1. NOMINATIONS
For nominating institutions: nominate one or more start-ups as the Falling Walls Science Breakthrough of the Year in the “Science Start-Ups” category.
For start-ups: ask your university, research institution, or another organisation, like an accelerator or incubator, to nominate your company as the Falling Walls Science Breakthrough of the Year in the “Science Start-Ups” category.
2. APPLICATIONS
For start-ups only: after you have been nominated, you will receive further details on the necessary application materials.
The application will consist of:
- An application form (see a preview here)
- Your pitch deck (as a separate PDF file)
- Your pitch video (see requirements and recommendations here)
3. FINALISTS
All applications will be reviewed and evaluated. Should you make it through the pre-selection process, you will qualify as a Falling Walls Venture Finalist. Finalists will be announced in the middle of July. Our Advisory Board will screen the applications of all Finalists and select the most promising start-ups, which will become Falling Walls Venture Winners.
4. WINNERS
Divided into three clusters (Sustainability, Engineering of the Future, and Health Solutions), the 25 Falling Walls Venture Winners will be invited to the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin, where they will pitch their work to a distinguished Jury and selected audience on 7 November. Winners will be announced in the middle of August. As a Winner, you will also receive a high-quality video as well as photos of your live pitch which you can share with potential investors and partners after the event.
5. FALLING WALLS SCIENCE BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR IN THE “SCIENCE START-UPS” CATEGORY
After the live pitches on 7 November in Berlin, the Jury will select one Cluster Winner for each cluster and, among them, one “Falling Walls Science Breakthrough of the Year in the Science Start-Ups category”. The selected start-up will present again on the big stage of the Falling Walls Breakthrough Day on 9 November, alongside other “Science Breakthrough of the Year” laureates.
Evaluation criteria for the science start-ups
- Level of innovation
- Scope of impact
- Commercial potential
- Business planning and presentation skills