New title, same content: The "GründerChampions" award has become the KfW Award Gründen. Since 1998, the KfW Banking Group has honored outstanding companies in their first five years of business with this award. Startups from all sectors can now apply for this prestigious prize. The application deadline is August 1, 2018.
Prizes totaling 35,000 euros and a special prize for social entrepreneurship: The KfW Award Gründen — the business competition of the KfW Banking Group — is entering a new round after a name change. Apply Startups from all industries are eligible to apply for the competition. Important: The company must be headquartered in Germany and be no older than five years. Participation is also open to founders who have acquired a company as part of a succession process.
The jury evaluates the business ideas based on their degree of innovation and creativity, and examines whether they demonstrate social responsibility. Also important for the award are the environmental awareness of the implementation and whether jobs and training opportunities have been created or maintained.
To win: National Winner, Audience Award and Special Prize
Finally, one company from each German state will be honored. The prize money is €1,000 each. All state winners will compete for the national title, which also includes €9,000 in prize money. The national winner will be announced on the evening of the awards ceremony—more precisely, on October 11, 2018, in Berlin.
The audience awards an Audience Prize (€5,000 in additional prize money) to all the winners who present themselves on stage. One company from the pool of applicants that particularly impresses the jury receives the Special Prize for Social Entrepreneurship, endowed with €5,000.
