Design communicates ideas.
The Start-up Design Award is the most exciting opportunity to present your product to a select professional audience.
By having your product design recognized, you gain visibility and reputation. In addition, your start-up gets the chance to make valuable contacts with potential investors, representatives from business and academic institutions, and other start-ups as part of the event. Both digital and physical products are eligible to enter.
At the Start-up Design Award 2023, there's not only media attention but also a prize to be won. Which prize that will be will be announced here soon. Last year, Schmitt + Sohn Aufzüge sponsored the prize money. Aniko Peiffer presented the award on behalf of the company. Many thanks for that.
Get the chance to make your start-up known and, at an early stage of your venture, gain access to important partners from our network of business and research. As part of the award, we also introduce all nominated teams and give you a platform to reach a wider audience.
Start-ups keep developing with every experience they have. This process can be accelerated when you share your experiences with other start-ups. Become part of a start-up community and benefit from possible synergies.
In the world of new ventures, "try and error" is common practice. But some questions call for sound science. Through our contact with the University of Bayreuth, you gain access to various academic disciplines and funding opportunities for your start-up.
Want to win the Start-up Design Award? Then apply now with your product! Your start-up must meet the following requirements:
For detailed information on entering, please refer to the underlying Terms & Conditions. Do you meet all the criteria? Then we look forward to your application by 20 May 2023 via the application sheet.
Taking part in the Start-up Design Award is free of charge for all start-ups.
You'll find all the information on entering under Application.
Here you'll find out whether you've met all the criteria and been nominated for the award.
Your products are put through their paces.
The final will take place as part of the Bayreuth Innovativ trade fair.
A jury of renowned representatives from business and research puts your products through a thorough review.
The winners for the "Digital" and "Physical" categories are then chosen from the best start-up teams. Start-up Design Award winners may then display the winner logo and are honored with a cash prize. The following evaluation criteria are decisive:
What individual benefit and utility does the product provide? Does the product/project solve a societal problem? What societal benefit does the product have?
How novel is the product? Is it a genuine innovation that didn't previously exist in this form?
How appealing are the choice of materials, texture, finish, packaging, and graphic design? How ergonomic is the product?
How sustainable is the product? Were recycled materials used? How high is the energy requirement? How durable is the product?
Does form follow function, or function follow form? Is the product intuitive to use? Is the product safe and accessible?
Can the product's design create additional emotional value? Can the product, beyond its practical use, evoke satisfaction and joy?
The Start-up Design Award is a competition run by the Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the University of Bayreuth.
The institute focuses on the central topics of innovative entrepreneurship. It combines its core competencies in the fields of research, teaching, and transfer. Through its work, the IEI passes on its innovation and founding expertise to the region and to industry. At the heart of the work is building founding and innovation skills, carrying out excellent, internationally visible basic and applied research, and sustainably strengthening the innovation and future capability of established companies as well as new business founders.
With the Start-up Design Award, the institute wants to reach out to young, innovative start-ups and give them a platform.
