Application period is entering its final round: Apply for the KfW Entrepreneurs’ Award by 1 July 2024!

• Businesses established in or after 2019 can take part
• More awards: KfW Capital Award for “Best Female Investor”, “Best Impact Investor” and special prize for “Best Emerging Manager”
• The prizes are worth a total of EUR 50,000

The application phase for this year’s KfW Entrepreneurs’ Award is now entering its final round – applications can still be submitted until 1 July 2024. KfW’s prestigious business competition awards annual prizes to companies from all over Germany that implement innovative ideas or break new ground in corporate management.

Companies from all sectors established in or after 2019 with a registered office in Germany are eligible to participate. Companies that were taken over as part of a succession can also apply. The intent is to motivate young entrepreneurs in particular.

One company from each federal state is awarded a prize and receives prize money of EUR 1,000 each. They will then go on to compete for the national award, which comprises an additional EUR 9,000 in prize money. In addition, a special prize amounting to EUR 5,000 is awarded to one company that makes a particularly strong impression on the jury. After the competition, a “people’s choice” award will be determined in an online vote, which also comes with a prize money of EUR 5,000.

The jury consists of experienced people from KfW, promotional banks, politics, and business. They will judge the business ideas based on their levels of innovation and creativity. If the concept takes social responsibility or creates added value for society, that will also play a decisive role. Economic success, environmental sustainability and the promotion of an inclusive, diverse working environment are also included in the assessment.

In addition, KfW Capital, KfW’s subsidiary responsible for the growth capital business, is presenting the KfW Capital Award. This will be awarded in the categories of “Best Female Investor” and “Best Impact Investor” and will be worth EUR 5,000 in each case. This year, there will also be a special prize from all applications in both award categories – namely in the “Best Emerging Manager” category. With this award, KfW Capital aims to draw attention to the issues of gender, impact and emerging managers, as these are important for the ongoing development of the VC ecosystem.

All award winners will be honoured at a ceremony in Berlin on 7 November 2024. The TV channel n-TV will report on this in a special broadcast. The companies are supported by a PR agency in marketing their success stories and have the chance to be featured in a television programme.

You can find the online application form and other information at www.kfw-awards.de.