Verein zur MINT-Talentförderung e. V.

What Verein zur MINT-Talentförderung e. V. does

Verein zur MINT-Talentförderung e. V., operating under the brand Plus-MINT, is a German non-profit association (eingetragener Verein, VR 11341, Amtsgericht Düsseldorf) founded in 2015 to identify and systematically develop gifted secondary-school students with a passion for mathematics, informatics, natural sciences, and technology. The association runs a nationwide, cross-school talent program modeled after the German Football Association's youth development centers, accepting students in grades 8–10 through a multi-stage online application, parental consent, and four-day selection camp. Selected students attend one of six (soon seven) partner boarding schools across six German federal states — Birklehof (Baden-Württemberg), Stiftung Louisenlund (Schleswig-Holstein), Sächsisches Landesgymnasium Sankt Afra (Saxony), Steinmühle (Hesse), Landesschule Pforta (Saxony-Anhalt), and Internat Neubeuern (Bavaria) — where they follow a specialized MINT curriculum that extends beyond standard Abitur level, participate in research projects, and engage with universities, research institutes, and corporate partners.

The core "product" is a four-year talent development curriculum delivered physically through the partner boarding schools and supplemented by annual events such as the Plus-MINT Forscher-Camp (research camp), Mathe-Camp, webinars, and selection camps. Supporting assets include an online application portal, an interactive MINT-Quiz, a content/blog platform, and a newsletter used for top-of-funnel outreach. Plus-MINT does not develop or sell proprietary software or technology platforms; its intellectual property is primarily the curriculum content, the partner-school network, and its track record in competitions. The association is supported by a small staff (5 employees) coordinated centrally by Geschäftsstelle staff at Stiftung Louisenlund.

The association is funded through a mix of partner contributions and foundation grants rather than commercial revenue. The program costs (boarding-school tuition of approximately €3,500–€4,000 per month) are paid to the partner schools, with families paying an income-dependent share and the German federal Schüler-BAföG covering up to 100% of the remainder; the association itself does not charge a direct program fee. Annual partner support includes €15,000 per year from Pfeiffer Vacuum, plus co-sponsorship of the Forscher-Camp by the Wilhelm und Else Heraeus-Stiftung and the Gisela und Erwin Sick Stiftung. The entity has no subsidiaries and is governed by a board chaired by Dr. Peter Rösner, with Prof. Dr. Olaf Köller, Thomas Laqua, Dr. Bert Xylander, and Helena Drexler as additional board members.

Name

Verein zur MINT-Talentförderung e. V.

Legal name

Verein zur MINT-Talentförderung e. V.

Website

https://plus-mint.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Plus-MINT is a German non-profit association operating a nationwide talent development program for MINT-gifted secondary students (grades 8–10) across six partner boarding schools, funded by corporate sponsors and foundations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

STEM Gifted Education / Talent Development

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Advanced STEM & Competition Coaching (MathCounts/AMC/AIME/USAMO, Science Olympiad, Physics/Chem Olympiads) (EDANAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Competition Coaching & Training Programs (AMC/AIME/USAMO/MathCounts) (EDAMAEAA), Contest Prep Bootcamps & Intensive Workshops (EDAMAEAE), STEM Assessment, Badging & Competition Platforms (EDAFANAJ)

Keywords

• STEM talent development
• Gifted education programs
• Boarding school education
• Science competition training
• MINT enrichment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Güby

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Partner contributions and sponsorship: The program is funded by engaged partners from science, business, foundations, and private initiatives. Key funding partners include Pfeiffer Vacuum (15,000 EUR per year), WE-Heraeus-Stiftung, and Gisela und Erwin Sick Stiftung. Corporate partners contribute financially to support talent development.
2. Student program fees co-financed by Schüler-BAföG: Parents pay an income-dependent contribution toward boarding school costs (approximately 3,500–4,000 EUR/month at Steinmühle). Federal Schüler-BAföG covers up to 100% of costs based on parental income. Additional support comes from performance and social scholarships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Verein zur MINT-Talentförderung e. V. operates the Plus-MINT Talentförderung Program, a nationwide, cross-school talent development program for gifted and motivated students (grades 8–10) with a passion for Mathematics, Informatics, Natural Sciences and Technology (MINT). Selected students attend one of six partner boarding schools across six German federal states, where they receive a specialized MINT curriculum above standard Abitur level, mentoring, research project opportunities, and competition preparation (Jugend forscht, IPhO, IChO, WRO). The program is supported by multi-day Selection Camps, an annual Forscher-Camp (Research Camp) and Mathe-Camp (Math Camp) for intensive enrichment.

Product overview

Plus-MINT is a talent promotion program operated by the Verein zur MINT-Talentförderung e. V. at six selected German boarding schools. The core offering is the Plus-MINT Talentförderung Program, a four-year curriculum for gifted students in MINT subjects (Mathematics, Informatics, Natural Sciences, Technology). This is supported by several integrated components: the Online Application System for digital enrollment, Plus-MINT Webinars for prospective student outreach, the MINT-Quiz for talent identification, Selection Camps for applicant evaluation, Research Camps (Forscher-Camp) for intensive summer programs, and Math Camps for specialized mathematics enrichment. The program enables students to participate in competitions like Jugend forscht, World Robot Olympiad, and international science forums.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Plus-MINT Talentförderung Program A nationwide, cross-school talent development program for gifted and motivated students (grades 8–10) with a passion for Mathematics, Informatics, Natural Sciences and Technology, delivered at six selected boarding schools across six German states. The program provides specialized instruction above standard Abitur level, research projects in laboratories and workshops, individual mentoring, university and industry connections, and preparation for competitions such as Jugend forscht, IPhO, IChO and WRO.
• Plus-MINT Forscher-Camp (Research Camp) A five-day summer research camp for top MINT talents held at Stiftung Louisenlund, co-sponsored by the WE-Heraeus-Stiftung and Gisela und Erwin Sick Stiftung. It features hands-on experiments, sailing, and workshops on topics such as lithium-ion batteries, acoustics research, and bat detection, and hosts winners of the 'Schüler experimentieren' special prizes for interdisciplinary projects and creativity in physics.
• Plus-MINT Mathe-Camp (Math Camp) A multi-day mathematics enrichment camp for students from Plus-MINT boarding schools, featuring workshops on cryptography and mathematical optimization, visits to the Mathematikum Gießen, and participation in the Bolyai mathematics competition. Includes industry visits such as a tour of Pfeiffer Vacuum facilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple students regularly achieve top positions at Jugend forscht Bundeswettbewerb, including Bundessiege and special prizes from European Commission and DFG
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DLR_School_Lab (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlus-MINT cooperates with the DLR_School_Lab for teacher training events on climate change and talent development. DLR scientists provide insights into atmospheric and space research, robotics, and flight simulation, and train teachers to conduct DLR experiments with students.
• Philipps-Universität MarburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlus-MINT (Steinmühle) has a cooperation agreement with Philipps-Universität Marburg (since 2018). Plus-MINT students conduct joint projects with the Geography department, such as the autonomous water-sampling boat project. University professors deliver workshops for students on topics beyond school curriculum.
• MUSAIK Grenzenlos musizieren e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMUSAIK Grenzenlos musizieren e.V. from Dresden-Prohlis participated in the Plus-MINT Festtag der Mathematik at Sankt Afra, contributing a pre-event recording that symbolized Plus-MINT's values of diversity, openness, and cross-institutional cooperation.
• London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlus-MINT cooperates with the London International Youth Science Forum. The Plus-MINT Prize includes participation in LIYSF as a special award, giving winning students access to international scientific exchanges.
• Universal Home (Cross-Innovation-Netzwerk)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlus-MINT cooperates with the Cross-Innovation-Netzwerk Universal Home, expanding its ecosystem of partners in innovation and entrepreneurship support for young talents.
• Pfeiffer Vacuum (industrial visit)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuring the Plus-MINT Mathe-Camp, students visited Pfeiffer Vacuum's facilities in the Lahn-Dill-Kreis, gaining industry insights and speaking with students and young graduates in mechanical engineering, business informatics, and industrial engineering.
• Amts für BodenmanagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineers from the Amts für Bodenmanagement (Geodesy Office) conducted a workshop for Plus-MINT Mathe-Camp students on surveying and calculating continental drift of the Eurasian plate.
• Akademie für Lehrerfortbildung und Personalführung (ALP) DillingenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlus-MINT and the Bavarian Academy for Teacher Training and Personnel Development (ALP) jointly conducted a two-day teacher training workshop on climate change and talent development with DLR_School_Lab.
• IPN – Leibniz-Institut für die Pädagogik der Naturwissenschaften und MathematikcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe IPN in Kiel is the annual organizer of the German selection rounds for the International Chemistry Olympiade (IChO) and International Physics Olympiade (IPhO). Plus-MINT students regularly participate and qualify for national and international finals through these competitions.

Scale indicators3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Deutsche SchülerAkademie: Runs multi-day residential academies for gifted secondary students in Germany. Comparable as a national, supplementary enrichment program offering peer community and advanced coursework to high-achieving teenagers.
• Hector Seminare: Foundation-supported gifted STEM seminars and programs, originally anchored in Baden-Württemberg. Directly comparable as a regional MINT talent enrichment network with funding from a corporate foundation.
• Bildung & Begabung: German center for talent development and gifted education offering national competitions, academies, and programs for high-achieving students. Directly comparable as a national non-profit talent development umbrella organization serving gifted youth across multiple subjects.
• Stiftung Jugend forscht: Organizer of Germany's flagship youth science competition (Jugend forscht / Schüler experimentieren). Comparable as a national MINT talent platform, although Plus-MINT is a feeder/participant rather than the competition organizer.
• Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes: Germany's primary academic scholarship foundation for gifted students. Comparable mission (systematically identifying and supporting top talent), with a complementary focus on higher education rather than secondary boarding-school delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Deutsche Mathematiker-Vereinigung (DMV): German mathematical society offering competitions, prizes, and enrichment programs for mathematically gifted students. Comparable as a subject-specific national body nurturing top-tier math talent.
• Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker (GDCh): German chemical society with student awards (e.g., GDCh-Abiturientenpreis) and school programs. Comparable as a subject-specific national organization recognizing and encouraging chemistry talent.
• Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (DPG): Germany's national physics society running school competitions, Abitur prizes, and student recognition programs. Comparable as a STEM-gifted student support and recognition organization operating at national scale.
• IPN – Leibniz-Institut für die Pädagogik der Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik: National organizer of the German selection rounds for IChO and IPhO and a broader research institute on STEM education. Adjacent to Plus-MINT as the institutional ecosystem in which Plus-MINT students compete and win.

Regional players

• TUM Kolleg / Schülerkolleg (Technical University of Munich): University-run pre-college programs offering gifted STEM high-school students early university exposure and advanced coursework in Bavaria. Comparable as an institutional gifted STEM program, although geographically anchored to one university's catchment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/dorfuchs
• Instagraminstagram.com/plusminttalente
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/verein-f%C3%BCr-mint-talentf%C3%B6rderung-e.-v.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Verein zur MINT-Talentförderung e. V.