the Falling Walls Science Breakthrough of the Year Science Start-Ups NOmination & Application process

Do you run a science start-up? Grow your global reach and visibility, while expanding your network with investors, institutions and strategic partners. Learn how to join our start-up competition and showcase your start-up at Falling Walls Venture.

Do you represent an institution and would like to nominate a start-up? Check if the start-up is eligible to participate in the Falling Walls Science Start-Ups competition, and nominate the start-up.

The Falling Walls Global Call 2023 is now closed. Thanks to everyone who nominated!
For information about next year’s Global Call, contact us at venture@falling-walls.com.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

We are looking for innovative start-ups that have translated breakthrough scientific thinking into promising business models.

Eligibility criteria:

  • Falling Walls Venture is open to start-ups that are based on scientific research.
  • Falling Walls Venture is open to all scientific disciplines (e.g. biotech, data & AI, cleantech, new materials, engineering, healthcare, food & agriculture).
  • Each start-up must be endorsed by a nominating institution. This can be a university,a research institution, or another type of organization, like an accelerator or incubator.
  • The company must be founded (incorporated) by the time you apply and cannot be older than 5 years.
  • Start-ups and start-up representatives who have already participated in the Falling Walls Venture Pitches in Berlin are not eligible to participate again.
  • Start-ups should already have a prototype/proof of concept and primary funding.

 

WHY PARTICIPATE? 

As a start-up, you get the chance to:

  • Win a trip to Berlin and participate in the Falling Walls Science Summit from 7 to 9 November.
  • Pitch your work to a distinguished jury, global leaders and a selected audience during the Falling Walls Venture Pitches on 7 November.
  • Become the “Falling Walls Science Breakthrough of the Year” in the category Science Start-Ups.
  • Present your work in front of an audience of global leaders at the Falling Walls Breakthrough Day on 9 November.
  • Expand your network with investors and business partners.
  • Extend your global reach and be spotlighted across our online platforms.
  • Get coached on pitching.

 

WHY NOMINATE A START-UP?

  • Boost your spin-off and your institution’s entrepreneurship initiatives.
  • Amplify the reach and visibility of your institution.
  • Join our network of leaders from science, industry and politics, and meet entrepreneurs and innovators from across the world.
  • Get the chance to join the Falling Walls Science Summit in person.

 

Falling Walls Venture 2022 Winners

HOW DOES THE NOMINATION, APPLICATION AND EVALUATION PROCESS WORK?

1. NOMINATIONS. For nominating institutions: nominate one or more start-ups as the Falling Walls Science Breakthrough of the Year Science Start-Ups (Category: ‘Science Start-Ups’).

For start-ups: ask your university, research institution, or another organization, like an accelerator or incubator, to nominate your start-up as the Falling Walls Science Breakthrough of the Year Science Start-Ups (Category : ‘Science Start-Ups’).

 

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 to the next round, you will qualify as a Falling Walls Finalist. Finalists will be announced in the middle of July.

 

4. WINNERS. Our Advisory Board will screen the applications of all Finalists and select the 25 most promising start-ups, which will become Falling Walls Venture Winners. Divided into three Clusters according to their industry sector, they 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.

 

5. FALLING WALLS SCIENCE BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR SCIENCE START-UPS. After the live pitches, the Jury will select one Cluster Winner for each Cluster and, among them, one “Falling Walls Science Breakthrough of the Year Science Start-Ups”.  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.

 

The evaluation criteria are:

  • Level of innovation
  • Scope of impact
  • Commercial potential
  • Business planning and presentation skills

Falling Walls Venture Timeline

QUESTIONS?

Check the FAQ and feel free to get in touch at venture@falling-walls.com for any further questions.

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