The "Pitch in the Trades": Apply now

The "Future of Crafts" congress in March 2026 will once again feature a "Pitch in Crafts." The best ideas for tomorrow are being sought. Applications are now being accepted.

This article is part of the special topic Interesting competitions for craftsmen

Will you get a deal or not? That's the exciting question in the pitch on "Shark Tank." The "Pitch in the Trades" competition also revolves around convincing a top-class jury. Six finalists from the skilled trades have the chance to participate in the March 4, 2026 live on stage by "Future Crafts" to compete against each other in Munich. The search is on for the best and most forward-looking ideas in the skilled trades. There will be an audience award and a jury award – each worth €5.000. Accommodation in Munich is included for the finalists.

The focus in 2026 will be on these topics:

✓ Corporate management: Succession, handover, business start-up

✓ Staff: Securing skilled workers and attracting talent

✓ AI in the workplace: Robotics and corporate management 

All submissions should again be under the motto  "Proud to create in the craft." to stand.

The projects and ideas should have been implemented for at least six months. They should demonstrate how a viable solution was developed from a challenge, according to the organizers.

The jury pays attention to 

✓ Degree of innovation,

✓ Feasibility,

✓ Relevance to the focus topics,

✓ Benefits for the trades and

✓ Transferability to other companies.

The path to the pitch in Munich:

The Application is still until the 5 January 2026 about one Online Form is possible.

Ztwelve semi-finalists Selected candidates will present their idea in a presentation or a short video (maximum two minutes).

The project starts on February 2nd, 2026. public online voting on the Zukunft Handwerk website. Voting runs until February 15, 2026, 20 p.m.

This is how the pitch process works in the skilled trades:

The six finalists with the most votes will compete on March 4, 2026 live on stage They compete against each other. They each have five minutes for their pitch and five minutes to answer the jury's questions.

The audience and jury then vote to determine who wins the jury prize and the audience prize – with a total prize money of EUR 5.000The prize money is donated by the Association for the Promotion of Crafts. All participants receive a day ticket, the finalists... two day tickets and one hotel night.

This is the jury for 2026

• Jörg Dittrich, President of the Central Association of German Crafts
• Franz-Xaver Peteranderl, President of the Chamber of Skilled Crafts for Munich and Upper Bavaria
• Katja Lilu Melder, Federal Chairwoman of Women Entrepreneurs in Crafts
• Sara Hofmann, Federal Chairwoman of the Young Craftsmen 

"We look forward to many conceptually strong and pragmatic ideas that will help shape the craft and society of tomorrow," said Bettina Reiter, Director of the Future of Crafts.

Source: Future of Crafts / GHM

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