The application phase for the prestigious KfW Capital Award has commenced, running from April 15 to July 1, 2025. This year's awards include categories for "Best Female Investor" and "Best Impact Investor." A new distinction, "VC Game Changer," will also be introduced this year. This special prize is awarded to a personality who has significantly contributed to improving the venture capital (VC) ecosystem. Prize money for each category stands at EUR 5,000.
The KfW Capital Award continues its tradition of recognizing noteworthy contributions in the VC space. The categories aim to highlight female investment leaders and those who prioritize impact in their investment strategies. "Women continue to be underrepresented in the VC market. As we are convinced that diverse teams are more successful in the long run, we will be placing a media focus on the topic of diversity with the category “Best Female Investor” this year as well, as we will now be selecting an outstanding female VC investor for the fourth time," said Dr. Jörg Goschin, CEO of KfW Capital.
Dr. Goschin will join the jury for "Best Female Investor," alongside reputable names such as Dr. Tanja Emmerling, Ulrike Hinrichs, Prof. Dr. Heike Hölzner, and Dr. Eva Wimmer. For the "Best Impact Investor" award, Alexander Thees from KfW Capital will be part of the jury, which includes Dr. Sabine Hepperle, Verena Kempe, Felix Oldenburg, and Dr. Bryan Scheler.
"Even if the area of impact investing is fortunately growing, the need for comprehensive solutions for the transformation of our economy remains strong. We will again be underscoring our commitment to this important segment with our award in the “Best Impact Investor” category. In addition, we will be honouring outstanding services for the VC ecosystem as an overarching theme with this year’s special prize “VC Game Changer”," said Alexander Thees, Member of the Management Board of KfW Capital.
The accolade winners will be presented at a ceremony in Berlin on November 6, 2025, with coverage by the TV channel n-tv. The KfW Capital Awards are designed to complement the KfW Entrepreneurs' Award, maintaining the emphasis on an investor's perspective.
Interested investors can apply or be nominated through KfW Capital's official channels. More information and details about the process are available online.
KfW Capital, a subsidiary of the KfW Group, supports European VC funds through the ERP Special Fund and the Future Fund. It aims to strengthen VC fund landscapes, providing innovative tech companies in Germany with better access to capital. KfW Capital also maintains a focus on social and ecological impacts through its specific investment programs.