The Oderland-Spree Start-up Partners Working Group is once again this year looking for committed entrepreneurs who have successfully brought their business ideas to fruition. To this end, the initiative has announced the 2026 Start-up Award, to be presented on 18 June at the East Brandenburg Start-up & Entrepreneurship Day in Strausberg. It comes with prize money of up to 2,500 EUR, which may be divided between two winners.
With the 2026 Start-up Award, the Oderland-Spree Start-up Partners aim to recognise entrepreneurial courage and skill. At the same time, the award is intended to promote the topic of business start-ups and encourage people to view the step towards self-employment as a genuine prospect for their own professional future. The awards ceremony will take place on 24 November in Frankfurt (Oder).
The competition is open to anyone who, between 1 January 2023 and 31 August 2025, has set up a viable business—either as a main or secondary occupation—in the districts of Märkisch-Oderland, Oder-Spree or in the city of Frankfurt (Oder). Individuals who have taken the step into self-employment as part of a business succession are also expressly invited to apply. There are no restrictions regarding the type of business or the sector.
The deadline for applications is 31 August 2026. Anyone wishing to nominate a company for the 2026 Start-up Award may notify the working group of this up to two weeks before the application deadline. A jury comprising the 15 members of the working group will then decide who is to receive the prize.
All key information regarding the application process and the conditions of entry, as well as further details about the Oderland-Spree Start-up Partners Working Group, can be found online at: www.existenzgruender-oderland-spree.de.
