Last call: still time to apply for the KfW Entrepreneurs' Award until 21 September

• Apply online by 21 September
• Businesses/successions established in or after 2015 can take part
• One company from each German federal state will receive an award
• One national winner will receive an additional EUR 9,000
• A special prize of EUR 5,000 will be awarded

Any start-up that has held its own on the market and overcome the challenges of the last few months gives hope to other entrepreneurs and deserves public recognition. So the awards this year will also recognise companies that have used innovative ideas to stay afloat.

Applications must be from companies that are no more than five years old and that have their headquarters in Germany. A jury of experienced representatives from KfW and the worlds of politics and business – such as the promotional institutions of the federal states and the chambers of industry and commerce – will assess the business ideas based on their level of innovation and creativity. Other key factors when deciding the winners are a company's environmental awareness when implementing its plans, and its level of social responsibility. Successful handling of the challenges posed by the coronavirus crisis will also be taken into consideration during evaluation. The impact on turnover and the operating result will be taken into account accordingly.

Awards will be presented to one company from each of the German federal states. These companies will receive EUR 1,000 each and will compete as state winners for the national prize. This national winner will receive a further EUR 9,000. The jury also awards a special prize of EUR 5,000.

The prizewinners will be announced on 25 November 2020. The television station n-tv will also report on the national award winner and the other prize-winning companies in a special broadcast. The winners will be provided with support from a PR agency on how to market their success story.

Further information and the online application form can be found at: www.kfw-awards.de (available in German only).