Start-ups in HR are shaping both, the HR profession as well as the future of work. Since 2016 the HR Start-up Award is looking for innovations in personnel management, makes tech trends in human resources visible and brings together ambitious founders and experienced HR leaders.

Start-ups in HR are shaping both, the HR profession as well as the future of work. Since 2016 the HR Start-up Award is looking for innovations in personnel management, makes tech trends in human resources visible and brings together ambitious founders and experienced HR leaders.

Start-ups in HR are shaping both, the HR profession as well as the future of work. Since 2016 the HR Start-up Award is looking for innovations in personnel management, makes tech trends in human resources visible and brings together ambitious founders and experienced HR leaders.

Start-ups in HR are shaping both, the HR profession as well as the future of work. Since 2016 the HR Start-up Award is looking for innovations in personnel management, makes tech trends in human resources visible and brings together ambitious founders and experienced HR leaders.

Start-ups in HR are shaping both, the HR profession as well as the future of work. Since 2016 the HR Start-up Award is looking for innovations in personnel management, makes tech trends in human resources visible and brings together ambitious founders and experienced HR leaders.

News

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February 01, 2024
HR Start-up Award: Starting the application phase with investors’ support
The ninth edition of the HR Start-up Award is entering the application phase with three new jury members from the investor scene: Jens Bender (HR Angels Club), Thomas Otter (Acadian Ventures) and Michala Rudorfer (Rose-Sky Investments). Start-ups that are less than five years old can apply for the oldest prize for founders in the people & work scene at www.hrstartupaward.com until March 31, 2024. With the expansion of the jury, all applicants will now receive the attention of executives from companies such as Bosch, BP, Meta, Siemens and Stihl as well as professional investors in the HR tech and B2B sectors.

Save the Date
December 21, 2023
Save the Date: The application phase for the 9th HR Start-up Award starts on February 01, 2024
The application phase for the ninth round of the HR Start-up Award – the innovation prize in HR management for start-ups with solutions for HR managers and employees – will start on February 1, 2024. Start-ups have until March 31, 2024 to submit their applications. The finalists’ pitches and the award ceremony will take place on June 21, 2024 at the HR Management Congress in Berlin.

June 26,2023
The winners of the HR Start-up Award 2023
whatever.works – a platform for managing different time-out formats – was chosen as the winner of the HR Start-up Award 2023 by the audience of the PMK in Berlin on Friday, June 23, 2023. The jury’s special prize, awarded for the first time, went to heynannyly and stafftastic.

“The world of work is becoming more and more flexible: home offices, workations, sabbaticals and many other formats and models of remote work or time off are more in demand than ever. But managing this with all its legal implications is not easy. We are very pleased that the audience recognized a helpful solution in our offer – that motivates us a lot!”, says Uwe Michaelis, Founder & Managing Director of the Freiburg-based company whatever.works, which was renamed shortly before the PMK.
BPM President Inga Dransfeld-Haase explains thebackground of the special award for heynannyly and stafftastic:

“In recent years, the quality of submissions has increased so much that it was very difficult to choose just three finalists and end up with just one winner. At the same time, there were start-ups that, despite a highly qualified application, could not be squeezed into the strict evaluation scheme of innovation, entrepreneurship and value proposition – and still impressed the entire jury. These were often start-ups that addressed a socially or economically relevant topic. This year’s special award winners from heynannyly and stafftastic are a good example of this.”
For more information, see the
press release.


May 26, 2023
In the final: Flip, hyrd & jobbaticGo
On May 25, 2023, the jury selected this year’s HR Start-up Award finalists, who will pitch for the audience award at the PMK. These include Flip, hyrd and jobbaticGo

🚀  Flip is the employee app for companies with many operational staff. Chat, newsfeed, duty rosters, time recording and much more merge into a digital workplace for everyone without a computer: interactive like a social intranet, simple like a messenger app and secure like a password safe.

🚀 hyrd helps companies to get in touch with talents and potential applicants and to bind them to the company at an early stage in order to improve the result of recruiting and employer branding measures – among other things by using a chatGPT-supported AI to create highly personalized and automated messaging sequences.

🚀 jobbaticGo provides employers with a digital platform that enables both complete digital processing and legally compliant execution of time off – e.g., workations. The solution reduces the effort of legal review, legal information is presented in an understandable way, and a high level of user-friendliness promises fast processing.

The HR Start-up Award takes place on June 23, 2023 at the PMK – be there!


April 11, 2023
Application phase ends with second-highest applicant number
On Sunday, April 02, 2023, the two-month application phase for the 8th HR Start-up Award ended on time. With 55 applications, the HR Start-up Award team is happy about another high number of submissions – the second highest result since the award exists. Thank you very much for your trust!

The high number of applications, which is only two submissions below the previous record, increases the anticipation for the pitches of the finalists at the Personnel Management Congress (PMK). But before that happens, a little patience is needed.

The applicant data is currently being prepared and made available to the jury, which then has two weeks to award its points online. The jury will then meet to select the top 10, the finalists and the winners of the jury prize.

The finalists will be invited to PMK to pitch for the coveted Audience Award on June 23, 2023. Who will be there will be announced at the end of May.

We would like to thank all applicants. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We look forward to sifting through this year’s HR innovations!


February 1, 2023
Application phase started: Now even more recognition for founders in HR in HR
The HR Start-up Award 2023 is entering the application phase and thus the 8th award season. Companies that are not older than five years and offer tools and services for HR management and employees are invited to apply. The deadline for applications is April 02, 2023. Participants can look forward to even more recognition this year!

One award, many winners:

  • Each application receives the attention of all jury members – including managers and investors from Bosch, BP, Meta, Siemens and STIHL
  • For the first time, it is possible to voluntarily indicate whether capital is required in order to potentially benefit from jury contacts
  • Top 10 start-ups receive a certificate for their pitch decks
  • For the first time, an audience price AND a jury price will be awarded at the PMK (Personalmanagementkongress, June 22/23, 2023)
  • Finalists win business coaching, networking and publication opportunities, winners also receive advertising budget

We wish all founders good luck! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by phone or e-mail.


October 15, 2022
Winners and finalists interviewed
“In the rarest cases, the start-up idea really takes off from day one.” Lara von Petersdorff-Campen told us the founding story of Evermood and how she experienced participating in the HR Start-up Award. You can find this and other videos – among others with jury members and the finalists of Certif-ID and Talk’n’Job – in our video section.
» Watch the videos


September 30, 2022
Evermood wins HR Start-up Award 2022
With Evermood the audience at the Human Resources Management Congress (PMK) in Berlin selects a platform for the promotion of mental health onto the winner’s podium. The renowned prize for start-ups in human resources has been awarded for the seventh time by hkp/// group, BPM, Human Resources Manager Magazin and Quadriga. Evermood gives employees access to live virtual events, helpful exercises and confidential 1-to-1 counseling. Companies are enabled to work on their culture and the health of their organization in an evidence-based way through anonymized, DSGVO-compliant evaluations.
» Press information


July 04, 2022
50 submissions – many thanks to all applicants!

Last Sunday, the three-month application period for the HR Start-up Award 2022 ended. The jury and the award team are happy about the second highest number of applicants in the seven-year award history: exactly 50 submissions. Thank you very much for your trust and your time! Next, the data will be processed and made available to the jury, which has two weeks to vote. Afterwards a jury meeting will take place, where the finalists will be chosen. The result will be announced by the beginning of September at the latest. We keep our fingers crossed for all applicants!


June 20, 2022
The countdown is on: only two weeks left to apply!

The application phase for the 7th HR Start-up Award ends on July 3. All start-ups with solutions for HR managers and employees should take their chance now. Every application is sure to attract the attention of our top-class jury – including top managers from Bosch, bp, Facebook, Siemens and Stihl. Finalists and winners will also receive a marketing boost in the DACH region.
Apply now!


June 15, 2022
How founders convince: juror Åsa Lautenberg at Future-of-HR.com

An increasing number of start-ups are offering solutions for more and more areas of application in HR – and a growing number of companies are using them. But how important are start-ups for HR practice? And how do they convince HR managers? HR Start-up Award juror Åsa Lautenberg in a video chat interview on Future-of-HR.com.
To the Interview


May 23, 2022
HR Start-ups in Germany: Professor Gaertner at Future-of-HR.com
HR start-ups transform HR management and shape new work with tools that revolutionize the way we work together. Yet HR tech seems to be overshadowed by buzzwords like FinTech and InsurTech. Are start-ups in HR underestimated? And what exactly does the HR start-up scene look like in German-speaking countries? Prof. Dr. Christian Gaertner from Munich University of Applied Sciences talks about this with hkp/// group Marketing Manager Constantin Haerthe.
To the Interview


April 1, 2022
Apply now: The HR Start-up Award goes into the 7th round!

The applicant portal of the HR Start-up Award is online! Until 03.07.2022, founders with solutions for employees and HR professionals have the opportunity to submit their applications. All start-ups that are not older than 5 years on the day of the award ceremony in Berlin (30.09.2022) can apply. All finalists will win business coaching, publication opportunities as well as a lot of attention in the target group through their pitch at PMK – one of the biggest HR events in Germany. Winners will also receive an advertising budget worth 5,000 euros. We wish everyone the best of luck!
Apply now!


March 4, 2022
No kidding: The application phase starts on April 01!
The application phase for the seventh edition of the HR Start-up Award, initiated by the German Association of HR Managers (BPM), hkp//group, Quadriga University and Human Resources Manager Magazin, starts in April. As always, it will be awarded at the Human Resources Management Congress (PMK) in Berlin, which will take place on September 29/30, 2022. Whether virtually or live at the spot: The three founders who reach the finals at the PMK can look forward to a lot of attention in their target group – and HR managers will once again experience HR innovation live!


August 31, 2021
100W wins the HR Start-up Award 2021
The winner of the HR Start-up Award 2021 is 100W. In the sixth year of the prestigious prize for entrepreneurs in personnel management, the expert audience of the HR Management Congress has thus selected a recruiting innovation for the winner’s podium. 100W convinced with its promise to reduce the unconscious gender bias in job advertisements and to capture the different basic motives of applicant groups by a psychological AI.


August 11, 2021
The finalists of the HR Start-up Award 2021
100W, voiio and Yucca HR – these are the finalists of the sixth HR Start-up Awards, who will pitch live for the first place in front of the expert audience at the HR Management Congress in Berlin on August 31. With 57 submissions, a new applicant record was set this year. But the quality of the applications was also impressive. Human Resources Manager magazine introduces the finalists (in German).
www.humanresourcesmanager.de


May 26, 2021
Application period ends: Last chance to inspire the HR scene

The application phase for the HR Start-up Award 2021 ends on Sunday. This year, too, a large number of the submissions will only be finalized in the last few days. One thing is for sure: the 15-minute time spending for the application is worth it. This is the only thing that separates the start-ups from first impressing the jury and then, with a bit of luck, Germany’s HR scene. So apply now – or get finished!
application.hrstartupaward.com


May 25, 2021
HR start-ups: customer-oriented solutions for HRM

Digitization, transformation and overcoming the Corona crisis: HR is at the center when it comes to shaping the future in turbulent times. In a video chat for Future-of-HR.com, HR Start-up Award jury member Dr. Michael Prochaska, Chief Human Resources and Legal Officer at STIHL, explains how important HR innovations from start-ups are for this.
www.future-of-hr.com


April 30, 2021
The countdown is on: The application phase ends in four weeks!

The application phase ends on Sunday, May 30, 2021. Take your chance: As a finalist, you will present your solution at one of Germany’s largest HR events, you will network with participants and the jury, and you receive a profound business coaching. The winners will additionally be awarded with an advertising budget for wide-reaching HR media. Apply now!
application.hrstartupaward.com


21. April 2021
What role do start-ups play in HR, Mr. Wallisch?

Jury member Dr. Jochen Wallisch, Executive Vice President Human Resources at Siemens, calls on HR managers to shape the future of work – and for him, this includes HR start-ups. In an interview on humanresourcesamanager.de, he explains how Siemens works with young companies.
www.humanresourcesmanager.de


March 25, 2021
Remote onboarding – award winner Userlane on Future-of-HR.com

Remote onboarding is more than just conveying corporate culture. It must also include the use of IT tools and software – because in the home office there are often no colleagues who can help with problems in the use of programs. Roland Völkel, Content Expert at Userlane, explains on Future-of-HR.com what alternatives there are (in German).
www.Future-of-HR.com


January 14, 2021
The countdown to the start of the application phase is on!

The application phase for the sixth edition of the HR Start-up Award, initiated by the German Association of HR Managers (BPM), hkp//group, Quadriga University and Human Resources Manager Magazin, will soon begin. As always, it will be awarded at the Human Resources Management Congress (PMK) in Berlin, which will take place on August 31, 2021. Whether virtually or live at the spot: The three founders who reach the finals at the PMK can look forward to a lot of attention in their target group – and HR managers will once again experience HR innovation live!


September 25, 2020
HR Start-up Award: Making time for innovation

Five years – not a particularly long period of time for most of us, but in the world of start-ups, it can feel like a lifetime. In an interview, hkp/// group Managing Partner Michael H. Kramarsch, initiator of the sought after innovation award together with TUI HR Director Elke Eller, looks back and explains what makes HR start-ups so special – and why it is particularly important to focus in on innovations during times of economic crisis.
» more


September 15, 2020
Twin winners of HR Start-up Award 2020

The HR Start-up Award for 2020 has been won by Danielle Software & Service along with Userlane. On the fifth anniversary of the HR Start-up Award, the expert audience at the personnel management congress singled out two innovations: a digital solution for staff organization that calls time on inflexible, complex and heavily paper-based HR processes, especially for smaller businesses (Danielle Software & Service), and a tool that helps employees learn new software by means of a navigation system for applications (Userlane).
» more


August 7, 2020
Congrats to the Finalists: Danielle Software, jobpal and Userlane!
The jury has nominated the finalists of the HR Start-up Award 2020. The top 3 HR Start-ups include Danielle Software & Service, jobpal and Userlane. With this selection, future technologies in the areas of personnel organisation, personnel selection and learning will be presented to the expert audience at the HR Management Congress in Berlin on September 15, 2020. In total, the finalists succeeded over 43 submissions from a total of nine HR application fields. The three scored particularly well in the categories Solution Offering, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, which were decisive for the jury. We congratulate and look forward to an exciting live pitch!


June 1, 2020
Yesterday the application deadline for the HR Start-up Award 2020 expired.
In total 43 start-ups applied, representing nine different categorys in the fields of HR – a delighting fact for the jury as well as the whole award team! This year’s submissions from the areas of personnel selection/recruiting and organizational and personnel development are particularly strong. All applications will now be carefully reviewed. At the end of July, the jury will decide which three finalists will be invited to present their innovation at the Personnel Management Congress 2020.


April 27, 2020
Personnel Management Congress & HR Start-up Award postponed to autumn
The Association of Personnel Managers (BPM) postponed this year’s Personnel Management Congress (PMK) – the home of the HR Start-up Award – from the end of June to mid-September, 14-15.09.2020. The HR Start-up Award will be presented on the 2nd day of the congress, i.e. on 15.09.2020.
» Press release


March 29, 2020
Application phase extended until the end of May
COVID-19 has dramatically changed our lives and priorities: What matters now is our health. One thing is certain: Even in 2020 we want to present the HR Start-up Award again – virtually or, as planned, at the PMK. Knowing that all of us need to focus on the essentials now, we have moved the application deadline. We are looking forward to your submissions until 31.05.2020.


March 24, 2020
Analytics FOR the people: award winner Tandemploy at Future-of-HR.com
“When we won the HR Start-up Award with Tandemploy in 2016, it was all about job sharing. Today we are asking the question of how we as people will live and work together in the future.” At Future-of-HR.com the CEOs of Tandemploy – Anna Kaiser and Jana Tepe – also give answers (in German):
» Future-of-HR.com


March 10, 2020
Digital coaches: award winner everskill at Future-of-HR.com
Just like top athletes, employees need constant training to break through established routines – and become champions. New tools give HR managers the opportunity to achieve this. At Future-of-HR.com Tobias Stetter and Elena Rörup from everskill – HR Start-up Award winner 2018 – explain what is important to know in this regards (in German):
» Future-of-HR.com


February 11, 2020
HR Start-up Award: application start
On June 24, 2020, the German Association of Personnel Managers (BPM), Quadriga University, Human Resources Manager Magazin and the hkp/// group will hold the HR Start-up Award for the 5th time. This year again, the winner will be chosen during the HR Management Congress (PMK) in Berlin with more than 1500 participants. Founders have the opportunity to apply with their companies for the coveted HR Start-up Award on this website until March 29, 2020.


January 24, 2020
Start of the application phase is getting closer!
By beginning of February the application phase for the HR Start-up Award 2020 will begin. Once again the award will be hosted at the HR Management Congress (PMK) in Berlin – celebrating five years of public awareness for HR innovation makers at the award ceremony, taking place at the Berlin Congress Center on June 24th! In 2019, the audience declared vote2work the winner – a start-up enabling flexible, self-determined workforce planning even in the blue collar sector. Curious to see which development will be voted to the top this year?


June 11, 2019
There’s more opportunity than risk in every innovation!
It’s not long until it’s that time again: the winner of the fourth HR Start-Up Award will be crowned at the HR Management Conference in Berlin on June 26, 2019. But before the much-anticipated vote, the finalists will each hold a pitch. What does it feel like to be part of the competition and everything else that goes along with it?! Daniel Schmelzer, Managing Director of everskill – the lucky winner of the 2018 award – obliged us by giving his insights in an interview.


June, 27, 2019
Vote2Work wins the HR Start-up Award 2019
Application for digital resource planning in the blue-collar sector wins prestigious award for entrepreneurs in HR. With 46 applications, the HR Start-up Award has reached an all-time high in its fourth year. The winner of the HR Start-up Award 2019 is Vote2Work – a start-up that offers software for digital workforce planning and employee-defined, flexible work in the case of desk-free activities, for example in shift systems in production, healthcare or the service sector.


May 24, 2019
The finalists  of the #HRStartupAward 2019
The finalists of the 2019 HR Start-up Award have been selected: quofox, MotionMiners and Vote2Work – three young companies that once again demonstrate the diversity of applications in HR: quofox as a “global learning platform for ‘lifelong learning’ in the digital age”, MotionMiners as an analytics solution for optimizing ergonomics, productivity and efficiency, and Vote2Work as a tool for collaborative personnel deployment planning, particularly of shift and blue-collar workers.


April 9, 2019
Last Call: Apply for the #HRStartupAward by April 14!
On Sunday, April 14, 2019 the application period for the fourth #HRStartupAward 2019 ends. If you like to present yourself and your product to the audience of one of the biggest events for HR decision makers in Germany in June – the Personalmanagementkongress 2019 in Berlin – you should use the last few days for your quick application! Two days of networking are waiting for all finalists. The winner gets rewarded with media budget worth 5000 Euro, individual coaching and access to a big HR network. A prize in the spirit of this year’s motto: HR Start-up Award – closer to business!


April 2, 2019
“Business Tinder for New Work — That describes it quite well.”
Jana Tepe, co-founder of Tandemploy, talks about her start-up and entering the 2016 HR Start-Up Award competition.
When Jana Tepe and Anna Kaiser entered the 2016 HR Start-Up Award competition, their software was not nearly as sophisticated as it is now. They made up for that with the strength of their vision and persuasion. Today the two co-founders are sought after go-to persons for policy makers and quite at home on any #NewWork stage up and down the country. There is no lack of customers either. The IT giant SAP, for instance, has not only started to use the Tandemploy solution, it also makes it available to its own clients. We talked to Jana Tepe about the development of Tandemploy and entering the 2016 HR Start-Up Award competition.


March 26, 2019
HR Tech: Hidden Champions shape the future of work
Do you remember the quest for the “next big thing”? It might be tempting, but leads you up the garden path. It is no longer about the emergence of single digital heavy-weights. It is about a diverse innovation sector, these days characterized by start-ups. They make a big contribution to future-proofing the economic sector. A far too rarely talked-about example for that are HR start-ups. Michael Kramarsch, Managing Partner of hkp/// group, together with BPM president Dr. Elke Eller a judge of the HR Start-up Award, explains at future-of-HR.com why start-ups in the personnel management field are playing a key role in the future of work (article in German).
read more on www.future-of-HR.com


March 13, 2019
And the winner was… HUMANOO!
Founder Philip Pogoretschnik on his participation in the HR Start-up Award 2017
Many ideas are good in a timeless way, but eventually become outdated. Take, for example, company team sports. While providing a real benefit enjoyed by employers and employees alike, it rarely inspires wide sections of the workforce. HUMANOO, a digital health platform that incentivizes the health commitment of employees, has set out to change this. In 2017, CEO and founder Philip Pogoretschnik convinced the audience at the HR Start-up Awards with this idea. A short interview about his HR Start-up award experience and the development of his start-up.

The Award

The innovation prize for the HR community: The HR Start-up Award has been providing highly promising start-up companies, focusing on HR orientated products, a high-profile platform since 2016. Those who make it to the final are able to pitch their product in front of a top-class judging panel and a large audience of decision-makers and experts in the field of HR management. Apart from the award event itself, the finalists have the opportunity to interact with their target group as part of the Human Resource Management Congress. Previous winners include Tandemploy, Humanoo and everskill.

The initiators of the HR Start-up Award include the Federal Association of Human Resource Managers (BPM), the hkp/// group, Human Resource Manager Magazine and Quadriga University. The aim is to bring the innovations of Start-ups into the HR community, to learn from each other, to shape the future of work together – and, as a result, ensure economic sustainability in disruptive times.

As in other areas, start-ups also play a very significant role in promoting new HR practices. Whether it’s through innovative apps and IT solutions that bring the HR department closer to the customer or specific expertise in the areas of compensation and benefits, feedback, recruitment and talent management.


Videos

What does the winner get?
Who can apply?
How is the winner chosen?

These and other questions are answered on our FAQ page.

The Judges

The Winners

The Initiators

“Creating solutions together for the workplace of the future!”

The Federal Association of Human Resources Managers (BPM) is the leading professional association for human resources managers from companies, associations and other organizations. Its mission is to build an HR community to network and learn from each other in order to jointly develop solutions for the workplace of the future. The HR Start-up Award contributes to this by showcasing the innovations and the subsequent exchange between founders and HR professionals.

“The HR Start-up Award shows entrepreneurs and companies the opportunities the future holds!”

As an international management consultancy at the intersection of strategy, HR and finance, the hkp/// group develops digitalization, its potential and challenges, in a diverse range of customer projects. As human resources management is an essential driver of change processes in companies, solutions not only have consequences for HR, but for the entire organization and its ability to innovate. As initiator of the HR Start-up Award, we want to show start-up entrepreneurs as well as established companies the opportunities the future holds.

Supporting disruptive potential!

Quadriga University of Applied Sciences is a catalyst for knowledge that fosters innovation and develops HR Executives into modern HR Leaders. Disrupting and empowering people to create innovation run through our institutional DNA just as much as digital transformation, leadership and professional excellence. And as we take our approach to revolutionizing professions such as Human Resources very seriously, we love to support your disruptive potential by bringing the HR Start-Up Award to life.

“The ideal opportunity to discover HR trends and the people behind them!”

 

Human Resources Manager is the leading magazine for HR management in Germany. Featuring opinion pieces, case studies and reports, the magazine is the knowledge-sharing platform for HR managers. The HR Startup Award presents the ideal opportunity to discover HR trends and the people behind them. With the ambition to report on new developments before anyone else, the award is a valuable source of content and inspiration.

Contact

ConstantinHaerthe
If you have any questions,
don’t hesitate to ask:

Constantin Härthe
constantin.haerthe@hkp.com
+49 (0)69 175 363 312

HR Start-up Award @ Personalmanagementkongress 2022, bcc – Berlin Congress Center