Berlin's Spree Monitoring wins Germany's start2grow 2026 with bridge-damage tech
Ten startups were recognised at the grand finale of start2grow, Germany's national startup competition, on March 6, 2026. The event also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the contest, drawing key figures like Dortmund's Lord Mayor Alexander Kalouti and past winners to the ceremony.
The competition began with 101 business plans submitted for consideration. After rigorous evaluation, the top 20 teams pitched their ideas to a jury at Sparkasse Dortmund. From these, ten finalists were selected for the final round.
First place was awarded to **Spree Monitoring GmbH** from Berlin. Their winning innovation uses ultrasound technology to detect damage in bridges. Second place went to **cargovibe UG**, a Dortmund-based startup with an AI-powered logistics platform. It connects truck drivers, freight companies, and infrastructure providers. **wailand GmbH**, also from Dortmund, secured third place for its AI-driven platform designed to streamline engineering workflows. The other finalists included **CeraSleeve® GmbH**, **drone2bim AG**, **Fibryx GmbH**, **kint**, **Pulse of Production**, **Sizeless**, and **SxDiagnostics**. The total prize pool amounted to €94,000, with **wailand** and **cargovibe** each receiving an additional €5,000 from the Dortmund Technology Center (TZDO). Organised by Dortmund Economic Development, *start2grow* has supported emerging businesses for a quarter of a century. This year's ceremony highlighted its legacy, with alumni such as Dörte Schabsky and Dr. Ingo Dahm in attendance.
The 2026 edition of start2grow concluded with Spree Monitoring GmbH taking the top prize for its bridge inspection system. The competition showcased a diverse range of innovations, from logistics to engineering. As the event wrapped up, organisers and participants marked 25 years of fostering startup growth in Germany.
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