Competition "Vielfalt unternimmt - Berlin Honors Migrant Businesses"
Among the many Berlin entrepreneurs, people with a migration background make up a significant and steadily growing proportion. They make a substantial contribution to the successful economic development of the city and create jobs.
Every two years, this economically important contribution is recognized:
For the "Diversity Undertakes - Berlin Honors Migrant Businesses" award, the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises is once again seeking the exceptional and outstanding among the numerous companies successfully established and managed by people with a migration background in 2025.
The award winners are selected by a jury of experts and honored with a public award, prize money of €10,000 each, an award statuette, and a filmed company portrait in the following business categories:
A. Companies that have been on the market for at least five years and have more than 30 employees.
B. Companies that have been on the market for at least five years and have between 0 and 30 employees.
C. Founder's Award for companies that have been on the market for at least one year and less than five years (company foundation between January 31, 2019, and January 31, 2023).
Special Award
In 2025, the jury also has the option to honor successors with a migration background who have successfully taken over an existing company with or without a migration background. The special award aims to highlight the importance of business succession as a key economic challenge and to showcase successful examples. A prerequisite is that the company takeover took place at least five years ago.
Note: Those interested in the special award should apply regularly in one of the above business categories, depending on their company size.
In addition to self-applications and team applications, nominations are also possible.
Terms of Participation
Managing entrepreneurs and founders can apply if they:
- have a first- or second-generation migration background (at least one person in team applications),
- have their company headquarters in the State of Berlin,
- own more than 50% of the company shares (together more than 50% in team applications),
- for categories A and B: companies that have been on the market for at least five years and have been managing the company for at least three years,
- for category C: Companies that have been on the market for at least one year and no longer than five years (deadline: 31.01.2024).
- for the special Award: Companies that have been taken over at least five and maximum ten years ago.
The application deadline is April 11, 2025, 11 PM (time of online receipt). Nominations should be submitted by March 21, 2025.
Further information, the evaluation criteria, and the application and nomination forms can be found at: www.berlin.de/vielfalt-unternimmt.