Nine semi-finalists are selected for the German Gastro Founder Award based on their degree of innovation, profitability and the founder's personality. The public decides on the tenth semi-finalist in a social media vote. The top 10 then pitch their ideas to a jury. Five finalists will then compete for the main prize during Internorga 2026. Non-cash prizes, a 40-hour consultation with the Leaders Club and a POS system from Orderbird will also be presented. The SON event and meeting space for content creators with catering, and the Mezzaluna restaurant , which specialises in Neapolitan pizzas, were among the Hamburg-based finalists in 2024. The Gastro Founder's Award is presented by the Leaders Club Germany, the POS system manufacturer Orderbird and Internorga.
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Prizes to be presented during Internorga 2026 - first prize of €10,000
Founders from Germany, Austria and Switzerland now have until the deadline of December 8, 2025 to apply for the German Gastro Founder Award. Any creative catering ideas devised since April 2024 and that are due to be completed by the end of December 2026 will be honoured. Contestants can win €10,000 in prize money which will be presented during Internorga (March 13 - 17, 2026) trade fair for the catering and hotel industry in Hamburg.
Finalists at Internorga
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