FAQ

Do you still have questions? Take a look at our FAQ and if your questions have not been answered, you are welcome to contact us. Contact us.

Business & Culture Fest

When and where is the Business & Culture Fest taking place?

The AiDiA Business & Culture Fest 2026 will take place on the 4th and 5th of September in Hamburg. You can find further information on our event page for Business & Culture Fest.

When and how can I buy a ticket for the Business & Culture Fest?

🎟️ Via our ticket shop, you can get Secure your ticket now.

How can I become a partner or sponsor?

Write an e-mail to Lucy Larbi or use our form Contact us with us. We will get back to you with all further information.

Pitch Event

When can I apply for the pitch?

The application period was from 15.03. – 19.04.2026.

Who is on the jury?

The jury consists of selected individuals from the (German) business community with expertise from various sectors. Here you can find out about the Jury of 2024 inform. Subscribe to our Newsletter and follow us on our social media channels so as not to miss the announcement of our jury for this year's pitch.

What pitch categories are there?

The AiDiA Pitch consists of two categories. We distinguish between business ideas (start-ups in the pre-start-up phase) and founded start-ups (start-ups in the growth phase) and look forward to innovative ideas from a wide variety of industries in both categories.

Registered startups with a legal form, or startups that are part of an incubator or accelerator programme, can take part in the founder pitch. If you only have a good idea that you would like to present, you should definitely register for the idea pitch.

During the period from 15.03. – 19.04.2026, applicants were able to apply for the idea pitch or the startup pitch, depending on whether they met the category criteria. You can find more information here.

How do I know if I have been selected as a pitcher?

By May 2026, all participants from our team will have received a confirmation or rejection via email. To be able to participate in the pitch, at least one person from your team must be available for our preparation workshops (15 – 16 August 2026) and the pitch event (4 – 5 September 2026) in Hamburg.

Someone on our team is not Afro-German. Can I still apply?

Yes, our world is colourful. AiDiA has set itself the goal of providing a platform for Afro-German founders and giving them more opportunities. It is irrelevant in which constellations they appear.

I have African roots, but I wasn't born or raised in Germany. However, I founded and run my business in Germany. Can I apply for the AiDiA Pitch?

In any case!

I only have a business idea, but not yet a company. Can I still apply?

Sure, you can register for the Pitch category Ideas pitch. More information can be found here.

My project is not currently established, but I have developed a business plan and unofficially launched my project. Can I apply for the start-up pitch?

Yes and no. The Founder Pitch is specifically for startups that have already been founded or are part of an incubator or accelerator programme. Your application for the Founder's Pitch requires an official document confirming the date of your founding or confirming your participation in an incubator or accelerator programme. However, we recognise that the pre-foundation phase of start-ups can sometimes take longer than planned, which is why we will consider exceptions in our selection process with reservations.

So, if you plan to found your company before the pitch event, you should upload a document with your application stating your planned founding date. We will contact you during the selection process to assess your suitability for the founder pitch with your startup.
If you should wait to found your company, it is best to apply for the idea pitch. This also allows you to take your business development to the next level. In addition to prize money, you will receive the opportunity to get professional mentoring and workshops.

Is there an age limit for pitch participants?

Yes, pitch participants must be of legal age. In Germany, legal age is reached upon completion of the 18th year of life.

How many people can I pitch with on stage?

A maximum of 2 team members may present their "AiDiA" or startup on stage. With two pitchers, at least 1 person must be Afro-German.

Do I have any obligations if I win the prize money?

Yes, the winners undertake to use the money exclusively for the further development of the business idea or the expansion of the start-up. AiDiA reserves the right to request proof via a quarterly report, including a financial overview.

How are the teams selected that are actually allowed to pitch in the end?

The selection is made by selected AiDiA team members and our Advisory Board based on our catalogue of criteria. The applicants with the highest score will receive an invitation to take part in the AiDiA Pitch. In addition, one team per category can secure a direct ticket to the final via our Golden Ticket competition (social media).

What are the evaluation criteria?

Innovation (What innovations does your AiDiA bring? Does the project already exist or are you a first mover?)
Economic viability (What economic advantage does your AiDiA bring you? Does your business case pay off?)
Founder personalities (Who is behind the AiDiA? Do you have the spirit that entrepreneurs need to be successful?)
Creativity & stage presence (How original is your pitch deck? How unique is your presentation on the pitch stage?)

I am not from Hamburg. Can I still take part and will my travelling expenses be paid?

Yes, you are of course very welcome to participate. However, no, travel expenses for the pitch event will not be covered. We will, however, cover travel expenses for our mandatory preparatory workshop in August.

All about AiDiA

What does AiDiA mean?

AiDiA [pron. eng. "idea"] stands for the ideas of AfroDiAspora.

Who is actually behind AiDiA?

Our team consists of Afro-German young professionals from various industries. Visit our About us Page to learn more about our team.

How can I support the project?

You can support the project as a sponsor and position yourself at the same time. In addition to (financial) support, we also welcome long-term partnerships with commercial enterprises and initiatives from the Afro-German community.

Spreading the word and publicising our project increases the visibility and relevance of Afro-German economic actors. You can help us by following us on social media and sharing our initiative with your networks.

What does Afro-German or Afro-Diaspora mean?

Afro-Germans are German citizens of sub-Saharan African descent or people who identify as both German and part of the African diaspora. Around 300,000 citizens with residence status from African countries and around 500,000 Afro-Germans live in Germany. If you include people of African origin with citizenship of non-African countries, around 1 million people in Germany alone can be categorised as part of the African diaspora.