Startup competitions in Leipzig
7 competitions and prizes founders in Leipzig can apply for: 4 from Leipzig and Saxony, 3 nationwide and EU-wide. Each one with the amount, who qualifies and the next deadline, checked against the official source.
Nearest deadlines
Check which of them fit you
Answer a few questions about you and your project. The co-pilot starts with Leipzig selected and shows which programs fit, what blocks you and what to do next.
- Concrete reasons, not a score
- Nearest deadlines first
- Next step for each program
From Leipzig and Saxony
- Saxon Founders' Prize2026 round: up to EUR 30,000 total split across Newcomer, Start-up and Scale-up winners (2025 round: up to EUR 60,000)Prize · Saxony · Next round not announced yet
- Leipzig Future Prize (sustainability)EUR 12,000 in total: EUR 3,000 for sustainable small businesses, EUR 4,000 for new projects of initiatives, EUR 5,000 for long-running initiativesPrize · Leipzig · Next deadline: 30 November 2026
- Smart City Challenge LeipzigPilot contract with the city of up to EUR 25,000, plus up to EUR 10,000 if the solution is released as open sourcePrize · Leipzig · Next round not announced yet
- Leipzig Founding Night prizes2025 prizes: EUR 5,000 for the best idea (audience vote) and EUR 10,000 for the best young start-upPrize · Leipzig · Next round not announced yet
Nationwide and EU
- AIDEAS: circular business ideas with AIEUR 10,000 fixed payment for each of up to 10 teams to work out the idea (2 Nov to 19 Dec 2026), plus a pitch at the Circular AI Hub FORUM on 10 Nov 2026Prize · Germany · Next round not announced yet
- KfW Award for Founders2026 round: EUR 1,000 per state winner, EUR 9,000 for the federal winner, EUR 5,000 succession special prize, EUR 5,000 public-vote prize (EUR 35,000 in total)Prize · Germany · Next round not announced yet
- German Computer Game Award - newcomer prizes2026: Best Prototype EUR 50,000 (other 4 nominees EUR 25,000 each); Best Debut EUR 60,000 (other 2 nominees EUR 25,000 each); EUR 800,000 across 15 categoriesPrize · Germany · Next round not announced yet
Questions founders ask
Which competitions and prizes can I get as a solo founder in Leipzig?
All 7 programs accept solo founders under their official rules: Saxon Founders' Prize, Leipzig Future Prize (sustainability), Smart City Challenge Leipzig, Leipzig Founding Night prizes, AIDEAS: circular business ideas with AI, KfW Award for Founders and 1 more.
Which of them do I not have to pay back?
None of the 7 has to be paid back: Saxon Founders' Prize, Leipzig Future Prize (sustainability), Smart City Challenge Leipzig, Leipzig Founding Night prizes, AIDEAS: circular business ideas with AI, KfW Award for Founders and 1 more.
When is the next deadline?
The next fixed deadline is 30 November 2026 for Leipzig Future Prize (sustainability).
Facts are checked against official sources; each program page shows the verification date and sources. Orientation, not an eligibility decision.