iL‒CURRENT
September 16, 2024
Innovative and courageous
Start‒ups wanted
The Heidelberg Start-up Award is entering its second edition. Following last year's successful premiere, companies are once again invited to apply for the prestigious award, presented by the City of Heidelberg. The application deadline is set for September 30th at 11:59 PM. InnovationLab wholeheartedly supports this initiative and is represented by Dr. Tanja Benedict as a jury member in the innovation category.
Tanja Benedict: 'We want to support start-ups'
'For us, this is a matter of course,' states Tanja Benedict, Head of Legal Services & IP Management at iL, 'as we, as a technology transfer platform, have long been involved with various start-ups. At InnovationLab, we aim to foster these ventures and advise them on securing financial funding. This is of fundamental importance, particularly during the initial start-up phase.'
The Heidelberg Start-up Award aims to recognize companies that distinguish themselves through innovation or courage during their founding. Three prerequisites must be met: applicants' companies must have been founded after January 1, 2019; their business activities must constitute their primary occupation; and Heidelberg must be designated as their company headquarters.
The Start-up Award features two categories: 'Innovation' and 'Courage'. The first-place company in each category receives a prize of 10,000 Euros. While the 'Innovation' category is open to technology- and knowledge-based companies that have translated scientific and technological insights into entrepreneurship, the 'Courage' category recognizes companies that have deviated from established paths, overcome adversities, embraced difficult challenges, persevered during their founding, or successfully ventured into new territory.
Two Application Rounds and Separate Expert Jury
Appealing Stage Setting: On November 15th, the Heidelberg Start-up Award will be presented for the second time since 2023 at Heidelberg's Altes Hallenbad. Companies that distinguish themselves through innovation and courage during their founding will be honored. Image: City of Heidelberg/Office for Economic Development and Science.
Following the submission of documents, the winners will be determined in two application rounds. A separate expert jury for the two categories will decide, based on the online applications submitted, who advances to the second round, gets to present in a pitch before the jury, and enters the six-member final round.
The festive award ceremony will take place on November 15th at the Altes Hallenbad. At last year's premiere, the start-ups Onuava and Codefy won the competition. More than 50 companies applied for the Start-up Award in 2023.
More information about the Heidelberg Start-up Award can be found on the City of Heidelberg's website at https://www.heidelberg.de/HD/Arbeiten+in+Heidelberg/heidelberger+gruendungspreis.html
Joachim Klaehn
Head of Communications
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