Showcase your unique energy & climate tech innovation!
The SET Award
The SET Award is the ultimate sustainablity start-up competition that empowers climate tech innovators and clean energy startups to catapult their businesses to the frontlines of the energy industry. Your breakthrough solutions have the power to reshape industries, uplift communities, and accelerate the global shift to clean energy—and we’ll make sure the world knows it.
For the past nine years, we’ve seen over 4,000 applications from more than 100 countries. Will you be next?
Here is the timeline – how to apply
Application Phase
Game on – energy & climate tech start-ups from all over the globe can apply!
Application Phase
Game on – energy & climate tech start-ups from all over the globe can apply!
Start-up Screening
Our evaluation partner and judges rate all the entries to determine who moves forward. The top 100 start-ups will be handpicked for the SET100 list 2026.
Start-up Screening
Our evaluation partner and judges rate all the entries to determine who moves forward. The top 100 start-ups will be handpicked for the SET100 list 2026.
Who Made The Cut?
The SET100 list for 2026’s most promising energy and climate tech start-ups will be released! The top three start-ups in each award category will be the finalists of SET Award 2026. The 15 finalists will be invited to Berlin for the jury meeting with C-level investors and corporates.
Who Made The Cut?
The SET100 list for 2026’s most promising energy and climate tech start-ups will be released! The top three start-ups in each award category will be the finalists of SET Award 2026. The 15 finalists will be invited to Berlin for the jury meeting with C-level investors and corporates.
The Final Showdown
During their trip to Berlin, the finalists pitch at the SET Tech Festival and Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue in March 2026. Winners are crowned at the SET Award 2026.
The Final Showdown
During their trip to Berlin, the finalists pitch at the SET Tech Festival and Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue in March 2026. Winners are crowned at the SET Award 2026.
SET Award’s got something epic waiting for you at every stage.
Category Winners
€10,000 Cash Boost: Walk away with equity-free prize money to turbocharge your start-up
Global Spotlight: Your start-up gets celebrated across the World Energy Council’s network in 100+ countries—now that’s global exposure!
Insider Access: Connect with Industry leaders at SET, dena and World Energy Council network events
PR Powerhouse: Crank up your visibility with top-tier media buzz and extra visibility in the energy sector.
Mic Drop Moment: Take the stage and own it at the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue 2026.
Finalists
Trip to Berlin: We’ve got the flights and accomodation covered for two — just bring your A-game.
Meet the Mavericks: Get face time with our C-level jury of investors and corporates. Make those connections count.
Showcase Your Stuff: Rock your own booth at the SET Tech Festival.
Exclusive Know-How: Get accesss to our thought leaders workshops at the jury meeting
Live Pitch Battle: Pitch your start-up live to the industry’s biggest movers and shakers.
Get Featured: Shine in our Energy Frontrunners series, putting your start-up on the global map.
SET100
Spotlight in 2026’s SET100 List of Pioneering Energy & Climate Tech Start-ups: Get your name in lights with our prestigious SET100 start-up list, seen by investors, corporates, and policymakers worldwide.
Festival Freebies: Grab complimentary tickets to the SET Tech Festival & BETD 2026 — because why pay when you’re in the top 100?
Social Buzz: Be front and center in our social media highlights and newsroom updates.
Access All Areas: Score invites to exclusive global partner events and expand your network.
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Category Winners
€10,000 Cash Boost: Walk away with equity-free prize money to turbocharge your start-up
Global Spotlight: Your start-up gets celebrated across the World Energy Council’s network in 100+ countries—now that’s global exposure!
Insider Access: Connect with Industry leaders at SET, dena and World Energy Council network events
PR Powerhouse: Crank up your visibility with top-tier media buzz and extra visibility in the energy sector.
Mic Drop Moment: Take the stage and own it at the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue 2026.
-
Finalists
Trip to Berlin: We’ve got the flights and accomodation covered for two — just bring your A-game.
Meet the Mavericks: Get face time with our C-level jury of investors and corporates. Make those connections count.
Showcase Your Stuff: Rock your own booth at the SET Tech Festival.
Exclusive Know-How: Get accesss to our thought leaders workshops at the jury meeting
Live Pitch Battle: Pitch your start-up live to the industry’s biggest movers and shakers.
Get Featured: Shine in our Energy Frontrunners series, putting your start-up on the global map.
-
SET100
Spotlight in 2026’s SET100 List of Pioneering Energy & Climate Tech Start-ups: Get your name in lights with our prestigious SET100 start-up list, seen by investors, corporates, and policymakers worldwide.
Festival Freebies: Grab complimentary tickets to the SET Tech Festival & BETD 2026 — because why pay when you’re in the top 100?
Social Buzz: Be front and center in our social media highlights and newsroom updates.
Access All Areas: Score invites to exclusive global partner events and expand your network.
The SET Award Categories
Clean energy powers our future—and it’s about more than just tech. We’re looking for innovators whose solutions in renewable energy generation, storage, and distribution can scale to meet the evolving needs of both people and the planet. Got what it takes? Let’s see it!
The backbone of modern life, industry touches everything—but it’s also one of our biggest challenges. We need game-changing tech to decarbonize, reduce emissions, and create a cleaner future for industries and the people who rely on them. Got the innovation to transform it all? Step up!
- Clean Energy & Storage
Clean energy powers our future—and it’s about more than just tech. We’re looking for innovators whose solutions in renewable energy generation, storage, and distribution can scale to meet the evolving needs of both people and the planet. Got what it takes? Let’s see it!
- Industry
The backbone of modern life, industry touches everything—but it’s also one of our biggest challenges. We need game-changing tech to decarbonize, reduce emissions, and create a cleaner future for industries and the people who rely on them. Got the innovation to transform it all? Step up!
Buildings aren’t just structures—they’re where we live, work, and thrive. We need startups that can redefine how we build, with energy-efficient materials and smarter systems. Can your innovation shape sustainable spaces for tomorrow? Show us!
If changing lives through clean energy is your mission–this is your moment. We’re on the hunt for startups bringing affordable, reliable, and sustainable power to communities most affected by climate change. You in?
The road to a greener future starts here. From electric vehicles to digital mobility innovations, we’re seeking bold startups transforming how we move people and goods. If you’re driving sustainability and cutting energy use, let’s roll!
- Buildings & Construction
Buildings aren’t just structures—they’re where we live, work, and thrive. We need startups that can redefine how we build, with energy-efficient materials and smarter systems. Can your innovation shape sustainable spaces for tomorrow? Show us!
- Quality Energy Access & SDG-7
If changing lives through clean energy is your mission–this is your moment. We’re on the hunt for startups bringing affordable, reliable, and sustainable power to communities most affected by climate change. You in?
- Mobility & Transportation
The road to a greener future starts here. From electric vehicles to digital mobility innovations, we’re seeking bold startups transforming how we move people and goods. If you’re driving sustainability and cutting energy use, let’s roll!
9 years of innovation. 9 years of impact.
The SET Award celebrates pioneering start-ups that are driving the energy transition forward – year after year.
Here you can find all the highlights, winners, impressions and stories.
The SET Award 2024
The 15 SET finalists, selected from over 430 applications and over 75 countries through winter 2023-24, presented their ideas to an international jury of experts at the SET Tech Festival.
Winners: Cling Systems | Magnotherm | Roam | SolCold | VIDA
The SET Award 2023
The SET Award 2023 featured two new categories: “Industry” and “Buildings & Construction“. It received +400 applications from 63 countries, which were then reviewed by our international jury of experts.
Winners: Energy Dome | Heatrix | Hyperion | Navalt | Oorja
The SET Award 2022
The sixth iteration of the SET Award received over 360 applications from 69 countries! The fifteen #SET22 finalists have demonstrated their innovative solutions to our international jury of experts during the SET jury meeting and to a broader audience at the SET Tech Festival 2022.
Winners: GreenLi-ion | Jaza | Modvion | NEU Energy | Pantonium
The SET Award 2021
For its 5th anniversary, the SET Award 2021 received over 540 application from 89 countries! The winning start-ups have been announced during the Award Ceremony of the SET Tech Festival 2021, live from Radialsystem in Berlin. The motto of the year “Reduce, Reuse, Re-energize” gave participants the opportunity to rethink the industry through the theme of circular economy.
Winners: ACCURE | Allume Energy | ecoligo | kraftwerk TUBES | S4S Technologies
The SET Award 2020
A record number of 570 start-ups from 90 countries applied for the award. Despite the unprecedented events following the COVID-19 outbreak, we were still able to showcase and award truly unique and innovative start-ups shaping the future of energy at our very first virtual Award Ceremony during the SET Week 2020.
Winners: EcoG | Enerbrain | instagrid | Liter of Light | SwitchDin
The SET Award 2019
More than 450 companies from 80 countries applied for the SET Award 2019, which honoured five winning start-ups in the field of climate protection and energy transition. The 2019 finalists and winners included those working on mass production of hydrogen, highly efficient grid distribution, smart meters, and more.
Winners: BLIXT | Bodawerk | Divine Bamboo | Enapter | Planet Ark Power
The SET Award 2018
The SET Award 2018 welcomed hundreds of applications from over 68 countries, after being launched at the COP23 in Bonn, Germany. The start-ups proved that they have powerful ideas with solutions in blockchain, renewable energy, the IoT, energy access and much more.
Winners: Acacia Innovations | Coolar UG | ForCity | Ionomr Innovations | Skeleton Technologies | SOLHO B.V.
The SET Award 2017
The first-ever SET Award drew in over 500 applications from all around the world. The first SET Award 2017 highlighted the growing international community of innovators seeking to contribute to the energy transition and prevent increasing climate change.
Winners: BeeBryte | ColdHubs | Hydrogenious | ME-SOLshare | Sicoya | TESSOL
Curious about the next steps?
Drop us a line – we’re happy to help.
Pia Dorfinger
Director Start-up Ecosystem, SET (dena)
Get in touch:
Write me on LinkedIn or via mail: pia.dorfinger@dena.de
Deborah Bartel
Expert Start-up Ecosystem, SET (dena)
Get in touch:
Write me on LinkedIn or via mail: deborah.bartel@dena.de
Niklas Feierabend
Expert Start-up Ecosystem, SET (dena)
Get in touch:
Write me on LinkedIn or via mail: niklas.feierabend@dena.de
Pia Dorfinger
Director Start-up Ecosystem, SET (dena)
Get in touch:
Write me on LinkedIn or via mail: pia.dorfinger@dena.de
Deborah Bartel
Expert Start-up Ecosystem, SET (dena)
Get in touch:
Write me on LinkedIn or via mail: deborah.bartel@dena.de
Niklas Feierabend
Expert Start-up Ecosystem, SET (dena)
Get in touch:
Write me on LinkedIn or via mail: niklas.feierabend@dena.de