On 1 October, the Lexware Festival 2026 will take place. One of the highlights of the programme at this event for the self-employed and startup founders will be a pitch competition, with the main prize being a feature article with a wide reach. The deadline for applications is 14 September.
Toyah Diebel from Butzz won the Founders Pitch in 2025 © Lexware
The pitch offers the opportunity to tell your story
Around 1,000 visitors are expected to attend the festival organised by the software company Lexware. The four finalists who qualify for the Founders Pitch final will therefore be given a big stage at Schuppen 52 in HafenCity. The first prize promises even greater visibility: an editorial feature in Lexware’s customer magazine, Tell Your Story. Publication in the online edition is guaranteed, and there is also the chance to be featured in the print edition, which is distributed as a supplement to ZEIT, SPIEGEL, FOCUS, stern and brand eins. Taken together, this amounts to a circulation of more than a million.
Applications are open to individuals who are self-employed or who have set up a business employing up to nine staff members. There are no restrictions regarding the sector or the age of the business. A pitch deck is not required; instead, applicants are asked to provide a brief description of their business idea, along with details of goals, aspirations and the founders or team members. A video may also be submitted. Once the application period closes on 14 September, a jury of experts will review all entries and select the four finalists.
