The 2026 Witten Prize for Health Visionaries Recognizes Innovative Solutions for Healthy Work Environments

The Witten Prize for Health Visionaries was awarded for the tenth time on 18 June 2026 at Witten/Herdecke University (UW/H). Under the motto ‘Placing Health at the Heart of Business’, seven selected start-ups presented innovative solutions relating to health in the workplace. The teams presented their concepts to an interdisciplinary jury comprising representatives from business, the health care system and academia, and competed for prize money totalling 10,000 euros as well as two consultancy packages from Arvato Systems.

Solutions for the workplace of tomorrow

First place – and with it prize money of 5,000 euros – went to the start-up ShoeCommerce. The team impressed both the jury and the audience with its solution for precise 3D foot measurement and perfectly fitting footwear. After the award ceremony, founder Alexander Görlitz emphasised: “Start-ups are all about boundless courage, a good idea and an unshakeable determination to go the distance. Go for it!”

Second place went to DermaPurge, founded by Felix Klee. In addition to the prize money of 3,000 euros, the team also received the audience award, worth 1,000 euros. Third place was taken by Wellenpuls, founded by Christian Senfleben, which was awarded 1,000 euros.

The two consultancy packages from Arvato Systems, each worth 10,000 euros, went to the start-ups Motion Miners and Kompass 360°. Onuava and hTRIUS were also among the finalists.

The event was opened with a video message from Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs of North Rhine-Westphalia. Highlighting the importance of innovative solutions for healthy working environments, she appealed to the participants: “Stay courageous! Stay healthy and stay visionary!”

Prominent support for healthy working environments

The jury comprised Dr Marco Adelt (co-founder of CLARK and founder and CEO of LOYAGO), Jörg Gudat (founder and CEO of Gudat GmbH and founder and CEO of LABS.ruhr GmbH), Dr Britta Kirchhoff (Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), Barbara Steffens (Head of Techniker Krankenkasse North Rhine-Westphalia) and Professor Dr Sabine Bohnet-Joschko (Chair of Management and Innovation in the health care system at Witten/Herdecke University).

Whilst the jury deliberated, guests were able to take part in a short exercise and yoga session. The vegetarian catering that followed provided an opportunity for conversation, networking and exchange between start-ups, companies, students and guests.

Students organise anniversary edition

The event was once again organised by a team of students from Witten/Herdecke University. For this year’s organising team, the evening also marked the culmination of months of preparation. “It was wonderful to see how all the energy and love we put into this project came to life. We are grateful for the trust placed in us and the opportunity to organise this award,” the team explained after the event.

“Innovative solutions for health and safety at work save lives and protect health – on building sites, in production halls, in logistics and in the care sector,” says the competition’s initiator, Prof. Dr Sabine Bohnet-Joschko. “Our students have taken up this highly relevant social issue and organised a fantastic event – we’ve all learnt a great deal!”

Further information:

For the past ten years, the Witten Prize for Health Visionaries has aimed to highlight innovative ideas in the health sector and to bring together socially relevant future-oriented topics with entrepreneurial solutions. The anniversary edition impressively demonstrated the potential that young entrepreneurs bring to shaping healthy and sustainable working environments.