The Hague is seeking innovative entrepreneurs for the annual The Hague Innovators Awards
Win up to €15,000 to develop your business
For the twelfth year running, The Hague is launching a search for entrepreneurs working on innovative solutions to societal challenges. Entries for The Hague Innovators Awards 2026 are now officially open. This annual competition is an initiative of ImpactCity, part of the Municipality of The Hague, and offers startups, scale-ups and students the chance to present their innovations to a wide and relevant audience.
With cash prizes of up to €15,000, coaching, media coverage and access to a powerful network of investors and partners, The Hague Innovators Awards has grown into a valuable springboard for entrepreneurs who do good for society whilst doing business. Names such as Droppie, North Sea Farmers, Seepje and Naïf Care have been named The Hague Innovators in recent years.
New generation, fresh perspective
The challenges of our time, from climate change and food security to the energy transition and social justice, call for fresh perspectives and scalable solutions. The Hague Innovators Awards focuses on entrepreneurs who contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with innovative products or services. Since last year, one of the award categories has been specifically for student entrepreneurs in The Hague who want to make a social impact with their ideas.
A platform full of opportunities
Nominees undergo an intensive programme including pitch training, one-to-one coaching and a video shoot in the Binckhaven, the beating heart of The Hague’s impact economy. Experts from organisations including Rabobank, DOEN Participaties, Unknown Group and InnovationQuarter form part of the expert jury and mentor the participants throughout the process.
This year’s final will take place during ‘Schaal je impact’ in November. Finalists will present their innovations live on stage, after which the winners will be announced.
Previous winners, such as Droppie, Solvoz, Feelou and Rator, have been able to take a significant step towards scaling up, raising their profile and securing new investments thanks to The Hague Innovators.
“Thanks in part to the support of ImpactCity and the Municipality of The Hague, The Hague has become our best-performing city. Residents have already handed in hundreds of thousands of items, amounting to over 129,000 kilos of material for reuse or recycling. A fine example of how powerful the collaboration can be between residents, the council and entrepreneurs who really want to make an impact.”
Apply
Are you, or do you know, an entrepreneur in The Hague with an innovative product or service that contributes to a better future? You can register for The Hague Innovators Awards 2026 until September 1st.
