Health-i, an initiative by Handelsblatt and Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), is presenting the Health-i Awards for the eleventh time this year. The search is on for the best German startups from the healthcare industry. The awards ceremony will take place on 15 October at the Design Zentrum Hamburg; the application period runs until 15 May.
News
March 19, 2026
Health-i Awards: Germany’s best healthcare startups wanted
© Marc-Steffen Unger: In 2025, goodscare from Hamburg won the first prize
The application criteria
All startups based in Germany that are dedicated to innovative, digital, pioneering projects, products, business models and organisational innovations in the healthcare sector are eligible to enter. The number of employees must not exceed 500. Further criteria are:
Novelty: There must be a genuine innovation.
Scalability: The product must demonstrate growth potential.
Patient benefit: Added value for healthcare must be demonstrated.
Market readiness: Either a certification (CE) or a pilot study is in place, or there is already initial market success.
Once the application phase closes on 15 May, a jury will shortlist the ten most promising startups. These will then produce short videos for the community vote, which runs from 28 July to 17 August. A jury meeting will also take place in Hamburg on 21 August, at which attendance is mandatory. The top three selected following this process will be honoured at a public awards ceremony on 15 October. They will receive individual advertisements and digital campaigns in the Handelsblatt, professional presentation training for investor meetings, and a social media workshop focusing on LinkedIn.
