Applications open for third edition of the NN Social Innovation Startup Award
Across Europe, physical, mental and financial well-being are under growing pressure. There is no shortage of ambitious founders who have built the technology to make a difference, but for early-stage startups, the road to funding remains an uphill battle. Investors look for certainty, and traditional parties consider the risk too high. The NN Social Innovation Startup Award exists to find those entrepreneurs and help them reach the next stage.
A bigger stage, the same mission
After two editions and €400,000 in grants awarded, the award returns. This year, for the first time, it takes place at the Hello Tomorrow Conference, one of Europe’s largest innovation platforms. On June 11, 2026, finalists will pitch live in Amsterdam. As in previous editions, a total of €200,000 in grants will be distributed: the winning startup will receive €100,000, along with coaching from initiators NN Group‘s Social Innovation Fund and Rubio Impact Ventures, and access to a broad investor network.
The power is in the combination: donations, guidance, and network
Previous winners show what the combination of a donation, coaching and network access can achieve in practice. Mariusz Pitura built The Linghos after his own experience with speech therapy as a child. Following his win in 2024, his platform now makes speech therapy accessible to children across Poland.
In 2025, Anna Muñoz Farré founded Punto Health after dementia affected her grandfather, and she experienced firsthand how fragmented the care around him was. Her AI platform for dementia care won the award in 2025 and has since expanded into new markets. “Winning the NN Award gave us an incredible boost of energy. Shortly after, we closed our seed round, and I’m almost certain the award played a significant role in that. I also loved meeting the other startups and seeing everything being built in the impact world. The NN Social Innovation Startup Award proves that meaningful change and real scalability can go hand in hand,” Anna Muñoz Farré, co-founder Punto Health
“This is exactly the kind of growth the award was created for”
Fleur Hudig, Chair of the Board of NN Group’s Social Innovation Fund: “Solutions are being built right now that can help close the well-being gap in Europe. Once again, we are here to find the founders building human-centred solutions and help them reach the next phase of their startup, so they can create maximum impact.”
Ilonka Jankovich, Venture Partner at Rubio Impact Ventures: “The most impactful startups are built by people who know the problem from the inside. But personal insight alone is not enough. The combination of capital, the right network, and real mentorship: that is what truly helps founders move forward.”
Applications now open
Are you building a tech solution that improves mental, physical, or financial well-being, especially for those most at risk? Applications for the NN Social Innovation Startup Award are open until April 14, 2026. The award is open to startups based in Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Spain, and Japan. For more information and to apply, visit socialinnovationaward.com.
