Founders can apply for the KfW Award Gründen 2024 until 1 July 2024. In this competition, KfW Group honours startups from all over Germany that are to receive public recognition for their ideas and courage. The competition is aimed at companies founded in 2019 or later and awards a total of 35,000 euros in prize money.
The Hamburg startup fobizz won in 2023
The jury for the award consists of experienced people from KfW, promotional banks, politics and business. They assess the business ideas according to their degree of innovation and creativity. A decisive role is also played by whether the concept assumes social responsibility or creates added value for society. Economic success, ecological sustainability and the promotion of an inclusive, diverse working environment are also included in the assessment.
One company from each federal state is honoured according to these criteria. The prize money for the state winners is 1,000 euros each. They also qualify for the national final, where a further 9,000 euros in prize money will be distributed. The jury will also award a special prize of 5,000 euros. All state winners then take part in the online voting for the audience award. There is another 5,000 euros to be won here.
The companies will receive their awards at a ceremony on 7 November 2024. The TV channel n-tv will report on them in a special programme. The startups will be supported by a PR agency in marketing their success stories, and selected companies will have the chance to be featured on TV. In 2023, the main prize went to Hamburg: the jury chose fobizz, which, among other things, uses artificial intelligence to promote the digitalisation of school lessons.
