News

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.
Videos
The Judges
“HR is both a driver and an affected party in the digitalization process. Intelligent tools will significantly change the function of HR management within companies. The direction this can take is already evident today – an example being the HR Start-up award.”

Michael H. Kramarsch
Managing Partner, hkp/// group
“The variety of HR innovations illustrates how our job profile is changing and what new skills we need. I’m looking forward to the fifth round!”

Dr. Elke Eller
Board member HR, TUI AG
“Anyone who wants to shape and support the digital transformation in companies has to start with themselves – and also with other, even disruptive, HR business models.”

Dr. Jochen Wallisch
Executive Vice President HR, Siemens AG
“The HR Start-up Award promotes the best HR innovations of young companies across Germany. As the founder of my own technology business, I know how massively such an award supports success.”

Dr. Rainer Zugehör
Founder & Member of the Board, MovingIMAGE24 GmbH

Prof. Dr. Christian Gärtner
Professor, Hochschule RheinMain, Wiesbaden
“My team and I are constantly looking for opportunities to discover something new, to challenge what already exists and to learn from others. The role as jury panel member at the HR Start-up Award provides a platform where I can let myself be inspired and challenged by the most innovative thinkers in the market!”

Åsa Lautenberg
Chief People Officer, Viessmann Climate Solution
„To live up to our claim as designers of the digital transformation, actions need to be taken. The actual innovation must not be technology, it rather is the sustainable benefit coming from new HR services for employees. The established HR Start-up Award offers great orientation for our members.“

Inga Dransfeld-Haase
Director People & Culture Germany/Austria/Switzerland at BP Europe SE
„As a mentor of young entrepreneurs and start-ups, we not only promote new talent but also invest in our future, which is shaped by them. I find the mentoring of these dynamic and innovative candidates very fulfilling and I learn a lot from them.“

Marie-Eve Schröder
Group Director, Facebook DACH
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.
What does the winner get?
Who can apply?
How is the winner chosen?
These and other questions are answered on our FAQ page.
We look forward to your application!
The Winners

Danielle Fernbach
CEO Danielle Software & Service GmbH
“The HR Start-up Award was a major stepping stone for us. We got to know people, who we are still working closely with today!”

Jana Tepe & Anna Kaiser
Founders and CEOs Tandemploy
“Participating in the HR Start-up Award was an extremely exciting platform for HUMANOO to interact with cross-industry experts from the HR sector and to receive their feedback on current product developments. Even now, we’re still so pleased to have won!”

Philip Pogoretschnik
CEO & Founder Humanoo
“We are really happy about this award. Our thanks go to our team, which worked hard for this success. The HR Start-up Award confirms that our approach is refreshingly new and different: Instead of abstract, digital repetition of what has been learned, we motivate towards practical application in an everyday environment.”

Dr. Daniel Schmelzer
Managing Director everskill
“Winning the HR Start-up Award meant a lot to us. It encouraged us to continue walking on the chosen path. In addition, we were able to meet many people. That helped us to evolve our ideas.”

Florian Fleischmann & Christian Vetter
Founders & CEOs HRForecast
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

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 2021, bcc – Berlin Congress Center