Terms and Conditions of Participation 2026

1. Participation

1.1 The organiser of the competition is StartupValley Media & Publishing UG (haftungsbeschränkt), Blücherstr. 32, 75177 Pforzheim, Germany.

1.2 Only start-ups registered as exhibitors at DMEXCO 2026 are eligible to participate. The start-ups must have been established as separate and independent companies and must be no more than five years old in order to participate. Where a natural person participates in the competition, the minimum age is 18 years.

1.3 Participation is limited to one entry per person or start-up.

1.4 Participation in this competition is only possible via www.startupvalley.news/de/dmexco.

1.5 The closing date for entries is 31 August 2026 at 23:59. All entries received after this date are invalid and will not be entered into the competition.

1.6 By participating in the competition, participants warrant that all information provided by them is true, current and complete. Participants further warrant that they are the holders of the copyrights in the submitted pitch decks, including, for example, image and video material, and that the use of these works by StartupValley Media & Publishing UG (subject to these Terms and Conditions of Participation) does not infringe the rights of any third party.

1.7 Entries that are incomplete, incorrect, unintelligible or have not been properly received by StartupValley Media & Publishing UG are invalid.

2. Selection of the Winner

2.1 If more than seven eligible start-ups enter the competition, a jury will carry out a preliminary selection. The selection process will take place from 1 September to 11 September 2026. The seven start-ups selected for the final round will be notified of their participation by email on 14 September 2026. Participation must be confirmed by the start-up by email.

2.2 The seven start-ups that have successfully passed the preliminary selection will present their pitches on 23 September 2026 on the Innovation Stage at DMEXCO 2026 as part of an approximately eight-minute pitch. The pitch time will be divided into a three-minute presentation and a five-minute question-and-answer session (Q&A). Following the pitch round, the jury will decide which start-up wins. The winners will be announced on 23 September 2026 on the Start-up Stage.

3. Prizes

3.1 The following prizes will be awarded:

1st Place

• To be announced shortly!
• The award for first place

2nd Place

• To be announced shortly!
• The award for second place

3rd Place

• To be announced shortly!
• An award for third place

3.2 Travel expenses and any consequential costs will not be covered.

3.3 Where pre-selected participants in the competition are required to give a live “Start-up Pitch” presentation, they must be able to be physically present at DMEXCO on 23 September 2026. StartupValley Media & Publishing UG reserves the right to select another participant/winner if these requirements are not met.

3.4 In cases where the winner cannot guarantee that they will be physically present, they accept that they will forfeit the prize.

3.5 StartupValley Media & Publishing UG may, at its sole discretion, refuse to provide a prize if a participant breaches these Terms and Conditions, or in the event of fraud, dishonesty or any other inappropriate or impermissible conduct.

3.6 StartupValley Media & Publishing UG will endeavour to present the prize to the winner on 23 September 2026, unless the winner is individually notified otherwise. The prize is non-transferable and non-exchangeable, and no cash equivalent or alternative prize will be awarded. However, StartupValley Media & Publishing UG reserves the right to alter the prize or offer an equivalent substitute due to circumstances beyond its control.

4. Liability

4.1 Participants warrant that their entry does not infringe the rights of any third party. The participant shall indemnify StartupValley Media & Publishing UG against claims by third parties arising from the infringement of such rights, as well as against the costs of legal proceedings, including reasonable legal fees.

4.2 Subject to this Section 4 and without prejudice to the other statutory requirements for claims, the following exclusions and limitations of liability shall apply to the organiser’s liability for damages.

4.3 The organiser shall have unlimited liability insofar as the cause of the damage is based on non-intentional conduct or gross negligence.

4.4 In addition, the organiser shall be liable for the slightly negligent breach of material obligations where such breach jeopardises the achievement of the purpose of the contract, or for the breach of obligations whose fulfilment is essential for the proper conduct of the competition and on compliance with which the contracting parties may regularly rely. In such cases, the organiser shall only be liable for damage that is typical of the contract and foreseeable. The organiser shall not be liable for the slightly negligent breach of obligations other than those referred to above.

4.5 The foregoing limitations of liability shall not apply to damages resulting from injury to life, limb or health, to a defect following the assumption of a guarantee as to the quality of a product, or to defects fraudulently concealed. Liability under the German Product Liability Act (Produkthaftungsgesetz) shall remain unaffected.

4.6 Insofar as the organiser’s liability is excluded or limited, this shall also apply to the personal liability of the organiser’s employees, representatives and vicarious agents.

4.7 StartupValley Media & Publishing UG accepts no responsibility for any damage, loss or disappointment suffered by a participant as a result of participating in the competition or accepting a prize. StartupValley Media & Publishing UG is not responsible for any problems or technical complications involving computer online systems, servers or providers, computer equipment or software, or for entries or other materials that cannot be received due to technical problems or internet traffic congestion or problems with any website, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to a participant’s or any other person’s computer or mobile telephone related to or resulting from participation in the competition or the uploading of materials.

4.8 StartupValley Media & Publishing UG cannot guarantee that its services will be available at all times and in a fully operational condition, or that services relating to the competition will be free from errors or omissions. Such services may be temporarily suspended without prior notice in the event of system failures, maintenance or repair work, or for reasons reasonably beyond the control of StartupValley Media & Publishing UG. StartupValley Media & Publishing UG shall not be liable if any service relating to the competition is wholly or partially discontinued, modified or otherwise altered in any way.

5. General Terms and Conditions

5.1 StartupValley Media & Publishing UG reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to amend, cancel or terminate the competition, in whole or in part, if it considers that the competition cannot be conducted as described in these Terms and Conditions, or in the event of other circumstances beyond the control of StartupValley Media & Publishing UG that could affect the administration, security, impartiality or normal operation of the competition.

5.2 In the event that a participant fails or is unable to comply with these Terms and Conditions of Participation and the information relating to the competition, StartupValley Media & Publishing UG shall be entitled, at its sole discretion, to disqualify the participant without incurring any further liability towards the participant. In such circumstances, any prize won by the participant may be forfeited. Each participant must comply with all instructions given to them by StartupValley Media & Publishing UG, including, but not limited to, all relevant laws, rules and applicable regulations.

5.3 The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Terms and Conditions of Participation shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions. If any provision is found to be invalid, otherwise unenforceable or unlawful, these Terms and Conditions shall otherwise remain in full force and effect and shall be construed in accordance with their provisions as if the invalid or unlawful provision had not been included.

5.4 Governing Law: The competition shall be governed exclusively by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany.