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Förderer · Mercedes-Benz Fonds
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Intro · Über die Challenge
TheFounder Challenge 2026for asustAInable future, is initiated and organized by encourageventures e.V. The Mercedes-Benz Fonds supports the Challenge as a donor and strategic supporter. The Challenge empowers the next generation of diverse founder teams at the intersection of AI, impact and sustainable innovation.
The Challenge brings togetherdiverse-founded European startups and innovatorswith a strong community of angel investors, industry leaders and experts.
Together, encourageventures e.V. and the Mercedes-Benz Foundation unlock the full potential of diverse founder teams who combineAI-driven,tech-for-good, andimpact-orientedsolutions with
The program supports entrepreneurs with bold ideas – from early-stage concepts to ready-to-scale ventures – and enables them to transform their solutions into viable, future-ready businesses.
Our joint mission:to strengthen diverse leadership in technology, expand access to early-stage capital, and accelerate business models that deliver measurable value for society, the environment and the economy.
Apply NowWas die Challenge bietet
What the Challenge offers
The Founder Challenge 2026 highlights and supports outstanding teams led by at least one woman in the executive leadership team. Finalists gain visibility, access and the opportunity to present their solutions to:
From all submissions, an expert jury will select9 finalistson30. September 2026, across the categories Idea, StartUp and ScaleUp.
Pitch Night & Award
Pitch Night & Award Announcement
At thePitch Event on 11. November 2026, the finalists present their innovations to a high-level audience. The jury will then announce thethree Award winners, one per category.
The Award – Categories & Prizes
At the heart of the Challenge stands theAward, honoring diverse founders who demonstrate outstanding entrepreneurial excellence acrossthree maturity levels— reflecting how founders bring AI x Impact innovation from idea to execution to scaling.
The jury will selectnine finalists(three per category) and identifyone winner in each categoryat the Pitch Event on 11. November 2026.
Apply NowZeitleiste (Timeline)
9 Finalists announced – 3 per category:
Idea – from vision to concept,Start-Up – from prototype to proof of conceptScale-Up – from execution to expansion.
Die Preise
Support für Finalistinnen & Gewinn
All nine finalists receive access to amentoring and training programdesigned to prepare them for the Pitch Night. This includes input in areas such as:
The program equips each finalist with the skills, clarity and confidence needed for successful investor conversations and the final stage appearance.
Each of the category winners of theAwardwill receive:
Wer kann sich bewerben?
You are eligible to apply if you
arean early-stageorgrowth-orientedentitybasedinthe European Union (EU),the European Economic Area,Switzerlandor the United Kingdom.
are adiverse foundingteam with at least one female founder holdingat least20%of the foundingshares–orfemale single founder.
offeranAI-drivenandtech-for-goodsolutionthatcontributesto social,ecologicaland economic sustainability– in alignment with the UN SDGs.
are at one of the three eligible maturity levels (category fit):
Female leadership on stage: A woman from your founding or executive leadership team must be available to pitch at theevent onNovember11,2026.
Was wir von euch brauchen
To complete your application for theFounder Challenge 2026, please prepare and upload the following materials:
Your pitch deck
Include your AI thesis, impactlogicand key elements of your business model (as referenced in the official challenge description).
A short descriptionof your solution
Clearlyoutlinethe problem you address, your AI-driven and tech-for-good approach and the expected impact.
Upload both documents using the submission form
Pleasesubmitall materials via the application form provided on the website. Click here.
Review the official rules here
For details on eligibility, categories, selectioncriteriaand the evaluation process, please read the official rules and FAQ beforesubmitting.
CTA · Bewerbung
Apply NowDie Jury
TheFounder Challenge 2026jury brings together important voices from the European tech and investment landscape. The jury will include:
The full list of jury members will be announced inspring 2026.
Die drei Kategorien · Intro
The jury will select nine finalists (three per category) and identify one winner in each categoryat the Pitch Event
on 11. November 2026, in Stuttgart
Die drei Kategorien
Idea – From Vision to Concept
This award recognizes early-stage teams who identify a meaningful social or environmental challenge and propose a bold, AI-driven concept with clear potential for future market relevance.It celebrates original thinking, clarity of purpose, and the ambition to turn a vision into a viable impact-driven solution.
From Prototype to Proof of Concept
This prize honors early-stage ventures that have moved beyond ideation.Startups in this category demonstrate:
From Execution to Expansion
This award highlights growth-stage companies withproven market performance,strong execution capability, andimpact-driven scalability.These ventures demonstrate how AI-based innovation can scale responsibly, aligning with the UN SDGs and delivering lasting societal benefit.
Über die Partner
The Mercedes-Benz Foundation was established to provide long-term, targeted support for initiatives that foster innovation, research, education, and social progress. By supporting forward-looking projects and entrepreneurial talent, the Mercedes-Benz Fonds strengthens the European innovation landscape and advances initiatives that connect technological excellence with sustainable, measurable impact.
Learn more at: mercedes-benz-fonds.com
encourageventures is a large network of diverse-led startups and female investors. We offer diversity, expertise and capital. As investors, mentors and advisors, we support female-led start-ups in their founding and expansion plans.Our mission is to empower women to build and scale their own companies by providing the guidance, community, and resources they need to grow.
Through our network, we work to increase thevisibility of women in the start-up ecosystemand to bring greaterdiversity and representationto both the founder and investor landscape. We support, inspire, connect — and take the next step together.
Learn more at: encourage-ventures.com/en/