Startups can apply for participation in the Digital Village until September 25, 2020. The editorial team of the architectural trade magazine Detail and representatives of Messe München will select up to 18 startups from all submissions, which will then be allowed to present there. The top 18 will have the opportunity to present their business concept at a contact booth at the Bau trade fair for five days. In addition, guided tours of the Digital Village will take place twice daily during the trade fair (January 11 to 16, 2021), and the startups can present themselves in short presentations – also in the morning and afternoon – in the associated forum.
On January 13, 2021, the jury will select the most convincing startup as the winner. The winner will then be honored at the Detail networking party that same evening.
Who is allowed into the Digital Village?
The competition is looking for startups with innovative solutions for the construction industry that support architects, interior designers, urban planners, engineers, craftspeople, construction companies, building owners, the building materials trade, or the real estate and housing industry in their work. Participating startups must have been founded no more than five years ago and should have no more than 20 employees. They should also have already achieved initial milestones in company or product development.
The Digital Village already celebrated its premiere at the last Bau 2019. Back then, five startups competed against each other in an open pitch over two days and impressed the three-person jury with their ideas and business models. This year's participants included the Munich-based startup Building Radar, which convinced the jury and thus won the victory on the second day of the pitch.
