Apply now and secure the opportunity to pitch in front of our expert jury. There are two jury rounds per year. As a participating startup, you will gain exclusive access to over 30 CEOs and investors, as well as potential customers and investors from the region. Receive valuable feedback directly on your pitch and company as well as the opportunity for personal matchmaking with Frankfurt Forward jury members.
As a Startup of the Year finalist, you will receive a PR package including a photo shoot and will be presented regionally and nationally by our media partners, including dfv and StartupValley. You will also have the chance to pitch live in front of a large audience at the end of the year and win the coveted Startup of the Year title.
The Startup of the Year enjoys an exclusive networking package put together by our partners and jury members. All Startups of the Year become part of our Frankfurt Forward alumni network and continue to enjoy increased visibility and momentum from Frankfurt Forward.
Don't miss the opportunity to accelerate your startup journey and become part of the Frankfurt Forward network. Apply now!
The application is open to all B2B startups and startups with a high digital added value and great disruptive potential (2-5 years old, already on the market, dynamic, innovative, no holding structure) of all industries headquartered in FrankfurtRheinMain.
If you did not receive an award on your first application, you can apply again the following year, provided, of course, that you still meet the eligibility requirements.
You can apply online with a few clicks via our application form. The following criteria are particularly important to us and form the basis for the evaluation:
(1) Problem
(2) Solution
(3) Potential
(4) Market & Competition
(5) Team
(6) Finance
Our evaluation matrix can be found here.
1. Once we have received your documents, they will be reviewed.
2. In case you meet our participation requirements, we will invite you for a live pitch in front of our top-class jury.
3. If you convince the jury, you will become one of a total of six Startup of the Year finalists and have the chance to pitch in front of a large audience at the end of the year and secure the title of Startup of the Year.
4. The best news last: Whether you win the big award ceremony or not, all finalists are winners with us! Enjoy the status of a Frankfurt Forward alumni with numerous benefits after your run.