Common Questions

FAQs

Participation

Who can participate?

All startups or scaleups from the fintech or insurtech sectors or related tech sectors (such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, etc.) are invited to participate, provided the company has a clear link to the financial sector.

How can I apply with my startup?

Applications for FTGA2025 are open now. Apply now and follow us on Linkedin to stay updated.

Can I apply for a specific category?

The application deadline for FTGA2025 is 30th April, 2025.

What is the application deadline?

FTGA2024 has ended. The application period for FTGA2025 will be announced on Linkedin. Please follow us there.

Is it possible to apply via email?

No. An application by email - even if received by email during the application period - will not be considered.

Can you participate again even if you have already won once?

Yes, this is of course possible. There have already been several double winners and even some serial winners!

My company is not based in Germany, can we still participate?

Yes, this is possible, as long as there is a substantial connection to the German market, e.g. an office in Germany, predominantly German founders or shareholders or similar. For such companies, the category Most Promising International Startup in Germany was created.

How do I know if my company is among the winners?

If your startup was mentioned in the shortlist of nominees announced on our LinkedIn page, your company is eligible to win an award. The final winners will be revealed during the award evening. Follow us on LinkedIn for updates: Fintech Germany Awards LinkedIn.

General

Who is behind Fintech Germany Award?

Fintech Germany Award was launched in 2016 by Techfluence, WM Group and Frankfurt Main Finance. It is supported in particular by the top-class FTGA Jury of more than 20 members and our sponsors and partners. Since 2022, FTGA is run solely by Techfluence, who was also the namesake at inception.

What are the award categories?

Award categories are: Seed Stage, Early Stage, Growth Stage, Later Stage and Most Promising International Startup in Germany as well as 3 special awards; AI in Finance, Sustainable Finance and Web3.

Learn more about who each category aims to celebrate:

Seed Stage: Fintech startups in their initial development phase. 
Early Stage: Startups showing early market traction and growth potential.
Growth Stage: Fintechs that have achieved significant growth and market presence.
Later Stage: Established fintech companies with sustained success and expansion.
Most Promising International Startup: Foreign fintech startups making a notable impact in Germany.. 
Special Awards: 
AI in Finance:
Innovation in artificial intelligence applications within the financial sector. Sustainable Finance: Fintech initiatives promoting environmental and social sustainability in finance. 
Web3: Advancements in decentralized finance and blockchain technologies.

In addition to the official awards, are there any extra benefits for applicants or winners?

EARLY BIRD APPLICANTS 1 of 5 free passes to Sibos 2025 in Frankfurt in Autumn 2025 will be raffled among startups that submit their application within the first two weeks of the application phase i.e. by 16th April 2025. 

While the core recognition remains the award itself, FTGA 2025 also includes exclusive rewards: 
● 2 tickets to NVIDIA’s GTC 2026 - awarded to one standout AI-in-Finance startup
● 4 tickets to Hightech Gründerfonds’s (HTGF) Family Day 2026 - awarded to the winners of the Seed and Early Stage categories

Can one win multiple categories?

No and Yes. One can only win in one category of the funding stages. If the FTGA Jury is of the opinion that a participating company is both the first in an award category and worthy of a special award, it is possible to be invited to the stage twice in one evening to receive the award.

Where and when will FTGA 2025 take place?

FTGA2025 will take place in Berlin. More to be announced.

Are there any costs for the participating startups or scaleups?

The participation in the program was and is always free of charge. Whether there are ticket fees, depends on the year and the situaton. We strive to give each shortlisted startup at least one free ticket. So far we have always succeeded with this !

Can startups/scaleups join the FTGA as a sponsor?

This has not been the case so far. If a previous participant wishes to sponsor FTGA there will be a cooling period of at least two years. Also the FTGA Jury would disregard an application of a previous sponsoring startup or scaleup for at least two years after a sponsorship.

Where can I get tickets for the award evening?

To be announced at a later stage.

The Jury

How does the Jury evaluate?

The Jury first determines the longlist of all participating companies as part of an in scope review. In a second step, the Jury uses a scoring model to determine the shortlist from which the winners are drawn. The longlist and shortlist are published on www.fintechgermanyaward.de and communicated via social media.

My company has been nominated by a Jury member. What do I have to do?

If your company has been nominated by a Jury member, completing a questionnaire  can provide valuable information for the Jury’s evaluation process and is highly recommended.

Can I become a Jury member?

The core Jury has existed in its current form for many years. Some Jury members have been with the company since the beginning. If a seat becomes available, candidates can be invited on the suggestion of existing Jury members or suggested by sponsors.

Still have questions?

We're happy to help you out.