KfW Capital Award Best Investor Preis

    KfW Capital Award 2026

    The KfW Capital Award honors outstanding personalities from the European venture capital ecosystem with a special connection to Germany as an investment location. Prizes are awarded to individuals who stand out through exceptional deals, commitment or their work in the VC sector. The award complements the KfW Entrepreneurs’ Award with the perspective of investors.

    Awards for 'Best Female VC Investor', 'VC Game Changer' and 'VC Exit Excellence'

    Through the KfW Capital Award, KfW Capital recognises outstanding individuals from the VC ecosystem as part of a competition. The KfW Capital Award for ‘Best Female VC Investor’ honours female VC investors who successfully invest in start-ups and innovative tech companies in Germany. The KfW Capital Award 'VC Game Changer' honours individuals who are driving the German and European VC ecosystem forward. Applicants may be active or involved in any sector, in academia, politics or elsewhere within the VC ecosystem.

    In both categories, self-nominations as well as nominations or recommendations by jury members or other third parties are permitted.

    Trailer KfW Capital Award 2026

    Eligibility

    Logo KfW Capital Award

    The KfW Capital Award is aimed at investors from Europe with a connection to Germany as an investment location who stand out for their special deals, commitment or presence in the VC ecosystem. The application phase begin on April 1, 2026 and ends on July 1, 2026. Interested parties can find the online application form at: kfw-awards.de(in German).

    This year, KfW Capital is also presenting the KfW Capital Portfolio Award for the first time, specifically in the ‘VC Exit Excellence’ category. No application is required. KfW Capital’s investment management team will select the winner from its portfolio of more than 150 VC funds.

    For more information on how to participate, please see the guidelines.

    Read here about the press release KfW Capital Award 2026.

    A jury of high-calibre experts will select the winners.

    Jury Best Female VC Investor & VC Game Changer

    • Dr Tanja Emmerling, Partner and Head of HTGF Berlin
    • Ulrike Hinrichs, Member of the Executive Board of the German Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, BVK
    • Prof. Dr Heike Hölzner, Professor of Entrepreneurship and SME Management at Berlin University of Applied Sciences and Co-Founder of encourageventures e.V
    • Dr Eva Wimmer, Head of the Financial Markets Department at the Federal Ministry of Finance
    • KfW Capital: Dr Jörg Goschin, CEO of KfW Capital, and Theresa Bardubitzki, Senior Sustainability Manager
    Film about the KfW Capital Award 2025 (German)

    A review of the KfW Capital Award­ 2025, 2024, 2023 and 2022 with the winners ­can be found on the following pages: