke (student services organizations) listing contact details, dormitories, dining halls, and counseling services.
• Fernstudium-Informationsportal (Distance Learning Information Portal) Information portal comparing distance-learning degree programs from multiple Fernhochschulen, including program content, costs, prerequisites, and career outcomes, with affiliate links to partner universities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40,000 € potential additional income for students through scholarships (tagline)

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered high, core and minor.

• Dr. Ursula von der LeyenhighGTM or Marketing PartnerDr. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, is a prominent supporter of myStipendium. She has publicly endorsed the platform's mission of transparent student financial support, stating: 'Wir brauchen die klügsten Köpfe und besten Talente. Kein Studienwunsch sollte an den finanziellen Möglichkeiten scheitern. Die gemeinnützige Initiative für transparente Studienförderung erleichtert die Suche nach einem passenden Stipendium und fördert so die Chancengerechtigkeit.' This constitutes a high-profile endorsement that enhances brand credibility.
• IU Internationale HochschulecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIU Internationale Hochschule is the primary distance learning university partner featured prominently throughout the myStipendium platform. myStipendium publishes dedicated content pages about IU programs (Informatik, Soziale Arbeit, Wirtschaftspsychologie, Marketing, etc.) with embedded affiliate links. IU offers its own scholarship program worth 80,000€ per year, which is featured on myStipendium. The partnership drives student referrals to IU's programs.
• Wilhelm Büchner HochschulecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWilhelm Büchner Hochschule is a key distance learning university partner. Featured across multiple subject pages (Informatik, Angewandte Informatik, Medieninformatik, Wirtschaftsinformatik, Game Development, Digitale Medien) with affiliate links on myStipendium.
• AKAD UniversitycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAKAD University is a distance learning partner featured on myStipendium's Fernstudium content pages, particularly for Digital Engineering, Angewandte Informatik, Wirtschaftspsychologie, and BWL programs. myStipendium earns affiliate commissions from student referrals.
• EURO-FHcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEURO-FH (EUROPEAN OPEN UNIVERSITY FOR APPLIED SCIENCES) is featured for Wirtschaftspsychologie, Betriebswirtschaft & Wirtschaftspsychologie, and IT-Management programs. The partnership generates affiliate commissions for myStipendium.
• YouGovminorGTM or Marketing PartnermyStipendium hosts a co-registration page for YouGov, a market research firm, allowing users to sign up for YouGov surveys to earn money. This is a co-registration/lead generation partnership.
• Apollon HochschuleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerApollon Hochschule is featured for Angewandte Psychologie (B.Sc.) and Sozialmanagement programs on myStipendium's distance learning content pages with affiliate links.
• WINGS Fernstudium (Hochschule Wismar)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWINGS Fernstudium is featured for IT-Forensik (B.Eng.), IT-Sicherheit und Forensik (M.Eng.), and Sales & Marketing (M.A.) programs with affiliate links on myStipendium.
• PFH GöttingenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPFH Göttingen (Private Fachhochschule) is featured for Psychologie (B.Sc. and M.Sc.) and Angewandte Psychologie für die Wirtschaft (M.A.) programs with affiliate links.
• Hochschule FreseniusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHochschule Fresenius is featured for Wirtschaftspsychologie (B.Sc.) and Soziale Arbeit programs with affiliate links on myStipendium.
• Private University of Applied Sciences ( Göttingen)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrivate University of Applied Sciences (Göttingen) is featured for Wirtschaftspsychologie (B.Sc. and M.A.) programs with affiliate links.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stipendienlotse (Stifterverband): Government-backed German scholarship database operated by the Stifterverband. Comparable as a national scholarship search portal, but serves a public-benefit mandate rather than an affiliate/commercial model, and lacks the editorial content depth of myStipendium.
• Chegg: US-listed student-services platform offering tutoring, textbooks, and scholarship search. Comparable in bundling student-finance content with broader study support, but operates globally rather than Germany-only and has a paid-services focus.
• StudySmarter: Germany-based learning and student-support platform (study tools, flashcards, tutoring). Adjacent to myStipendium as a destination for German students, and could expand into scholarship/finance content to become a more direct peer.

Direct peers

• ScholarshipPortal: European-wide scholarship database and matching platform serving students looking to study abroad. Comparable in product scope (scholarship search and matching) and target audience (international-mobile students), but operates across multiple countries rather than Germany-only.
• e-fellows.net: German online platform for scholarships, internships, and study-financing programmes targeting Bachelor, Master, and MBA students. Direct competitor for scholarship discovery and serves the same German student persona as myStipendium.
• Befunded: German startup offering a scholarship-matching service for international and German students. Closest direct competitor in profile-based matching and free student onboarding, with a comparable affiliation model.

Regional players

• Studis Online: Long-running German student information portal covering study financing, BAföG, and scholarships. Comparable in serving German students with finance/funding content, but offers a broader editorial site rather than a profile-matching tool.
• Bold.org: US-based scholarship matching and grants platform for American students. Comparable product (scholarship search/apply) and free-to-students model, but operates in the US instead of the German market.

Emerging players

• UNiDAYS: Global student discount and benefits platform that brokers affiliate-style partnerships with brands targeting students. Comparable indirect monetisation logic (student audience, affiliate commissions) and overlapping student persona with myStipendium.

Others

• Fernstudium-Direkt / Fernstudium Check: German comparison and information portal for distance learning programmes (Fernstudium). A partner/competitor at the affiliate layer: it monetises the same distance-learning referral demand that myStipendium captures via IU, AKAD, and Euro-FH links.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mystipendium
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mystipendium.de

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about myStipendium