BPW

What BPW does

BPW (Businessplan-Wettbewerb Berlin-Brandenburg), operating since 1996, is Germany's largest regional startup initiative and a non-commercial, publicly funded program. It is jointly organized by Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) and Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg (ILB), with project operations handled by IBB Business Team GmbH. The program serves pre-founding and early-stage founders (companies no older than one year if already registered, with exceptions for succession and new product development) who plan to start a business in the Berlin-Brandenburg region. Its operating scope is strictly geographic, limited to the two German states of Berlin and Brandenburg.

The offering is structured around three pillars: the BPW Akademie (seminars, workshops, and forums), the BPW Wettbewerb (a three-phase competition with two submission tracks — BPW Plan for traditional business plans and BPW Canvas for Business Model Canvas — offering over 50,000 EUR in total prize money plus audience prizes), and the BPW Netzwerk (an expert and partner network including banks, IHKs, KfW, Siemens, WISTA, and 25+ university partners). Supporting features include the My BPW participant portal for submissions and event booking, the Mediathek resource library, the Marktplatz co-founder matching tool, and the BPW Handbuch annual guide. The underlying technology is a standard web platform with online submission, juror evaluation, and participant dashboards; no proprietary technology stack is disclosed.

The business model is entirely publicly funded. Revenue (in the form of operating budget) comes from co-financing by the European Social Fund (ESF), the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises, and the Brandenburg Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy, Climate Action and Europe, supplemented by financial and in-kind contributions from premium partners and sponsors. All services are free to participants; no commercial revenue is generated. Current cycle engagement includes 933 registered participants, 557 submitted concepts, and 120 events delivered annually. The program reaches founders through a content-rich website, social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), email newsletters, a WhatsApp channel, university partnerships, and high-visibility in-person events such as the deGUT kick-off and SummerBreezeConnect networking evening.

Name

BPW

Legal name

IBB Business Team GmbH

Website

https://b-p-w.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BPW (Businessplan-Wettbewerb Berlin-Brandenburg), founded 1996, is Germany's largest regional startup initiative, jointly organized by IBB and ILB. It delivers free seminars, workshops, and a three-phase business plan competition to pre-founding and early-stage founders in Berlin and Brandenburg, funded by ESF and state governments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Support and Entrepreneurship Development Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

akta.pro primary industry

Results-Based Financing (RBF) & Performance-Based Grants (BPADAOAF)

Keywords

• Startup support program
• Business plan competition
• Entrepreneurship education
• Founder mentoring services
• Regional startup initiative

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding (ESF + State Government): BPW is entirely publicly funded. The initiative is co-financed by the European Social Fund (ESF) and supported by the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises and the Brandenburg Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy, Climate Action and Europe. No commercial revenue is generated from participants.
2. Sponsor Contributions: Premium partners and partners (financial institutions, corporations, IHKs) provide financial and in-kind support enabling the program's free delivery. Sponsors also contribute expertise through jury participation and event co-organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BPW is a free, publicly funded regional startup initiative that helps aspiring founders in Berlin and Brandenburg develop, evaluate, and refine their business ideas. It delivers a three-phase business plan competition with over 50,000 EUR in prize money, an Akademie of seminars and workshops covering business planning and entrepreneurship, and a Netzwerk of expert jurors, sponsors, and partner organizations. All services are free of charge to participants and funded through the European Social Fund, the Berlin and Brandenburg state governments, and premium sponsors.

Product overview

BPW (Businessplan-Wettbewerb Berlin-Brandenburg) is a regional startup initiative organized jointly by Investitionsbank Berlin and Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg. The platform offers a unified three-pillar offering: the BPW Akademie for educational seminars and workshops, the BPW Wettbewerb (Competition) with both BPW Plan and BPW Canvas submission methods across three phases, and the BPW Netzwerk connecting founders with experts and mentors. Supporting features include the My BPW Portal for participant management, the Mediathek for educational resources, the Marktplatz for co-founder matching, and the BPW Handbuch as an annual digital guide. The platform also maintains a WhatsApp channel for event notifications. All services are provided free of charge to founders in Berlin and Brandenburg.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BPW Akademie Free educational program offering seminars, workshops, and forums where founders in Berlin and Brandenburg can expand their knowledge about business planning, entrepreneurship, and related topics such as Female Entrepreneurship, pitch training, and negotiation management.
• BPW Wettbewerb (Business Plan Competition) Three-phase business plan competition running annually from October to July, providing professional jury feedback at each phase and prize money totaling more than 50,000 EUR (10,000 EUR Phase 1, 15,000 EUR Phase 2, 20,000 EUR Phase 3, plus audience prizes of 1,000, 2,000, and 3,000 EUR).
• BPW Netzwerk (Expert Network) Expert network connecting BPW participants with advisors, jurors, sponsors, IHKs, public banks, corporations, and other entrepreneurs for mentorship and business development. Includes a co-founder marketplace (BPW Marktplatz).

Quantifiable outcome

• 933 participants and 557 business concepts supported in the current program cycle
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, premium and partner.

• Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBB is one of two organizing banks (alongside ILB) of the BPW initiative. As Berlin's development bank, IBB provides program management, staff, and access to its broader startup ecosystem including IBB Ventures. IBB also serves as the publisher responsible for BPW content.
• Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg (ILB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerILB is the second organizing bank of the BPW, providing program management for Brandenburg. ILB offers free consulting, qualification programs, and financial support for founders in Brandenburg. ILB regional advisors cover five Brandenburg regions.
• Berliner SparkassepremiumGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium partner providing financial support, jury expertise, and participation in networking events. Berliner Sparkasse is Berlin's largest savings bank.
• Berliner VolksbankpremiumGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium partner providing financial support and expert participation in BPW jury and networking activities.
• BürgschaftsBank BerlinpremiumGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium partner offering guarantees and financing support for startups, contributing to BPW jury and advisory activities.
• KfW / GründerplattformpremiumGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium partner providing access to KfW's startup platform and federal funding programs for BPW participants.
• SiemenspremiumGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium partner contributing industry expertise, jury participation, and networking opportunities for BPW participants.
• IHK Berlin, IHK Cottbus, IHK Ostbrandenburg, IHK PotsdampremiumGTM or Marketing PartnerFour regional chambers of commerce serving as premium partners, contributing advisory expertise, jury participation, and networking across Berlin-Brandenburg.
• existpremiumGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium partner providing access to EXIST startup funding program from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs.
• WISTA ManagementpremiumGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium partner operating the Adlershof science and technology campus, contributing expertise and jury participation for BPW.
• Mittelbrandenburgische SparkassepremiumGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium partner providing financial expertise and jury/networking contributions for Brandenburg-based founders.
• Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und TechnologiepartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting BPW with access to Berlin's economic development network and business location services.
• IBB Business Team GmbHpartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBB subsidiary responsible for the BPW project management. Provides operational staff including project coordinators for Berlin and Brandenburg.
• Deutsche BankpartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner providing banking expertise, jury participation, and networking support for BPW participants.
• WFBB (Wirtschaftsförderung Land Brandenburg GmbH)partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerWFBB serves as the central point of contact for investors, established companies, and innovative startups in Brandenburg. Provides Startup Service, Investment Service, Location Service, Network Buildup, Internationalization support, Fachkräfte Service, and Business Angels connections for BPW participants.
• Senatsverwaltung für Wirtschaft, Energie und Betriebe Berlin (Franziska Giffey)coreOthersThe Berlin Senate Department, led by Senator Franziska Giffey, has assumed patronage of the BPW. Supports the initiative and recognizes Berlin as Germany's startup capital with ~40,000 new companies registered annually.
• Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Energie, Klimaschutz und Europa des Landes BrandenburgcoreOthersThe Brandenburg Ministry has assumed patronage of BPW. Supports innovation and sustainable business in the state, encouraging founders to pursue ideas with passion and build networks.
• Europäischer Sozialfonds (ESF) / European Social FundcoreOthersThe European Social Fund co-finances the BPW project, providing EU-level funding support for the initiative's operations in Brandenburg.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• MassChallenge: Global non-profit startup accelerator with multi-phase competition model and zero-equity support. Conceptually comparable to BPW in providing staged competition, mentorship, and prize/grant awards to early-stage founders.
• High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF): Germany's leading seed-stage public-private VC fund. Comparable in being a publicly-backed funding mechanism for German tech founders, though operating nationally and providing capital rather than business-plan competitions.

Direct peers

• Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie: Berlin's economic development agency and a BPW partner organization. Comparable in supporting Berlin founders/companies with publicly-funded programs and ecosystem services.
• WFBB (Wirtschaftsförderung Brandenburg): Brandenburg's economic development agency and BPW partner. Provides startup services, investment support, and network access to Brandenburg founders — directly comparable to BPW's regional support mission.
• Gründerplattform (KfW): KfW's federal startup platform for founders seeking information, financing, and programs. BPW lists KfW as a premium partner; both serve the same founder audience with free publicly-funded support across Germany.
• STARTUP AUTOBAHN: European startup acceleration platform with corporate and public partners. Comparable in providing free structured programs connecting founders with corporate sponsors, similar to BPW's premium-partner model.
• IBB Ventures: VC arm of BPW's parent organization IBB, managing 100M+ EUR VC funds and having invested in 295+ Berlin companies. Closely linked ecosystem player offering follow-on capital to BPW alumni.
• Munich Business Plan Competition (MBPW): Comparable regional business plan competition in Bavaria. Both run multi-phase competitions offering feedback, prize money, and mentorship to regional founders as publicly supported programs.
• EXIST (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs): Federal German startup support program that BPW lists as a premium partner. Both offer free support to founders through competitions/grants and are publicly funded; EXIST operates at federal level while BPW operates regionally.

Regional players

• Hamburg Startups: Regional startup community and support platform for Hamburg founders. Comparable to BPW in serving a single German metro region's founders with events, networking, and resources.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCe-BNarvFD7VPJ4fsMRMRRQ
• Facebookde-de.facebook.com/businessplanwettbewerb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bpwberlinbrandenburg
• Instagraminstagram.com/wirgruenden/?hl=de

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BPW