Pitch & Connect Challenges 2026

Challenge 1: Green technologies & sustainability

What’s it all about?
Industrial companies need to reduce emissions, use energy and materials more efficiently, and provide robust evidence of their compliance with sustainability requirements. We are looking for scalable solutions that address these levers throughout the industrial value chain – from products and processes to the circular economy and recycling.

Challenge question:
How does your solution help companies reduce emissions and use resources more efficiently – whilst integrating into existing production processes?

Possible approaches 

• CO₂ and energy monitoring: data collection, analysis and optimisation
• Process and plant optimisation: AI-supported analyses to increase efficiency and reduce waste
• Digital twins and simulations: Environmental impact analyses of production and logistics processes
• Circular economy & recycling processes: Material passports, take-back and recycling systems, use of recycled materials
• ESG and reporting solutions: data management, supply chain transparency and compliance support

Challenge 2: Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare

What’s it all about?
In the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, supply and manufacturing must function reliably despite cost pressures and staff shortages – whilst meeting stringent requirements regarding quality, data protection and regulation. We are looking for scalable solutions that measurably improve supply, development, production or supply chains.

Challenge question:
How can your solution help to make processes and supply chains in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors safer, more efficient and easier to integrate – whilst taking data protection and regulatory requirements into account?

Possible approaches:

• Digital care & remote monitoring: telemonitoring, wearables/sensors, homecare integration, patient pathways 
• AI-powered decision support: Support for diagnostics and documentation
• Workflow & process automation: Optimisation of administrative processes
• Data repositories & interoperability: Secure integration between clinical systems
• Quality & Compliance: Digital quality management in regulated environments
• Supply Chain & Track-and-Trace: Transparency in transport and availability
• Pharmaceutical production & GMP processes: Digital batch records and monitoring
• Manufacturing Analytics: Data-driven optimisation of production processes
• QC/Laboratory & Release Processes: Automated documentation and approvals

Challenge 3: Security & Resilience

What’s it all about?
Economic uncertainty, rising costs and volatile markets are compounded by operational risks such as outages, supply chain bottlenecks and cyberattacks. We are looking for scalable solutions that identify risks at an early stage and sustainably enhance the resilience of systems and processes.

Challenge question:
How can your solution help to strengthen the security and resilience of systems and processes within organisations?

 Possible approaches:

• Cybersecurity & protective measures: Securing IT and OT system landscapes
• Security Monitoring & Incident Response: Structured response processes
• Recovery & Resilience: Backup and recovery solutions
• Early warning systems: Monitoring of cost, market and supplier dependencies
• Scenario & stress tests: Analysis of demand and capacity trends
• Business Continuity: Structured emergency and crisis management
• Compliance & Evidence Management: Audit and reporting obligations

Challenge 4: HR Tech & Talent Retention

What’s it all about?
Skills shortages and changing expectations of work are increasing the need for effective approaches to retaining, developing and utilising skills. We are looking for scalable solutions that support skills development, improve collaboration and retain staff in the long term.

Challenge question:
How does your solution help companies to identify skills within the organisation, develop them in a targeted manner and retain staff in the long term?

 Possible approaches: 

• Skills and competence management: Developing existing employee skills
• Digital learning platforms: personalised training and learning pathways
• AI-supported talent development: recruitment and internal mobility
• Knowledge and collaboration tools: Structured use of experiential knowledge
• HR analytics & feedback systems: Data-driven staff development
• Digital onboarding and offboarding processes: Structured induction and knowledge transfer during role changes
• Engagement and pulse survey tools: Regular short surveys on satisfaction, retention and areas requiring action

Challenge 5: Robotics & Automation

What’s it all about?
Automation is a key lever for tackling cost and quality pressures, as well as the shortage of skilled workers in production and logistics. We are looking for scalable solutions that can be implemented quickly and integrated into existing plant, processes and IT/OT environments.

Challenge question:
How does your technology help companies to implement automation solutions quickly and integrate them into existing plant and IT/OT structures?

Possible solutions:

• Robotics & assistance systems: cobots, mobile robotics, grippers/end-effectors, service-oriented robotics
• Machine Vision & AI: Quality inspection, object recognition, position determination, AI-supported process control
• Predictive Maintenance & Condition Monitoring: condition monitoring, failure prediction, maintenance optimisation
• Workflow automation: interfaces, orchestration, shop floor data collection, end-to-end traceability
• Human-Machine Interfaces: No-code/low-code commissioning, intuitive operating concepts, digital work instructions
• Upskilling & Training: AR/VR-supported training, simulation, secure commissioning processes
• Security & Operations in OT Environments: IT/OT convergence, access concepts, secure integration into existing systems

Can’t find a suitable challenge?

Then take your innovative business model to the stage at Pitch & Fly: The Lions’ Hour.

Four selected start-ups will pitch their solutions to the Black Forest Business Angels and secure the chance to present themselves to experienced investors and answer their questions.

An event for anyone who wants to showcase their idea and demonstrate its potential.

The application period for Pitch & Fly has closed.