After several weeks of coaching and support, six finalist teams presented projects inspired by their own journeys to a jury of experts in entrepreneurship, innovation and social impact. In total, €27,500 was awarded to help these initiatives grow.

Lived experience as a source of innovation

Chosen from around 50 applications, the six finalist start-ups were selected based on five criteria: the innovation behind their solution, its potential impact, its feasibility, the strength of its business model, and the fit between the project and its founder.

What united them, however, was something more important: each founder had turned a personal experience into an entrepreneurial solution.

Whether facing difficulties accessing information, language barriers, social isolation or complex administrative processes, the challenges they once experienced have become the starting point for practical solutions that can benefit many others.

As jury member Martina Lartey explained:

“If we do not support entrepreneurs with migration backgrounds, we risk losing enormous potential. We lose job creation, innovation and different perspectives.” — Martina Lartey

Three winning projects

Among the six finalists, three start-ups stood out for the quality of their ideas and their potential for impact.

🏆 First Prize — Silytics, founded by Malay Sourav (€10,000)

With Silytics, Malay Sourav has developed a platform that makes classrooms more accessible for students facing language barriers. Live captions, multilingual explanations and adaptive learning tools help students follow lessons with confidence. The solution is already being tested in eleven schools.

“The journey with the Rheinpreneur Newcomer Award was a great learning experience on both a personal and professional level… Winning the award has definitely given us the motivation to keep building our solution.” — Malay Sourav

🥈 Second Prize — Famville, founded by Alena Giwojna (€7,500)

Through Famville, Alena Giwojna helps families who have recently moved to a new area discover activities, local communities and useful resources, all in one place. The aim is to make it easier to build connections while celebrating different cultural identities.

“Participating in the Rheinpreneur Newcomer Award was a unique experience where you feel that you, as an immigrant founder, matter — and are not just there to fill in the metrics showcasing the supposed help. The SINGA’s support throughout the process, the type of evaluation that highlights the mission, you as a founder, and the startup itself — it was never one-sided as it usually is and very hands-on assistance. And of course, the community brought together by SINGA is genuine empowerment, not empty words.” — Alena Giwojna

🥉 Third Prize and Audience Award — 1buddy, founded by Sharik Ahamed (€10,000)

Created by Sharik Ahamed, 1buddy supports international students and skilled professionals throughout the different stages of settling into a new country. From administrative procedures and housing to healthcare and university enrolment, the AI-powered platform provides reliable, personalised information.

“I came to Germany as an international student in 2018, and I know how disorienting that first year can be… Winning the Audience Prize confirmed something I’ve believed ever since: lived experience is a founder’s biggest edge.” — Sharik Ahamed

Building a new innovation ecosystem

Beyond the awards themselves, this year’s event also marked the launch of NewcomerTech, a new initiative by SINGA Deutschland designed to give greater visibility to innovations that address the realities faced by people with migration experience.

From education and language learning to housing, access to rights, mental health and financial inclusion, these solutions all grow out of lived experience and offer practical answers to real-world challenges.

By giving this growing movement a name, SINGA Deutschland hopes to help establish and strengthen an emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem with enormous potential.

More than a competition

The Rheinpreneur Newcomer Award is much more than an evening of inspiring stories.

Over several weeks, the finalists took part in an intensive support programme combining entrepreneurial coaching, storytelling and pitch training. They also had the opportunity to connect with experts, investors and ecosystem partners, helping them sharpen their ideas and expand their professional networks.

Through this initiative, SINGA Deutschland continues to pursue a broader ambition: creating the conditions for entrepreneurs with lived experience of migration to develop their businesses, access new opportunities and have their talent recognised.

The start-ups presented this year all shared the same powerful message: when lived experience is seen as a strength rather than a barrier, it can lead to innovative solutions with the potential to create lasting positive change.