Watch the final pitches live on June 26th from 6PM here:

LIVE STREAM

StartUp Camp 2022: From Waterkant to Silicon Valley!

Schleswig-Holstein StartUp Camp in cooperation with Waterkant Festival, PwC, Plug and Play and StartUp SH

What happens when players from government and industry meet with the best company founders in Schleswig-Holstein?

Real Nordic startup acceleration!

The Schleswig-Holstein StartUp Camp is the extra boost of energy you need for your founding venture. Roll up your sleeves, because from 20th until 24th of June 2022 you will be working, pitching and networking for all it’s worth.

A professional digital event that takes place online, so everyone can join from everywhere!


If you make it to the top 3 winners, you'll secure yourself a place in the Plug and Play-Accelerator in Silicon Valley.

Intensive advice and dialogue with experienced coaches and partners

Our intensive program will delve deep into the engine room of your young company! Together with experienced business experts, you will have the opportunity to refine your business model, illuminate critical business topics, gather your first real experience with customers and investors.

Our goal for the week is an final pitch in front of a broad audience as well as a solid technical and economic basis to bring you one step closer to your ultimate goal.


The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Transport, Employment, Technology and Tourism of Schleswig-Holstein – Germany’s northernmost region – has found a strong partner with Plug and Play, PwC, elaboratum and StartUp SH. We are very excited to see how much we can accomplish together in a week!


Time to start

What to expect as a participant in the Schleswig-Holstein StartUp Camp

  • You will work closely with business coaches and partners and receive sound feedback on your business plan, market assessment, strategy and work plan. You will develop your ideas and goals under expert guidance.
  • You will prepare an effective presentation for your pitch. To prepare, your coaches and speaker trainers will help you develop the content and your speaking skills.
  • You will become part of a network of founders, coaches, partners, funding bodies, business angels and lenders. Long-lasting relationships with others who share your passion for new business ideas will be formed!

Our mentors

Weekly plan

StartUpCamp2022 Wochenplan

What participants say

What you get as one of the winners

  • A bridge to Silicon Valley for your startup
  • A three-month, free stay in the Silicon Valley-Accelerator with support through expert know-how in the further development of your business idea
  • Accompaniment and advice by experienced mentors
  • Connection to a network of 220+ large corporations and 180 VCs, all actively scouting for innovations
  • Opportunities to create synergies with other governments, large corporations, investors and startups

Our conditions of participation

  • The company must be privately owned and may not be the subsidiary of or legally associated with any other company.
  • The company may not be older than five years.
  • The company must be based in Germany or Scandinavia.
  • The product or service should address one of the special strengths of Schleswig Holstein, such as renewable energies/green tec, maritime economy, healthcare, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology or e-government. Other industries with a technical focus are not excluded.
  • A maximum of ten startups may participate.
  • A legal right to participate does not exist.

We would like to particularly encourage applications from startups led by or predominantly staffed by women. The same applies to startups that address the realities of life of women as well as startups managed by older people. Startups managed by persons with an immigration background or teams comprised of persons with immigration backgrounds are also expressly encouraged to apply.

Important information

  • Application deadline is April 30th, 2022.
  • 12 to 15 startups will be invited to the digital pre-pitch.
  • The final selection of participating startups will be made by a jury comprised of representatives from Schleswig-Holstein, Plug and Play and PwC based on the submitted applications as well as the jury-pitches that will take place online from 4:00–6:00 pm on May 9th (Part I) and May 11th (Part II), 2022.
  • Every startup only gets 3 minutes for pitching.

At the beginning of the event, participants, like all others involved, will need to sign a detailed confidentiality agreement so that the necessary climate of openness and trust can exist while protecting intellectual property.

Pitch template (guideline)

Follow the link to download the guidelines for the pitch template. You can use this guideline to create your Pitch-Deck. Please regard it as a draft that could bring you on the right track for your Pitch-Deck. Please note that fulfilling the guidelines does not automatically lead to an invitation to the pre-pitch or a participation in the camp.

Among all applicants, 2 startups already have the chance to win a wildcard for the Plug and Play Accelerator at the pre-pitch in Kiel.

Apply now!

Your startup campsite

The Schleswig-Holstein StartUp in cooperation with Plug and Play, PwC, elaboratum and StartUp SH takes place in our digital meeting place.
Exact information will be provided to the participating startups in advance.