German Startup Awards 2025 - The finalists

Medical technology, AI & sustainability: these founders, investors and innovators are shaping the future - the finalists of the German Startup Awards 2025 have been announced!

Berlin - On May 22, 2025, the German Startup Association will present the German Startup Awards, the highest accolade in the German startup ecosystem, for the sixth time. Founders, investors and personalities who are shaping the future with innovation, courage and entrepreneurial spirit will be honored at the TIPI am Kanzleramt in Berlin.

Excellence and diversity in the German startup ecosystem

A 27-member jury has nominated 24 outstanding personalities from over 400 applications. The finalists come from a wide range of sectors, including medical technology, AI, sustainability and engineering. They represent not only the innovation hubs of Berlin and Munich, but also cities such as Freiburg, Potsdam, Essen and Hanover.

One new feature of the German Startup Awards 2025: for the first time, the public will have a say - voting for the Impact category will run until May 4 at www.germanstartupawards.de/abstimmung.

The nominees for the German Startup Awards 2025

Impact Entrepreneur of the Year

• Dr. Gesa Biermann, CEO & Co-Founder, Pina Technologies (Munich)
• Dr. Julia Freudenberg, Founder & CEO, Hacker School (Hamburg)
• Deniz Ficicioglu, CEO & Founder, wunderfish (Berlin)

Newcomer of the year

• Ghazaleh Madani, Founder & CEO, CanChip (Potsdam)
• Agnieszka Maria Walorska, Founder & CEO, Mika (Berlin)
• Stephanie Pfeil-Coenen, CEO & Co-Founder, Phaeosynt (Hanover)

Newcomer of the year

• Dr. Francesco Sciortino, Co-Founder & CEO, Proxima Fusion (Munich)
• Etienne Krause, Co-Founder, autarc (Berlin)
• Kilian Schmid, Co-Founder & CEO, allunderground (Munich)

Founder of the year

• Dr. Annika von Mutius, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Empion (Berlin)
• Lisa Langer, Co-Founder & CFO, ionysis (Freiburg)
• Irene Klemm, Co-Founder, Edurino (Munich)

Founder of the year

• Daniel Khachab, CEO & Co-Founder, Choco (Berlin)
• Mario Kohle, Founder & CEO, Enpal (Munich)
• Dr. Jonas Helma-Smets, CSO & Managing Director, Tubulis (Munich)

Investor of the Year

• Dr. Carolin Gabor, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, caesar. Ventures (Munich)
• Dr. Inga vom Holtz, Director Investments, UnternehmerTUM (Munich)
• Daria Saharova, Managing Partner, World Fund (Munich)

Investor of the Year

• Thomas Oehl, General Partner, Vsquared Ventures (Munich)
• Rasmus Rothe, Co-Founder & General Partner, Merantix (Berlin)
• Philipp Möhring, Partner, Tiny (Berlin)

Four award categories and a special prize

The German Startup Awards honor personalities in four main categories who have had a lasting impact on the German startup ecosystem:

• Impact: Honoring founders who drive social change with their startups.
• Investor of the Year: Honoring investors with special foresight.
• Newcomer of the Year: Recognizing promising young founders.
• Founder of the Year: Award for entrepreneurs who change entire industries.

In addition, the Startup Association, together with PwC, awards a special prize for outstanding commitment to the startup ecosystem.

A night for the startup ecosystem

The awards ceremony brings together leading figures from the German start-up scene with representatives from business and politics. The German Startup Awards are supported by Deutsche Börse, PwC, Ströer and Commerzbank as exclusive partners.