In the late 1990s, business games such as Deutscher Gründerpreis and Jugend gründet became the latest addition to the field of youth competitions in Germany . Initiated by private companies and/or federal ministries , these competitions invited teenagers to develop innovative business ideas. Even more importantly, the y were hoped to strengthen what was considered to be entrepreneurial virtues such as creativity, perseverance, team spirit, and self initiative . The paper presents business games as deliberately created scenarios that were intended to serve as training grounds for future entrepreneurs and to g i ve the organizers an overview of the interests ideas and behavior of young people. While business games must be seen as inherent part of a much longer history of youth competitions all of which aimed at preparing young adults for a world driven by competition , the establishment of decidedly start up oriented competitions since the 1990s can be interpreted as a sign of a new concern abou t G ermany's international competitiveness since the 1990s, which required more entrepreneurship.