The application phase for the KfW Award Gründen 2025 has begun. Startups from all industries that were founded on or after January 1, 2020, or were taken over as part of a succession, can register for the competition until July 1, 2025. The competition is aimed at both young founders and companies that have received new impetus through succession. The requirements are clearly defined: only companies that have been actively operating on the market since that date can apply for the KfW Award Gründen. The goal of the award is to recognize innovative and sustainable business ideas that provide social value.
The competition and award ceremony
The competition is divided into several phases. First, a state winner is determined from each federal state, who receives prize money of €1,000. These 16 state winners then compete in the nationwide competition to determine the federal winner. The federal winner receives an additional €9,000.
Additionally, a special prize and an audience award are also presented, each endowed with €5,000. The jury places special emphasis on business models that are not only innovative but also offer sustainable and socially relevant benefits when selecting the winning teams.
Award ceremony and media attention
The winners of the KfW Award Gründen 2025 will be honored on November 6 at a ceremonial event. The award ceremony will be accompanied by TV broadcaster n-tv in a special broadcast, through which the winners will also be presented to a wide audience. In addition to financial support, the winning companies receive assistance from a PR agency that helps market their success stories.
More information about the KfW Award Gründen 2025 can be found on the associated website.
