The three most popular start-ups in a region will then be pitted against each other during a live event to be streamed nationwide on June 19, 2020. The contestants will present their business ideas to a jury of prominent experts, who will then select Germany's "Digital Champion" and present the prizes. The event highlights the importance of the national start-up scene and paves the way for projects that boost Germany as a start-up location and raise the visibility of German start-ups at home and abroad. Dorothee Bär, Minister of State for Digital Affairs, is the patron of the event.
Smart innovations and modern digital ideas will take centre stage during the upcoming "Startup-Champs@Digitaltag" or digital day to be held all over Germany on June 19, 2020. Organized by the four largest start-up hotspots Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne and Munich, fledgling digital companies can now submit their ideas for the contest. Start-ups face many challenges to their existence in the wake of the corona crisis and are coming up with digital innovations that benefit all economic sectors and people's private lives. Voting is public and will be held online meaning anyone can take part and gain insight into the world of start-ups. Voters can cast only one vote per terminal.
Live, nationwide event
“Established companies in Hamburg have always had close links to start-ups. Airbus, Beiersdorf, Philips and Otto count among the most active firms in the city. Events like the Online Marketing Rockstars festival are an ideal platform for networking. The city on the Elbe offers start-ups many opportunities to connect with potential customers, investors and partners," said Dr. Rolf Strittmatter, Managing Director of Hamburg Invest. Stefan Haßdenteufel, Managing Director of DS Invest, and a member of the jury, added: "As a north German company, the support of the Hamburg start-up scene is very close to our hearts. However, we invest all over Germany and welcome the fact that the German start-up hotspots are joining forces and using their synergies. The challenges for start-ups are currently steep and many new opportunities are opening up at the same time. Germany needs innovation now more than ever - and innovation needs a stage. I am really looking forward to many exciting pitches on Digital Day 2020."
The musician, Bo, will represent Hamburg at the digital pitch, and remarked: "Online. Offline. Anything to do with people interests me as a philanthropist. For us as an agency, the online sector has become extremely important after the collapse of the live business, and thus the focus of our activities."
June 14, 2020 - deadline for applications
Interested founders with a B2C/B2B2C connection can submit their ideas in videos to the website www.digital-pitch.de after the application phase began on May 29. Voters can cast their votes from June 3, 2020 online. The finalists will compete against each other live on June 19, 2020. The prizes are on both regional and national level and include media packages, tickets to trade fairs and pop-up boxes.
sb/kk/pb
Sources and further information
Startup-Unit Hamburg
The Startup-Unit Hamburg is the main point of contact for knowledge and technology orientated start-ups in Hamburg and makes the start-up ecosystem transparent. It provides all kinds of information about start-ups and Hamburg and facilitates contacts through its vast network. More information can be found on www.hamburg-invest.com/startup-unit.