With the DGPS, the German Founders' Prize Guide students step by step from the business idea to the pitch deck. In the game phase, which begins in January, the teams work on the game platform provided for this purpose on classic business startup tasks such as market analysis, target group definition, and marketing strategy. They are also introduced to methods and concepts such as "design thinking," "entrepreneurial mindset," and "management summary." This gives students the opportunity to test startup methods on their own ideas. Digital events with in-depth dives into the key topics and digital consultation hours with business experts support the teams in completing their tasks.
Project Manager Katharina Donath explained:
“We wanted to move away from the dusty business plan and, with the new concept, align the competition more closely with the reality of startups.”
Final in Hamburg
The participating students' teachers will evaluate the financial planning, the pitch deck, and the live pitch event at school. An independent jury member from the business world will also assess the financial planning, the pitch deck, and the management summary. In June 2024, a jury of experts will select the ten best teams nationwide. At the subsequent national final, a jury of founders will decide on the teams' placement. The best pitch deck will winthat has been presented convincingly, is realistically feasible and has prospects of success on the market.
Donath says:
“We hope to be able to anchor entrepreneurship education more firmly in schools.”
The top ten teams will win participation in the Founder's Award Experience – a multi-day hackathon where they work on current challenges faced by and with existing startups. They will also be invited to the nationwide awards ceremony in June 2024 at the grand finale in Hamburg. Their live pitches will determine the winning team of the DGPS. This team will then travel to Berlin in September 2024 for the German Founder's Award ceremony, where they will receive an award in the "Students" category from Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck.
Further information about the competition can be found on the DGPS website.
