HOW IT ALL BEGAN
The OUT OF THE BOX.NRW Award was first brought into existence in 2020 by North-Rhine Westphalia’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and sponsored by the NRW.BANK.
The goal: provide a platform for young startups to grow and thrive.
MWIKE
The NRW Ministry of Economic Affairs has been awarding the OUT OF THE BOX.NRW (OOTB) state prize to the best digital startups from North Rhine-Westphalia since 2020. In close cooperation with the ministry’s initiative Digitale Wirtschaft NRW (DWNRW), the overall goal is to create a platform for young startups to gain a high level of media exposure and the chance to present themselves to potential investors.
DWNRW
With the "Digital Economy NRW" initiative, North Rhine-Westphalia has been picking up speed as a hub in digital development in recent years. In the future, the state wants to encourage even more digital start-ups to take on the challenge of transforming the region’s future and help North Rhine-Westphalia become one of the leading hotspots for start-ups in Germany and Europe.
NRW.BANK
The NRW.BANK has been sponsoring the OUT OF THE BOX.NRW competition since the beginning. The €50,000 in award money from the bank are divided among the three finalists, with the first place winner receiving €25,000, the second place €15,000, and the third place €10,000.
FOUNDERS FOUNDATION
The Founders Foundation was founded in 2016 as a subsidiary of the Bertelsmann Stiftung. It trains the next generation of successful founders and is building a sustainable and thriving B2B startup ecosystem in the heart of the German SME sector. As a pioneer in founder training, the Founders Foundation relies on the holistic Founders Foundation Education Model. In the B2B startup ecosystem of Ostwestfalen-Lippe, 'new and old business' are brought together as a launchpad for entrepreneurship. In this context, a 'Hinterland of Things' conference was brought into being in 2018 and is now one of the most renowned networking conferences in Germany.
Hinterland of Things
The Hinterland of Things Conference is the Founders Foundation’s lighthouse project. For one day, three worlds come together that otherwise rarely meet in such a high concentration: The leading minds of the startup and tech scene, international investors, and decision-makers from SMEs and traditional companies meet up to discuss current challenges and trends in a trusting exchange at eye-level.
A strong alliance
Our VC Partners
With the OUT OF THE BOX award, we support the dedication of our founders and honor the courageous and creative minds who are shaping the digital and sustainable transformation of NRW with their entrepreneurial ideas. Because we are committed to support their growth, spread their innovations and to successfully connect them with corporates as well as investors.
- Mona Neubaur
Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia
OUT OF THE BOX.NRW is the most important startup competition in North Rhine-Westphalia and has become a true benchmark for other federal states. With a screening process conducted by professionals, namely the VC funds from NRW, and a public voting system, the competition offers a platform that truly stands out. It is fantastic that the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action, and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia promotes entrepreneurial spirit and that NRW.BANK supports this commitment with a substantial cash prize that goes directly to the startups without any detours. This initiative demonstrates what can be achieved when everyone works together. I am looking forward to the teams, their ideas, and an exciting finale at the Hinterland of Things in Bielefeld.
- Dominik Gross
Co-Founder & CEO Founders Foundation gGmbH
Start-ups are shaping the future for North Rhine-Westphalia. With their innovations, they are driving digitalization forward and developing the technologies with which we can create a climate-neutral and sustainable transformation. With the OUT OF THE BOX.NRW competition, we are helping to ensure that these ideas become known and can grow quickly.
- Gabriela Pantring
Deputy Chairwoman of the Managing Board of NRW.BANK
Startup Ecosystem NRW
