For the 4th time, the Gründungsfabrik Rheingau is offering the Gründungspreis and thus creating a stage for creative and forward-looking ideas and business models. This year

We are looking for you with your innovative and unusual ideas and business models. Are you a pupil, student, alumni or employee of a school or university in the Rheingau-Taunus district or people with ideas from the Rheingau-Taunus district who deal with ecological, innovative, social or societal issues in an entrepreneurial way? Then you’ve come to the right place!

The categories: Where do you find yourselves?

Category 1: Best business idea from schools and universities

Prizes will be awarded to the three best entrepreneurial ideas from pupils, students or employees of schools or universities located in the Rheingau-Taunus district as well as participants in programmes of the Gründungsfabrik Rheingau, which have emerged within the last two years in the context of a course, within programmes of the Gründungsfabrik Rheingau, or as a result of some other impulse.

Your idea does not necessarily have to have been implemented yet, but the will to do so should be strongly discernible.

Category 2: Best start-up from the colleges/universities of the district

Prizes will be awarded to the three best entrepreneurial ideas and/or business models that have been implemented within the last two years by students, alumni or employees of the colleges and universities located in the district as well as participants in programmes of the Gründungsfabrik Rheingau.

Your company or business idea may already have been founded, but does not necessarily have to have started its business activities yet.

Category 3: Best start-up from the Rheingau-Taunus District

Prizes will be awarded to the three best entrepreneurial ideas from the population of the Rhine-Taunus district that have been implemented within the last two years. Your company could have been founded, but it does not necessarily have to have started its business activities yet. There must be a clear connection to the region.

The prizes: Kick-start for your start-up

The Start-up Prize will not finance your dream, but it does aim to give your idea and its further development a little kick-start.

The prize money totalling € 9,000 will be awarded by the main sponsors Rheingauer Volksbank and the district as well as the regional partners Wachendorff, Kisico, Jean Müller, Reichwein and Perfect Vison and will be distributed among the three categories.

As a participant in one of the categories, you have the chance to win € 1,500 (1st place), € 1,000 (2nd place) and € 500 (3rd place). In addition, if there is a need for development space, you can use a co-working space in the Gründungsfabrik for three months free of charge and receive a wild card for a programme of the Gründungsfabrik Rheingau.

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Now it’s getting important: These are the dates you should already mark:

Application period: from now until 15.10.2023 – DO NOT MISS IT!

Announcement of the finalists: 1 November 2023

Pitch final and award ceremony: 15.11.2023 in the “Neues Forum” of EBS University

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The jury: These are the people you need to inspire
Your ideas and projects will be scrutinised by a jury of sponsors and representatives of the two universities in a two-stage selection process.

Stage 1: The jury selects the best submissions for the final.
Stage 2: In the final you have to convince not only the jury but also the audience in the “New Forum” at EBS. There will be voting: 50% audience and 50% jury.

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General conditions: A few rules for participation

• Individuals or teams can apply.
• Applications can only be made for one category.
• The categories in detail:
  Category 1: Open to business ideas from pupils, students and staff.
  Category 2: Open to start-ups by students, alumni or employees of the universities located in the RTK.
  Category 3: Open to founders who are native to the Rheingau-Taunus district or come from there.
• The following must be submitted: A description of the start-up idea and a pitch deck of 10 charts with all relevant information.
• At least one team member undertakes to represent the team at the final and award ceremony on 15 November 2023.
• The applicants assure that their submitted business ideas or business models originate exclusively from them and that no rights of third parties are violated.
• The participants agree that their personal data, in particular their names and e-mail addresses, will be stored beyond the duration of the competition.
• The award winners agree that their names and a short description of their ideas will be published during the award ceremony, subsequently on the homepage of the Gründungsfabrik Rheingau and in a press release.
• The award winners agree that photos and videos of the event may be used by the Gründungsfabrik and sponsors after the event.
• Incorrect information provided during registration or in connection with the entry will lead to exclusion.

And now: Send in your application … we are looking forward to an exciting competition!