Opportunities
Startup competitions in Germany (October 2026)
Open competitions a founder in Germany can apply to, each checked against its official page. Calls named for Germany come first, then regional and worldwide calls that include it.
86 listings
Closing this month (10)
- SPIE Startup Challenge at Photonics WestSPIEOpenCompetitionDeadline: October 6, 2026
- Startup Competition Sikorsky Challenge 2026Sikorsky Challenge UkraineOpenCompetitionDeadline: October 10, 2026
- Funkenwerk AwardTechnische Hochschule Augsburg (THA_funkenwerk)OpenCompetitionDeadline: October 11, 2026
- Call Startup AI 4 FutureSearch On Media Group / WMFOpenCompetitionDeadline: October 15, 2026
- FEMALE FOUNDERS CUP 2026Start-up BWOpenCompetitionDeadline: October 15, 2026
- Queen's Entrepreneurship CompetitionQueen's Entrepreneurship CompetitionOpenCompetitionDeadline: October 18, 2026
- AI Entrepreneurs LabEIT Community AI & Robotics / 28DIGITALOpenCompetitionDeadline: October 21, 2026
- TITAN Outstanding Female Entrepreneur AwardsInternational Awards Associate Inc.OpenCompetitionDeadline: October 21, 2026
- Schwarzwälder Gründergeist Ideas and Business Plan Competition 2026Schwarzwälder Gründergeist / Universität Freiburg, Hochschule Furtwangen, Hochschule OffenburgOpenCompetitionDeadline: October 25, 2026
- UBS Female Founder Award 2026UBSOpenCompetitionDeadline: October 25, 2026
Specific to Germany (14)
- Funkenwerk AwardTechnische Hochschule Augsburg (THA_funkenwerk)OpenCompetitionDeadline: October 11, 2026
- FEMALE FOUNDERS CUP 2026Start-up BWOpenCompetitionDeadline: October 15, 2026
- Schwarzwälder Gründergeist Ideas and Business Plan Competition 2026Schwarzwälder Gründergeist / Universität Freiburg, Hochschule Furtwangen, Hochschule OffenburgOpenCompetitionDeadline: October 25, 2026
- Businessplan-Wettbewerb Berlin-Brandenburg (BPW)Businessplan-Wettbewerb Berlin-Brandenburg (BPW)OpenCompetitionDeadline: November 10, 2026
- Deutscher Gastro-Gründerpreis 2027INTERNORGA, Leaders Club Deutschland and orderbirdOpenCompetitionDeadline: November 23, 2026
- Deutscher Gründerpreis für Schüler:innenDeutscher Gründerpreis für Schüler:innenOpens soonCompetitionDeadline: February 24, 2027
- Gründerpreis Nordwest 2027Beratungsgesellschaft Nordwest GmbHOpenCompetitionDeadline: July 25, 2027
- Bayerische Businessplan WettbewerbeBayStartUPOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- European Startup Prize for MobilityEuropean Startup Prize for MobilityOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Gründerwettbewerb NordhessenRegionalmanagement Nordhessen GmbHOpens soonCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- inspired. Der Ideenwettbewerb. In MV! (Hochschule Neubrandenburg)Hochschule NeubrandenburgOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- KfW Award GründenKfW BankengruppeOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- PropTech Innovation Challenge 2026ULI Europe (Urban Land Institute)OpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- STARTUP TEENS // ChallengeSTARTUP TEENSOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
Also open to founders in Germany (72)
Regional and worldwide calls whose rules include Germany.
- SPIE Startup Challenge at Photonics WestSPIEOpenCompetitionDeadline: October 6, 2026
- Startup Competition Sikorsky Challenge 2026Sikorsky Challenge UkraineOpenCompetitionDeadline: October 10, 2026
- Call Startup AI 4 FutureSearch On Media Group / WMFOpenCompetitionDeadline: October 15, 2026
- Queen's Entrepreneurship CompetitionQueen's Entrepreneurship CompetitionOpenCompetitionDeadline: October 18, 2026
- AI Entrepreneurs LabEIT Community AI & Robotics / 28DIGITALOpenCompetitionDeadline: October 21, 2026
- TITAN Outstanding Female Entrepreneur AwardsInternational Awards Associate Inc.OpenCompetitionDeadline: October 21, 2026
- UBS Female Founder Award 2026UBSOpenCompetitionDeadline: October 25, 2026
- SXSW Pitch 2027SXSW, LLCOpenCompetitionDeadline: November 13, 2026
- Global Sustainability Challenge 2026-27Global Sustainability ChallengeOpenCompetitionDeadline: November 22, 2026
- Start Up Energy Transition Award 2027German Energy Agency (dena)Opens soonCompetitionDeadline: November 29, 2026
- Global Automotive & Mobility Innovation Challenge (GAMIC) - 19th EditionMI Innovation Alliance / GAMICOpenCompetitionDeadline: November 30, 2026
- Hello Tomorrow Global ChallengeHello TomorrowOpenCompetitionDeadline: November 30, 2026
- European Prize for Women InnovatorsEuropean Innovation Council (EIC) & European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)OpenCompetitionDeadline: December 1, 2026
- Transfiere Open Call for Deep Tech StartupsFYCMA / Enterprise Europe Network (EEN)OpenCompetitionDeadline: December 2, 2026
- INCYBER Startup Awards 2027Forum InCyberOpens soonCompetitionDeadline: December 7, 2026
- Prix de la Start-upForum INCYBEROpens soonCompetitionDeadline: December 7, 2026
- Saudi Makes Future Startup CompetitionWMF - We Make Future & Search On Media GroupOpenCompetitionDeadline: December 10, 2026
- South Summit Brazil – Startup CompetitionSouth SummitOpenCompetitionDeadline: December 14, 2026
- Edison AwardsEdison AwardsOpenCompetitionDeadline: December 15, 2026
- Global Business Tech AwardsDon't Panic EventsOpenCompetitionDeadline: December 23, 2026
- FoodTech Startup CompetitionMaistra Hospitality GroupOpenCompetitionDeadline: December 31, 2026
- Diamond ChallengeHorn Entrepreneurship at the University of DelawareOpenCompetitionDeadline: January 14, 2027
- South Summit Madrid Startup CompetitionSouth SummitOpenCompetitionDeadline: January 31, 2027
- Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur CompetitionBlue Ocean Student Entrepreneurs CorporationOpenCompetitionDeadline: February 21, 2027
- LegalTech LaunchPad Startup Pitch CompetitionLegalTechTalkOpens soonCompetitionDeadline: March 27, 2027
- Startup Competition WMF2027WMF (We Make Future)OpenCompetitionDeadline: April 9, 2027
- WMF 2027 Startup CompetitionWMF (We Make Future)OpenCompetitionDeadline: April 9, 2027
- Entrepreneurship World CupGlobal Entrepreneurship NetworkOpenCompetitionDeadline: May 31, 2027
- Best Startup AwardGolden Tree Events LLCOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Cartier Women's InitiativeCartierStatus to confirmCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Creative Business CupCreative Business NetworkOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Egypt Proptech ChallengeInforma MarketsOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) AI:360 Global Startup CompetitionExtreme Tech ChallengeOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Falling Walls VentureFalling Walls FoundationOpens soonCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Founders Live Pitch CompetitionsFounders LiveRollingCompetitionDeadline: Rolling
- Get in the RingGet in the RingStatus to confirmCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Global Startup AwardsGlobal Startup AwardsOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA)Entrepreneurs' OrganizationOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Health Tech 2026 - Online Elevator Pitch Contest47PitchesOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Hult PrizeHult Prize FoundationOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- ICI 2026 Innovation AwardICI MeetingOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- iF SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZEiF DesignOpens soonCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Inclusive Innovators Pitch Competition 2026The First Institute of Canadian Inventors (FICI)OpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Innovation 2026: Online Elevator Pitch Contest47PitchesOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Innovation World Cup SeriesTechprnrsOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Innovation Zero AwardsInnovation ZeroOpens soonCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- LawTech 2026: Online Elevator Pitch Contest47PitchesOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- LegalTech Breakthrough AwardsTech BreakthroughOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Mansfield Bio-Incubator $125K International Pitch CompetitionMansfield Bio-IncubatorOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- MCCH Sustainable Food ChallengeMassChallenge SwitzerlandOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- MedTech Breakthrough AwardsMedTech BreakthroughOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- MedTech World Startup Pitch Competition | Middle EastMedTech WorldOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- MIT Climate & Energy PrizeMITStatus to confirmCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Rice Business Plan CompetitionRice Alliance for Technology and EntrepreneurshipOpens soonCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- SET AwardGerman Energy Agency (dena)Status to confirmCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- She Loves Tech Global Startup CompetitionShe Loves TechStatus to confirmCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- SLINGSHOT 2026Enterprise SingaporeOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Smart Cities Global Startup ChallengeNorth Texas Innovation AllianceOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Snowflake Startup ChallengeSnowflakeOpens soonCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Start-up Village | MOVE 2026TerrapinnOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Startup Awards 2026Golden Tree EventsOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Startup Europe AwardsEuropean Commission & Finnova FoundationOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- sTARTUp PitchingsTARTUp DayOpens soonCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Startup World CupStartup World Cup, Inc. / Pegasus Tech VenturesStatus to confirmCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Stevie Awards for Women in Business - Startup of the Year (Category B11)Stevie Awards, Inc.Status to confirmCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- SuperAI Genesis AI Startup CompetitionSuperAIOpens soonCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- The Elevate PrizeThe Elevate Prize FoundationStatus to confirmCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- The EuropasThe EuropasOpens soonCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- The Pitch by DeelDeelOpens soonCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Wharton India Startup ChallengeWharton India Economic Forum (WIEF)Opens soonCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- WIN AwardsWomen in InnovationOpens soonCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
- Women Startup Competition SeriesWomen Startup CompetitionOpenCompetitionDeadline: No fixed deadline
Questions founders ask
- How many competitions are open right now for founders in Germany?
- 86 competitions are open for founders in Germany right now: 14 named for Germany, and 72 open through regional or worldwide calls.
- Which of these closes next?
- SPIE Startup Challenge at Photonics West closes on October 6, 2026.
- How many have a deadline this month?
- 10 close in October 2026.