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INNOVA STARTUP COMPETITION SERIES

BerliN
2025

BERLIN SCHLOSSPLATZ 1
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The yearly INNOVA Europe Competition is a premier pan-European startup challenge for student and alumni ventures committed to responsible entrepreneurship. Each year, top teams from our member institutions compete through national selection rounds, culminating in the INNOVA Grand Final, our flagship event showcasing Europe’s most impactful early-stage ventures.

YOUNG HOPES CATEGORY

The idea stage is designed for visionary entrepreneurs in the early conceptual phase. Perfect for creators and innovators with groundbreaking ideas or emerging technologies, this category invites proposals that define the core concept, explore its potential impact, assess feasibility, and outline a strategic roadmap for bringing it 
to life. 

RISING STARS CATEGORY

The startup stage is for ventures that have moved beyond the idea phase and developed a functional prototype or an early-stage product or service. Submissions should showcase core features, user experience, initial feedback, and potential for scalability. 

Timeline

    The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Eleanor Roosevelt.

    Berlin 2025

    SEP 5th

    Attend the
    Grand Final

    Celebrate with us and connect to founders and investors from all 
across Europe – no entry fee

    GRAND FINAL
    TIMETABLE

    • 1:30pm

      Arrival & Registration

    • 2:00pm

      Welcome to Berlin & ESMT
      Franziska Giffey, Berlin State Senator for Economy, Energy and Enterprise

    • 2:30pm

      Pitch time! – YOUNG HOPES category
      (3 minutes pitch + 3 minutes jury Q&A)

    • 3:30pm

      Coffee break

    • 3:45pm

      Exclusive Preview INNOVA European Barometer
      Jonathan Moules, Financial Times & Juliette Magnient, Impact Startup Program Manager, EDHEC Entrepreneurs

    • 4:15pm

      Pitch time! - RISING STARS category
      (3 minutes pitch + 3 minutes jury Q&A)

    • 5:15pm

      Keynotes
      Matthias Treutwein, Co-Founder & Chairman at enpact e.V.
      Christoph Sollich, The Pitch Doctor

    • 5:35pm

      Awards ceremony

    • 5:50pm

      Final words

    • 6:00pm

      Networking & Drinks

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    Person holding a framed award certificate that reads "Winner 2024 INNOVA EUROPE" with a person wearing a watch and a light blue shirt.
    A woman in a blue blazer speaking into a microphone at a presentation or conference, with a large screen behind her displaying the text 'KEYNOTE' and her image.
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    Two young men smiling and holding microphones at an indoor event, with one man in a dark shirt and the other in a white t-shirt and dark blazer, standing in front of an audience.
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    Winning INNOVA Europe was a great challenge for us and it was an achievement of months of work. It was a great recognition as it was a fierce and serious competition among the best innovation centres in Europe.

    Aziz Kaouech, Co-Founder & CEO of DOODA, 2023 INNOVA Winner

    It was super impressive to see the impact that all the startups that joined will have on society and the future of our generations. The INNOVA Challenge was really motivating and inspiring.

    Hendrik Stotz, INNOVA Young Hopes Winner 2024, from ESMT Berlin

    I feel responsible, I feel proud, and I feel privileged to hold this prize and implement this in my project.

    Mariia Alipatova, CEO Tova Industries, INNOVA Rising Stars Winner 2024, from Kyiv Schools of Economics

    This whole journey ending at INNOVA has shown me how relatively easy it is to acquire all the skills necessary to get to a point where you have the confidence to be able to go out and say “I’m gonna start my company”.

    Hendrik Stotz, INNOVA Young Hopes Winner 2024, from ESMT Berlin

    INNOVA Europe stands as the ultimate gateway for those who dare to excel, scale, and blaze the way forward.

    Become
    a part of
    innova

    The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Eleanor Roosevelt.

    Join the
    Coalition

    As a startup, as a student, as a university, as a sponsor, as a fan

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    • The INNOVA Europe competition is open to students and alumni from our partner universities. Applicants can participate in one of two categories:

      a) Idea Stage – For visionary entrepreneurs in the early conceptual phase. Ideal for those with innovative ideas or emerging technologies who want to:

      • Present a clear vision for their idea

      • Outline a problem-solving approach

      • Define a unique value proposition

      • Explore potential impact, feasibility, and a strategic roadmap for development

      b) MVP Stage (Minimum Viable Product) – For startups that have moved beyond the idea phase and developed a functional prototype or early-stage product/service. Proposals should:

      • Showcase progress made so far

      • Share lessons learned

      • Provide a roadmap for further development

      • Demonstrate product viability and market readiness

    • We focus on innovations that contribute to three core SDG categories:

      Healthy Living

      • UN SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

      Environmental Transition

      • UN SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

      • UN SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

      • UN SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

      • UN SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

      • UN SDG 13: Climate Action

      • UN SDG 14: Life Below Water

      • UN SDG 15: Life on Land

      Empowerment & Inclusion

      • UN SDG 1: No Poverty

      • UN SDG 4: Quality Education

      • UN SDG 5: Gender Equality

      • UN SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

      • UN SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

    • The competition runs annually. Once applications open, participants apply for the national stage hosted by their university.

      If selected, you advance to the grand finale, which takes place at a different partner institution each year:

      • 2023 – Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy

      • 2024 – EDHEC Business School, Paris, France

      • 2025 – ESMT Berlin, Germany

    • Attendance at the INNOVA Europe event is completely free.

    • Yes! If you can’t join us in person at ESMT Berlin, you can still enjoy the startup pitches and keynote speakers via our official livestream.

      Click here to register for the livestream