Mayor Dr. Felix Schwenke (City of Offenbach am Main), Elisabeth Neumann (Project Manager Hessian Founders' Prize, Kiz Sinnova gGmbH), Dr. Johannes Loheide (Head of Department, Hessian Ministry of Economic Affairs) (Photo: © Hessian Founders' Prize/Melina Johannsen)
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February 1, 2026
Winners will receive a company video, professional training, attention, and high-quality network contacts.
"Offenbach is the birthplace of the Hessian Founders' Award – after 2003, we are returning this year to where the future takes root. The entrepreneurial spirit has a long tradition in Offenbach and is a cornerstone of our local economic development and a key driver of innovation ," said Dr. Felix Schwenke , Mayor of Offenbach am Main, at the press conference launching the application period. The Hessian Founders' Award (HGP), first presented in Offenbach in 2003, has been recognizing outstanding business start-ups from Hesse for 24 years.
The award ceremony takes place in a different region of Hesse each year. Its aim is to raise the profile of young companies and connect them with the startup and succession ecosystem . As Hessian Minister of Economic Affairs Kaweh Mansoori explained at the launch of the application process: "A strong state needs strong founders and courageous successors. They create and secure jobs and added value, and they revitalize the economy with fresh ideas. In Hesse, we have a vibrant startup scene, and I am very much looking forward to the diverse applications for the 2026 Hessian Startup Award." The Minister is the patron of the award.
Elisabeth Neumann , project manager of the Hessian Founders' Award at Kiz Sinnova gGmbH, reports: "The Hessian Founders' Award is a vibrant, high-quality network offering young Hessian companies a great deal of practical support. The broad spectrum of HGP partners opens doors for applicants, providing new contacts, access to expertise, and opportunities for collaboration . This would not be possible without the active ambassadors who support the award in their regions and sectors, thus serving as crucial partners in the Hessian startup and succession ecosystem. With their help, the HGP will be presenting itself in a roadshow between mid-February and the end of April in Darmstadt, Frankfurt, Fulda, Wiesbaden, Kassel, Rüsselsheim, and Offenbach, as well as in the Main-Kinzig, Central Hesse, and Waldeck-Frankenberg regions."
The package offered by HGP to participating companies includes high-quality training, extensive reach and public attention via social media, newspapers and magazines, as well as TV and radio, and even a professional company video for participants in the final round of the competition. "And of course, the grand final day on November 6th with a fair for finalists, a startup lab, and the awards ceremony with our patron, the Hessian Minister of Economic Affairs, Kaweh Mansoori, as part of a festive evening gala. There's also the chance to be nominated for the German Startup Award ," Neumann continued.
Operations management
Operations management
Operations management
Until May 10, 2026, young companies already active in the market (maximum 5 years) as well as established businesses that have repositioned themselves for the future as part of a succession plan could apply for the prize. Founders, successors, companies, and students could present and apply for their business models. The Hessian Founders' Prize aims to increase the visibility and networking of young entrepreneurs within the ecosystem. It is not a competition for pure business plans; the companies typically already have a real business operation.
There is a separate category for projects from universities or university teams that are market-ready but have not yet been founded or are still in the process of being founded. "Basically, progress in the competition is not solely determined by economic success, but by the potential to develop the project into a viable business model ," says Neumann. The first step is simply filling out the application form.
In these four categories, the jury selects the twelve most convincing companies for the semi-finals: "Innovative Business Idea," "Sustainable Succession," "Social Impact," and "University Spin- off." These 48 semi-finalists pitch their ideas to a large jury, and three per category advance to the finals. The twelve finalists then compete against each other during the day at the conference for key figures in the Hessian startup scene on November 6th in Offenbach.
The winners will be honored at a formal awards ceremony this evening. Since 2020, an online vote has complemented the final selection. The Hessian Founders' Award does not award cash prizes. Prizes include significant public exposure , exclusive networking opportunities, high-quality expert training and workshops, and a professional company video.
Source: Central Association of the German Roofing Trade (ZVDH)
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