The Startup Teens want to use their work to awaken and promote interest in entrepreneurship among studentsAn important component of their work is the Startup Teens Challenge business plan competition. All students between 14 and 19 years of age who attend a school in Germany (vocational school, comprehensive school, Gymnasium, Hauptschule, International School, or Realschule) are eligible to participate. Student companies are also eligible to participate in this business plan competition, as are already established companies. It is important that no shareholder, managing director, or board member is older than 19. Participants in the Bavaria Challenge 2023 can apply for the national Apply for the challenge.
Highest-funded business plan competition for students in Germany
The Startup Teens Challenge is divided into seven categories. Each category offers a prize of €10,000 for the winning team. In recent years, business plans have been submitted on topics including sustainability, environmental and climate protection, education, products and services, innovations, and digital offerings. The jury sensibly summarizes these into seven categories at the beginning of the selection process.
The Challenge's selection process is divided into two stages: In the first stage, the jury makes a preliminary selection from all submitted business plans. Subsequently, the submissions are evaluated based on three criteria: feasibility, degree of innovation, and completeness of the business plan. The best business plans advance to an online vote. The top three winners in each of the seven categories, determined through the online vote, are then invited to the Startup Teens Final. There, after a pitch presentation, a jury selects the winners in each category. The evaluation criteria are again feasibility, degree of innovation, and completeness of the business plan. The winners receive €10,000 per team and the Startup Teens Award.
