Application for the DGNB Sustainability Challenge 2026

Category Start-up

Please find below the application form for the DGNB Sustainability Challenge 2026. Please note that there are three parts to this form. The first part focuses on your solution for greater sustainability. In the second part, we ask you to provide information about yourself and your organisation. The third part is a summary of all the information. Please review this carefully and then click Submit.

Important: We will not receive your application until you click on the green 'Submit' button below the summary.

The DGNB Sustainability Challenge is a competition run by the German Sustainable Building Council (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen - DGNB e.V.).

Application

READ THE CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

* I have read and agree to the conditions of participation (see above or www.dgnb.de/sc-conditions-of-participation).

Company Name *

Year of foundation *

(max. 500 characters)

Brief description of the business model *

Who were the people and organisations involved in the project, and what was their role? *

(max. 1.500 characters)

What is innovative about the business model? *

(max. 1.500 characters)

Is the business model an improvement on an existing solution (incremental) or a completely new solution (disruptive)? *

The business model is technically ready for the market in the next ... (please select)

The business model is technically ready for the market in the next *

Who is the target group of the company? *

(max. 1.500 characters)

What benefits does the business model offer specifically for the target group? *

(max. 1.500 characters)

What contribution does the company make to sustainability with its business model? *

(max. 1500 characters)

In which element of the value chain does your business model have the greatest impact and which other elements are influenced?

(max. 1.500 characters)

What is the overall contribution of the start-up to climate action or the protection of resources? *

Additional question for the 'Climate' Special Award: By answering this question, you are taking part in the cross-category special award. From all entries, the jury will select one project to receive the Climate Special Award in recognition of its demonstrable, significant and measurable contribution to climate neutrality in the building sector.

In what specific ways does your start-up contribute measurably to the transformation of the building sector towards climate neutrality? Can the actual impact achieved be traced and quantified? If so, how?

(max. 1500 characters)

To what extent does your business model address the topic of biodiversity and climate adaptation?

Links to further information

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Link to further information

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Link to further information

Uploads

(format min. 654x322px)

Group photo

(Accepted file formats: jpg, png, gif, eps, x-eps | preferred formats: eps, x-eps | max. 10 MB)

Logo *

(Feel free to upload your logo in another file format here. | Accepted formats: jpg, png, gif, eps, x-eps | max. 10 MB)

Logo

* Marked fields are mandatory