Special show AVENEO at ALTENPFLEGE exhibition
Background Image

Newcomer Challenge - Attention innovators!

The gateway to the care sector

For many years, the Start-Up Challenge has been the entry point into the elderly care market for young companies and new players in the care sector. The competition offers nominees the opportunity to present their products, services and concepts to an expert audience over three intensive days and to gain valuable impetus and make contacts for the next steps.

This is what the Newcomer Challenge offers nominees:

  • Participation at ALTENPFLEGE 2026
  • Publicity & reporting
  • Qualified feedback
  • Valuable industry contacts

Who should take part? 

  • Have you already tested your innovation in a practical care environment?
  • Is your innovation almost ready for the market or at a high stage of development? Or:
  • Has your innovation been on the care market for less than four years?  
'Picture of the winner of Start-Up Challenge at ALTENPFLEGE Messe 2024
Zwei Männer probieren ein innovatives Gerät aus

What are we looking for? 

The Newcomer Challenge is looking for analogue and digital solutions for care in a wide variety of application scenarios, such as quality of life for the cared-for, promotion and appreciation of professionals in elderly care, self-determined living, relief and integration of caring relatives, shortage of skilled workers and process control and management.
A nomination can be made in one of the following categories:

  • Concept & Strategy 
  • Communication & Documentation 
  • Smart Objects & Smart Solutions 
  • Living & Care 

What do we ask for in the application form? 

  • Contact details
  • Date of foundation
  • Short description (max. 250 characters)
  • Description (max. 800 characters)
  • How did the idea come about?
  • Project partner/sponsor
  • What challenge does the innovation help with?
  • Status of the submission
  • Two high-resolution photos as jpg
  • Overall concept or pitch deck

What is important?

The jury will focus on the following criteria in its assessment:

  • Innovative content
  • Relevance for the industry
  • Economic efficiency
Grafik mit dem Zeitplan für den Newcomer Challenge

Timeline

 

  • Start of submissions: June 2025
     
  • End of submissions: 10 January 2026, 23.59 h
     
  • Selection of the nominees
     
  • Start of online voting for the Audience Award: 20 March 2026
     
  • Jury meeting: 20 April 2026
     
  • Award ceremony and pre-opening ALTENPFLEGE: 20 April 2026
     
  • Presentation of the audience award: 23 April 2026
</h2">

Organisation: 

Institut für Universal Design 

Contact person: 

Carolin Pauly 
E-Mail: cp@universal-design.net
Phone: +49 1520 6242 581 

Contact person: 

Kirsten Wallbaum
E-Mail: KW@universal-design.net 
Phone: +49 1556 0445 213