Start-up initiatives

In addition to financial support, our entrepreneurship initiatives, i.e. the Businessplan-Wettbewerb Berlin-Brandenburg (BPW) (Berlin-Brandenburg Business Plan Competition) and Deutsche Gründer- und Unternehmertage (deGUT) (German Founders' and Entrepreneurs' Days), provide support when it comes to developing your business concept along with our expertise and advisory services for people starting up in business.

Berlin-Brandenburg Business Plan Competition (BPW)

The Berlin-Brandenburg Business Plan Competition (BPW) is the largest regional entrepreneurship initiative in Germany. The many free offers include seminars, consultancy services as well as networking formats and support for founders and start-ups on their journey from the product idea to a viable business concept. Registration is possible at all times. Prize money of more than €50,000 is awarded to the best business concepts.

The BPW competition is organised by Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB), Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg (ILB) and the Unternehmensverbände Berlin-Brandenburg (UVB) and is supported by the universities in Berlin and Brandenburg. The BPW is largely financed by funds from premium partners, partners and the organisers' own funds. In Brandenburg, the project is supported by the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of the State of Brandenburg and funded by the European Social Fund (ESF).

Deutsche Gründer- und Unternehmertage (deGUT) – German Founders' and Entrepreneurs' Days

deGUT is Germany's largest trade show dedicated to starting up in business and entrepreneurship. It takes place each year in October in Berlin.

deGUT is organised by Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) and Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg (ILB). The trade show is sponsored by the Senate Administration for Economics, Technology and Research of the federal state of Berlin as well as the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of the federal state of Brandenburg through funds from the federal states and the European Social Fund. The trade show's patron is Mr Peter Altmaier, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy.