Hessischer Gründerpreis
Hessischer Gründerpreis is a non-monetary annual award competition, founded in 2003 and operated by KIZ SINNOVA gGmbH in Offenbach am Main, that recognizes founders, business successors, social-impact ventures, and university startups across Hesse, Germany. It is funded by corporate sponsors and EFRE grants rather than participant fees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersOffenbach, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Hessischer Gründerpreis does
Hessischer Gründerpreis (HGP) is a non-monetary annual award competition recognizing founders, business successors, socially impactful ventures, and university spinouts across the German state of Hesse. Founded in 2003 and organized by the non-profit KIZ SINNOVA gGmbH in Offenbach am Main, HGP runs a fixed annual funnel of 48 semi-finalists narrowed to 12 finalists and ultimately 4 category winners (Innovative Geschäftsidee, Zukunftsfähige Nachfolge, Gesellschaftliche Wirkung, Gründung aus der Hochschule). Participation is free; the prize consists of visibility, networking access, pitch training (delivered with KPMG), corporate video production, online gallery presence, and eligibility for nomination to the national Deutscher Gründerpreis — not cash.
The underlying platform is a content-and-events operation rather than a software product: a public website hosting the application system and semi-finalist gallery, a YouTube-first media channel used for first announcements and live event streaming, social media, and an email newsletter. The annual cycle is supported by an in-person roadshow circuit across 15 Hessian founding regions, semi-final pitching events (2026 hosted at Sheraton Hotel Offenbach), and a gala evening (2026 in Hofheim am Taunus) culminating in the final gala in Offenbach am Main.
HGP does not generate revenue from participants. Operating funding comes from corporate sponsors (Möglichmacher) including Sparkasse Offenbach, Sparkassen Finanzgruppe Hessen-Thüringen, KPMG Deutschland, SAMSON AG, HESSENMETALL, Bürgschaftsbank Hessen, Hochschule Fresenius, Techniker Krankenkasse, Handelsverband Hessen, and the Bundesagentur für Arbeit Hessen, supplemented by regional government support and European Regional Development Fund (EFRE) grants. Media reach is delivered through partnerships with hr Inforadio, Frankfurter Rundschau, and STATION Frankfurt Rhein Main. Headcount is reported in the 51–100 range; financial figures are not publicly disclosed.
Hessischer Gründerpreis firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hessischer Gründerpreis
- Legal name
- KIZ SINNOVA gGmbH
- Website
- https://hessischer-gruenderpreis.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Hessischer Gründerpreis is a non-monetary annual award competition, founded in 2003 and operated by KIZ SINNOVA gGmbH in Offenbach am Main, that recognizes founders, business successors, social-impact ventures, and university startups across Hesse, Germany. It is funded by corporate sponsors and EFRE grants rather than participant fees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hessischer Gründerpreis industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Entrepreneurship Awards
- NAICS
- Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (813920), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Meet & Invitational Organizers (MPAKADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Math Competitions & Tournament Organizers (EDAMAEAH), Industry-Specific B2B Trade Show Organizers (THAHABAB)
Keywords
Where Hessischer Gründerpreis is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Offenbach
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hessischer Gründerpreis business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Award Competition (Free Participation): The Hessischer Gründerpreis is a non-monetary award competition. Participation is free of charge. The prize consists of visibility, networking opportunities, professional support (pitch training, corporate video production), media exposure in print/radio/TV, and online gallery presence rather than monetary rewards.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Free Competition Entry |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Hessischer Gründerpreis product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Hessischer Gründerpreis is a non-monetary annual award competition recognizing founders, business successors, and university startups in the German state of Hessen across four categories: Innovative Business Idea, Sustainable Succession, Societal Impact, and University Startup. Participation is free; winners and finalists receive pitch training, corporate video production, online gallery presence, print/radio/TV media exposure, networking access, gala event attendance, and potential nomination for the Deutscher Gründerpreis.
Product overview
Hessischer Gründerpreis is a business award competition platform that recognizes and promotes startups and business successors in the German state of Hessen. The core offering is the annual competition conducted across four categories: Innovative Business Idea, Societal Impact, Sustainable Succession, and University Startup. The platform provides participating companies with visibility, networking opportunities, pitch training, media exposure, corporate video production, and an online exhibition gallery. The competition culminates in a gala event in Offenbach am Main. There is no monetary prize; the value proposition centers on promotional and networking benefits for founders and successors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hessischer Gründerpreis Annual Award Competition
- Pitch Training
Companies that use Hessischer Gründerpreis
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Hessischer Gründerpreis technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Hessischer Gründerpreis partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- Sheraton Hotel OffenbachmajorHost venue for semi-final events (Halbfinale) of Hessischer Gründerpreis 2026. Provides exclusive access for finalists.
- WOA WerbeagenturmajorMajor supporter (Möglichmacher) of the Hessischer Gründerpreis 2026. Provides creative and marketing services; credited as the agency that built the website.
- KIZ SINNOVA gGmbHcoreProject organizer of the Hessischer Gründerpreis. KIZ SINNOVA gGmbH operates the award program and manages all aspects of the competition. Contact: [email protected], 069 667796-100.
- hr InforadiomajorMedia partner for Hessischer Gründerpreis 2026. Provides radio coverage and media exposure for the competition and its participants.
- Frankfurter RundschaumajorMedia partner for Hessischer Gründerpreis 2026. Provides print media coverage and visibility for the competition.
- STATION Frankfurt Rhein MainmajorMedia partner for Hessischer Gründerpreis 2026. Provides regional media coverage.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves2 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Hessischer Gründerpreis competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Start-up BW (Landesagentur für Start-ups Baden-Württemberg): State-level startup platform for Baden-Württemberg running competitions and ecosystem programs. Direct regional peer to HGP in a different Bundesland, mirroring the founder-competition-and-ecosystem model.
- BayStartUP: Bavarian startup network running founder pitch competitions and investor matchmaking. Functions as the direct regional-state equivalent in Bavaria, structurally analogous to HGP's role for Hessen.
- next media (Hamburg) Elevator Pitch: Hamburg-based regional pitch competition for founders and entrepreneurs. Operates in a different German state but follows the same regional-competition model that HGP exemplifies for Hessen.
Broad incumbents
- Gründerwettbewerb – Digitale Innovationen (BMWK): Federal two-stage founder competition for digital/innovative business ideas run by the BMWK. Comparable two-stage pitch format (concepts → finalists) and addresses the same Innovative-Geschäftsidee category that HGP covers.
- Bundesverband Deutsche Startups (Startupverband): Federal industry association representing German startups and organizing ecosystem events. Overlaps with HGP's role in convening founders and providing visibility, but operates nationally and as an advocacy body.
- Deutscher Gründerpreis: The national-level founder award in Germany, organized by ZDF, stern, Sparkassen, and Porsche. HGP winners are eligible for nomination by HGP's Projektleiterin, making it the direct upstream feeder into this larger national competition and the most structurally comparable peer.
- EXIST (BMWK Founder Program): Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs program supporting university spinouts and academic founders with funding and coaching. Strongly comparable on the 'Gründung aus der Hochschule' category that HGP specifically recognizes.
- KfW Award Gründen: Annual founder award run by KfW Bankengruppe, offering monetary prizes to first-time founders across Germany. Direct competitor for founder mindshare, with a contrasting monetary-prize model that differentiates it from HGP's non-monetary offering.
Emerging players
- STARTUP AUTOBAHN (Plug and Play): Corporate-backed German startup platform connecting founders with industry partners like Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and BASF. Functions as a higher-end pitch-and-partnership program comparable to HGP's sponsor-driven model, though oriented to enterprise partnerships.
Direct peers
- hessenStartup (HA Hessen Agentur): Public Hesse-state startup portal that promotes the Hessian founder ecosystem, runs events, and connects founders to resources. The closest in-region, in-mission peer to HGP, covering overlapping founder segments in the same geography.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hessischer Gründerpreis social profiles
Digital presenceHessischer Gründerpreis financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hessischer Gründerpreis leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Hessischer Gründerpreis funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hessischer Gründerpreis M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hessischer Gründerpreis
What does Hessischer Gründerpreis do?
The Hessischer Gründerpreis is a non-monetary annual award competition recognizing founders, business successors, and university startups in the German state of Hessen across four categories: Innovative Business Idea, Sustainable Succession, Societal Impact, and University Startup. Participation is free; winners and finalists receive pitch training, corporate video production, online gallery presence, print/radio/TV media exposure, networking access, gala event attendance, and potential nomination for the Deutscher Gründerpreis.
Is Hessischer Gründerpreis a public or private company?
Hessischer Gründerpreis is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Hessischer Gründerpreis founded?
Hessischer Gründerpreis was founded in 2003. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Hessischer Gründerpreis based?
Hessischer Gründerpreis is headquartered in Offenbach, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Hessischer Gründerpreis make money?
One revenue line is on record: award Competition (Free Participation).
Who are Hessischer Gründerpreis's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Start-up BW (Landesagentur für Start-ups Baden-Württemberg), BayStartUP and next media (Hamburg) Elevator Pitch. Broad incumbents are Gründerwettbewerb – Digitale Innovationen (BMWK), Bundesverband Deutsche Startups (Startupverband), Deutscher Gründerpreis, EXIST (BMWK Founder Program) and KfW Award Gründen. STARTUP AUTOBAHN (Plug and Play) is listed as an emerging player. hessenStartup (HA Hessen Agentur) is listed as a direct peer.
Does Hessischer Gründerpreis have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hessischer Gründerpreis.
What industry is Hessischer Gründerpreis in?
Hessischer Gründerpreis's product category is Entrepreneurship Awards. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKADAC, Meet & Invitational Organizers, with a secondary code of EDAMAEAH, Math Competitions & Tournament Organizers. Its NAICS code is 813910 and its SIC code is 8600.