Falling Walls Lab 2027 Pitch Competition
Check your eligibility
Sign up and we'll tell you whether your startup qualifies for this grant.
Quick Answer
Global three-minute pitch contest for students and early-career innovators; applications not open yet (2027 season opens 1 February 2027). Lab winners go to the Berlin finale and the top three win a cash prize.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- Falling Walls Foundation
- Application deadline
- —
- Location
- International
About this competition
Applications for Falling Walls Lab 2027 are not open yet. The 2026 season has closed, and the official Lab page says the 2027 season opens on 1 February 2027, when you can choose a Lab location and apply online. Falling Walls Lab is a global pitch competition run by the Falling Walls Foundation in Berlin for students, early-career researchers and innovators from all disciplines. Each participant pitches a breakthrough idea in three minutes.
What the program offers
Universities and science academies around the world host local Labs. The winner of each Lab, 100 in total each year, wins a trip to the Global Finale in Berlin with travel and accommodation included, and a ticket to the Falling Walls Science Summit. The winners also join a programme exploring Germany's research landscape.
In Berlin the 100 finalists compete for the title of Breakthrough Winner in the Emerging Talents category. The top three receive a cash prize and pitch again on the main stage of the Falling Walls Breakthroughs of the Year. The size of the cash prize is not published. Taking part also gives you feedback from experts in academia, business and society, a chance to meet peers, and international visibility for your idea.
The competition is large. The 2026 season drew more than 3,100 applicants to 91 Labs in 65 countries, according to the Lab page.
Who can apply
You must be at least 18, with no upper age limit. You must also meet at least one education condition: currently enrolled at a university, or awarded a Bachelor's degree no more than 10 years ago, a Master's no more than 7 years ago, or a PhD no more than 5 years ago. A medical degree without a dissertation counts as a Master's, and one with a dissertation counts as a PhD.
Applications are for individuals only. If your idea is a team project, one person applies and pitches and should explain their own contribution. Past Falling Walls Lab participants cannot apply again, and you can apply to only one Lab. Labs may not limit entry by country, host university, degree type or theme.
For a founder or student in India, this suits early-career people with an idea at any stage. You do not need a finished product. It is not a fit if you finished your last degree outside the time limits and are not enrolled, or if you have pitched at a Lab before.
How to apply
From 1 February 2027, choose the Lab location closest to you, because the Foundation cannot cover travel or accommodation to reach the local Lab. Complete the online form, which takes about 10 minutes, upload your CV as a PDF, accept the terms and submit. You receive a confirmation email. Everything must be in English, including the pitch.
How applications are judged and what happens next
After the Lab's deadline, a selection committee reviews all applications and every applicant is told the outcome. Selected people pitch for three minutes at the local Lab and receive information from the local organisers. A jury scores each pitch on breakthrough and innovation (50 percent), relevance and impact (40 percent) and structure and performance (10 percent). Each Lab winner goes to the Berlin finale, where a jury picks the top three Breakthrough Winners.
You do not have to share secret or proprietary details in the pitch. Falling Walls suggests explaining the problem and the core idea, since Labs are public events.
About Falling Walls Foundation
The Falling Walls Foundation in Berlin runs the Falling Walls Science Summit and the Falling Walls Lab, working with a network of over 300 institutions that host Labs each season. It also runs other formats, such as Falling Walls Venture for science-based start-ups.
Things to check before you apply
- The 2027 closing dates differ by Lab and are set by each host, so check your chosen Lab.
- Travel and accommodation to reach the local Lab are your own cost; participation is free.
- The locations of 2027 Labs are shown on a map on the site, and the page does not say whether there is a Lab in India.
- A practical tip: practise a clear three-minute story that explains the problem and why your idea matters.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Prizes & Awards
What You Get
Each local Lab winner gets a trip to the Global Finale in Berlin with travel and accommodation included, a ticket to the Falling Walls Science Summit and a programme exploring Germany's research landscape. The three Breakthrough Winners chosen from the 100 finalists in Berlin also receive a cash prize, whose amount the foundation does not publish, and pitch again on the main stage. Participation is free, but travel to your local Lab is not covered.
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
After each Lab's application deadline, a selection committee reviews all applications and informs every applicant. At the Lab, a jury scores each three-minute pitch on breakthrough and innovation (50 percent), relevance and impact (40 percent) and structure and performance (10 percent). Each Lab winner goes to the Global Finale in Berlin, where a jury picks the top three Breakthrough Winners.
Application Process
- 1
Apply to a Lab
Pick the nearest Lab, fill the form and upload your CV.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Falling Walls Lab 2027 open for applications?
The Lab page says the 2026 season has closed and the 2027 season opens on 1 February 2027. Closing dates are set by each local Lab, so check the one you choose.
Who can apply to Falling Walls Lab?
Anyone 18 or older who is enrolled at a university, or earned a Bachelor's degree in the last 10 years, a Master's in the last 7 years or a PhD in the last 5 years. Past Lab participants cannot apply again.
Can Indian students and founders apply?
The rules do not limit entry by country, and Labs may not restrict participation to one country or region. The pages do not say whether a Lab is hosted in India, so check the map of Lab locations when the season opens.
Is there prize money?
Yes, for the top three of the 100 finalists in Berlin, who receive a cash prize. The amount is not published. Every Lab winner gets a trip to the Berlin finale with travel and accommodation included.
Can a team apply?
No. Applications are individual because personal achievements are part of the evaluation. If your idea is a team project, one representative applies and pitches and explains their own contribution.
Do I need a finished product?
No. A breakthrough here does not have to be a finished product. Promising ideas, research or initiatives with potential for impact in science, business or society are welcome.
Is it free to enter, and do I have to travel?
Participation is free. The Foundation and Lab organisers cannot cover travel or accommodation to reach a local Lab, so choose the nearest one. Winners' travel and accommodation to Berlin are covered.
What do I need to submit?
A short online form that takes about 10 minutes and your CV as a PDF, in English. You also accept the terms and conditions before submitting.
How is the pitch judged?
A jury scores breakthrough and innovation at 50 percent, relevance and impact at 40 percent, and structure and performance at 10 percent. Each pitch lasts three minutes.
When are results announced?
After the Lab's application deadline, a committee reviews applications and every applicant is told the outcome. The official pages give no single results date because deadlines differ by Lab.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
