„Glückauf Apotheke“ in Dinslaken 2024
Utilizing AI to optimize customer communication, complaint management, and marketing processes.
apostart Award
Young Companies Showcasing the Industry’s Innovative Power
Apply now and actively shape the future of the pharmacy and healthcare industry!
The apostart Award offers emerging companies, projects, pharmacy teams, and, for the first time this year, companies from outside the pharmacy market the opportunity to present their innovative solutions and products for optimizing services, business processes, and product offerings in pharmacies. The goal is to actively shape the future of local pharmacies and provide fresh impulses for the healthcare market.
Seize your chance and apply by July 15, 2025, for one of the two categories of the apostart Award at Expopharm:
Category 1: For Pharmacies: New Innovative Services &
Products Category 2: For the Healthcare Market: New Innovative Services & Products
The winners of both categories will receive €3,000 in prize money and a free exhibition space as a newcomer at Expopharm 2026 in Munich!
Now in its sixth edition, the pitch competition is supported by Avoxa Mediengruppe. The pitch finale will take place live at Expopharm on Wednesday, September 16, 2025, in front of a jury and a professional audience.
Winner of the Apostart Award at expopharm.
Category 1
For Pharmacies: New Innovative Services & Products
Do you have solutions, products, or services that improve the daily operations of pharmacies? Whether tools for process optimization, new pharmaceutical services, or innovative business models for economic success, showcase how your ideas optimize workflows, relieve pharmacy teams, and strengthen the competitiveness of local pharmacies.
Category 2
For the Primary Healthcare System: New Innovative Services & Products
This award recognizes new, forward-looking services and products developed specifically for the primary healthcare system. It honors innovative solutions that enable sustainable improvements in patient care, increased efficiency in medical practice, or optimization of existing care structures.
Consideration is given to, among others, digital health applications, telemedicine concepts, AI-based diagnostic methods, personalized medicine, and novel medical technologies that facilitate access to healthcare and improve treatment quality. Special focus is also placed on innovations that strengthen local pharmacies, expand their services, or enhance interprofessional collaboration with pharmacies and other healthcare stakeholders.
The submitted innovations must demonstrate a clear added value for patients, healthcare professionals, pharmacies, or the healthcare system as a whole and contribute to the advancement of primary healthcare.
Participation Requirements:
- The company/project is less than five years old.
- The company has fewer than 50 employees.
- The company’s annual balance sheet total or annual turnover does not exceed €10 million.
Winner’s Prize Package (per category):
- Award
- Free exhibition space in the Newcomer Area at Expopharm 2026 in Munich
- €3,000 prize money
Four Reasons to Apply for the apostart Award Now!
Actively Shape the Future of Healthcare:
- Contribute to optimizing healthcare services.
- Strengthen local pharmacies with your innovative ideas and solutions.
Share Your Knowledge and Experience:
- Support the joint development of the pharmacy and healthcare industry.
- Boost your personal and professional growth along with that of your colleagues.
Stronger Together – Collaboration & Networking:
- Promote knowledge exchange and drive industry progress.
- Gain valuable contacts to advance your projects.
Recognition & Prizes:
- Winners of each category receive a prestigious award package.
- Gain public recognition, enhance your reputation, and increase your visibility within the industry.
Past Winners
Project "PTA Patenschaft" 2024
An initiative by the Baden-Württemberg Pharmacists’ Association to facilitate early connections between pharmacies and PTA students for internships and employment.
„Cabocheck“ 2024
Enables pharmacies to easily connect with laboratories for capillary blood testing, improving preventive healthcare services.
„Völker-Schule Osnabrück“ 2023
Provides a blended learning preparation course for foreign pharmacists to pass their recognition exam, helping combat the pharmacist shortage.
„FDA – Frag die Apotheke“ 2022
An online portal where patients can receive expert pharmacy answers to their individual questions.
adiutaByte 2021
Software that optimizes pharmacy delivery service route planning for greater efficiency.
Dermanostic 2020
A medical treatment app allowing patients to have skin issues diagnosed via telemedicine and receive an e-prescription, which can be filled at local pharmacies.