The Spark –
The German Digital Award

For the tenth time, Handelsblatt and McKinsey award The Spark – The German Digital Prize to exceptional and innovative start-ups whose ideas have the potential to fundamentally and sustainably change markets.

The Winners

The Spark is looking for the most innovative start-ups in the field of DEEP TECH.

Deep Tech – Topic of 2025

Curing chronic diseases, ensuring global food security, protecting critical infrastructure from cyberthreats, securing energy supply, or cleaning the oceans from plastic – the global challenges of our time are as diverse as they are complex. At the same time, they open up opportunities for profound technological innovation and technological sovereignty.

For its 10th anniversary, The Spark – The German Digital Award – is celebrating deep tech innovations from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is looking for the great technology visionaries of our time, whose science-based innovation in the fields of robotics, biotechnology, quantum computing, AI or cyber security.

The Winners

Technological Leap Through
Deep Tech-Based Business Models

Timeline

Application phase
open until

May 30, 2025
Nomination
of the Top 10 candidates

July 2025
Community
Voting

August 2025
Jury Session

September 16, 2025
Award Ceremony

November 6, 2025

The award for digital start-ups

For the tenth time, Handelsblatt and McKinsey award the best digital start-ups with The Spark Award. Each year, a focus theme is defined. This year’s theme is “Deep Tech” and focuses on start-ups that impress with their science-based solutions in the fields of robotics, quantum computing, AI or cyber security and solve the central challenges of our time.

Every year, a topic-specific expert jury is assembled. This jury selects the winners from the pre-defined 10 finalists, who will be announced during the festive awards ceremony on November 6th in Munich.

Apply now and seize your chance to win the coveted Digital Award – The Spark.

Learn More

2025

Benefits

As a winner or finalist of The Spark, you will receive a variety of advantages worth approximately €50,000 in total.

Coaching for the jury session

Integration at McKinsey & Handelsblatt event

Presentation of your business idea at the award ceremony in front of a C-level audience

Personal contact and exchange with the experts of The Spark jury

Networking with The Spark alumni

Finalist icon for your own marketing

Participation in the award ceremony

Presentation on the-spark.de

Finalist advertisement in Handelsblatt

Animated film for the winning company

The Spark trophy for the winning company

Winner portrait in Handelsblatt

*Gross media value according to the current price lists of the Handelsblatt Media Group. Not payable in cash.

Nominating Committee

The Nomination Committee, comprised of representatives from McKinsey and Handelsblatt, as well as scientific subject matter experts, identifies the top 10 start-ups from all applications based on four evaluation criteria: novelty, scalability, customer benefit, and team & values.

The Jury 2024

A selected panel of experts will choose the winners from the top 10 start-ups. During the jury session, all top 10 start-ups will pitch their business idea to the jury. This provides all finalists with the opportunity to network with distinguished representatives from science and industry.

Learn more