StartupValley Startup of the Year Award powered by DMEXCO
Your startup. Your platform. Your next big step.
September 17 & 18, 2025 / Live on Stage in Cologne
DMEXCO brings together innovators, marketers, media experts, tech enthusiasts, and creatives. It’s the place to be for anyone who wants to shape the digital future. As Europe’s leading event for digital marketing and technology, DMEXCO offers your startup a unique opportunity to shine in front of top industry players and take your business to the next level.
Show the world what your startup is made of!
Win the StartupValley “Startup of the Year” Award powered by DMEXCO, secure exclusive prizes, and take the spotlight. Pitch live in front of investors, companies, and top decision-makers. Whether you’re a gamechanger, a disruptive business model, or a groundbreaking innovation – the DMEXCO Startup Stage is yours!
Winners of the 2024 StartupValley Startup of the Year Award powered by DMEXCO:
🥉 3rd Place: Bind Genius – Beinf
🥈 2nd Place: Perfect-iD / Personal Information Data Exchange
🏆 1st Place: Promodoro GmbH
Why you should apply:
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Maximum visibility at Europe’s leading digital marketing event with 40,000+ digital experts
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Top-level networking with C-level decision-makers, VCs, and business angels
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Live feedback from industry leaders: gain valuable insights on your pitch and business model
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Your presence already counts: benefit from StartupValley’s media reach through exclusive social media promotion and a feature in the print edition
These are our sponsors – and here’s what you can win:
The winners will receive exclusive prizes provided by our sponsors.
Prize Overview:
The top 3 startups selected by our expert jury will receive the StartupValley “Startup of the Year” Award – honoring visionary ideas, future-oriented innovations, and the entrepreneurial courage that drives real progress.
How to participate:
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Your startup has a digital business model
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Your startup is no older than 5 years and is in a growth phase
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Your startup has its own booth at DMEXCO
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Submission deadline: August 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Find all terms and conditions here!
This is how you make it to the final:
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Online Voting (August 26 – September 7): The 15 participants will be determined via LinkedIn online voting.
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Preliminary Round on September 17: The 15 selected startups pitch live on the DMEXCO Startup Stage. The audience votes live to decide who moves on to the final.
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Final on September 18: The top five startups pitch to an expert jury, who will select the three winners.
Important: Pitches can be held in either German or English.