Inclusive Accelerator Award
Equal opportunity and participation are not only cornerstones of an open society, but also correlate with economic success. With the Inclusive Accelerator Award, Handelsblatt and McKinsey recognize initiatives that sustainably strengthen the tech sector in the DACH region, break down structural barriers, and actively promote inclusivity. The award-winning organizations make a significant contribution to creating an inclusive and sustainable startup ecosystem by facilitating access for diverse talent and thus laying the foundation for the next generation of technological innovations.
Purpose
Studies have shown that equal opportunity and participation correlate with economic success, a link first established by McKinsey’s ‘Diversity Wins‘ study in 2020 and reaffirmed in subsequent research. Recent analyses also underscore the broader economic impact: social background alone, for example, continues to pose such a significant barrier to economic participation that European value creation could be increased by up to 9% through targeted promotion of social mobility.
The tech sector highlights just how vast this untapped potential is. Recent studies show that the proportion of women in core tech roles in Europe has fallen from 22% to 19% over the past three years. And this despite the fact that more women than ever before are completing MINT degree programs. The challenge, therefore, lies not in the supply of talent, but in structural barriers to entry, career advancement, and access to strategically relevant roles.
At the same time, access to the entrepreneurial world is unevenly distributed. People without a college education, older adults, people with immigrant backgrounds, and women often face greater obstacles. Yet greater diversity would be particularly beneficial for the startup landscape. In Germany alone, a more inclusive, better-connected startup ecosystem could give rise to over 41,000 new startups by 2030.
To drive this development forward, Handelsblatt and McKinsey launched an award for female founders in 2019 – and have continuously evolved it into today’s Inclusive Accelerator Award. The goal is to recognize initiatives that break down structural barriers and make the tech sector more sustainable, innovative, and competitive by promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
2026
Finalists 2026
Finalist 2026
Black in Tech Berlin is an inclusive tech ecosystem that breaks down structural barriers for African and international tech talent in Germany and provides them with access to mentoring, career opportunities, entrepreneurship, and relevant networks. Through our community platform, inclusive tech events, and international partnerships, we foster a more diverse, innovative, and globally connected startup ecosystem in Germany and beyond. At the same time, Black in Tech Berlin builds lasting connections between Berlin and African technology markets.
Finalist 2026
Female Founders is Europe’s largest community for women in tech, capital, and innovation—and for the past 10 years, it has been breaking down the structural barriers that block female founders from entering the startup scene. With Fund F (€28 million, EIF-backed)—an investment fund launched by the founders themselves—they’re tackling the area where change is most urgently needed: capital.
With a community of over 87,000 members, more than 175 partner companies, and a network of 500 VC funds,Female Founders bring previously fragmented individual initiatives together on a pan-European scale to form a unified entity—for a resilient, equitable Europe with strong regional hubs.
Finalist 2026
Inklupreneur works to promote greater inclusion in the workplace by helping companies create jobs for people with disabilities and foster an open corporate culture. By connecting talented individuals with employers and breaking down barriers to engagement, Inklupreneur contributes to genuine participation and a more diverse workplace.
Inklupreneur is particularly distinguished by its use of peer mentoring, in which people with disabilities are actively involved in coaching processes. Through personal encounters and the exchange of experiences and perspectives, barriers are identified and gradually broken down.
Timeline
Application phase till
May 29, 2026
Nominination of the
TOP 3 candidatesJuly 2026
Jurymeeting
September 16, 2026
Award ceremony
November 5, 2026
CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION | INCLUSIVE ACCELERATOR AWARD
All initiatives that strengthen the tech sector in the DACH region through their efforts in at least one dimension of diversity are eligible to apply. The Inclusive Accelerator Award takes into account all seven dimensions of diversity as defined by the Charta der Vielfalt e.V.: age, ethnic origin and nationality, gender and gender identity, physical and mental abilities, religion and worldview, sexual orientation and social background. Applicant initiatives may take any organizational form and focus on a wide variety of aspects of the tech ecosystem (e.g., talent networking, founder development, or startup promotion and financing)
Evaluation criteria
All initiative applications will be evaluated based on the following five criteria:
- Purpose (Purpose and objectives – Why?)
- Scope (Scope and key measures – What?)
- Distinctiveness (Unique selling point, e.g., exceptional innovation, creativity, access to resources, scalability, integrability – How?)
- Impact (Quantified business, social, and/or societal impact – How effective?)
- Strategic Outlook (What’s next?)
Application Process
The application phase begins on March 16, 2026, and runs through May 29, 2026. Interested initiatives can apply via the online form on The Spark website.
Finalists will present their initiative in person to a jury of leading representatives from business and media. Participation in the jury session and awards ceremony is part of the selection process.
Nomination as a finalist requires the submission of a photo and a written description, as well as the in-person attendance of a member of your organization’s leadership team at the jury session on September 16, 2026, in Düsseldorf, and at the awards ceremony on November 5, 2026, in Munich. Attendance is mandatory. Failure to attend will result in disqualification. Any costs incurred for travel to and from the event, as well as accommodation, will not be covered.
DATA PRIVACY
By filling out the company information and submitting the application, the applicant agrees to the application process and consents to the use of his/her data in the application process.
By submitting the application, the participant agrees that the Handelsblatt GmbH, the partner McKinsey, the nomination committee, and the members of the jury will review and evaluate the submitted contents, and that the Handelsblatt GmbH and the partner McKinsey will publish the company’s participation in a short presentation including images and logo, and include it in further advertising content measures.
The participant grants the Handelsblatt GmbH, the partner McKinsey, the nomination committee, and the jury the necessary rights of use.
We assure that we will treat your documents with the utmost confidentiality. All submissions that do not make it to the final selection round will not be disclosed or published without your written consent.
If the participant still requires a written confidentiality agreement, he/she can request it at the-spark@handelsblatt.com. Just send a short email with your name and the project name. We will be happy to send you a document signed by us.
The Handelsblatt, the partner McKinsey, and the members of the jury reserve the right to exclude submissions that are deemed not suitable or do not meet the application criteria.
Handelsblatt is not liable for the loss or incompleteness of data transmitted by the participants unless the loss or incompleteness is due to intentional or grossly negligent behavior of the organizers or their employees. This also applies to the disclosure of information by third parties due to technical errors in data transmission and/or unauthorized access.
The legal process is excluded.
DEI Accelerator Award
