Saxon Founder Award - FAQ

The Saxon Founder Award is looking for innovative business ideas and start-up concepts, regardless of whether these ideas have already been implemented on the market or are still being realized.</p

• Attractive prize money totaling up to €50,000 for the award winners
• Access to the futureSAX network with over 12.000 contacts from business and science
• Increased awareness through accompanying and ongoing public relations work
• A short film portrait of the nominee
• Contact with investors from the futureSAX investor network
• Support with market entry and assistance in the growth process
• Opportunity to participate in the exhibition free of charge as part of the Saxon Innovation Conference to participate

Individuals, start-up teams and young companies with existing or future headquarters in Saxony can apply. The start-up process does not have to be completed at the time of application, but must be planned for the current competition year. The company may not have been founded more than five years ago (deadline: January 1, 2020). The terms and conditions of participation apply.

The evaluation is based on the following criteria and percentage weighting:

• Customer benefit & innovation content (30%)
• Team constellation & feasibility (30%)
• Commercialization and market potential as well as social impact (40%)

The online application portal will be open from October 30, 2024 to March 10, 2025 . You can register here or   by clicking the button above the FAQs

Three Saxon Start-up Forums are held as part of the Saxon Start-up Award to further develop your business idea. After the application deadline, the submissions are checked for compliance with the formal participation criteria. All approved applications will be sent to the jury for the first round of evaluation. Their assessments will result in a ranking. The nominees will be announced in mid-April. These finalists are given the opportunity to pitch their business concept to the jury for the second round of judging. This will determine the award winners, who will be announced at the Saxon Innovation Conference.</p

The company must have been founded no more than three years ago (deadline: January 1, 2020) or must have been founded in Saxony in the competition year 2025.