Start-up competitions: your start-up on the big stage

The start-up landscape in North Rhine-Westphalia offers a number of competitions and series of events. Take a look at our competitions here.

As well as a functioning business idea, sound finance and a strong business plan, a good network and prominence in the start-up scene are also important for business founders. To ensure these continue to flourish, the Ministry of Economics offers a range of start-up competitions and events.

  • Eleventh Gründerpreis NRW 2022

    GRÜNDERPREIS NRW

    With prize money totalling EUR 60,000, the GRÜNDERPREIS NRW is one of Germany's most lucrative awards for innovative and successful founders, successors and freelancers.

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  • Meet, Greet + Beat

    The “Meet, Greet +Beat” Roadshow for founders in North Rhine-Westphalia

    In 2021 and 2022, the roadshow of Gründen NRW went on tour: 7 locations, 5 pitches at each, 2 prizes at each event and a lot of networking opportunities!

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  • The three winner teams of the competition OUT OF THE BOX.NRW on the stage of the award show

    OUT OF THE BOX.NRW

    With this competition, the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action rewards young digital start-ups from North Rhine-Westphalia that think "OUT OF THE BOX". The winners were honoured on 7 September 2022. Nominate start-ups for 2023 now.

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