Innovation is the driving force behind the most successful startups, and now it's time to showcase your ingenuity at the HTW Startup Challenge 2025! The HTW Startup Challenge is the premier event for entrepreneurs looking to elevate their startups. Apply for the opportunity to participate in a pitch event where you can win the following prizes from our total prize pool of €10,000:

• HTW Startup Prize – €5,000, sponsored by Berliner Sparkasse
• Fashion Prize – €3,000, with prospects for the upcoming “EXIST in Fashion” incubator in September
• Audience Prize – €2,000

If this sounds exciting to you, apply now until May 18th. To apply, you only need a pitch deck of about 12 slides, which you can upload via a form on this website (the form will be available from May 5 to May 18). When applying, you must choose between two tracks: the Main Track or the Fashion Track.

Here are some important eligibility requirements:

• You must be based in Berlin or Brandenburg.
• You may not have incorporated your startup yet.

After the application process, the HTW team will invite the top applicants to an online pitch event, where they will present their ideas to a jury. These online events will be held between June 2 and June 6. The best teams will then be invited to the main event on June 17, where the winners of the HTW Startup Prize and Fashion Prize will be announced. Additionally, those who make it to the main event will have the chance to compete for the Audience Prize.