20 years of the Startup-Impuls start-up competition - apply now! More than 100,000 euros for Hannover's business ideas

Germany is in the midst of an energy crisis, war is raging in Europe and climate change can be felt everywhere:In the anniversary year of Startup-Impuls, it is particularly important to think boldly and be innovative. Which clever minds inspire us and show us solutions for the future? The start-up competition organized by Hanover's business development agency hannoverimpuls and Sparkasse Hannover has been proving for 20 years now that it is an important building block on the path from business idea to start-up - employers such as t3n, Graphmasters or the children's dental practice Löwenzahnarzt once presented their ideas here for the first time.

From now until January 8, 2023, teams who want to conquer the market with their business idea can once again apply for the coveted nominations and prizes worth more than 100,000 euros. Participation is free of charge and open to founders from all sectors. The only condition: The idea must be realized in the Hannover Region. "Our experience from 20 years of the start-up competition shows that Startup-Impuls often gives potential entrepreneurs the decisive push they need to make their business model marketable and actually found a company," says Doris Petersen, Managing Director of hannoverimpuls, describing the competition's recipe for success. This is because Startup-Impuls, one of the most highly endowed regional competitions in Germany, is about more than just attractive prize money. Founders benefit from the know-how of experienced consultants and experts: Information events, networking, coaching and feedback. Participation is therefore worthwhile - and, as practice shows, start-ups that emerge from Startup-Impuls are on average more successful than others thanks to the accompanying network of experts.

More than 2,300 applications have been supported over the past 20 years, 250 concepts have been nominated over the years - and further funding and investments such as an EXIST start-up grant have also been awarded to numerous start-ups as a result of the competition: "The results of our start-up competition on its 20th anniversary are outstanding. The numerous participants in the competition in recent years also underline the great benefits - a beacon for our business location," says Marina Barth, Deputy CEO of Sparkasse Hannover, which has been organizing the competition together with the business development agency for 20 years.

The 20th Startup-Impuls competition once again offers prize money of more than 100,000 euros in three categories, advice and coaching, expert feedback, image clips - and the publicity that is so important for success! The PreisTeam-Startprize is worth 25,000 euros for innovative ideas from team start-ups that were implemented in the Hannover Region in 2022 or are to be implemented in the future. The best team is selected from four nominated applications that have pitched their idea to the jury in person.

The"Solo-Start"award is aimed at anyone who is taking off on their own with their business idea. The "Best Female Founder" and the "Best Male Founder" are honored. The two best applications are put forward to the jury as nominees. The winner will receive prize money of 25,000 euros! The"University Start-up"prize supported by Gehrke Econ is open to all ideas from a scientific or research context. It is primarily aimed at start-up projects at an early idea stage. We are looking for projects and (research) results that have a particularly high potential for founding a company. The three nominees pitch their idea to a jury. The 1st place winner will receive prize money of 25,000 euros. In addition, they will receive individual support from the prize sponsor Gehrke Econ to realize the start-up and further develop the business idea.

The winners of each of the three prize categories will receive a six-month resident membership of the Hafven coworking and makerspace. The other nominees in the three award categories will receive a community membership at Hafven for six months.

For the third Painter, Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH (HMTG) is awarding a specialmarketingprize worth 5,000 euros. A particularly attractive product that is already on the market or is about to enter the market will be sought from all applications. The HMTG will provide a customized marketing package worth 5,000 euros as the prize.

The award ceremony will take place on March 22, 2023.
Further information and registration:www.startup-impuls.de