Top 10 Selection Process

Top 10 Selection Process

OPEN TO STARTUPS WORLDWIDE

THE $ 1M AWARD FOR DIGITAL INNOVATION STARTUPS.

Deadline: 12th April 2024 / Reviews on a rolling basis

Top 10 Selection Process

Top 10 Selection Process

1 Application.
2 Awards.

Startup World Cup (by Pegasus Tech Ventures) is dedicated to launch the world's next wave of leading entrepreneurs. DDX Munich 2024 will host the Qualification Event for Germany & DACH region.

DDX Award is recognizing the best startups on digital innovation and user experience.

Mentioned around the world.

Featured by magazines around the world.

“This platform is for startups and startup ecosystems of the world.” - Startup World Cup

“(...) strategists, and diverse thinkers come together to bridge the gap between groundbreaking tech and the heart of what truly matters: People.” - DDX

Pegasus Tech Ventures is a global venture capital firm with headquarters in Silicon Valley. Pegasus works with international corporations and other global investors to find and fund innovators developing technologies and businesses with the potential to become industry leaders.

Meet our world-class jury.

Meet our amazing jury members from Google, Meta, Microsoft and others.

  • Antoine Leboyer

    Managing Director, Software & AI
    TUM Venture Lab

  • Jennifer Kaiser-Steiner

    Referentin CEO
    UnternehmerTUM

  • Moritz Simsch

    Project Lead AI+MUNICH
    Munich Innovation Ecosystem

  • Martin Tantow

    Partner
    Pegasus Tech Ventures

  • Mick Champayne

    Senior Visual Designer
    Google

  • Wolfgang Bremer

    VP of Design
    Volkswagen Group

  • Philipp Steiner

    Head Of User Experience
    Amazon

  • Catherine Nygaard

    Design Director
    Airbnb (ex Whatsapp, Spotify)

  • Prof. Jan-Erik Baars

    Head CAS Design Management, Lecturer, Researcher
    Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts

  • Mustafa Kurtuldu

    Staff Product Designer
    Meta 
(ex-Twitter, Google)

  • Casey Hudetz

    Senior Product Design Manager
    DocuSign

  • Layla Keramat

    Executive Design Director
    Prophet

  • Paul Lafata

    Product Experience Director
    Danti (ex Humana, Mercedes, BCG Digital Ventures, Bird, Qualcomm, Nokia)

  • Lea Bachmman

    Designer
    Microsoft

  • Moritz Rodermund

    Strategic Innovation Associate
    Salesforce

  • Fabrice Pöhlmann

    CEO
    HelloDesign

  • Marcus Paeschke

    Head of Interaction Design
    Digital Product School 


  • Simon Kindler

    Practice Lead Concept & Industrial Design
    HYVE

  • Simon Ehses

    Lead Designer
    BMW Group

Gain Recognition

Get nominated and recognized.

15 startups will be nominated for the DDX Award and pitch at DDX Munich 2024. 3 will win the DDX Award and 1 will be qualify for the Startup World Cup.

Make Connections

Connect to to global innovators.

Each selected startup gets 2 tickets to DDX Munich and the chance to connect with digital innovators and entrepreneurs.

Live Pitch

Pitch your digital innovation.

Secure the chance for win the DDX Award and participate in the World Startup Cup 2024. Pitch in front of a world class jury and get feedback.

The award timeline.

Phase 1

Until 12th April
Open for applications: Reviews on a rolling basis (the earlier you apply the better)

Phase 2

Until 15th April
Nomination for live pitch:
10x DDX24 Award Nominated

Phase 3

11th of May
Pitching at DDX Munich 2024:
3x DDX24 Award Winners &
1x Startup World Cup Nominee

Phase 4

4th of October
Pitching at Startup World Cup in San Francisco, USA

DDX Awards criteria.

The 3 criteria that your solution will be reviewed by the jury.

1

Great innovation requires human-centricity - how accessible, emotional and inclusive is your innovation?

DESIGN

2

Innovation that makes a difference - how holistically innovative and unique is your digital solution?

INNOVATION

3

Created for positive impact - how make a positive impact in people’s life or the planet’s future?

IMPACT

Benefits

  • Connect directly with the jury of global innovation experts at the conference

  • Full conference access (2 tickets)

  • Gain recognition for your digital innovation

  • Social media features & digital communication

Jury Criteria

  • Digital Experience Design Quality, User & Market Focus

  • Degree of Innovation & Novelty

  • Positive Impact & Industry Transformation

Requirements

  • Startups founded in 2020 or later

  • Startups with a focus on (digital) product & software

  • Open to fully developed solutions but also concepts

  • Startups from all over the world can apply

Process

  • Review of applications on a rolling basis

  • 15 startups will be nominated to pitch at DDX24 Munich (11th of May)

  • 3 Startups will receive the DDX Award 2024

  • 1 Startup will qualify for the Startup World Cup 2024 in San Francisco

Entrepreneurs and startups teams

Looking for the next digital innovators.

Open to all industries

Made for digital innovations that make a difference.

Pitching at DDX Munich 2024

Pitch your concept to world class jury members.

Meet your pitch instructor.

Leopold Ajami is a Public Speaking Coach and a Creative/Strategic Consultant.

He designed a system that integrates Philosophy, Creativity, and Communication as the foundational skills for the future. He works with C-suite, Board members, and leaders, helping them design their voice to match their worth.

All Startups will get a coaching session by Leopold Ajami

Felix Rank
Advisor
Partnerships & Startups

Sabine Gier
Manager
Startups & Technologies

Ereza Rexhepi
Manager
Conference & Awards

Questions about the event or anything we can help you with?

Reach out to our team for any help.

FAQs

  • Startup World Cup will have 50+ regional events across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Each regional winner will compete in Silicon Valley for the final competition in San Francisco on October 4, 2024 at Hilton Union Square, San Francisco. More details can be found on the Grand Finale Page.

  • Startup World Cup will provide free event tickets to attend the Networking Party, and Grand Finale for the winning startup from each regional event. Flights may be provided by the regional partners or local sponsors in each country, but Startup World Cup does not cover flight tickets to the Grand Finale in Silicon Valley.

  • The winner of the Grand Finale will receive US $1,000,000 prize in investment. It will either be in exchange for a portion of equity related to the most recent round of funding or a convertible note, depending on the size of the company and how much funding they have raised.

    They will also receive global exposure through media recognition from all of the journalists covering the event.

    Select sponsors will also be providing additional prizes to be announced. Last year included $30k in free legal services from Orrick and a Salesforce software package for the finalists.

  • It will vary among the regionals, but the majority of the regional competitions will feature the top 10-20 startups among the applicants.

  • Each startup will be allocated 4 minutes to pitch followed by 2 minutes of Q&A from the judging panel at the Grand Finale.

  • Please check the regional pages for regional competition schedules. Please note that only the regional finalists will be contacted.

  • The optional video is to help the application review committee get a better understanding of the company. If your company is difficult to explain in a few slides, then the video may help, but will not necessarily increase the chances of being selected.

  • We encourage startups in any domain, at any stage, to apply. Please note that the startup must be a legal entity not just an idea.

  • We accept applications regardless of your location. We encourage you to apply to the closest regional competition.

  • Please see the pitch deck template here.

  • There are no restrictions on the amount of capital raised, we encourage everyone to apply.

  • Application review committee will consist of representatives from VCs, incubators, and angel investors.

  • No; however, some of our regionals have optional exhibition booths that can be purchased.

  • Startups can apply to more than one regional, as long as the startup is not a regional champion.

  • No, Startup World Cup will not cover or reimburse any travel expense.

  • No, all finalists will pitch on Day 1. If you make it to the final round on Day 1, you move on to pitch on the main stage for Day 2.

DDX Munich brings together global innovation leaders and empowers new connections. If you are selected you will automatically get access.