Start-up Competitions and Awards in Summer 2025
Summer has arrived, bringing with it a vibrant new quarter full of opportunities for start-ups and founders! The coming months offer more than just sunny skies – they’re full of opportunities to refine your business model, secure fresh funding, and grow your network. To help you seize these opportunities, we at WORLDFACTORY have once again curated a current selection of exciting funding programs, competitions, and awards for the third quarter of 2025. As always, our focus is on initiatives based in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), complemented by a few standout national opportunities. Whether you're looking for prize money, expert coaching, or a spot in an accelerator program – these opportunities are designed to help you and your start-up reach the next level. Best of luck with your applications!
Program Applications Without Deadline
EXIST Start-up Grant
As one of the best-known funding programs, this scholarship is primarily aimed at innovative start-ups with a university background. Start-up teams benefit from 12 months of funding with attractive conditions to develop their business plan and concentrate fully on their technology-oriented or knowledge-based projects. They receive valuable support from their university or research institution. You can find more information here.
EIC Accelerator
This EU-funded program supports start-ups and SMEs with ground-breaking innovations that create new markets or revolutionize existing ones. Companies receive grants of up to €2.5 million and investments of up to €10 million, supplemented by coaching, mentoring and network access. You can find all the important details here.
Green Start-up Program
Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) supports start-ups that want to actively contribute to ecological sustainability - regardless of whether they have already been founded or are about to start their journey. As part of the program, founders receive financial and non-material support for up to 24 months. Applications can be submitted at any time. A detailed guide on the website will help you with the application process.
NRW Start-up Grant
This funding program is provided by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the state of NRW. Here, too, you can apply at any time via one of the numerous local networks, which will not only support you during the application process, but also accompany you beyond. Funding is provided in the form of monthly support of €1.200 for up to one year. The prerequisite is that the company founded is based in NRW. All relevant information can be found on the website.
High-Tech Gründerfonds
High-Tech Gründerfonds has been investing in innovative start-ups in the high-tech sector since 2005 and has already helped more than 700 young companies on their way. The initiative was originally launched by the Federal Ministry of Economics, industry and sector experts. Instead of fixed application deadlines, the fund offers flexible, customized financing models. You can find more details here.
INVEST - Grant for Venture Capital
With this program, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection focuses on networking start-ups and business angels in order to optimally promote innovative business ideas. Ambitious founders with demonstrably innovative concepts can apply and benefit from various funding models. All information on participation requirements, support offers and further details can be found on the website.
VIP+ kompakt
The “Validation of the technological and social innovation potential of scientific research - VIP+” funding program supports researchers in transforming their scientific findings into marketable business models. Funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the funding is open to specialists from all sectors. The decisive factors for support are, in particular, the innovative content and commercial applicability of the research results. All relevant information can be found here.
Programs With Application Deadlines
StartSocial - Help for Helpers
You are committed to finding sustainable solutions to social problems? Then you can apply for a startsocial scholarship and receive four months of free support from experienced coaches in the business world - practical, individual and effective. You also have the chance to win one of seven cash prizes with a total value of 35.000 euros. You can apply until July 10 via the website.
Public Value Award
This award rewards start-ups that create real benefits for society with their business model. Apply by July 14 and benefit from coaching, mentoring, public value consulting and valuable visibility for your commitment! Further information can be found here.
START-interaktiv
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) aims to strengthen the potential of start-ups in cutting-edge research on interactive technologies for health and quality of life, and to make this potential more accessible for the benefit of the economy and society. Start-ups in the fields of health and care can apply for project funding lasting between 18 and 36 months until July 15. You can find all the key information regarding the application procedure on the website.
Herrman Hauser Frontier Lab
The Hermann Hauser Frontier Lab is a one-week intensive program in Tyrol for deep tech start-ups who are planning a pre-seed or seed round in the next 6 to 12 months - with a focus on commercialization, VC readiness and storytelling. Selected teams from areas such as AI, Quantum, TechBio, New Compute, Space or New Mobility will benefit from Cambridge experts, a demo day in front of investors and a follow-up session on sustainable development. The application deadline is July 15. Futher information can be found here.
Senkrechtstarter Award
Bochum Wirtschaftsentwicklung will present its newly designed award for start-ups and business ideas from NRW for the first time on September 16, 2025. As part of a major pitch event, selected teams will present their ideas live in front of an audience and jury. Whether you are still working on an idea or have already taken off with your start-up - the open-themed program offers you visibility, valuable feedback and the chance to win up to 25.000 euros in prize money. You can apply via the website until July 20.
Eugen Münch Prize
This prize is awarded to visionary start-ups and practical scientific work that sustainably improve the healthcare system through digitalization, AI or new care models. Each category receives 20.000 euros in prize money, a professional film and the opportunity to present to investors at the Rhön Stiftung Invest Conference. The registration deadline is July 21 and you can find further details on the website.
Female Digital Camp
This camp offers female founders three creative weeks full of UX/UI design, prototyping and sustainable product development - no prior knowledge required. With 570 euros remuneration, prizes worth 7.500 euros, plenty of room for ideas and exciting insights into the world of energy at E.ON, it is the perfect introduction to the digital future. The application deadline is July 27. Find out more on the website.
MehrWert NRW
Young talents from NRW who develop innovative and resource-preserving products or concepts can apply until July 30 and win prize money of 3.000 euros, coaching and valuable networking opportunities. The program promotes creative solutions for a sustainable future and offers media attention and professional support for your idea. You can find everything else here.
Start-up Transfer.NRW
Are you researching or studying at universities and research institutions in NRW and would like to develop your innovative ideas in a market-oriented way? As part of European regional funding, Start-up Transfer.NRW, an initiative of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy NRW, will support your business start-up with up to 270.000 euros in funding - applications can be submitted via the online portal until July 31.
AXOLOTL German Med & Health Business Plan Competition
This competition is targeted towards founders from the healthcare sector and provides support in the development of a business plan. In phase 1, a business plan is generated as part of an intensive workshop program, which is refined in the second phase. Participants can also win up to 4.000 euros. The competition starts on July 31. You can find more information on the website.
ATHENE Start-up Award
In this competition, we are looking for innovative cybersecurity solutions founded in 2020: The ATHENE Startup Award UP25@it-sa honors the most promising cybersecurity startups from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Under the patronage of ATHENE, IT-Sicherheitscluster e. V. and NürnbergMesse, you can expect visibility and networking opportunities at Europe's leading IT security trade fair as well as the chance to win valuable prizes - applications are open until July 31. Click here for more information.
Xustainable Accelerator Bochum
The 12-week accelerator program supports impact-oriented start-ups with MVP by providing targeted coaching, boot camps in Bochum and individual support on the way to a sustainable business model. The program is backed by WERK X, GLS Bank and Grubengold. You can apply via the website until July 31.
EHI Science Award
Are you a university start-up developing a promising solution for the retail or consumer goods industry and already have initial market access? Then let your university nominate you and benefit from services worth 50.000 euros - thanks to the support of the EHI Foundation and GS1 Germany. The application deadline is August 4. Find out more here.
Civic Coding-Accelerator
This accelerator supports advanced AI projects with a focus on the common good to further develop and scale their solutions in a practical way and to network with relevant partners. The three-month program offers individual advice, targeted co-creation formats and visibility on a public stage - supported by the Federal Ministry as part of the initiative "Civic Coding - Innovationsnetz KI für das Gemeinwohl". Applications are open until August 12. Further details can be found here.
Smart Country Startup Award
This award showcases visionary start-ups that are shaping the public administration and smart cities of tomorrow with digital solutions. Embedded in the Smart Country Convention and supported by the Digitalverband Bitkom and exclusive partners, the award offers finalists a stage in front of a jury of experts and a live audience - and thus visibility, networking and new opportunities. Innovative ideas for the digitalization of public spaces, especially in the areas of smart city and e-government, in particular, are in demand. The winners will receive prize money totaling 10.000 euros as well as a one-year membership of Get Started. You can register via the website until August 15.
EXIST Research Transfer
This established funding program specifically supports spin-offs from universities and is financed by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection. The aim is to transfer scientific findings to industry, with the focus on knowledge transfer rather than competition. Applications can be submitted throughout the year and are evaluated twice a year. The next deadline is August 31. Further details can be found on the website.
KUER.NRW
KUER.NRW supports start-ups in the fields of climate, environment, energy efficiency and resource conservation on their journey from the initial idea to a successful market launch. A network of experienced mentors, experts and investors accompanies the participants individually through all phases of founding a company. The competition starts on August 31. Everything else can be found on the website.
European Prize for Women Innovators
This award honors female entrepreneurs from the EU and Horizon Europe-associated countries who are creating positive change with their pioneering innovations. Nine applications will be awarded a total of 520.000 euros in three prize categories - an initiative of the European Commission, supported by the EIC and EIT. The application deadline is September 25. You can find out more on the website.
StartUpConnect
This funding program strengthens the start-up and innovation ecosystem for modern communication technologies and helps to reduce dependencies. In two phases, it supports both those interested in founding a company in the development of technological concepts and young start-ups in the market launch of their research results. The next application deadline is September 30. You can find further information here.
StartUpSecure
As part of this program, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research promotes innovative start-ups in the field of IT security. Two measures are supported: Firstly, incubators at important IT security locations in Germany receive funding, such as our Cube 5. Secondly, individual start-up projects are supported directly. The first phase involves the development of a marketable business idea (proof of concept), while the second phase supports the aspiring company in its first growth steps. Here, you can also apply until September 30. You can find out more on the website.
Enabling Start-up. Start-ups in Quantum Technologies and Photonics
This BMBF program funds innovative approaches in quantum research and photonics. Applications can be submitted until the end of 2025. The aim is to transfer scientific excellence to the German market and promote high-tech “Made in Germany”. You can find further information here.
Go-to-Market Gutschein
In this program, North Rhine-Westphalian start-ups are supported in prototype development in order to facilitate successful market entry. The program offers grants of up to 35.000 euros for external services, the purchase of preliminary products, partial solutions and consulting services, particularly in the early stages of company foundation. You can apply on an ongoing basis until October 31, 2026. Find out everything else here.